Dozens of Republican senators press Obama on missile defense

WASHINGTON – Forty-three Republican senators have written to President Obama saying they will oppose any efforts by the Obama administration to limit missile defense or pursue further reductions in nuclear weapons.

Obama was caught on tape Monday telling Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he would have more flexibility to negotiate on missile defense after the November election. Seizing on those comments, Republicans said any concessions to the Russians would be counter to U.S. safety and security. They also said concessions would contradict the assurances Obama gave the Senate when he pressed for them to ratify the New START treaty in December 2010.

The senators, led by Jon Kyl, said any limits on missile defense would weaken the U.S. in dealing with potential nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran.