The news tickers this morning were saturated with Secretary of Defense Gates's statement that if START is not passed, "there will be serious consequences."  Well, at least he was finally honest about those consequences:

"It isn't just limited to this narrow subject, but reflects on the relationship as a whole," he said. "And the truth of the matter is the Russians, in the last year or two, have been very cooperative, first of all, helping us establish the Northern Distribution Network to help supply Afghanistan, including a recent decision at my request to allow us to move these mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles - MRAPs - across Russia."