COOLING THE ARMS RACE.(MAIN)(Editorial)

Judged strictly by the numbers, the new nuclear arms treaty that President Bush intends to sign next week in Moscow is a significant one. Yet the larger significance may well lie in what the treaty won't do. And judged from that perspective, the treaty is more of a mixed success.

The fact that Russian President Putin is willing to join Mr. Bush in signing the accord is a victory of sorts for the White House. Only recently, Mr. Bush had come under attack from critics at home and around the world for abrogating the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 to clear the way for building and deploying a missile defense system. Mr. Putin strongly objected at the time, though …