After escaping the clutches of a term paper draft, it returns!
Associated Press | Whoops. Seems like the people in charge of the most powerful weapons known to man just weren’t up to the job, and needed a bit of extra Continue →
Arms Control
I have a new column up at Foreign Policy (“Death Wears Bunny Slippers”) considering this recent story at the Air Force has suspended 17 ICBM launch officers are Minot Air Force Base and initiated proceedings against another.
The column is largely Continue →
At last week's House Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on the FY 2014 budget request for nuclear weapons programs at the Department of Energy and the Pentagon, Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) once again declared his intention to use the Continue →
I have a column up at 38North discussing whether North Korea will test a Musudan anytime soon (“Pit or Get Off the Shot“) — with a bottle of the local plonk riding on the outcome with Joel Wit.
I touched briefly Continue →
Ohio class ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) transits the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway as it returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga. from a patrol mission. (U.S. Navy photo Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kimberly Clifford/Released)
By Continue →
Aspiring wonks, here is your end-of-semester exam question: It’s not OK to use cluster munitions in metropolitan areas, but it is OK to use nuclear weapons against targets that fall within or close to them. Yes? No? Under some circumstances? Continue →
The Chief of Pakistan’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) enflamed anger among many voters with his recent remarks suggesting Karachi should separate from the rest of Pakistan and is alleged to have spouted hate speech (see link below). This gave Continue →
Last week, STRATCOM Commander Gen. Robert Kehler provided further confirmation of what we've been suggesting for some time: The current plan to build twelve new Ohio-class replacement ballistic missile submarines (also known as the SSBN(X)) probably isn't going to happen. Continue →
VOTERS EXPERIENCED DELAYS DUE TO BALLOT BOXES NOT ARRIVING, LOCKED DOORS DURING VOTING HOURS, EXTENSIVE VOTE RIGGING IN SOME AREAS, VOTES PRE-CAST IN THEIR NAME, PRE-STAMPED CARDS, INTIMIDATION OF FEMALE VOTERS AND NO -ONE TO ASSIST THEM ON DESIGNATED HELP Continue →
SEN. KING: One of the issues that I've been concerned about as I've been in these hearings is a growing submarine capability. It seems like everybody wants to have a submarine and a lot of countries do. I take it Continue →
“22 KILLED AS VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION AND VOTE RIGGING MAR POLL MANY HAD FEARED WOULD NEVER BE HELD” (INDEPENDENT) Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Party (PML-N) set to become Prime Minister with Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in opposition. Continue →
On the radar: Carolina pork holder; Gen. Kehler on Minot; Perspective on no first use; Nominations; New START by 2017; B-61 undermining/underpinning triad; and North Korean traffic cop gets state’s highest award.
May 10, 2013 | Edited by Benjamin Loehrke
Pork hostage Continue →
IRAN
US Congress moves to close Iran sanctions loophole Peter Foster, The Telegraph - May 9, 2013
The US Congress has moved unilaterally to force Europe to tighten Iran sanctions, announcing new measures that will force EU banks and businesses Continue →
STATEMENT FROM REPRIEVE Reprieve + 44 (0) 207 553 8161 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Thu 9 May 2013) The Peshawar High Court (PHC) today declared the US guilty of war crimes for its use of drones in North West Pakistan, Continue →
SEN. GRAHAM: ...So my state, Madame Chairman, years ago accepted 34 metric tons of plutonium with the promise we would dispose of it in a way to make the world safer, create jobs in South Carolina and Georgia and at Continue →
Congressional Progressive Caucus Peace and Security Taskforce May 8, 2013 Statement of the Center for Constitutional Rights, The National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms, and Alkarama ——————————————— The Center for Constitutional Rights, the National Organization for Defending Human Rights Continue →
REPRIEVE PRESS RELEASE Reprieve + 44 (0) 207 553 8161 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Wed 8 May 2013) Judgement due in Pakistan drone victims’ case A Pakistan court will tomorrow (9 May) hand down judgement in a case brought against the Continue →
Over at our Proliferation Prevention Program blog, you can see what my boss and I wrote regarding “The Dog That Didn’t Bark: Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation at the US-ROK May 2013 Presidential Summit.”
The first result of the decision to delay for Continue →
New York Senator Charles Schumer has started a mini-gold rush for Pentagon dollars for what might eventually become a new long-range missile defense interceptor base in his state.
In a press statement issued on May 6, Schumer did Continue →
One of our more engaged commentators sent along the following open letter to Representative Michael Turner (R-OH), commenting on some of the more interesting statements in his latest letter to the President Barack Obama. He chose the nom de plume Continue →
IRAN
Iran elections: Presidential candidates start registering BBC News - May 7, 2013
Iran has begun registering candidates to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in its forthcoming presidential election. Hopefuls have a five-day period in which to declare their intention to stand Continue →
After a brief (SAT-induced) hiatus, it has returned!
Washington Examiner | Congressmen Doug Lamborn and Trent Franks give us their views on President Obama’s missile defense plans. Space-based interceptors are still needed, they say. How much that would cost? And how practical that Continue →
Update | May 7. Here is the full text of the speech.
On April 24th, the Chairman of India’s National Security Advisory Board, Shyam Saran, delivered an important address in New Delhi affirming the credibility of India’s nuclear deterrent. Mr. Saran Continue →