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Analysis

U.S. diplomatic cables reveal nuclear proliferation fears

The WikiLeaks cables have revealed that the United States has consistently rebuffed private appeals from the leaders of Arab states and Israel on the need for military action against Iran over its nuclear program, as successive administrations worked on a package of global economic sanctions.

The initial leak of 240 U.S. diplomatic cables from a total 251,000 provided to five newspapers in the UK, US, Germany, France and Spain contained the following information related to nuclear non-proliferation issues:

Iran

Tussle over New START ratification intensifies

The fight over ratification of New START has intensified, after the key Republican Senator being courted by the Obama administration, Jon Kyl, indicated that he opposed a vote in the lame duck session of Congress. However the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry, said the door is not yet closed. The New York Times reports on the treaty battle.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/senate-leader-deals-blow-t…

“NATO’s Deterrence Posture & Turkish Security” Seminar Held at USAK

This roundtable meeting, jointly organized by the Arms Control Association, the British American Security Information Council, the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy Hamburg, International Strategic Research Organization, aimed to evaluate the role that deterrence and nuclear weapons play in Turkey's security policy and NATO's defense posture.

Read more:

Trident expected to be delayed until after next UK general election

Britain's Liberal Democrat armed forces minister, Nick Harvey, indicates that the final decision on the replacement of Trident will be delayed until October 2015 – after the next general election. This would allow the Liberal Democrats and their Conservative coalition partners to do battle over the future of the submarine nuclear missile system in the election campaign.

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/22/trident-decision-delay-expected-2015.

 

Dropping nuclear submarine policy has benefits

Paul Ingram wrote the lead letter in the Financial Times, arguing that “there are in fact substantial financial benefits” to ending the requirement that the United Kingdom maintain a nuclear submarine at sea at all times. “Not only would the current running costs be reduced, but so too would the total substantial capital costs…”

Read the full letter on the website of the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/afb28048-c056-11df-8a81-00144feab49a.html

Update on New START in The Cable

Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has distributed a “discussion draft” of the New START Treaty Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification. An article in The Cable reviews reaction to the draft and related political developments in Washington.

To read the article, visit:

Scott Brown and the bombs in the basement

 “Unfortunately, the nuclear capability of Israel goes unmentioned in his article, highlighting the Arab contention that the West is guilty of double standards by shielding Israel but punishing Iran.”

Excerpt from article by BASIC Program Director Anne Penketh, written for The Hill’s Congress Blog. 

Read the full article:

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/117393-scott-brown-and-the-bombs-in-the-basement

“BASIC’s depth of knowledge and administrative competence makes it an excellent partner in the field of military nuclear capability and arms control”

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, GCMG British diplomat

“At a time when transatlantic relationships are under tension, BASIC's role as a source of authoritative analysis is more important than ever.”

Baron Rees of Ludlow Astronomer Royal

“BASIC makes a vital contribution to sustaining recognition that nearly 35 years after the end of the Cold War nuclear weapons continue to put at risk the future of humankind. BASIC is especially to be commended for doing this by fostering dialogue and understanding.”

Peter Jenkins CMG UK Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency 2001-06

``For about 35 years, in the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, BASIC have championed the cause of mutuality of security. Their ability to engage diversity of views and opinion has attracted deserved admiration.``

Baron Browne of Ladyton Vice Chairman, Nuclear Threat Initiative and former UK Secretary of State for Defence

``For more than three decades, BASIC has challenged conventional thinking on national security matters, and inspired new ways of addressing and solving old problems. I expect it to continue to play this vital role for decades to come.``

Andreas Persbo Director, Open Nuclear Network
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