The Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States has released an interim report. The 12-page report sets out initial findings, focusing on “stockpile stewardship” and Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) issues (controversies which instigated the Commission's formation).
Programmes
Getting to Zero Update
In this issue:
- Commitments to disarmament and arms control
- Country reports
- Missile defense
- Other publications
- BASIC and Getting to Zero (GTZ)
Commitments to disarmament and arms control
US
Israel and the US: Nuclear weapons agreements
A recent article in Haaretz outlines previous agreements between US Presidents and Israel that sought to protect the Israeli nuclear deterrent from any possible US arms control proposals for the Middle East. Israel is now concerned that President Obama will not honor these informal arrangements, and is looking for reassurance that the supply of military technology will continue.
Iran update: number 130
Summary
- White House charges Iran with non-compliance in recent IAEA inspections
- Iran and the IAEA still at an impasse
- First Iranian nuclear plant scheduled to begin operation in early 2009
- Iran may presently have sufficient nuclear material for a single weapon
- British Foreign Secretary's 'nuclear' warning to Iran
- Washington's foreign policy on Iran
On November 19, the White House assailed
Shared destinies: Security in a globalized world
IPPR held the launch of its interim report of the Commission on National Security in the 21st Century. The theme of nuclear proliferation was mentioned several times throughout the meeting but was never properly explored. The meeting was led by the two co-Chairs of the Commission, George Robertson and Paddy Ashdown.
Iran update: number 129
Summary
- Iran fires first of a new generation of solid-fuel missiles
- Israel calls on incoming US administration to stay tough
- Turkey offers mediation as P5+1 talks continue into the twilight days of Bush's Presidency
- Iran warns US over air space violations, after US raid in Syria
- Ahmadinejad congratulates Obama for election victory, then endures storm of controversy back home for his conciliatory gesture
- Iran looking to collaborate with other suppliers as oil and gas prices plummet.
A new American president and nuclear weapons
As one of the longest and most closely followed US campaigns has drawn to a close, the implications of this election for getting to zero are unknown. The next president faces the monumental challenge of coping with two wars and a worldwide economic crisis. These issues may detract from the time and energy that the next Administration can spend on nuclear security.
Improving nuclear security in 2009 and beyond: Transatlantic options for the new Administration.
Experts shared their views on what the next U.S. administration should do to manage the urgent threat from nuclear weapons and how it could take advantage of transatlantic relationships. The event was co-sponsored by BASIC and Women in International Security, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC.
Please see the attached document (PDF) for a summary.