Since I just blogged about Iran I’m thinking what does it say about American intelligence abilities that some of the best information on Iran’s nuclear program and, for that matter, Khan’s network, has come from private sources. Now I’ve got nothing against private sources; in fact, I’ve long been a huge proponent of increased reliance on OSINT. But it does raise the issue of how effective and interested the US government is in taking out clandestine nuclear trafficking networks.
Arms control
A front company by any other name is still a front company
On June 13 the Washington Times ran an article asserting that Iran is using newly created front companies in a bid to frustrate US and United Nations sanctions on its suspect nuclear programs. The charges were made by the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which supports the overthrow of the regime in Tehran.
Four major UK security announcements on eve of parliamentary recess
The UK government released a total of 46 written statements on one day last week, just as MPs were leaving parliament for the summer recess. The statements included four important policy announcements on defence and security issues.
Former US chief nuclear negotiator in London calls for zero nuclear weapons
Getting to Zero is an essential objective if we are to avoid the descent into nuclear proliferation
At a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-Proliferation at Westminster earlier today Ambassador Max Kampelman reiterated an earlier call in January this year by US Secretaries Shultz, Kissinger, Perry and Senator Nunn to step back from the brink of nuclear anarchy.
Iran inside Iraq
The Iranian government is unlikely to be playing a decisive role in the sectarian warfare and insurgency in Iraq
The Iranian government is unlikely to be playing a decisive role in the sectarian warfare and insurgency in Iraq, says a new BASIC study released today. Iranian support for violence in Iraq: a review of the evidence concludes that although Iran has a considerable presence in Iraq, its role in the violence has been exaggerated.
Nuclear terrorism: A US Perspective
Terrorists could attack the US by stealing or buying a nuclear weapon; by buying or stealing weapons grade U-235 or plutonium and assembling a device; or by assembling radioactive isotopes into a non-nuclear “dirty bomb.”