This week there is much wrangling within the media about the likely appointment of former Senator Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense. As a politician apparently immune to the usual herd instinct and the pressures of the lobbyists, such lobbyists are attempting to block the possible appointment. Some whisper the principal reason lies in his belief that a military attack on Iran would be a mistake.
Iran
NATO’s Nuclear Posture: Publications and Resources
NATO’s Nuclear Posture Publications
Iran Update 164
- Iranian officials meeting with IAEA delegation today
- International concern over developments at Bushehr
- Iran displays ‘downed’ ScanEagle drone
- Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak to resign
- Associated Press publishes inaccurate document that claims to show advanced nuclear program
Russia in the Middle East
With recent regime changes and ongoing conflicts, the Middle East is a major concern for security threats and proliferation of WMD. The international community is heavily involved in the region, but it seems that Russia's goals in and for the Middle East have been scrutinized by Western powers.
Announcements made on the Helsinki ‘2012 Conference’
The long-awaited announcements on the delay to the Helsinki ‘2012 Conference’ on a nuclear and other WMD free zone in the Middle East came out over the weekend from the co-sponsors.
Iran Update 163
- IAEA reports that Iran has added more centrifuges at underground enrichment facility, but additional centrifuges not operating
- Iran and IAEA to resume talks on December 13th
- Iran says willing to attend conference for Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction
- Close calls regarding Israeli attacks on Iran come to light
- Britain may not cooperate in any military attack by the United States and Israel
- EU reinforcing sanctions against Iran
- Iran fires upon U.S. drone
- Iran’s nuclear power plant likely experiencing more problems
The E3+3 discuss Iran after release of IAEA report
On Wednesday, Catherine Ashton, will host representatives from the E3+3 (P5+1: US, UK, China, Russia, France, and Germany) in Brussels to discuss continued efforts to find a diplomatic solution to discourage Iran from augmenting its nuclear program. Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has facilitated meetings between the E3+3 and Iran since 2009, which have so far yielded limited results.
Nuclear weapons beyond the election
The U.S. election season now draws to a close, and as expected, not too much was made of nuclear weapons during the presidential race. The economy, and near the end of the campaign season the mega-storm in the northeast, overshadowed almost all other issues.