Dangerous Crossroads: U.S. Expands Asian NATO Against China, Russia

Dangerous Crossroads: U.S. Expands Asian NATO Against China, Russia
- by Rick Rozoff - 2009-10-17

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=15719

How Can We Tell If A Country Is Making Nuclear Power Or Nuclear Weapons?

How Can We Tell If A Country Is Making Nuclear Power Or Nuclear Weapons?
Bombs or Power?: Centrifuges are usually arranged in a triangular cascade; the layout tips inspectors to its purpose. Weapons require heavily enriched uranium, so the triangle is long and narrow; power takes more fuel, so the cascade is short and fat. McKibillo

From Popular Science:

It's all about enrichment.

Just about everyone insists that Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at building weapons. Iran claims it only wants nuclear power. So how do weapons inspectors get at the truth? They study the country’s supply and treatment of uranium, one of the most abundant nuclear materials on the planet.

Read more ....
http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-can-we-tell-if-country-is-making.html
Comment: Kudos to Popular Science for writing a post that is easy for the layman to understand.

The Language Of Limbo

The Language Of Limbo
From Threats Watch:

Language Indicates US Ceding Leadership And Principle To Russia On Iran.

Are we winning the diplomatic battle with Iran? Are we, for that matter, winning the diplomatic battle with Russia, which, with China, serves as Iran's principal protectorate? To put it necessarily bluntly, there is no indication that we are and every indication that we are indeed losing. Not simply losing, but ceding. A brief but careful examination of language reveals the unfortunate and frustrating truth.

Read more ....

My Comment: The short answer is no .... we are not winning the diplomatic battle with Iran, and what is worse is that Iran knows this.
Posted by Bookyards at 4:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: iran nuclear crisis

http://threatswatch.org/commentary/2009/10/the-language-of-limbo/

Areva plans nuclear fuel facility in Japan

Areva plans nuclear fuel facility in Japan
France's Areva announced it intends to construct a nuclear fuel-processing plant in Japan, more than doubling the nation's nuclear capacity in the face of rising demand. The facility, a joint project with Mitsubishi and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, will be used to turn enriched uranium into uranium oxide, according to Areva executive Remy Autebert. Japan will add 12 reactors over the next 10 years, with its nuclear dependency expected to reach 40% by 2030. Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601130&sid=aphLWO01YX6M

Report: India forges civilian nuclear deal with Argentina

Report: India forges civilian nuclear deal with Argentina
India has signed a civilian nuclear agreement with Argentina. The nations' nuclear experts will join forces to "encourage and support scientific technical and commercial co-operation for mutual benefit in this field," according to a joint statement. Argentina became the seventh country to strike such a deal since the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted its decades-long moratorium on nuclear commerce with India. The Hindu Business Line (India)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/10/15/stories/2009101551491500.htm

Obama emphasizes need for nuclear energy to cut carbon emissions

Obama emphasizes need for nuclear energy to cut carbon emissions
President Barack Obama voiced support for the use of nuclear energy as the country looks for ways to curb greenhouse-gas emissions. "There's no reason why technologically we can't employ nuclear energy in a safe and effective way," Obama said during a conference in New Orleans. Reuters
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN1531614920091015

Israel will ensure 'survival' against Iran threat: minister

Israel will ensure 'survival' against Iran threat: minister
Brussels (AFP) Oct 15, 2009 - Israel reserves the right to take whatever action is needed to survive in the face of Iran's nuclear ambitions, the Jewish state's far-right infrastructure minister, Uzi Landau, said. "We'll take the actions that are necessary for our survival, we'll do whatever is necessary at that time," he told AFP late Wednesday, expressing regret that EU nations did not see the Islamic republic as a maj ... more

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Israel_will_ensure_survival_against_Iran_threat_minister_999.html

NKorea sees peace pact with US as key to nuclear disarmament

NKorea sees peace pact with US as key to nuclear disarmament
Seoul (AFP) Oct 14, 2009 - North Korea called Wednesday for a peace pact with the United States, saying this was a "most reasonable and practical" way to end the long standoff over its nuclear weapons programme. "A peace accord should be concluded between (North Korea) and the US if the nuclear issue on the peninsula is to be settled," the ruling communist party newspaper Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary. Such ... more

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/NKorea_sees_peace_pact_with_US_as_key_to_nuclear_disarmament_999.html

Obama's new missile defense plan

Obama's new missile defense plan
Warsaw, Poland (UPI) Oct 15, 2009 - Experts are optimistic that U.S. President Barack Obama's new missile defense plan for Eastern Europe is better than the old one. Obama's new plan, the so-called "phased, adaptive approach" for a European missile defense system features a combination of fixed (ground-based) and relocatable (on U.S. warships) Standard Missile 3 interceptors and radars that focuses mainly on the threat fr ... more
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Obamas_new_missile_defense_plan_999.html

Too early' to focus on Iran sanctions: Russia's Putin

Too early' to focus on Iran sanctions: Russia's Putin
Beijing (AFP) Oct 14, 2009 - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that it was "too early" to discuss new sanctions against Iran, as world powers try to defuse the standoff over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme. Putin's comments, which came during a visit to Beijing, were his first since the revelation late last month that Iran is building a new uranium enrichment plant near its holy city of Qom, reviv ... more
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Too_early_to_focus_on_Iran_sanctions_Russias_Putin_999.html

US documents point to secret Japan nuclear pact

US documents point to secret Japan nuclear pact
Washington (AFP) Oct 13, 2009 - Despite decades of denials by Washington and Tokyo, US officials believe they enjoyed a secret pact to transport nuclear weapons through Japan, newly declassified documents showed. The disclosure came after Japan's left-leaning government ended more than half a century of conservative rule and launched a probe into thousands of files to settle longstanding suspicions of a hush-hush pact. ... more

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/US_documents_point_to_secret_Japan_nuclear_pact_999.html

OSC VIEWS NUCLEAR COMMERCE IN KAZAKHSTAN

OSC VIEWS NUCLEAR COMMERCE IN KAZAKHSTAN

"Kazakhstan, which is second only to Australia in uranium reserves and exceptionally appealing to nuclear nations that require uranium, has entered into agreements or joint ventures with many countries and corporations," a new analysis (pdf) from the DNI Open Source Center observes. http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/kazakhstan/osc100609.pdf

Kazakhstan has embarked on cooperative civilian nuclear projects with countries including the U.S., Russia, China, Brazil, Canada, France, India, and others, possibly including Iran.

"Some serious issues lurk behind the veneer of the government's political and commercial success," the OSC analysis says. These include "an unclear line of power succession,... which could facilitate nuclear deals with international partners with mixed proliferation records."

"The country is corrupt and has corrupt practices," the OSC declares. "Kazakhstan's mineral riches have supplied many a thief with wealth." See "Kazakhstan -- Opening Up for Nuclear Collaboration," Open Source Center, October 6, 2009.

Kazakhstan relinquished the nuclear weapons that it inherited from the former Soviet Union in 1995. It has also accepted IAEA safeguards and the Additional Protocol.

The Cato Institute invites you to a Book Forum Atomic Obsession: Nuclear Alarmism from Hiroshima to Al Qaeda (Oxford University Press, 2009)

Cato Institute

The Cato Institute invites you to a Book Forum
Atomic Obsession: Nuclear Alarmism
from Hiroshima to Al Qaeda
(Oxford University Press, 2009)

featuring the author
John Mueller
Woody Hayes Chair of National Security Studies, Ohio State University

with comments by
Michael Krepon
Co-Founder, Henry L. Stimson Center

and
Jeffrey G. Lewis
Director, Nuclear Strategy and Nonproliferation Initiative,
New America Foundation

moderated by
Justin Logan
Associate Director of Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Atomic Obsession: Nuclear Alarmism from Hiroshima to Al Qaeda
Purchase at AmazonHaving informed readers in previous books that their fears of war and terrorism are overblown, iconoclastic political scientist John Mueller has set his sights on nuclear weapons. For Mueller, nuclear weapons have never represented much of a threat given states' fundamental unwillingness to use them. Moreover, our current worries about terrorists obtaining such weapons are essentially baseless. As Mueller points out, there is a multitude of reasons why terrorists will not be able to obtain nuclear weapons, much less build them themselves and successfully transport them to targets. Atomic Obsession concludes with a judgment that our efforts to prevent the spread of WMDs have produced much more suffering and violence than would have been the case if we took a more realistic view of such weapons.

Please join us for a discussion of this provocative new book.

Thursday, October 29, 2009
11:00 a.m.
(Luncheon to follow)

Cato Book Forums and luncheons are free of charge.
To register, visit www.cato.org, fax (202) 371-0841,
or call (202) 789-5229 by 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 28.
News media inquiries only (no registrations), please call (202) 789-5200.
If you can't make it to the Cato Institute, watch this Forum live online at www.cato.org.

The Lost Prestige of Nuclear Physics

The Lost Prestige of Nuclear Physics

Nuclear physics was once considered the pinnacle of man’s effort to know reality; its image was tarnished by association with the bomb’s destructive violence. In EPPC's journal The New Atlantis, N. J. Slabbert traces the drop in public esteem and argues that a return to nuclear science and technology is crucial to American vitality.

http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-lost-prestige-of-nuclear-physics

India tests nuclear-capable missiles

India tests nuclear-capable missiles
New Delhi (UPI) Oct 13, 2009 - In quick succession, India test-fired short-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The two advanced versions of the Prithvi-II surface-to-surface ballistic missiles have a range of up to 217 miles. They were launched from Chandur in the east state of Orissa into the Bay of Negal. "The two P-II missiles, which can carry 500kg warheads were successfully ... more

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/India_tests_nuclear-capable_missiles_999.html

ASEAN Response to Nuclear Risks Mark Fitzpatrick, The Japan Times

ASEAN Response to Nuclear Risks
Mark Fitzpatrick, The Japan Times
As the nuclear renaissance comes to Southeast Asia, the countries of the region face an important turning point. Decisions taken today will help determine whether nuclear energy will play a positive role in their economic development, or whether a shadow of nuclear danger will accompany the benefits of this energy source.
Full Article
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20091011a1.html

North Korea Fires 5 Missiles

North Korea Fires 5 Missiles
Blaine Harden, The Washington Post
North Korea fired five short-range missiles into the sea Monday and declared a navigation ban in waters off its eastern and western coasts, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
Full Article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/12/AR2009101200650.html

How to Manage a Nuclear Iran

How to Manage a Nuclear Iran
Gregory L. Schulte, Foreign Policy
On Sept. 25, flanked by his French and British counterparts, Barack Obama announced that Iran was building a second underground facility for uranium enrichment. The U.S. president warned that Iran's decision to build yet another nuclear facility without notifying the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) represented a direct challenge to the nonproliferation regime.
Full Article
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/08/how_to_manage_a_nuclear_iran

* Dealing with Iran: The Power of Legitimacy
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=23971&prog=zgp&proj=znpp

Russia Moves on Iran Sanctions

Russia Moves on Iran Sanctions
Charles Clover and James Blitz, Financial Times
Russian president Dmitry Medevdev told Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state, that sanctions should be imposed on Iran if it does not implement promises to the international community on its nuclear programme, a US official told reporters last night.
Full Article
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/ed6c641e-b7f9-11de-8ca9-00144feab49a,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2Fed6c641e-b7f9-11de-8ca9-00144feab49a.html&_i_referer=

S., Russia Must Lead on Arms Control

S., Russia Must Lead on Arms Control
Brent Scowcroft, Joseph Nye, Nicholas Burns and Strobe Talbott, Politico
G-20The United States faces the urgent challenge of using the year ahead to limit the risks of nuclear proliferation and to lower the level of nuclear weapons in the world. Achieving these goals is crucial to a peaceful century. President Barack Obama has undertaken a variety of initiatives to reduce American and Russian nuclear arsenals, dissuade states that have forgone nuclear weapons from acquiring them, stop the production of fissile material for military purposes, tighten measures to keep nuclear weapons from ever being used, prevent dangerous technology from falling into the hands of terrorists and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Full Article
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28201.html

Russia Reserves Preemptive Nuke Right

Russia Reserves Preemptive Nuke Right

Kremlin announces non-specific revisions to doctrine

http://news.antiwar.com/2009/10/13/russia-retains-option-of-pre-emptive-nuclear-strike/

Obama's Nuclear Agenda -- Joseph Nye, RealClearWorld

Obama's Nuclear Agenda -- Joseph Nye, RealClearWorld

http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2009/10/13/obamas_nuclear_agenda_97256.html

Moscow’s “No” Paints Obama And Clinton Into A Corner On Iran -- Jonathan Tobin, Commentary Magazine

Moscow’s “No” Paints Obama And Clinton Into A Corner On Iran -- Jonathan Tobin, Commentary Magazine

What was the bottom line of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov? America’s punting on a request for sanctions on Iran, as the Washington Post reported (and Jennifer discussed)? Or was it instead a case of “Russia Resists U.S. on Iran Sanctions,” as the Associated Press reported? Of course, both amount to the same thing. Clinton’s statement that it wasn’t yet time for sanctions on Iran to pressure it to stop its nuclear program is merely an admission that the administration’s plan to gain international support for restraining Iran is dead in the water.

Read more ....
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/tobin/125732

# Gore needs to back nuclear power, newspaper says

# Gore needs to back nuclear power, newspaper says
Former Vice President Al Gore has avoided the nuclear issue, but coming out in support of nuclear-generated electricity will do more to promote his climate-change goals than anything else he could do, writes the editorial board of the Wisconsin State Journal. "Nuclear technology needs to be a big part of the solution," argues this editorial. "Gore should stress his support for more nuclear power today." Wisconsin State Journal (Madison)

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/article_1334da66-b4e7-11de-947a-001cc4c03286.html

Expert touts nuclear in curbing greenhouse-gas emissions

Expert touts nuclear in curbing greenhouse-gas emissions
Lawmakers who believe that technology for capturing and storing carbon can aid in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from coal power facilities are "being unrealistic," writes Carolyn Heising in this opinion article. Such technology is extremely expensive, basically untested and energy intensive, adds Heising, who is a nuclear engineering professor at Iowa State University. A significant boost in nuclear energy and improvements in energy efficiency could help achieve the country's energy needs and simultaneously lower carbon emissions to acceptable levels, she writes. The Des Moines Register (Iowa)

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091013/OPINION01/910130340/1036/Opinion

Iran agrees to ship enriched uranium to Russia: official

Iran agrees to ship enriched uranium to Russia: official

Washington (AFP) Oct 1, 2009 - Iran agreed in principle Thursday to ship most of its declared enriched uranium stockpile to Russia, where it would be refined as fuel for a small reactor producing medical isotopes, a US official said. The agreement came after seven and a half hours of talks between Iran and world powers just outside Geneva, where Tehran also agreed to grant the United Nations access to a newly-revealed cov ... more
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Iran_agrees_to_ship_enriched_uranium_to_Russia_official_999.html

Westinghouse Backs US Nuclear Energy Agreement With Italy

Westinghouse Backs US Nuclear Energy Agreement With Italy

Pittsburgh PA (SPX) Oct 13, 2009 - An agreement signed earlier yesterday between the United States and Italy drew strong support from Westinghouse Electric Company as the two countries took a major step closer to opening the Italian market to U.S. nuclear technology. Claudio Scajola, Italy's minister for economic development, Dr. Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy, and Deputy Secretary of Commerce Dennis F. Hightower met ... more
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Westinghouse_Backs_US_Nuclear_Energy_Agreement_With_Italy_999.html

NRC approves Constellation-EDF nuclear deal

NRC approves Constellation-EDF nuclear deal
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Electricite de France's bid to acquire almost 50% of Constellation Energy's nuclear assets, a deal reportedly worth $4.5 billion. The regulatory approval removes an obstacle to the proposed construction of a new nuclear plant in Maryland. EDF has "all necessary approvals at the federal level and clearance from the New York Public Service Commission," the companies said in a statement. Google/Agence France-
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i3uNHFIpvGh2GsiVFGmyeTaqDRnQ

Wars, Political Battles Complicate Obama Effort to Prevent Spread of Nuclear Weapons

Wars, Political Battles Complicate Obama Effort to Prevent Spread of Nuclear Weapons
President Obama's decision to order a nuclear review comes as he takes the rare step of chairing a watershed session of the UN security council.


From Global Security:

WASHINGTON -- Well before the 2008 election, foreign-policy hands predicted that the next commander in chief would confront an incendiary in-box without precedent in the modern American presidency. Recently, Barack Obama has begun to grasp what they meant (see GSN, Sept. 23).

After spending his honeymoon wrestling with the Great Recession and health care, and with cap-and-trade and climate change on deck, Obama will soon enter a stretch of his young presidency that includes deciding how to end an unpopular war in Iraq, salvage a failing war in Afghanistan, and avoid a potential war with Iran. All are likely to affect his signature initiative to check what many experts see as the greatest long-term threat to U.S. national security -- the spread of doomsday weapons.

Read more .... http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2009/10/wars-political-battles-complicate-obama.html

My Comment: An interesting analysis on what appears to be the priorities for President Obama and his agenda. While I do not have any disagreement with its view on what President Obama wants .... the article does not properly focus on the component that will greatly influence and impact both his domestic and foreign agenda.

That component is the economy and the Federal Government's trillion dollar deficits.

This is the 800 lb gorilla and 2 ton elephant in the room. If President Obama cannot reverse the deterioration of the economy .... both his domestic and foreign agenda will be crippled, and the Democrats will be paying a heavy political price in the 2010 and Presidential elections in 2012.

Nuclear proliferation is important .... but in today's world no one is listening to the U.S. and President Obama. Our economic and financial strength was always adequate to sway countries to our side .... but that is rapidly becoming an option that we are not able to fulfill. The genie is out of the bottle and we are now living in an environment where numerous countries are now positioning themselves to acquire nuclear weaponry .... and there is nothing that we can do to change this.
Posted by Bookyards

War News Updates: Wars, Political Battles Complicate Obama Effort to Prevent Spread of Nuclear Weapons