Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Monday, March 2, 2015

FAS Roundup: March 2, 2015

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From the Blogs


Battle of the Bands: Army Music Doctrine: The U.S. Army has issued a new doctrine on the role of music in military operations. Secrecy News has obtained a copy of the doctrine which “provides key guidance pertaining to the mission, organization, and operation of music performance units (MPUs)” — otherwise known as Army bands. “This manual should serve as a guide for training and operations based on the tenets of music supporting unified land operations.”

The INF Crisis: Bad Press and Nuclear Saber Rattling: Last year, the United States accused Russia of violating the INF Treaty by test-launching a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) in a range that violates provisions of the treaty. Russia rejected the accusation and counter-accused the United States of violating the treaty. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter appears to confirm that the GLCM Russia allegedly test-launched in violation of the INF Treaty is a nuclear missile and threatened further escalation if it is deployed. The Obama administration is currently considering how to respond if Russia does not return to INF compliance but produces and deploys the new nuclear GLCM. Diplomacy and sanctions have priority for now, but military options are also being considered. Hans M. Kristensen writes that both Russia and the United States have to be in compliance with their arms control obligations, but threatening counterforce would be counterproductive.

CRS on DoD Procurement Programs: Secrecy News has obtained recently released CRS reports on topics such as DoD procurement programs including a look at the Navy Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) ballistic missile submarine program, U.S. government agency plans to adapt to the effects of climate change and China's air defense identification zone (ADIZ). 

 

Ballistic Missile Defense and Strategic Stability in East Asia


On February 20, 2015, FAS hosted a workshop examining ballistic missile defense in East Asia and strategic stability between the United States and China. A new project led by Charles Ferguson, FAS president, and Bruce MacDonald, Adjunct Senior Fellow for National Security Technology, is examining the security implications of possible Chinese deployment of strategic ballistic missile defense. In the Winter 2015 Public Interest ReportFerguson writes about nuclear strategic stability between the United States and China, and results from research travel to China.

Frank Rose, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance at the State Department, served as the keynote speaker at the workshop. Rose spoke about China’s ballistic missile program, its relationship to China’s anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons program, and how to achieve strategic stability between the United States and China.
Rose’s remarks are available here.

 

Interactive Nuclear Notebook Infographic


A new interactive infographic detailing information on the world's nuclear arsenals from 1945 to 2013 is now live on the website of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

The Nuclear Notebook is published in the Bulletin and is written by FAS' Hans M. Kristensen and Robert S. Norris. The research and data provided in the Notebook by Kristensen and Norris gives reliable information on worldwide nuclear force levels and trends that is widely cited by scholars, the media and policymakers. This information is critical for the public debate as it shines a spotlight on status operations and modernization of nuclear weapons worldwide.

For more information on the Notebook, click here. 

The new Nuclear Notebook infographic can be viewed here.
 

FAS in the News

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