Dangerous Trajectories: Obama's Approach to Arms Control Misreads Russian Nuclear Strategy - Ariel Cohen, Heritage.org: "As the deadline for START follow-on treaty negotiations approaches, U.S. policymakers and Congress need to focus on the long-term objectives rather than the short-term goal of simply concluding arms control agreements at any price. Specifically, the U.S. should [inter alia] : ... Fight anti-Americanism with more effective public diplomacy. The Russian state-controlled media and some in Moscow's expert community are propagating a negative image of the U.S., repeatedly alleging that America wants to undermine Russian security. This often plays into the hands of those who seek to justify increased military budgets. Through the State Department and independent research institutions, the U.S. should promote a robust debate on U.S.-Russian relations, encouraging those who seek improvement. U.S. security experts should engage their Russian counterparts and the media in in-depth discussions of common security threats, such as Afghanistan and radical Islamist terrorism. Through international broadcasters, Internet communities, joint conferences, and visits of American security experts to Russia, the U.S. should engage Russian opinion leaders in debating nuclear weapons, arms control, and other defense-related subjects. The U.S. should communicate to the Russian people the truth that America is not entertaining plans to attack Russia."
http://www.heritage.org/Research/RussiaandEurasia/bg2338.cfm
Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
NEI: U.S. needs expanded nuclear role to address climate change
NEI: U.S. needs expanded nuclear role to address climate change
Nuclear power should have a more prominent role in the U.S.'s efforts to address climate change and to meet the country's growing electricity needs, writes Nuclear Energy Institute President and CEO Marvin Fertel in this guest blog post. A critical factor in expanding the nuclear component in the country's diversified energy portfolio is to provide loans, credit support and other financial incentives that would encourage the construction of nuclear plants, Fertel contends. The Hill/Congress Blog
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/66933-nuclear-initiatives-needed-for-climate-change-goals
Nuclear power should have a more prominent role in the U.S.'s efforts to address climate change and to meet the country's growing electricity needs, writes Nuclear Energy Institute President and CEO Marvin Fertel in this guest blog post. A critical factor in expanding the nuclear component in the country's diversified energy portfolio is to provide loans, credit support and other financial incentives that would encourage the construction of nuclear plants, Fertel contends. The Hill/Congress Blog
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/66933-nuclear-initiatives-needed-for-climate-change-goals
How to Halt the Spread of Nukes Bennett Ramberg, YaleGlobal
How to Halt the Spread of Nukes
Bennett Ramberg, YaleGlobal
Since entering office, Barack Obama has made global nuclear disarmament a center piece of his long-term foreign policy agenda. In September 2009 the President attempted to fulfill the first step by gathering the Security Council's heads of state to sign on to a new resolution to halt the Bomb's spread – Resolution 1887.
Full Article
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/how-halt-spread-nukes-part-i
Bennett Ramberg, YaleGlobal
Since entering office, Barack Obama has made global nuclear disarmament a center piece of his long-term foreign policy agenda. In September 2009 the President attempted to fulfill the first step by gathering the Security Council's heads of state to sign on to a new resolution to halt the Bomb's spread – Resolution 1887.
Full Article
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/how-halt-spread-nukes-part-i
Future of Japan-US Alliance Ralph A. Cossa and Brad Glosserman, The Korea Times
Future of Japan-US Alliance
Ralph A. Cossa and Brad Glosserman, The Korea Times
The headlines associated with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' recent visit to Japan notwithstanding, relations between Washington and Tokyo are not as strained as they may appear...at least not yet.
Full Article
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/11/137_55152.html
Ralph A. Cossa and Brad Glosserman, The Korea Times
The headlines associated with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' recent visit to Japan notwithstanding, relations between Washington and Tokyo are not as strained as they may appear...at least not yet.
Full Article
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/11/137_55152.html
Obama: Hard for Iran to Make Quick Decisions Caren Bohan and Ross Colvin, Reuters
Obama: Hard for Iran to Make Quick Decisions
Caren Bohan and Ross Colvin, Reuters
An unsettled political situation in Iran may be complicating efforts to seal a nuclear fuel deal between Tehran and major world powers, President Barack Obama said on Monday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BarackObama/idUSTRE5A85BW20091109?sp=true
* Full Text of Reuters Interview with President Obama
http://www.reuters.com/article/ObamaEconomy/idUSTRE5A902Q20091110?feedType=RSS&feedName=ObamaEconomy&virtualBrandChannel=10441&pageNumber=1
Caren Bohan and Ross Colvin, Reuters
An unsettled political situation in Iran may be complicating efforts to seal a nuclear fuel deal between Tehran and major world powers, President Barack Obama said on Monday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BarackObama/idUSTRE5A85BW20091109?sp=true
* Full Text of Reuters Interview with President Obama
http://www.reuters.com/article/ObamaEconomy/idUSTRE5A902Q20091110?feedType=RSS&feedName=ObamaEconomy&virtualBrandChannel=10441&pageNumber=1
Iran Said to Ignore Effort to Salvage Nuclear Deal David E. Sanger, The New York Times
Iran Said to Ignore Effort to Salvage Nuclear Deal
David E. Sanger, The New York Times
ObamaThe Obama administration, attempting to salvage a faltering nuclear deal with Iran, has told Iran’s leaders in back-channel messages that it is willing to allow the country to send its stockpile of enriched uranium to any of several nations, including Turkey, for temporary safekeeping, according to administration officials and diplomats involved in the exchanges.
But the overtures, made through the International Atomic Energy Agency over the past two weeks, have all been ignored, the officials said.
Full Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/world/middleeast/09iran.html?_r=1
David E. Sanger, The New York Times
ObamaThe Obama administration, attempting to salvage a faltering nuclear deal with Iran, has told Iran’s leaders in back-channel messages that it is willing to allow the country to send its stockpile of enriched uranium to any of several nations, including Turkey, for temporary safekeeping, according to administration officials and diplomats involved in the exchanges.
But the overtures, made through the International Atomic Energy Agency over the past two weeks, have all been ignored, the officials said.
Full Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/world/middleeast/09iran.html?_r=1
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Iran Studied Advanced Nuke Trigger, IAEA Findings Suggest Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
Iran Studied Advanced Nuke Trigger, IAEA Findings Suggest
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20091106_9201.php
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20091106_9201.php
Iran tested advanced nuclear warhead design – secret report Exclusive: Watchdog fears Tehran has key component to put bombs in missiles
Iran tested advanced nuclear warhead design – secret report
Exclusive: Watchdog fears Tehran has key component to put bombs in missiles
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 5 November 2009 20.45 GMT
The UN’s nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to explain evidence suggesting that Iranian scientists have experimented with an advanced nuclear warhead design, the Guardian has learned.
The very existence of the technology, known as a "two-point implosion" device, is officially secret in both the US and Britain, but according to previously unpublished documentation in a dossier compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iranian scientists may have tested high-explosive components of the design. The development was today described by nuclear experts as "breathtaking" and has added urgency to the effort to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis.
The sophisticated technology, once mastered, allows for the production of smaller and simpler warheads than older models. It reduces the diameter of a warhead and makes it easier to put a nuclear warhead on a missile.
Documentation referring to experiments testing a two-point detonation design are part of the evidence of nuclear weaponisation gathered by the IAEA and presented to Iran for its response.
The dossier, titled "Possible Military Dimensions of Iran’s Nuclear Program", is drawn in part from reports submitted to it by western intelligence agencies.
More…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/05/iran-tested-nuclear-warhead-design
Exclusive: Watchdog fears Tehran has key component to put bombs in missiles
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 5 November 2009 20.45 GMT
The UN’s nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to explain evidence suggesting that Iranian scientists have experimented with an advanced nuclear warhead design, the Guardian has learned.
The very existence of the technology, known as a "two-point implosion" device, is officially secret in both the US and Britain, but according to previously unpublished documentation in a dossier compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iranian scientists may have tested high-explosive components of the design. The development was today described by nuclear experts as "breathtaking" and has added urgency to the effort to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis.
The sophisticated technology, once mastered, allows for the production of smaller and simpler warheads than older models. It reduces the diameter of a warhead and makes it easier to put a nuclear warhead on a missile.
Documentation referring to experiments testing a two-point detonation design are part of the evidence of nuclear weaponisation gathered by the IAEA and presented to Iran for its response.
The dossier, titled "Possible Military Dimensions of Iran’s Nuclear Program", is drawn in part from reports submitted to it by western intelligence agencies.
More…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/05/iran-tested-nuclear-warhead-design
Friday, November 6, 2009
Is America On The Verge Of Another Bank War? Should We End The Fed Or Goldman Sachs?
Martin Armstrong has written a new article titled "Is America On The Verge Of Another Bank War? Should We End The Fed Or Goldman Sachs?"
The subject is something we have spoken about here. The Fed is under political pressure not to SAY or DO anything that would be perceived by the Administration or Wall Street as a derailment of the procedures seen as necessary to economic recovery.
The needs of politics and Wall Street are always in present time and not forward looking.
Armstrong points out the history of such events, but in my opinion there has never been a challenge to a central bank as serious as what is now in place.
Armstrong’s article can be accessed here…
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21767800/Is-America-On-The-Verge-Of-Another-Bank-War-Should-We-End-The-Fed-Or-Goldman-Sachs
The subject is something we have spoken about here. The Fed is under political pressure not to SAY or DO anything that would be perceived by the Administration or Wall Street as a derailment of the procedures seen as necessary to economic recovery.
The needs of politics and Wall Street are always in present time and not forward looking.
Armstrong points out the history of such events, but in my opinion there has never been a challenge to a central bank as serious as what is now in place.
Armstrong’s article can be accessed here…
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21767800/Is-America-On-The-Verge-Of-Another-Bank-War-Should-We-End-The-Fed-Or-Goldman-Sachs
Bipartisan Senate trio to explore different track on climate bill
Bipartisan Senate trio to explore different track on climate bill
Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., are working to get the 60 votes needed for the climate legislation to advance in the Senate. The senators are negotiating for some revisions to the legislation, including the addition of incentives for nuclear power that would "broaden the base of support," Kerry said. The New York Times/The Associated Press
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/04/us/politics/AP-US-Climate-Bill.html?scp=2&sq=Committee%20on%20Environment%20and%20Public%20Works&st=cse
Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., are working to get the 60 votes needed for the climate legislation to advance in the Senate. The senators are negotiating for some revisions to the legislation, including the addition of incentives for nuclear power that would "broaden the base of support," Kerry said. The New York Times/The Associated Press
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/04/us/politics/AP-US-Climate-Bill.html?scp=2&sq=Committee%20on%20Environment%20and%20Public%20Works&st=cse
GE lauds nuclear energy agreement between U.S., UAE
GE lauds nuclear energy agreement between U.S., UAE
The nuclear-power pact between the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates is a major opportunity for the expansion of civilian nuclear use in the region, said Jack Fuller, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy president and CEO. "The [United Arab Emirates] has shown strong leadership demonstrating the role nuclear energy plays in a diverse energy portfolio to address growing domestic demands for clean and cost-effective power generation for generations to come," Fuller added. United Press International
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2009/11/04/GE-hails-US-UAE-nuclear-deal/UPI-85151257361515/
The nuclear-power pact between the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates is a major opportunity for the expansion of civilian nuclear use in the region, said Jack Fuller, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy president and CEO. "The [United Arab Emirates] has shown strong leadership demonstrating the role nuclear energy plays in a diverse energy portfolio to address growing domestic demands for clean and cost-effective power generation for generations to come," Fuller added. United Press International
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2009/11/04/GE-hails-US-UAE-nuclear-deal/UPI-85151257361515/
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Entergy seeks alternative if nuclear spinoff fails
Entergy seeks alternative if nuclear spinoff fails
Entergy is considering spinning off its utility units into a single company should it fail to secure regulatory clearance in New York for a similar plan with its nuclear plants, according to Chairman and CEO J. Wayne Leonard. The move would achieve the same goal of dividing Entergy's regulated utility businesses from its nuclear facilities that sell power at market rates, Leonard said. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091103-713878.html?mod=dist_smartbrief
Entergy is considering spinning off its utility units into a single company should it fail to secure regulatory clearance in New York for a similar plan with its nuclear plants, according to Chairman and CEO J. Wayne Leonard. The move would achieve the same goal of dividing Entergy's regulated utility businesses from its nuclear facilities that sell power at market rates, Leonard said. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091103-713878.html?mod=dist_smartbrief
Progress CEO: More reactors needed to reach carbon-reduction goals
Progress CEO: More reactors needed to reach carbon-reduction goals
Progress Energy would have to construct about 12 nuclear plants by 2050 to meet the emissions caps required under climate-change measures pending in Congress. "If you just look at those carbon targets in Waxman-Markey or the Boxer bill, we would have to go a lot more than two nuclear plants in each system, maybe three times that," CEO Bill Johnson said. Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601130&sid=anSqykMAnLAY
Progress Energy would have to construct about 12 nuclear plants by 2050 to meet the emissions caps required under climate-change measures pending in Congress. "If you just look at those carbon targets in Waxman-Markey or the Boxer bill, we would have to go a lot more than two nuclear plants in each system, maybe three times that," CEO Bill Johnson said. Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601130&sid=anSqykMAnLAY
In Rural India, Resistance to Nuclear Plants Rama Lakshmi, The Washington Post
In Rural India, Resistance to Nuclear Plants
Rama Lakshmi, The Washington Post
Standing precariously on the thin edge of a newly dug well, Ajitbhai Narela looked out proudly at his groundnut and mango saplings.
Full Article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003611.html
Rama Lakshmi, The Washington Post
Standing precariously on the thin edge of a newly dug well, Ajitbhai Narela looked out proudly at his groundnut and mango saplings.
Full Article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003611.html
NKorea Says It Has Produced More Bomb-Making Plutonium Lim Chang-Won, Agence France-Presse
NKorea Says It Has Produced More Bomb-Making Plutonium
Lim Chang-Won, Agence France-Presse
North Korea announced Tuesday it has produced more plutonium for its atomic weapons programme, putting further pressure on the United States to start direct talks.
Full Article
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iK0YATGrpUt-wNvEwI9BErwg8CSA
Lim Chang-Won, Agence France-Presse
North Korea announced Tuesday it has produced more plutonium for its atomic weapons programme, putting further pressure on the United States to start direct talks.
Full Article
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iK0YATGrpUt-wNvEwI9BErwg8CSA
How Israel Destroyed Syria's Al Kibar Nuclear Reactor Erich Follath and Holger Stark, Der Spiegel
How Israel Destroyed Syria's Al Kibar Nuclear Reactor
Erich Follath and Holger Stark, Der Spiegel
In September 2007, Israeli fighter jets destroyed a mysterious complex in the Syrian desert. The incident could have led to war, but it was hushed up by all sides. Was it a nuclear plant and who gave the orders for the strike?
Full Article
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,658663,00.html
Erich Follath and Holger Stark, Der Spiegel
In September 2007, Israeli fighter jets destroyed a mysterious complex in the Syrian desert. The incident could have led to war, but it was hushed up by all sides. Was it a nuclear plant and who gave the orders for the strike?
Full Article
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,658663,00.html
Khamenei Says US 'Hiding a Dagger' in Talks with Iran Farhad Pouladi and Jay Deshmukh, Agence France-Presse
Khamenei Says US 'Hiding a Dagger' in Talks with Iran
Farhad Pouladi and Jay Deshmukh, Agence France-Presse
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashed out at the United States on Tuesday, saying Tehran will reject any talks backed by its arch-foe because Washington is not to be trusted.
Full Article
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gS_YG7DFPgQewQXAWQzpXHTpPvkw
Farhad Pouladi and Jay Deshmukh, Agence France-Presse
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashed out at the United States on Tuesday, saying Tehran will reject any talks backed by its arch-foe because Washington is not to be trusted.
Full Article
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gS_YG7DFPgQewQXAWQzpXHTpPvkw
Iran and the West at a Crossroad Deepti Choubey, YaleGlobal
Iran and the West at a Crossroad
Deepti Choubey, YaleGlobal
Efforts to allay concerns about Iran's nuclear program are in danger of failing. Last week, by offering counterproposals, Iran essentially refused the international community's proposal to fuel the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) as a confidence building measure. Iran's rejection, due to domestic reasons or miscalculation, means that its Supreme Leader feels no urgency to rebuild confidence with the international community.
Full Article
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=24078
Deepti Choubey, YaleGlobal
Efforts to allay concerns about Iran's nuclear program are in danger of failing. Last week, by offering counterproposals, Iran essentially refused the international community's proposal to fuel the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) as a confidence building measure. Iran's rejection, due to domestic reasons or miscalculation, means that its Supreme Leader feels no urgency to rebuild confidence with the international community.
Full Article
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=24078
Iran Brings Urgency to U.S.'s Need to Ratify Nuclear-Test Treaty
Iran Brings Urgency to U.S.'s Need to Ratify Nuclear-Test Treaty
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=24023
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=24023
Why We Don't Need to Resume Nuclear Testing: A Reply to Senator Jon Kyl's "Why We Need to Test Nuclear Weapons" Daryl G. Kimball, Proliferation Analys
Why We Don't Need to Resume Nuclear Testing: A Reply to Senator Jon Kyl's "Why We Need to Test Nuclear Weapons"
Daryl G. Kimball, Proliferation Analysis
CTBTTwenty years ago this month, the Berlin Wall came down, hastening the end of the Cold War. Less than three years later, Moscow and Washington agreed to halt nuclear testing. In 1996, after more than 2,000 nuclear test explosions, the world’s nations concluded the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in order to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and prevent the renewal of superpower nuclear arms competition.
Today, there is no technical or military reason to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing, and it is in the national security interest to help prevent nuclear weapons testing by others.
Full Article
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=24079
Daryl G. Kimball, Proliferation Analysis
CTBTTwenty years ago this month, the Berlin Wall came down, hastening the end of the Cold War. Less than three years later, Moscow and Washington agreed to halt nuclear testing. In 1996, after more than 2,000 nuclear test explosions, the world’s nations concluded the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in order to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and prevent the renewal of superpower nuclear arms competition.
Today, there is no technical or military reason to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing, and it is in the national security interest to help prevent nuclear weapons testing by others.
Full Article
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=24079
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