IRAN
Pakistan starts work on Iranian gasline opposed by U.S.
Marcus George, Reuters – March 11, 2013
The presidents of Iran and Pakistan marked the start of Pakistani construction on a much-delayed gas pipeline on Monday, Iranian media reported, despite U.S. pressure on Islamabad to back out of the project. Dubbed the “peace pipeline”, the $7 billion project has faced repeated delays since it was conceived in the 1990s to connect Iran’s giant South Pars gas field to India via Pakistan.
Opinion: No Alternative to Negotiations
James M. Acton and Pierre Goldschmidt, The National Interest – March 11, 2013
Despite many critics’ opposition to continued nuclear negotiation with Iran, none have proposed an alternative beyond military action.
NORTH KOREA
North Korea cuts off hotline to South as US-South Korea war games begin
Arthur Bright, Christian Science Monitor – March 11, 2013
As the United States and South Korea launched its two-week long “Key Resolve” war games today, North Korea followed through on two of its threatened responses – cutting off a hotline and “blowing apart” the armistice between North and South. South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, confirmed this morning that the hotline between Pyongyang and Seoul appears to have been cut off, reports Agence France-Presse.
Editorial: Let’s not stoop to North Korea’s level
The Hankyoreh – March 11, 2013
At a time of increased tension on the Korean Peninsula, it is imperative that the South Korean government responds firmly to North Korean provocations while also keeping its cool to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
China’s foreign minister says NK sanctions are “not a fundamental solution”
Seong Yeong-cheol, The Hankyoreh – March 11, 2013
After having pledged to fully enforce expanded measures, comments appear to cast doubt on China playing a key role in sanctions.
UNITED STATES
Cuts Give Obama Path to Create Leaner Military
David E. Sanger and Thom Shanker, The New York Times – March 10, 2013
At a time when $46 billion in mandatory budget cuts are causing anxiety at the Pentagon, administration officials see one potential benefit: there may be an opening to argue for deep reductions in programs long in President Obama’s sights, and long resisted by Congress.
Verifying Nuclear Limits
Thomas Moore, Arms Control Wonk – March 10, 2013
An analysis of the diplomatic and political issues of U.S.-Russia joint nuclear limitations.
MISSILE DEFENSE
Russian, British ministers to discuss missile defense, Middle east, Iran
Russia Beyond the Headlines – March 11, 2013
The Russian foreign and defense ministers and the British secretaries of state for defense and foreign affairs will meet in London on Wednesday to discuss European security issues, including the prospects of interaction on the architecture of the European missile defense, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Monday.
Integrating European Radars with AEGIS/SM-3 Missile Defenses
Tamir Eshel, Defense Update – March 11, 2013
Joint US and European testing of command, control, communications and radar systems are underway to demonstrate the feasibility of integration of European radars and command and control systems into a future missile defense systems, based on the planned European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA). The test utilizes the several AEGIS destroyers or cruisers to be based in Spain, land-based SM-3 interceptors to be stationed in Romania and Poland, along with SPY-2 radars sites.
