SYRIA
Russia’s Putin warns of endless conflict in Syria
Alexei Anishchuk and Gabriela Baczynska, Reuters – December 20, 2012
Any solution to the conflict in Syria must ensure President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and his opponents do not simply swap roles and fight on forever, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
AFGHANISTAN
Karzai Welcomes British Pullout from Afghanistan
AP – December 20, 2012
The Afghan president on Thursday welcomed the withdrawal of nearly half of the British troops from Afghanistan next year, saying his forces were ready to take on defense of the country. A statement from Hamid Karzai’s office said the partial pull-out was an “appropriate” move as NATO forces hand over the war against the Taliban to the Afghan military.
NORTH KOREA
South Korean president-elect vows deeper North Korea engagement, but Pyongyang may be wary
AP – December 20, 2012
Park Geun-hye promises to reach out to North Korea with more humanitarian aid and deeper engagement after she moves into South Korea’s presidential Blue House on Feb. 25. Pyongyang, however, may be in no mood to talk anytime soon.
North Korean Satellite Malfunctioning, But Could Orbit For Years
Eric Talmadge, AP – December 18, 2012
North Korea says the satellite is working. U.S. officials have said it is tumbling in orbit, but even so, its successful launch into space marks a milestone in the impoverished country’s technological advances, especially given accusations that the rocket launch was actually a test of systems that could be used to launch long-range missiles targeting the U.S.
DEFENSE SPENDING
Defense bill bans funding for joint missile program
Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters – December 18, 2012
House of Representatives and Senate negotiators on Tuesday defied the White House and passed a defense budget bill that bans funding for the final year of a joint ground-based missile defense program with Italy and Germany.
IRAN
Iran’s Middle East neighbours ‘would not join a nuclear arms race’
Damien McElroy, The Telegraph – December 20, 2012
The assumption that states such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt would hastily push to acquire a nuclear deterrent if Iran emerged as an atomic weapons power has underpinned diplomatic efforts to stop Tehran’s nuclear programme. But Looking Beyond a Nuclear Iran, a new paper from Centre for Science and Security Studies at Kings College London, claims that all three states are in no position to unilaterally acquire nuclear weapons.
Russia hopes for nuclear talks with Iran next month
Reuters – December 20, 2012
Russia hopes the next round of six-power talks with Iran to resolve a protracted dispute over its atomic program will take place in January, RIA news agency reported on Thursday.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Fact Sheet: U.S. Nuclear Weapon Computer Simulations
Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance – December 20, 2012
Advances in simulation and computing capabilities, aided by investments in the science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), provide confidence in the ability to model and evaluate the performance and safety of nuclear weapons without nuclear explosive testing.
IRAN
Iran’s Middle East neighbours ‘would not join a nuclear arms race’
Damien McElroy, The Telegraph – December 20, 2012
The assumption that states such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt would hastily push to acquire a nuclear deterrent if Iran emerged as an atomic weapons power has underpinned diplomatic efforts to stop Tehran’s nuclear programme. But Looking Beyond a Nuclear Iran, a new paper from Centre for Science and Security Studies at Kings College London, claims that all three states are in no position to unilaterally acquire nuclear weapons.
Russia hopes for nuclear talks with Iran next month
Reuters – December 20, 2012
Russia hopes the next round of six-power talks with Iran to resolve a protracted dispute over its atomic program will take place in January, RIA news agency reported on Thursday.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Fact Sheet: U.S. Nuclear Weapon Computer Simulations
Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance – December 20, 2012
Advances in simulation and computing capabilities, aided by investments in the science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), provide confidence in the ability to model and evaluate the performance and safety of nuclear weapons without nuclear explosive testing.
