Iran
U.S. Says Iran Plans to Disrupt Oil Trade
Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal – July 19, 2012
U.S. government officials, citing new intelligence, said Iran has developed plans to disrupt international oil trade, including through attacks on oil platforms and tankers.
Missile Defense
China Warns of Response to U.S. Missile Defense
Global Security Newswire – July 19, 2012
The United States’ continued missile defense activities might force China to update its nuclear armaments, Reuters quoted a high-level Chinese military official as saying on Wednesday.
US ‘building missile defense station in Qatar’
AFP – July 18, 2012
The Pentagon is building a missile defense radar station at a covert location in Qatar, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
Defense Spending
Amendments to 2013 DOD bill finished, House to pass bill Thursday
Pere Kasperowicz, The Hill – July 19, 2012
The House concluded amendment work on H.R. 5856, the 2013 Defense Department spending bill, and was set to pass the bill Thursday night, a day earlier than GOP leaders originally planned.
Nuclear Weapons
Trimming nukes
The Salt Lake Tribune – July 20, 2012
How low can the U.S. strategic arsenal be reduced while still maintaining enough deterrent strength to dissuade any enemy from even thinking about launching a nuclear attack on the United States?
Cybersecurity
Taking the Cyberattack Threat Seriously
Barack Obama, Wall Street Journal – July 19, 2012
It doesn’t take much to imagine the consequences of a successful cyber attack. In a future conflict, an adversary unable to match our military supremacy on the battlefield might seek to exploit our computer vulnerabilities here at home.