Iran
‘No Progress’ in Iran Nuclear Talks, U.N. Inspectors Report
Alan Cowell, New York Times – June 8, 2012
After a brief spurt of optimism, impetus toward resolving the nuclear dispute with Iran slowed further on Friday as senior inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog said they had made “no progress” toward gaining access to restricted sites they suspect of being used to test potential triggers for nuclear warheads.
U.S. “disappointed” by failure of Iran-IAEA atom talks
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – June 10, 2012
The IAEA and Iran failed at talks on Friday to unblock an investigation into suspected atom bomb research by the Islamic state, a setback dimming any chances for success in higher-level negotiations between Tehran and major powers later this month… “We’re disappointed,” Robert Wood, the acting U.S. envoy to the IAEA, told Reuters in an emailed comment. “Yesterday’s outcome highlights Iran’s continued failure to abide by its commitment to the IAEA, and further underscores the need for it to work with the IAEA to address international community’s real concerns,” he said.
North Korea
U.S. remains open for talks with N. Korea: Zumwalt
Lee Chi-dong, Yonhap News – June 6, 2012
A U.S. diplomat handling Korea affairs said Wednesday that Washington is willing to “constructively engage” with Pyongyang if it ceases provocation. Jim Zumwalt, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, stressed that the U.S. is not interested in talks for the sake of talks.
North Korea: No plan for nuclear test ‘at present’
BBC – June 9, 2012
North Korea says it has no plans to conduct a third nuclear test “at present”, but has hit out at what it says is provocation from South Korea.
Afghanistan
Allies Restrict Airstrikes on Taliban in Civilian Homes
Eric Schmitt, New York Times – June 11, 2012
The senior allied commander in Afghanistan has ordered new restrictions on airstrikes against Taliban fighters who hide in residential homes, coalition officials said Sunday, a move in response to a NATO attack in the eastern part of the country last week that Afghan officials say killed 18 civilians.
Defense Spending
Editorial: Nuclear Time Warp
New York Times – June 10, 2012
Did House Republicans somehow miss the end of the cold war? At a time when, for the sake of both security and fiscal responsibility, the country should be reducing its nuclear arsenal, the House has approved a defense authorization bill for 2013 that threatens to freeze the number of weapons at current levels and, over time, waste billions of dollars on unnecessary purchases and programs.
