IRAN
Weapons-Grade Confusion: The Danger of Misreading Our Nuclear Adversaries
Patrick Disney, The Atlantic – October 4, 2011.
Miscommunication and mutual mistrust almost led us into an unwanted war with the Soviet Union – are we making similar mistakes with Iran today?
Iran Uranium Proposal Faces U.S. Skepticism
Global Security Newswire – October 3, 2011
The United States on Friday questioned Iran’s stated willingness to halt production of higher-enriched uranium if it received the material from Western powers, Agence France-Presse reported
NORTH KOREA
N.Korea rejects preconditions for nuclear talks
AFP – October 4, 2011
North Korea on Tuesday rejected US preconditions for a resumption of long-stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks, saying Washington is trying to shift the blame for the failure to restart dialogue.
S.Korea abandons bid to send flood aid to North
AFP – October 4, 2011
South Korea said Tuesday it had abandoned efforts to send flood relief to North Korea after Pyongyang failed to respond to Seoul’s offer, amid disagreement over what kind of aid to send.
LIBYA
Libyan Weapons Depot Unguarded, Open to Looters
Global Security Newswire – October 3, 2011
A major ammunition complex in Libya is unsecured, allowing looters to walk in and steal guided missiles, rockets and artillery shells capable of dispersing chemical warfare agents, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday
UNITED STATES
U.S. sees missile defence deal with Russia by May
Steve Gutterman, Reuters – October 3, 2011
The U.S. ambassador to Russia was quoted on Monday as saying he was confident Russia and NATO would reach an agreement by May to cooperate on missile defence despite Moscow’s statements that the former foes are far from a deal.
GOP, Dems fight over whether debt deal really mandates $350B in Pentagon cuts
John T. Bennett, The Hill – October 3, 2011
Republicans and Democrats are fighting intensely over the true size of the defense spending cuts made under the August debt deal. Both sides agree the oft-mentioned and widely reported $350 billion figure is nowhere to be found in the Budget Control Act and that it became conventional wisdom because of a fact sheet put out by the White House. But all agreements end there.
Panetta Seeks to Avert Israel’s Regional ‘Isolation’ as Peace Talks Stall
Viola Gienger and Jonathan Ferziger, Bloomberg – October 3, 2011
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on a Middle East mission to reverse what he called Israel’s increasing isolation, as peace talks remain stalled and tensions with Turkey and Egypt escalate.
Pentagon: Budget pinch to exclude some priorities
Lolita C. Baldor, AP – October 3, 2011
Even as the Pentagon makes more than $450 billion in budget cuts over the coming decade, spending on the military’s cyber programs and elite counterterrorism forces is likely to remain stable or even increase, the Pentagon’s second-ranking official said in an Associated Press interview.
