Council: Front and Center – July 6

An update on arms control, national security, and politics from Council for a Livable World and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. 

What’s News:

Final Iran Deal within Sight

The P5+1 negotiators are working around the clock to finalize the deal to prevent a nuclear armed-Iran by the July 7 extended deadline. By all accounts, they are very close. Meanwhile, the opposition is pouring millions into killing the deal before it’s even done. We can’t match their resources, but with the White House, our partners, and your help we can beat them by ensuring every member of Congress hears the facts about the deal—and the alternatives. Please stay tuned for ways you can take action!

Getting the Facts Straight
Struggling to discern what is fact and what is fiction? Don’t worry; our policy team has tackled eight common misconceptions about the deal in one easy factsheet. To go deeper, check out Council Board Member Jim Walsh’s masterful testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on why Congress should approve a deal that follows the framework. For more, read the letter we signed along with 36 other diverse organizations urging Members of Congress to support a good agreement.

Our First Endorsed Senate Candidates!
We’re proud to announce Council for a Livable World’s very first endorsed Senate candidates for the 2016 elections: Former Representative and Admiral Joe Sestak (D-Penn.), former Governor and Representative Ted Strickland (D-Ohio), Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Missouri Secretary of State and former U.S. Army captain Jason Kander (D-Mo.), Representative Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.), and former Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.).

The Council for a Livable World endorsement means you already know these candidates have strong, progressive positions on national security and foreign policy. Please learn more about these impressive leaders on our website.

Read:

A Response to Recklessness
In a recent USA Today article, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) makes his case for building new nuclear weapons to combat Russian aggression. Angela Canterbury penned her response to show how, “Thornberry is clearly trying to make nuclear weapons relevant, but spending billions on these weapons is like investing taxpayer dollars in VHS.” Read her full response on our website.

A Deal with Staying Power
The opposition to any deal is calling into question the longevity of the safeguards in the framework. Center Board Vice-Chair Colonel Richard Klass (USAF-Ret.) wrote an op-ed published in PilotOnline outlining how the final deal will in fact diminish Iran’s chances of building a nuclear weapon for years to come. Read the Colonel’s op-ed on our website.

Vulnerabilities of Nuclear Missiles include Cyber-Attacks
Think the Sony hack was bad? Imagine if a cyber-attack occurred on our nuclear missiles. That’s the argument made by General Cartwright, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who recently warned that when it comes to our nuclear weapons, cyber terrorism and human error are greater threats than a nuclear attack. Read more from summer intern Samantha Pitz on the Nukes of Hazard blog.

Review of HBO’s Newest Series, The Brink
We’re launching a weekly review of HBO’s newest series The Brink, which centers around security crises we work to avoid every day at the Council and Center. Starring Jack Black and Tim Robbins, The Brink is a geopolitical satire that’s sure to make you laugh and confront some of your deepest fears on nuclear weapons and foreign policy. Read reviews of episode one and episode two on the Nukes of Hazard blog!

Be Social:

Infographic: Bueller….Bueller…?
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has just launched a million-dollar ad campaign to block a deal to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. The kicker? He’s so deeply engaged on the issue that he skipped the last two Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on the Iran negotiations. We made an infographic to highlight this hypocrisy. Please retweet and share widely!