IRAN
AP Exclusive: New intelligence on Iran nuke work
George Jahn, Boston Globe – September 11, 2012
The U.N. atomic agency has received new and significant intelligence over the past month that Iran has moved further toward the ability to build a nuclear weapon, diplomats tell The Associated Press.They say the intelligence shows that Iran has advanced its work on calculating the destructive power of an atomic warhead through a series of computer models that it ran sometime within the past three years.
Israeli Leader Sharpens Call on U.S. to Set Limits on Iran
Isabel Kershner and Rick Gladstone, New York Times – September 11, 2012
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel harshly criticized the Obama administration on Tuesday over recent statements that the United States would not set deadlines or draw “red lines” for Iran over its disputed uranium enrichment activities, calling such comments a signal to the Iranians that they could build atomic bombs with impunity.
Iran sanctions exceed expectations but still don’t change Tehran’s behavior
Robert Windrem, NBC News – September 11, 2012
The latest data on the quantitative success of the sanctions comes from an economics research firm, the Rhodium Group of New York. In a paper published last week, Rhodium said that customs data from around the world show both Iranian oil exports and revenues have dropped precipitously
“Secret” Syria strike helps Israel signal resolve on Iran
Dan Williams, Reuters – September 11, 2012
An Israeli cabinet minister on Tuesday invoked his country’s ostensibly secret 2007 air raid on an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor to suggest Israel could successfully strike Iran without U.S. support.
Powers to voice deep concern about Iran nuclear advance
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – September 11, 2012
Six world powers at a U.N. nuclear meeting are set to voice deep concern about Iran’s expanded uranium enrichment and urge it to open up to investigations, diplomats said on Tuesday, in search of a breakthrough to head off a risk of Israeli military action.They said the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany had agreed a joint text on Iran’s nuclear programme that could be submitted as a resolution to this week’s meeting of the 35-nation governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), or take the lesser form of a statement.
NORTH KOREA
North Korea nuclear progress worries IAEA
UPI – September 11, 2012
The North Korean government has made considerable advancements during construction of a light-water nuclear reactor, the IAEA said. Last month, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists stated the completion of a tunnel near the site of North Korea’s first nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 suggested Pyongyang might be preparing for another test.
MISSILE DEFENSE
U.S. Missile Defense Strategy Is Flawed, Expert Panel Finds
William J. Broad, New York Times – September 11, 2012
After two years of study, a panel of top scientists and military experts working for the National Research Council has concluded that the nation’s protections against missile attack suffer from major shortcomings, leaving the United States vulnerable to long-range strikes.
Missile defense funding decision a step in right direction
Pete Sepp, The Hill – September 11, 2012
It’s never acceptable to waste precious tax dollars, but in today’s fiscal environment, the Armed Services must be especially careful to follow the words of former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen and, “steward every dollar that we have.” That’s why taxpayers should be encouraged by the Senate Appropriations Committee’s decision in early August to concentrate funding for a critical missile defense program – the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) – on near-term capable systems with cost-stability. Hopefully other Congressional defense leaders will recognize the wisdom of this action.
DEFENSE SPENDING
House Republicans Push Military Spending On 9/11 Anniversary
Rebecca Berg, BuzzFeed – September 11, 2012
Even as they honored the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks Tuesday morning, House Republican leaders used the anniversary to hammer President Barack Obama over looming cuts to defense spending, warning the cuts would cripple the country’s national security.
We Can Afford to Spend More, and We Need To
Thomas Donnelly, New York Times Opinion – September 9, 2012
To be sure, the federal government’s finances are a mess. But what’s destroying the balance sheet is the growth of entitlements and other forms of “mandatory” spending, not military spending. The facts are that the Pentagon consumes about 20 percent of federal spending and less than 5 percent of gross domestic product; mandatory spending is about 60 percent of federal spending and getting close to 15 percent of G.D.P. Thanks to slow economic growth and us aging baby boomers, those pie slices are getting ever bigger.
6 ways to keep our nation safe, trim the budget
Robert Maginnis, Human Events – September 11, 2012
House Armed Services Committee chairman Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) accuses President Barack Obama of playing politics with looming catastrophic defense cuts of $492 billion that start January 2, 2013. There is a principled way to avoid this political train wreck and at the same time streamline our armed forces.
AFGHANISTAN
3 Afghans killed, NATO chopper destroyed in attack on U.S.-run base
Los Angeles Times – September 11, 2012
Insurgents fired on a giant U.S.-run airbase north of the capital, destroying a NATO helicopter and killing three members of the Afghan security forces, the Western military said Tuesday. Two NATO service members were injured.