U.S.
China Wants “Drastic” U.S., Russia Nuclear Arms Cuts
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – April 30, 2012
China called on the United States and Russia on Monday to make further “drastic” cuts in their nuclear arsenals and said all states with atomic arms should undertake not to be the first to use them.
Sorting Through the Defense Distortions
Walter Pincus, Washington Post – April 30, 2012
A Republican conference call on Thursday, titled “President Obama’s Failed Foreign Policy,” got me to thinking: How can voters hear an honest debate on national security and foreign policy issues in the presidential campaign when candidates or their supporters provide false or misleading information?
NATO Confident About Missile Shield
Associated Press – April 30, 2012
NATO’s top official on Monday defended the alliance’s plan for a shield against ballistic missiles in Europe, insisting the system is on track despite two U.S. reports that describe it as over budget and plagued by technical problems.
What if Realists Were in Charge of U.S. Foreign Policy?
Stephen Walt, Foreign Policy – April 30, 2012
Since the end of the Cold War, U.S. foreign policy has been largely run by a coalition of neoconservatives and liberal internationalists. Both groups favor a highly activist foreign policy intended to spread democracy, defend human rights, prevent proliferation, and maintain American dominance, by force if necessary. Both groups are intensely hostile to so-called “rogue states,” comfortable using American power to coerce or overthrow weaker powers, and convinced that America’s power and political virtues entitle it to lead the world. The main difference between the two groups is that neoconservatives are hostile to international institutions like the United Nations (which they see as a constraint on America’s freedom of action), whereas liberal interventionists believe these institutions can be an important adjunct to American power. Thus, liberal interventionists are just “kinder, gentler neocons,” while neocons just “liberal interventionists on steroids.”
Senate Follows House with More Questions About Construction of Savannah River Site’s MOX Plant
Rob Pavey, Augusta Chronicle – April 30, 2012
U.S. Senate budget writers followed their House counterparts this week with questions about the rising costs of the mixed oxide fuel plant under construction at Savannah River Site.
States See Court Action on Yucca Nuclear-Waste Dump
James Rosen, McClatchy News – April 30, 2012
Federal judges are again being asked to solve a difficult problem that lawmakers can’t fix: the decades-old morass of how to handle tons of nuclear waste lying in temporary storage around the country.
Iran
Israeli Defense Minister Keeps All Options Open on Iran
Jodi Rudoren, New York Times – April 30, 2012
The Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, said Monday night that the international talks on the Iranian nuclear program do “not fill me with confidence,” reiterating his hard-line position about all options — including an independent Israeli attack — remaining on the table, despite mounting criticism from the security establishment here and a growing sense abroad that a diplomatic solution may be possible.
Israel’s Leaders Increasingly Isolated on Iran
Alexander Marquardt, ABC News – April 30, 2012
The past week has seen stinging rejections by former top officials of the war footing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have put Israel on with regards to Iran.
Korean Peninsula
Japanese Leader Says North Korea is Likely to Conduct Nuclear Test After Failed Launch
Carole E. Lee and Yuka Hayashi, Wall Street Journal – April 30, 2012
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said there was a “great possibility” that North Korea would follow its recent rocket launch with a nuclear test in the near future in what would be a duplication of prior moves.
