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:
Iran’s Nuclear ‘Dirty Laundry’ Laid Out for World to See
As an early step in implementing the Iran nuclear agreement reached this summer, the international nuclear watchdog organization has completed its investigation of the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear past. Unsurprisingly, the investigation confirmed what U.S. intelligence agencies have long assumed: Iran has explored a nuclear weapons program in the past but did not get very far and has abandoned such work. With that obstacle cleared, Iran must now continue to live up to its obligations under the nuclear agreement in order to convince the international community that it will not seek to acquire a nuclear weapon in the future. A complete analysis from Council for a Livable World’s Policy Analyst Greg Terryn is available here »
New Candidate Endorsements!
As the race to 2016 heats up, Council for a Livable World has endorsed four new candidates. For the House of Representatives, we’re backing Michael Eggman (D) in California’s 10th District and Jim Mowrer in Iowa’s 3rd District. For the Senate, we’re supporting Catherine Cortez Masto (D) in Nevada and Maggie Hassan (D) in New Hampshire. Learn more about Michael, Jim, Catherine, Maggie and the rest of our endorsed Senate candidates »
A Four-Star Charity!
We have exciting news: our sister organization, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, has recently earned a 4-Star Rating on Charity Navigator! With this new rating, the Center has joined a select group of high-performing non-profit organizations. It’s important that Council and Center supporters know our commitment not only to our mission of reducing the threats of war and nuclear weapons, but also to responsible budgeting, efficiency, and accountability. Visit the Center’s profile to learn more »
Updates on our Board of Directors
Congratulations are in order for two of the Council and Center’s board members. In recent weeks, Council Board Treasurer Scott Allen was confirmed as the U.S. Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Meanwhile Center Board Member Phil Coyle was recently appointed to the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Advisory Committee.
A Sad Farewell to Board Member David Cohen
David Cohen, Board Member and longtime friend of the Council for a Livable World, passed away on Nov. 29. Cohen, who served as president of Common Cause, was widely regarded as a pioneer of lobbying for the public interest. He was passionate about nuclear disarmament, and played an especially important role in building coalitions in support of the Iran nuclear agreement this past summer. He will be sorely missed by all. You can read an obituary for David Cohen in both the Washington Post and in the New York Times »
Read:
Nuke Plans for the Nuclear Cruise Missile, Mr. President
In a recent op-ed for US News, Center Board Member Lt. Gen. Robert Gard and Policy Analyst Sarah Tully urge President Obama to live up to his arms control promises by scrapping plans for a new nuclear cruise missile. Read the op-ed here »
Loopholes at the Pentagon: Big Enough to Fly A Bomber Through
From the Overseas Contingency Operations account to a new submarine slush fund, budget gimmicks at the Department of Defense are spreading like a disease. With the contract for a new and unaffordable bomber recently made final, will the Air Force be next? Read Policy Analyst Sarah Tully’s take in her recent op-ed for the National Interest »
Dishing Out Revenge
As a decorated Air Force veteran, Colonel Richard Klass knows the cost of rash entries into conflict. In this opinion piece, Col. Klass reviews the President’s strategy against the Islamic State and urges a cold calculation of the conflict instead of instinctive and costly overreaction. Read from Col. Klass on the Nukes of Hazard Blog »
Top 5 Pentagon Money Guzzlers
With programs like a $43 million gas station in Afghanistan or a $3 billion runaway blimp, it’s no wonder the Pentagon can’t complete an audit. Read the top five most egregiously wasteful Pentagon programs from our policy analysts on the Nukes of Hazard Blog »
“I’ll be so good at the military, your head will spin” – Donald Trump
When it comes to defense, the GOP presidential race is a game of rhetorical one-upping and out-hawking. There’s a clear consensus that the Pentagon’s half-trillion-dollar budget must be increased–but to what extent do they disagree? Read this breakdown of each candidate’s prescriptions for the Pentagon budget from intern Doug Tomlinson »
Be Social:
The race to 2016 is kicking into high gear, and so are we. Take a look at our key races map and you’ll see that CLW has endorsed candidates in the states needed to take back the Senate. Please help us share it on Facebook!
