An update on arms control, national security & politics from Council for a Livable World and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
WHAT’S NEW:
Tell Congress, Skip Bibi’s Speech:
With Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress set for Tuesday, March 2nd, we are thrilled to have collected over 7,000 signatures pushing back on this inappropriate and blatantly partisan political stunt. We are well on our way to our goal of 10,000 signatures, but if you haven’t yet it’s not too late to add your name to our petition urging your member of Congress to skip the speech.
We will also be participating in a National Day of Action where groups across the country will mobilize activists just like you against the Netanyahu speech. Look for more information on Monday!
Iran Diplomacy Call
On Thursday, we hosted an invitation-only Iran Diplomacy Call for members of our Leadership Council. Council Board Member and Iran nuclear negotiations expert Dr. James Walsh of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Executive Director Angela Canterbury and Policy Director Laicie Heeley gave us their expert take on the status of the negotiations and the political landscape, including Israeli Prime Minster Netanyahu’s upcoming speech before Congress and efforts in Congress to derail diplomacy. Interested in joining the next special briefing? Contact Stephanie at advocacy@clw.org to learn how!
Analysis by Council National Advisory Board Member Colonel Richard Klass appeared in Roll Call this week where he discusses the prospects for a final nuclear deal with Iran, in addition to the foreseeable—and dangerous—aftermath should the negotiations fail. Read the Colonel’s op-ed on our website.
Watch Policy Director Laicie Heeley on MSNBC’s “The Ed Show” as she discusses Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s upcoming visit and why it is simply not the right time for the foreign leader to address Congress and make his case against the ongoing negotiations with Iran.
Wait… Nukes Cost HOW Much?
This week, Policy Director Laicie Heeley lent her budget expertise as a featured guest for two briefings. Laicie teamed up with Women’s Actions for New Directions (click to watch the WAND webinar here)and the Physicians for Social Responsibility (click to watch the PSR webinar here) to highlight excessive Pentagon and nuclear weapons spending.
READ:
Council Senior Fellow John Isaacs was interviewed for an article in Bloomberg View this week where he shared his take on what securing an Iran deal might do for President Obama’s legacy, and what it means for his successor. Read what John had to say here. [2/27]
It’s Tip Sheet Season Already!
If you think the 2016 elections are still in the distance, well, think again. Our staff has already begun previewing the Senate and House races that could overturn control of Congress. Read our latest update on the Chain Reaction blog, and be sure to stay up with the Council Blog for periodic developments on the 2016 races and candidates from our in-house pundit John Isaacs. [2/25]
No Surprises about This Year’s High Risk List
On the Nukes of Hazard Blog, Sarah Tully reports on the Government Accountability Office’s 2015 “High Risk List.” Unsurprisingly, the Department of Energy’s contract management and weapons acquisition failures made the naughty list—again, as they have for the past 25 years. [2/19]
LISTEN:
The Failure of Military Solutions
If anyone knows the failures of U.S. involvement in the Middle East, it’s Council Board Member and Afghanistan war veteran Matthew Hoh. In an interview with Between the Lines, Hoh describes the pitfalls within President Obama’s request for an Authorization for Use of Military Force from earlier this month.Click here to listen to the whole interview. [2/18]
MORE FROM OUR RESEARCH CENTER:
What Is the US Spending to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism?
Scoville Fellow Greg Terryn and Research and Policy Associate Sarah Tully provide an in-depth analysis of the president’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget requests for Defense Nuclear Non-Proliferation (i.e., programs to prevent nuclear terrorism). Click here for an overview of how the FY 16 numbers stack up against previous years’ funding, click here for a breakdown of where the money went, or read an overview of both factsheets on the Nukes of Hazard Blog. [2/24]
