Council for a Livable World

Political action to reduce nuclear threats

  • Elections
    • Senate Victories
    • House Victories
    • Political Analysis
    • Who We’ve Helped Elect
  • Legislation
    • Key National Security Legislation
    • National Security Legislative Calendar
    • Legislative Achievements
  • Take Action
    • Avoiding Oppenheimer’s Nuclear Nightmare in Our Current Reality
    • Twin Threats: Climate Change and Nuclear War
    • Issues
    • Join Our Email List
    • Become a Member
  • About
    • Staff
    • Press
    • Newsletter
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Council: Front and Center / Council: Front and Center: September 18, 2021

September 18, 2021

Council: Front and Center: September 18, 2021

RETHINKING SECURITY IN THE POST-9/11 WORLD

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a day that changed the trajectory of world history in ways that we are still coming to terms with. In this special episode of Nukes of Hazard, host Geoff Wilson talks to Executive Director and former Congressman John Tierney about his experience in Congress post-9/11, his work to redress some of the worst policies that came out of these tragic events, and how we must reframe the way we think about national security going forward. Listen to Nukes of Hazard online or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can also learn more about Senior Policy Director John Erath’s September 11 experience from inside the Pentagon on our blog, along with his reflections on remembering that day: “The best way to remember the almost 3,000 people who died on September 11 is to continue to use all means available, not just force, but diplomacy, freedom of speech and dialogue, to minimize the possibility that similar attacks will occur.”

 

WHAT’S BENEATH THE SURFACE OF AUSTRALIA’S DECISION TO BUILD NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINES 

While the news that the United States plans to help Australia build and operate nuclear submarines has recently made headlines, the real story may be the one remaining below the (metaphorical) surface, writes Senior Policy Director John Erath in his latest blog post. There are cost and proliferation concerns, and this move could set a bad precedent for other non-nuclear weapons states.

 

REVELATIONS UNDERLINE URGENT NEED TO REFORM NUCLEAR LAUNCH AUTHORITY

Advance revelations from Bob Woodard and Robert Costa’s forthcoming book have once again brought to the surface questions about the outdated command and control system for nuclear weapons. Given the extreme consequences of any use of such weapons, it should be time to begin updating the process by which decisions are made to eliminate any possible misuse or mistake.

 

PROMISING COOPERATION BETWEEN IRAN AND NUCLEAR INSPECTORS

There has been no sign as to when nuclear talks with Iran may recommence, but after weeks of consultations, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency have reached a deal on “the way and the timing” for UN inspectors to service cameras installed at Iran’s nuclear facilities. This deal keeps the prospects of reviving the Iran nuclear deal alive and is the first real sign of cooperative engagement by Iran since Ebrahim Raisi has come to power. Writing in War on the Rocks, research analyst Samuel Hickey co-writes that “the question now is how the hardliners, after taking control of the government, will deal with the consequences of their December law and other escalatory moves. The ball is in Tehran’s court, and there is little that Biden and the rest of the world can do besides hold their ground and wait to see what the regime decides.”

Hickey also joined the podcast Arab Talk to discuss his recent piece in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and how Iran’s research reactors prove the nuclear deal is still working.

 

BREAKING DOWN THE JARGON: NUCLEAR PROGRAMS, URANIUM AND PLUTONIUM

According to the Critical Issues poll done by the University of Maryland, a large majority of Americans across the political spectrum believe that Iran possesses nuclear weapons. It does NOT. Iran conducts nuclear research — contrary to its international commitments — into technologies with weapons applications, but it has not yet taken steps into weaponization. Research analyst Samuel Hickey breaks down the jargon and discusses how the confusion has arisen in part because terms such as uranium enrichment, plutonium separation and fuel cycle have slipped into the common lexicon, cropping up in news stories, political speeches made by Members of Congress and the President, and even in political advertisements. Some are trying to educate while others are trying to horrify for political gain.

 

TOP GENERAL ARGUES FOR PENTAGON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Gen. John Hyten said Congress can help cut wasteful Pentagon spending by eliminating out-of-date weapons programs and enacting the Pentagon budget on time. The Council agrees. With our sister organization, the Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation, we have just published our accounting of the recent House Armed Services Pentagon budget mark-up and relevant amendments that will affect U.S. nuclear posture in the year to come. The bill, which originally clocked in at $743 billion, now authorizes $777.9 billion, a big increase from the last Trump budget of $740.7 billion. This is an outrageous amount of spending, more than even during the peak periods of the Vietnam and Korean wars, all in a year when the United States is ending its longest war by bringing troops home from Afghanistan.

 

COUNCIL MOURNS LOSS OF PHILIP COYLE

Council for a Livable World is mourning the loss of Philip Coyle, a long-time friend and supporter, who died earlier this month. Coyle was a member of the Board of the Council’s sister organization, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, and was a renowned missile defense and national security expert. You can learn more about him in our statement.

 

FIRST ENDORSED CANDIDATES COMING SOON

Council for a Livable World will be announcing our first endorsed Congressional candidates of the 2022 cycle in October. Last year, we raised $1.5 million to help candidates who believe in smart reductions to Pentagon spending, prioritizing diplomacy over conflict, and reducing the risks of nuclear war.

 

YOUR CHANGE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

Want an easy way to give back to the Council? Round up your change to change the world! Every time you make a purchase on the selected debit/credit card you enroll, the system will round up to the next dollar. The change is then donated to the Council collectively once per month. Enroll on our website: follow the prompts to register the debit/credit card you would like to use to participate.

 

Posted in: Council: Front and Center

Recent Posts

  • An Early Look at the 2026 Senate Elections May 9, 2025
  • Shawn Rostker: ‘Quiet diplomacy is likely happening, even if the public posture is more restrained’ May 7, 2025
  • Council: Front and Center: April 21, 2025 April 21, 2025
  • Council: Front and Center: March 22, 2025 March 22, 2025
  • STATEMENT ON TRUMP-ZELENSKYY OVAL OFFICE MEETING February 28, 2025
Council for a Livable World logo

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.543.4100

Elections

  • Meet The Candidates
  • Senate Candidates
  • House Candidates
  • Who We’ve Helped Elect

Legislation

  • Key National Security Legislation
  • National Security Legislative Calendar
  • Legislative Achievements

Take Action

  • Issues
  • Join Our Email List
  • Become a Member

About

  • History & Mission
  • Staff
  • Press
  • Newsletter
  • Boards & Experts
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2025 Council for a Livable World
Privacy Policy