Iran
Gates: Proceed Warily on Iran
Lisa Hostein, Jewish Exponent – March 21, 2012
Former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has joined the chorus of past and current officials warning that a military strike against Iran could produce dire consequences. “If you think the war in Iraq was hard, an attack on Iran would, in my opinion, be a catastrophe,” he said in a keynote speech to some 400 donors at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s campaign event last week.
Official: Israel, US disagree on Iran timetable
Associated Press – March 22, 2012
Israel’s defense minister says Israel and the United States disagree on what would be a realistic timetable for stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Ehud Barak told Israel Radio on Thursday that the U.S. would have more time than Israel to consider a strike against Iran because of superior military capabilities.
Korean Peninsula
North Korea Warns It Will Not Tolerate Criticism at Nuclear Forum
Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times – March 21, 2012
As global leaders prepared to travel to Seoul for a nuclear security summit meeting, North Korea warned on Wednesday that any criticism of its nuclear weapons program would be considered a “declaration of war.”
Pentagon Suspends Efforts To Recover Remains Of Troops In North Korea
William Wan, Associated Press – March 22, 2012
The Pentagon has suspended efforts to recover the remains of U.S. troops in North Korea, officials said Wednesday, the latest indication that recently negotiated agreements between the two countries are at risk of falling apart.
Afghanistan
U.S. on track for Afghan deal by NATO summit: Clinton
Arshad Mohammad and Jackie Frank, Reuters – March 21, 2012
The United States said on Wednesday it appears to be on track to sign a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan charting their future relations during or before a late May NATO summit.
Non-Proliferation
US says 5 nations clear out weapons-grade uranium
Douglas Birch, Boston Globe – March 22, 2012
The U.S. has helped five nations completely clear out their stocks of highly enriched uranium since President Barack Obama outlined his plans for securing all weapons-usable materials worldwide, officials say, citing it as progress in the administration’s efforts to prevent nuclear weapons from getting in terrorists’ hands.
