Missile Defense/Nuclear Cuts
Missile Gaffe Leaves Europe Unfazed
Stephen Fidler and Gordon Fairclough, Wall Street Journal – March 29, 2012
President Barack Obama roiled the U.S. election campaign when he was caught on a live microphone telling Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he would “have more flexibility” after his next election to deal with Moscow’s concerns over a planned European missile shield. But so far the comments have caused few ripples in Europe.
The Never-Ending Cold War
The New York Times – March 28, 2012
Two decades after the end of the cold war, Mitt Romney still considers Russia to be America’s “No. 1 geopolitical foe.” His comments display either a shocking lack of knowledge about international affairs or just craven politics. Either way, they are reckless and unworthy of a major presidential contender.
Reducing Nuclear Arms Is Not “Alarming.” It’s Necessary
Andrew Rosenthal, New York Times – March 28, 2012
A couple of readers have compared President Obama’s live-microphone remark about flexibility after the election to the Etch A Sketch line from Mitt Romney’s political adviser, and wondered why I came down harder on the latter than the former.
Across-the-Board Cuts Disarm Nation’s Defense
Sens. Kyl, Rubio, Ayotte, McCain, Graham, and Cornyn, Politico – March 28, 2012
We joined earlier this year to introduce a bill that replaces the across-the-board cuts imposed by the Budget Control Act — cuts to both defense and nondefense programs — with more responsible savings.
White House Corrects Romney, Says al Qaeda Top US Foe, Not Russia
Amie Parnes, The Hill – March 28, 2012
The White House took a swipe at Mitt Romney on Wednesday, two days after the GOP frontrunner took aim at Obama’s policies with Russia and called that country the U.S.’s “No. 1 geopolitical foe.”
No “Secret Deal” on Missile Defense, Pentagon Tells House
Carlo Munoz, The Hill – March 28, 2012
An Obama administration official on Wednesday said he was not aware of any “secret deal” made by the White House on missile defense as Republicans continued to hammer the president for his remarks to Russia’s leader on the issue.
Iran
Could Bombing Iran Push it to Build the Bomb?
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – March 28, 2012
Pre-emptive military strikes aimed at forcing Iran to abandon its nuclear activities may end up having the opposite effect: convincing the Islamic Republic’s leaders they need an atomic arsenal to secure their hold on power.
Senate Resolution on Iran May Be Bipartisan, But It Could Lead to War
Richard Klass, Christian Science Monitor – March 28, 2012
A Senate resolution on Iran is being touted by its bipartisan cosponsors as a way to “put to rest any suspicion” that the United States would acquiesce to a nuclear-capable Iran.
Kerry: Use Diplomacy to Stop Iran Making a “Mad Dash” to Nukes
Jeremy Herb, The Hill – March 28, 2012
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) said Wednesday that the United States needs to use “hard-nosed diplomacy” with Iran to stop Tehran from making “a mad dash” to nuclear weapons.
U.S., European Officials Probe Iran Nuclear Smuggling
Mark Hosenball, Reuters – March 28, 2012
A dramatic expansion in nuclear and military smuggling investigations should lead to a flood of new criminal cases, primarily against Iranian and Chinese middlemen, U.S. law enforcement officials said on Wednesday.
Korean Peninsula
Learning from North Korea
Malou Innocent and Doug Bandow, Inquirer – March 29, 2012
At the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul this week, two states were notably absent: Iran and North Korea. As international pariahs under heavy sanctions, the two countries have much in common but one important difference: North Korea possesses nuclear weapons, while Iran does not.
