IRAN
Israel teams with terror group to kill Iran’s nuclear scientists: U.S. officials
Richard Engel and Robert Windrem, NBC News – February 10, 2012
Deadly attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists are being carried out by an Iranian dissident group that is financed, trained and armed by Israel’s secret service, U.S. officials tell NBC News, confirming charges leveled by Iran’s leaders.
Hill resolution could harm diplomatic efforts, critics say
Byron Tau and Josh Gerstein, Politico – February 9, 2012
A bipartisan resolution being circulated on Capitol Hill is raising concerns that it’s designed to ratchet up the pressure on the Obama administration for a military response against Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
Bomb Iran? Nearly half of Americans say ‘yes’ to halt nuclear program
Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor – February 9, 2012
Nearly half of Americans now say they would bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities to stop its uranium enrichment in order to halt its advances toward an ability to build a nuclear weapon – even as President Obama touts diplomacy as still the best means of addressing the Iranian nuclear issue.
KOREAN PENINSULA
Pyongyang’s leadership change poses “even greater” security challenges: U.S. commander
Lee Chi-dong, Yonhap News Agency – February 9, 2012
The nominee to head U.S. troops in the Asia-Pacific area said Thursday that North Korea’s leadership change adds to regional security concerns on top of the possibility of the communist regime using weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
MIDDLE EAST
Saudi Arabia threatens to go nuclear ‘in weeks’ if Iran gets bomb
Australian News – February 10, 2012
While Riyadh signed an agreement with the US in 2008 stating that it would only pursue nuclear power for civil purposes, the Saudi government is likely to abandon the deal if Tehran had a nuclear bomb, reported The Times.
UNITED STATES
U.S. Air Force chief wants affordable new bomber
Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters – February 9, 2012
Affordability will be a deciding factor in the U.S. Air Force’s drive to develop a new long-range bomber, the top general in the service said on Thursday, underscoring that he was not looking for an “extravagant” design.
Bunker-Buster Bomb Improvements Sought by Pentagon Win Approval
Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg Businessweek – February 9, 2012
The Pentagon won congressional approval to shift $81.6 million in funds improve the military’s largest conventional weapon, the 30,000-pound Boeing Co. Massive Ordnance Penetrator, known as the bunker-buster bomb.
