NORTH KOREA
North Korea May Be Expanding Their Nuclear Arsenal More Than Anyone Imagined
Joshua Berlinger, Business Insider – October 24, 2012
North Korea might be increasing the “size and sophistication,” of its nuclear arsenal, according to a report published on 38 North. The report, authored by David Albright and Christina Walrond of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), evaluated three different explanations as to why North Korea might be upping its nuclear capabilities.
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un still a mystery, Leon Panetta says
NBC News – October 25, 2012
Whether North Korea’s new leader will follow the dangerous path of his father is unclear, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday, despite worrying behavior by the reclusive state during Kim Jong Un’s first year in power. “The bottom line is we still don’t know whether or not he will simply follow in the steps of his father or whether he represents a different kind of leadership for the future,” Panetta said, flanked by South Korea’s defense chief at a Pentagon news conference.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Why Israel Should Trade Its Nukes
Uri-Bar Joseph, Foreign Affairs – October 25, 2012
Israel does not need its nuclear arsenal to remain the strongest power in the Middle East. It can make good use of the stockpile, however, by offering it up as a bargaining chip to end Iran’s nuclear program.
Scottish independence: MPs call for nuclear weapon deal
BBC News – October 24, 2012
MPs have called for the UK and Scottish governments to reach a deal on nuclear weapons before the 2014 referendum. The Commons Scottish Affairs Committee said it should be made clear what will happen if Scots vote for independence. They warned the SNP policy of removing Trident from the Clyde could result in enforced nuclear disarmament for the rest of the UK.
IRAN
GOP Rep Says Strike On Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Would Not Be An Act Of War
Ben Armbruster, ThinkProgress – October 24, 2012
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on CNN last night that neither he, nor the Iranians, would consider an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities an act of war. Rogers said that he believed there are options “short of war” that could prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and, strangely, CNN host Erin Burnett wondered if bombing suspected nuclear weapons facilities would be an option that is “short of war.” While Rogers at first appeared taken aback by Burnett’s odd question, he then went a bit further, saying definitively that such an attack would indeed be “short of war” and the Iranians would see it that way too.
Sanctions are pushing Iran towards nuclear talks, just not US sanctions
Heidi Moore, The Guardian – October 24, 2012
As another iteration of President Obama might have said, “If you have successful Iranian sanctions, you didn’t build that.” We owe, instead, a lot more credit to our beleaguered compatriots who run the European financial system. Iran gave up on the US years ago; America has had sanctions on Iran, in some form or another, since 1979. Getting around that was easy for Iran. Every time US authorities banned one suspicious Iranian entity, another would pop up, as quick as zucchini, and would go on doing business – most likely, in Europe.
DEFENSE SPENDING
Defense industry must embrace ‘new normal’
Charles F. Wald, Politico – October 25, 2012
The sequestration threat hovering over the Department of Defense could hold dire consequences for U.S. national security. Sequestration would take $500 billion out of the defense budget, leading to the potential loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs – perhaps millions – and leaving vital defense programs and projects hanging in the balance.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Few differences on national security issues
Martin Evans, Newsday – October 24, 2012
Their agreement on ending the nation’s longest war is one of many examples of key national security issues where the approaches of Obama and Romney appear to differ little, a range of policy analysts say. The issues include Iran’s alleged efforts to build a nuclear weapon, the use of drones to kill suspected terrorists, and attacks on American troops in Afghanistan. However, the candidates remain apart on U.S. military spending and the optimal size of the fighting force.
CHINA
China’s increasing military spending unnerves neighbors
Keith Richburg, Washington Post – October 23, 2012
China’s military spending has been rapidly spiraling upward, and the growing amounts are unnerving Beijing’s Asian neighbors and policy planners in the Pentagon, who are openly wary about the country’s long-term intentions.