NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Nuclear Weapons ‘Outlawed’ in an Independent Scotland, Says Salmond
BBC News – October 21, 2012
The leader of the SNP has said that if his party won power in an independent government it would make nuclear weapons illegal. Alex Salmond told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that Trident, which currently resides at Faslane Naval base on the Clyde, would have to go.
IRAN
US and Iran Deny Plan for Nuclear Talks
Brian Knowlton & Thomas Erdbrink, New York Times – October 21, 2012
The question of whether the United States should seek to engage Iran in one-on-one talks on its nuclear program joined the likely topics for Monday’s final presidential debate as supporters of President Obama and Mitt Romney jousted on Sunday over the issue.
Iran Policy and the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Joseph A. Palermo, Huffington Post – October 21, 2012
The unrepentant neo-cons and backbenchers on Mitt Romney’s foreign policy team, such as Dan Senor and Cofer Black, always advise their candidate to attack signs of “weakness” coming from President Obama. The Administration’s announcement of direct talks between the U.S. and Iran should be welcomed as good news by those who don’t wish to see yet another bloodbath in the Middle East but Romney can be counted on to condemn the diplomatic breakthrough as insufficiently hawkish.
NORTH KOREA
S. Korea Blocks Provocative Balloon Launch of Leaflets to North
Steve Herman, Voice of America – October 22, 2012
Korean troops and riot police blocked a group of North Korean defectors from launching balloons carrying propaganda leaflets to their former homeland. Pyongyang had threatened military retaliation ahead of the planned launch.
US Says Myanmar on Right Track Over North Korea Arms Ties
Reuters – October 22, 2012
The United States believes that Myanmar is on the right track towards giving up its remaining military ties with North Korea but recognizes it will take time, the U.S. envoy for the North Korean nuclear dispute said on Monday. U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies told reporters in Beijing that Washington continued to be worried about that relationship and it was an issue raised with their counterparts in the former Burma.
MISSILE DEFENSE
US, Israel Begin Military Exercise
Joshua Mitnick, Wall Street Journal – October 21, 2012
The U.S. and Israeli militaries on Sunday began their largest-ever joint exercise to practice integrating defense systems in case of massive missile attacks on the Jewish state, bolstering efforts to deter possible strikes by Iran and its allies.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION NEWS
Romney Gains on Obama on Foreign Policy Issues, in Time for Next Debate
Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor – October 22, 2012
The US electorate has for months given President Obama the nod over rival Mitt Romney on handling of foreign policy, but public perceptions of Mr. Romney’s positions on international issues have recently improved – just in time for Monday night’s debate focused on foreign policy and national security.
Romney Wouldn’t Meet Defense Spending Pledge for Years
Gopal Ratnam and Tony Capaccio, Businessweek – October 22, 2012
Mitt Romney’s pledge to spend at least 4 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product on the military isn’t an immediate goal or even one he is sure to meet in a first term as president, according to a defense adviser.
