U.S.
Panetta Says No ‘Unilateral’ US Nuclear Cuts
Associated Foreign Press – March 27, 2012
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said there would be no “unilateral” reductions in the US nuclear arsenal, after President Barack Obama said his country had more of the weapons than it needed.
Obama’s Slip Won’t Let Russia Veto Europe Missile Defense
Bloomberg – March 26, 2012
President Barack Obama got caught Monday talking with the microphone left on – again. This time he was telling Russia’s outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev that it would be better to leave talks about NATO’s contentious missile defense system until after U.S. elections in NOvember, when Obama would have “more flexibility.”
Republican Presidents’ Efforts to Reduce Nuclear Arms
Nickolas Roth, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation – March 27, 2012
President Obama was recently overheard saying to Russian President Medvedev that, assuming he prevails in the election this November, he would have more flexibility to negotiate on arms control issues. In response, some Congressional Republicans have implied that President Obama may have secret plans to aggressively pursue arms control in his second term.
Nuclear Security Summit
Nuclear Security Summit’s Ad Hoc Process No Longer Enough on Nuclear Terrorism
Carl Robichaud, World Politics Review – March 26, 2012
Serious threats require serious action, and there is broad nonpartisan agreement that nuclear terrorism remains one of the most daunting threats of the 21st century.
Nuclear Security SUmmit Ends With Whimper, Not a Bang
Andrew Salmon, Washington Times – March 27, 2012
The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit concluded Tuesday with participating nations endorsing a range of measures to make the world safe from nuclear terrorism
Iran
Bill to Ramp Up Iran Sanctions Fails in U.S. Senate
Roberta Rampton and Rachelle Younglai, Reuters – March 27, 2012
A U.S. Republican lawmaker on Tuesday blocked Democrats from passing legislation designed to further punish Iran for developing its nuclear program, and each side blamed the other for its failure in a presidential election year that will put extra scrutiny on President Barack Obama to be tough on Tehran.
2 Israeli Leaders Make the Iran Issue Their Own
Ethan Bronner, New York Times – March 27, 2012
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have turned into the odd couple of Israeli politics in whose hands sits the prospect of an attack on Iran. From opposite political traditions with distinct experiences and worldviews, the two have forged a tight bond, often excluding the rest of the Israeli leadership.
Tehran Nuclear Talks Set for April in Istanbul
Laurence Norman, Wall Street Journal – March 27, 2012
Talks between Iran and six major powers on its nuclear program look set to start on April 14 in Istanbul, a senior European Union diplomat said.
Korean Peninsula
North Korea Reaffirms Plan to Launch Satellite
Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times – March 27, 2012
North Korea intends to press ahead with its plan to launch a satellite into orbit next month, according to a government statement issued Tuesday, rebuffing President Obama and other world leaders who have told the country to cancel the launching or face the loss of food aid and additional sanctions.
