Obama’s Berlin Speech
Obama Asks Russia to Join in Reducing Nuclear Arms
Jackie Calmes, The New York Times — June 19, 2013
Fifty years after John F. Kennedy famously assured Europeans that the United States would protect them against a nuclear-armed Soviet Union, President Obama on Wednesday marked the changed times by calling on Russia to join him in cutting the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals to well below the level of the Kennedy era.
Obama’s Nuclear Proffer Gets Russian Rebuff
Peter Nicholas and William Boston, The Wall Street Journal– June 19, 2013
…[Obama’s call for mutual nuclear reductions]—which included his assessment that the U.S. can cut the number of deployed nuclear weapons by one-third without compromising American security—received a cool reception from Moscow.
Does cutting U.S. nukes really matter?
Thom Patterson, CNN — June 19, 2013
…Can the United States maintain its current level of nuclear security with fewer nuclear weapons — if the weapons are more accurate?
Obama pushes big cut in nuclear weapons. Is that a good idea?
Peter Grier, The Christian Science Monitor — June 19, 2013
…Given that the US had an estimated 10,000 strategic warheads in 1980, are further cuts to the 1,000 level a good idea?
Obama’s Nuke Cut Proposal: Unilateral and Risky
Jon Kyl, Time Magazine — June 20, 2013
…Since another U.S./Russia nuclear weapon reduction would require U.S. Senate ratification, [Obama]would have been better off to consult with Members of Congress first. But that is not his way, which is one reason he’s having a hard time getting any of his agenda passed by Congress.
Defense Spending
Pentagon reaffirms need for nuclear ‘triad’
Carlo Munoz, The Hill — June 19, 2013
Top U.S. military planners on Wednesday reaffirmed the Pentagon’s commitment to maintaining a viable nuclear arsenal to take out potential threats from land, at sea and in the air.
Iran
Why Hassan Rowhani May Be the Man Who Can Break Iran’s Impasse With the West
Amir Handjani, The Huffington Post — June 19, 2013
The election of Hassan Rowhani as Iran’s next president presents the United States and the Western world with a historic opportunity. In the same way Richard Nixon may have been the only American statesman of his era to have the credibility with the left and the right to negotiate with Communist China, Rowhani maybe just the right Iranian politician at this time in history.
The new Iranian president’s restrained power
Ian Bremmer, Reuters — June 19, 2013
…But while Rohani’s sweeping victory comes as a big surprise, it’s no shock to the system in Iran. Don’t expect Rohani to open the locks fastened upon Iranian policy. He simply doesn’t hold the keys.
North Korea
North Korea ‘willing to restart’ nuclear talks
BBC — June 19, 2013
North Korea has expressed willingness to restart long-stalled nuclear talks with international partners, China’s foreign ministry has said.
Hitler Story Sets Off North Korea
Alastair Gale, The Wall Street Journal — June 19, 2013
North Korea’s police and security agency took the rare step Wednesday of issuing a statement to eviscerate a foreign report about dictator Kim Jong Un. But it’s not often that a foreign report suggests Mr. Kim is something of an Adolf Hitler fan.