NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Senate Panel Approves Gottemoeller for Top Arms-Control Post at State
Global Security Newswire – 31 October, 2013
Current acting undersecretary of State for arms control and international security Rose Gottemoeller was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to formally occupy the position yesterday. Nominated by President Obama in May, she awaits approval by the full Senate in the next few weeks.
Nuclear Labs Leader Concerned About Budget Cuts
Global Security Newswire – 31 October, 2013
Paul Hommert, president and director of Sandia National Laboratories, has raised concerns about the negative impact that current budget cuts could have on the laboratories’ work. Testifying before a House committee on Tuesday, he argued that “unless addressed, budgetary changes of this magnitude will have significant schedule impact.”
No More Nuclear-Tipped Cruise Missiles
Tom Z. Collina, Defense One – October 31, 2013
The Pentagon is set to make a $30 billion decision about whether it will replace its fleet of nuclear-armed cruise missiles. The US no longer needs this capability and the Pentagon should decide accordingly. Not only would this decision save money, but a number of security problems would be solved if the US converted to an all-conventional cruise missile force.
IRAN
Diplomacy is key to a deal with Iran
Paul R. Pillar, The Washington Post – October 31, 2013
The US should pursue a diplomatic route if they want to see progress on Iran’s nuclear program. Current efforts within Congress to pass harsher economic sanctions on the country would lead Tehran to doubt any Western intentions to lift existing sanctions and would, as a result, give them a greater incentive to develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran and big powers end expert talks without comment
Reuters – October 31, 2013
Experts from the P5+1 (Russia, China, France, the UK, the US and Germany) finished high-level meetings with Iran over its disputed nuclear program yesterday. It is unclear whether any significant progress towards a deal was made.
House to Senate: Get moving on Iran sanctions
Julian Pecquet, The Hill – October 30, 2013
The Senate has yet to vote on a new round of sanctions on Iran, despite three months having passed since the House of Representatives voted 400-20 in favor of such a measure. The House leadership is becoming impatient with their Senate colleagues. The spokesman for House leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said that “it’s time for the Senate to follow suit.”
RUSSIA
Putin Dissolves Task Force for Missile Defense Cooperation with NATO
Global Security Newswire – October 31, 2013
A Kremlin interagency working group on missile defense cooperation with NATO has been disbanded by President Putin. According to experts, the move indicates that Russia is moving further away from resolving its concerns with NATO over a proposed plan for a European ballistic missile defense system.
UK
Records Show Multiple Thefts From U.K. Atomic Submarines
Global Security Newswire – October 31, 2013
The security of British atomic-powered submarines has been put into question after revelations that a number of items have been stolen from them in the last half-decade. It is unclear at this point whether the thefts were committed by uniformed military personnel or civilian outsiders.
