Iran
World Powers Seek Unity on Iran Nuke Program
George Jahn, Associated Press – March 7, 2012
Six world powers struggled Wednesday to find common ground on how harshly to criticize Iran, reflecting the difficulties of presenting a united front at upcoming talks with the Islamic republic meant to coax it into reducing activities that could be used to make a nuclear weapon.
Nuclear Agency Fears Tehran is ‘Cleansing’ Site
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal – March 7, 2012
Satellite imagery taken of Iran is raising concerns inside the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog that Tehran has been “cleansing” a military site that the agency believes may have been involved in nuclear-weapons development, according to Western officials briefed on the intelligence.
Sen. Levin Sees Israeli Attack to Halt Iranian Nuclear Program as “Very Likely”
Jeremy Herb, The Hill – March 6, 2012
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Tuesday that he believes an Israeli attack on Iran is “very likely.”
Israelis Criticize PM’s Iran-Holocaust Parallels
Daniel Estrin, Associated Press – March 7, 2012
The Israeli prime minister’s linking of Iran to Nazi Germany evoked ringing applause this week at a gathering of a pro-Israel lobbying group in Washington. Back home, though, it drew some heavy criticism
‘Iran Is Not Telling Us Everything,’ U.N. Atomic Agency Chief Says
CNN Wire Staff, CNN – March 8,2012
Iran is not open about its nuclear program, but it should be, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Wednesday.
Romney’s Wrong-Headed Assertions About Iran
John Kerry, Washington Post – March 7, 2012
I have little interest in inserting myself, as a former nominee of my party, into this presidential campaign season. But as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which has a vital role in issues of national security, I feel compelled to respond to the ways that, in pursuit of the Republican nomination, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has put himself front and center in debates that have serious consequences.
Korean Peninsula
Obama’s Sweet Deal for North Korea
John Bolton, Wall Street Journal – March 7, 2012
In the transition from an old dictator to a new one, some observers were losing faith in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, believing it had lost its magic touch in the arts of dissembling. Others had deeper faith, though, and they were rewarded last week when the State Department proudly announced the umpteenth breakthrough toward the goal of denuclearizing North Korea.
U.S.
Time to Rein in Defense Budget
Lawrence Korb, Politico – March 7, 2012
Ever since the Pentagon unveiled its budget plan for fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2017, there has been controversy about how much of the regular, or base, budget is actually being reduced and whether additional reductions can be made.
