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Joel Rubin's Blog Posts

Joel Rubin is the Director of Policy and Government Affairs for the Ploughshares Fund.  He is a former congressional aide and diplomat, having worked for two senior Democratic Senators on foreign policy, defense, and appropriations issues and at the State Department in both Near Eastern Affairs and Political-Military Affairs, winning numerous awards.
Minuteman Missile in Silo
Our generation’s security challenge: eliminating nuclear weapons.
There are approximately 17,300 nuclear weapons in the world across nine countries.  Of these, nearly 7,700 are in the United States.  Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on June 19, 2013
Berlin Speech, Nuclear Zero
Joel Rubin with his three beautiful daughters.
Foreign policy wishes for Father’s Day
As a father, I feel responsible not only for my three little girls’ health and well being, but also for their emotional security, their education and their safety. Because of this, I believe that it’s my responsibility to do my utmost to make the world a better place.  Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on June 14, 2013
Father's Day, Nuclear Zero
What Chris Stevens Taught Us
Chris Stevens and three American colleagues from the U.S. mission in Libya were killed by a mob yesterday. The first American governmental deaths in the Arab world since the Arab Spring began less than two years ago, their deaths should be a clarion call to our country about the risks that those who serve our country abroad take. And Chris’ example of religious tolerance, support for freedom, and belief in democracy should be followed in the days ahead, as we respond to this tragedy. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on September 12, 2012
Arab Spring, Chris Stevens, Foreign Service, Libya, Partners, Peace Corps, U.S. mission in Libya
The Loose Talk of War with Iran Returns
The loose talk of war is back after a brief period of calm. But what is the strategy here? Is Israel really planning to bomb Iran? We don't yet know the answer, but the impact of this type of saber rattling is decidedly negative. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on August 30, 2012
Israel, Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Dennis Ross, Jeff Goldberg, Meir Dagan, Nuclear Program, Shaul Mofaz, Shimon Peres, Strikes, war, Iran
Israeli generals balk at PM’s Iran policy
WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is convinced that Iran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon. He believes that the Iranians cannot be deterred through diplomacy, and he views the Iranian threat as one that may bring about a second Jewish Holocaust. His generals disagree. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on May 3, 2012
Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Lt. Gen Benny Gantz, Mossad, national security, Tamir Pardo, Military Strategy, Iran
Five Principles for a Nuclear Deal with Iran
Negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program will soon morph into technical discussions about levels of uranium enrichment, nuclear inspections protocol, and fuel swaps. As the negotiations proceed, policymakers – particularly in Washington – will grow increasingly nervous about the prospects for a nuclear deal. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on April 20, 2012
Diplomacy with Iran, International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran Negotiations, Istanbul, Politics, Iran
What Nuclear Weapons Cost Us – It’s the Right Time for a Debate
The debate over the extent to which the U.S. government is committing itself to spending vast sums of taxpayer dollars on nuclear weapons and related programs over the next decade is in full force in Congress, inside the administration, and in the media. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on December 20, 2011
nonproliferation, Cold War, Congressional Budget Office, Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Budget Debate, Nuclear Triad, United States
@plough_shares meets @whitehouse
It’s not every day that you get to ask questions of the White House and expect an instant answer. Today, however, that’s exactly the opportunity that we have. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on November 18, 2011
Jon Carson, Partners, President, Social media, Twitter, White House Office of Public Engagement, Obama
What We Spend on Nuclear Weapons
The United States is projected to spend $700 billion on nuclear weapons and related programs during the next ten years. As federal budgets tighten and officials address the most pressing national security needs of the 21st century, the substantial cost of nuclear weapons must be fully examined. By understanding these costs and setting effective national security priorities, policymakers can reduce nuclear budget excesses incurred by the active stockpile of approximately 5,000 nuclear weapons. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on September 14, 2011
Budget Crisis, Current threats, Fiscal responsibility, National security priorities, Nuclear Budget, Nuclear weapons complex, United States
Greater Impact, Greater Presence
We are very proud to be launching a new website today. Our new site comes at an exciting time. Ploughshares Fund is revving up strategic campaigns to reduce the nuclear weapons budget, accelerate cuts in U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, and promote a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear program. We are also amplifying our work to promote stability in South Asia, roll back North Korea’s nuclear program, and promote the vision of a nuclear weapon-free world. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on August 18, 2011