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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
The President's Nuclear Options
Last week, hopeful news of potential cuts to the U.S. nuclear arsenal floated through Washington. A classified report from the Pentagon is being prepared for President Obama’s review, which has been reported to provide three ranges for possible nuclear reductions: 1,100 to 1,000, 800 to 700, or 400 to 300. Read more »
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Posted by Rebecca Remy on February 23, 2012
Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Policy Guidance, Nuclear Weapons, President Obama, Military Strategy
Time to Move Away From the Triad
For over sixty years, the United States has maintained a large and costly nuclear arsenal, composed of heavy bombers, submarine-launched missiles, and intercontinental missiles. Perhaps it's time for a change. Of course, so long as nuclear weapons exist in the world, the U.S. must maintain a credible and reliable deterrent to adversaries, while guaranteeing security to U.S. allies. Read more »
Posted by Rizwan Ladha on June 20, 2011
Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Foreign Policy, Defense Budget, U.S. Nuclear Policy, Military Strategy, United States
The X-Men Didn't Save Us
It wasn't the mutants. It was humans that caused the Cuban Missile Crisis. Only luck saved us from nuclear war. But other than that, the new film, X-Men: First Class, gets a lot right about the historic crisis that is central to its plot. Read more »
Posted by Joe Cirincione on June 16, 2011
Entertainment, Missile Defense, Nuclear Weapons, Russia, U.S. Foreign Policy, Nuclear Terrorism, U.S. Nuclear Policy, Military Strategy, Missiles & Space, Other, United States
Getting Control of the Nuclear Budget
The United States spends roughly $54 billion a year on nuclear weapons and related programs, with plans in place to spend roughly $10 billion more per year on new nuclear submarines, missiles, and bombers. If this massive expenditure goes through as planned, it could overshadow U.S. efforts to reduce the role and number of nuclear weapons. Read more »
Posted by Ben Loehrke on May 17, 2011
Missile Defense, Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Foreign Policy, Military Strategy, Other, United States
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UK Delays Decision on Trident Nuclear Submarines "Until Around 2016"
British Prime Minister David Cameron announced plans to cut military personnel and hardware in an effort to reconfigure a military that he called "overstretched, underequipped and ill-prepared" to meet the unconventional warfare challenges of the future. Read more »
Posted by Kelly Bronk on October 20, 2010
Europe, Nuclear States, Nuclear Weapons, Defense Budget, Military Strategy
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Generals Urge Senate Ratification of New START Treaty
In an op-ed in New Hampshire's Nashua Telegraph, Lt. Gen. John Castellaw, Lt. Gen. Dirk Jameson and Brig. Gen. John Adams urged Senators to put national security above political partisanship and ratify the New START treaty. Read more »
Posted by Kelly Bronk on August 30, 2010
Nuclear Weapons, Russia, U.S. Foreign Policy, U.S. Nuclear Policy, Military Strategy, United States
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Lt. Gen. Castellaw: Listen to Military on New START
Today in the Berthoud Recorder, a Colorado newspaper, Lt. Gen. John Castellaw wrote a powerful op-ed urging members of the Senate to take the advice of military officers and national security experts and ratify New START. Read more »
Posted by Kelly Bronk on July 28, 2010
Nuclear Weapons, Russia, U.S. Foreign Policy, U.S. Nuclear Policy, Military Strategy, United States
Global Strikeout
New weapons systems should always meet three requirements: They should be feasible, needed, and affordable. The proposed Prompt Global Strike program, which according to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been "embraced by the new administration," does not meet any. Read more »
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Posted by Joe Cirincione on April 23, 2010
Nuclear Weapons, Conventional Weapons, Military Strategy, Conflict & Regional Security, United States
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“Dealing with Afghan warlords is a mistake”
“Outside observers are looking in the wrong place: They ought to focus on the backroom deals the United States is preparing to make with some notorious warlords, as these will determine the long-term effectiveness of President Obama’s strategy,” writes Ploughshares Funded Crisis Group staff Nick Grono and Candace Rondeaux of the war in Afghanistan.  Crono and Rondeaux go on to outline the biog Read more »
Posted on January 22, 2010
South Asia, U.S. Foreign Policy, Military Strategy, Conflict & Regional Security