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Ploughshares Blog: Obama

Cutting the Nuclear Stockpile in 2012?
The ratification of New START by the U.S. and Russia set a new ceiling for deployed strategic nuclear weapons at 1,550 in each country. Given the cost of maintaining these weapons and their lack of utility on the modern battlefield, the U.S. could (and should) go even lower. Read more »
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Posted by Peter Fedewa on May 18, 2012
infographic, International security, Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Zero, President, Russia, Obama, United States
Building Global Security, One Summit at a Time
Nuclear terrorism ranks at the top of many national security experts lists of possible nightmares. It’s hard to overstate the damage that could be caused by even a small nuclear weapon in one of the world’s major population centers. But just as terrorism has become a global phenomenon, efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism has to be a global effort. Thankfully, it is. Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on March 22, 2012
Japan, North Korea, Arms Control Association, food aid, Prague Agenda, South Korea, Obama
Obama's Turn on Nuclear Weapons
When U.S. President Barack Obama took to the podium during a rare visit to the Pentagon early last month, he announced a new strategy for the country's military posture abroad. The United States would shift from being able to fight two major wars simultaneously to increasing its focus on Asia. But the president also explained that reductions in the U.S. nuclear arsenal would be key to future defense: "We will continue to get rid of outdated Cold War-era systems," he said, "so that we can invest in the capabilities we need for the future." Read more »
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Posted by Joe Cirincione on February 2, 2012
Department of Defense, Joe Cirincione, new start, Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Policy Guidance, Obama
@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
A Promise Kept, A New Beginning
As a candidate, Barack Obama distinguished himself by his anti-war stance. It was a popular move in a nation that was fatigued by a multi-year conflict with no clear end in sight. Today, President Obama has annouced the end to the war he campaigned against, keeping a major promise and opening up a new opportunity for new beginnings in both nations.  Read more »
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Posted by Margaret Swink on October 21, 2011
Middle East, Conflict, Iraq, Joe Cirincione, Joel Rubin, U.S. Foreign Policy, Obama
Clock Ticking on Nuclear Policy Guidance
A Presidential Policy Directive for a New Nuclear Path - Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Read more »
Posted on August 11, 2011
The Budget Crisis Offers Opportunity To Bend The Arc Of Nuclear Policy
The U.S. government spends $54 billion a year on nuclear weapons and related programs. Despite the deep fiscal crisis, these budgets are about to go up — to a whopping $700 billion over the next 10 years. It is not at all clear why. Read more »
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Posted by Joe Cirincione on August 11, 2011
Congress, Department of Defense, Hiroshima, Joe Cirincione, Larry Korb, Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Zero, Politics, U.S. government, Obama
Congress's Endless Push for Tougher Iran Sanctions
Senators Press Obama on Iran’s Central Bank - Jay Solomon in the Wall Street Journal Read more »
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Posted on August 8, 2011
report card
Obama at One Year: "A" for Transforming Nuclear Policy, "Incomplete" for Execution
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, a Ploughshares Fund grantee, gave President Barack Obama a grade of "A" for transforming United States nuclear weapons policy during his first year in office and an "Incomplete" for completing the new policy initiatives he has launched.  John Isaacs, the Center's executive director, said, "President Obama's forthrightness about the dangers of nuclear weapons and the need to take immediate action to avoid a n Read more »
Posted on January 20, 2010
Nuclear Weapons, US–Russia, Proliferation, Obama, U.S. Nuclear Policy, United States
Ray Takeyh
The Essence of Diplomatic Engagement
The Boston Globe publishes Ray Takeyh's analysis of the benefits of the diplomatic engagement style of the Obama administration compared to the resolute approach of the Bush administration. Read more »
Posted on October 16, 2009
Diplomacy, Nuclear States, Obama, U.S. Nuclear Policy, Iran, United States