Elements of a Solution with Iran

On the radar: Former German FM on Iran; Why BMD cooperation makes sense; Putin, common interests, and the reset; Gallucci, Cirincione, Squassoni & Glaser; the Youngest, oldest bomber; “Blow Up North Korea's Missiles for Peace”; Engaging Iran on Afghanistan; and Russian zombie hordes.

April 5, 2012 | Edited by Benjamin Loehrke and Mary Kaszynski

3 years ago, with clarity and conviction - President Obama stated “America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons” in Prague. The administration has accomplished a lot of the concrete steps it laid out, but there is still a long way to go. Full text of the speech. http://owl.li/a6gQz

A diplomatic solution - The situation with Iran has never been more serious, which should motivate officials in the West and in Iran to compromise and reach a diplomatic solution, writes former German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor Joschka Fisher for Project Syndicate.

--Recommendation: ”The content of such a compromise is more or less clear: acceptance of low-grade uranium enrichment by Iran for non-military purposes, and enhanced and verifiable safeguards, such export of low-grade enriched uranium for further processing and stronger and more extensive inspection rights for the International Atomic Energy Agency inside Iran. For example, the IAEA would gain access to previously closed Iranian nuclear facilities.”

--Warning: ”In light of the complexity of external factors, it will be important not to overload the nuclear negotiations with issues that the talks are not designed to resolve.” http://owl.li/a6gXL

In defense of missile defense cooperation - “Cooperation now, on American terms and without compromising sensitive data or technology, makes strategic sense,” writes Eric Auner for Democracy Arsenal.

--As Ellen Tauscher said to the Missile Defense Association last month, “Missile defense is one area where we can work together with Russia to end Cold War thinking and move away from Mutually Assured Destruction toward Mutually Assured Stability.” http://owl.li/a6gUD

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Tweet - @ArmsControlWonk: “Don Gregg on the collapsing Leap Day Deal: Call it a misunderstanding and salvage what remains.” http://owl.li/a6hnY

Will Putin delete the Reset? - Probably in name and tone. “The U.S. needs Russia’s help in the U.N. Security Council in tackling Iran and other problems in the Middle East. And Putin knows that stormy relations with the West could hold back the modernization of the Russian economy,” writes Charles Grant in The New York Times.

--Despite common interests, divergence over Iran and Syria, not to mention NATO missile defense, means that the reset under Putin “won’t be the reset, or the cordiality, that Obama had with Medvedev,” Grant concludes. http://owl.li/a6gSk

Event - Global Nuclear Security and Preventing Nuclear Terrorism, a panel featuring Robert Gallucci, Sharon Squassoni, Joseph Cirincione, and Alexander Glaser. Tomorrow at 10am at the National Press Club. RSVP here. http://owl.li/a6gZu

Youngest B-52 turning 50 - B-52 Tail No. 1040 - the youngest in the fleet - will turn 50 in October. With upgrades and continued maintenance, the B-52 fleet is expected to be in service through 2040. That means that, while the aircraft is turning 50, its last pilot may not yet be born. Phil Ewing at Dod Buzz has the story.

--Future concerns: Will the Air Force be able to replace its bomber fleet while in full production of the F-35 and KC-46A tanker? Will the B-52 fleet be able to keep today’s operational tempo through 2040 or will it need to reduce tempo to account for increased age and wear? http://owl.li/a6h20

Missile batting practice for peace? - AEI’s Michael Auslin makes the case for shooting down the North Korean missile: “Doing so won't cause war, and it may be the surest way to preserve peace. It would send a message far more clearly than any future negotiations could, and might lead to a more durable political settlement in Northeast Asia.” http://owl.li/a6h48

Mutual interests - Afghanistan represents an opportunity for the U.S. to engage Iran by “bolstering these emerging regional security partnerships with smart coordination of civilian reconstruction efforts,” writes Stimson Center’s Ellen Laipson. http://owl.li/a6hD5

Russia’s zombie radiation gun - Russia’s defense minister trotted out a new energy weapon capable of causing extreme pain and, apparently, mind-control. While the details and underlying science are sketchy, the memes are easy. Asks Gizmodo, “what's more dangerous than a throng of dissidents writhing in pain and willing to do anything for Mother Russia?” http://owl.li/a6hFU