JASON Panel: "Lifetimes of Today's Nuclear Warheads Could be Extended for Decades"

Panel Sees No Need for A-Bomb Upgrade - New York Times [link]

• The Jason report, mandated by Congress, centers on an Energy Department program that refurbishes the nation’s aging nuclear arms.
• The Jason panel said that it had found no evidence that the accumulated changes from aging and refurbishment posed any threat to weapon destructiveness, and that the “lifetimes of today’s nuclear warheads could be extended for decades, with no anticipated loss of confidence.”
• Jeffrey G. Lewis, a nuclear specialist at the New America Foundation, a Washington research group, said in a blog posting that the report “should drive a stake through the heart” of the Reliable Replacement Warhead, a Bush administration initiative to build a new generation of nuclear arms.
• Click here to read the unclassified executive summary of the Jason report, courtesy of ArmsControlWonk.

New Study on Nuke Testing Proves Kyl Wrong - Max Bergmann in the Wonk Room [link]

• One of Kyl’s main arguments against CTBT is that it would prevent the U.S. from physically exploding nuclear weapons, which he insists we need to do to ensure the effectiveness of the US nuclear arsenal.
• Unfortunately for Kyl, a new congressionally-commissioned study (pdf) conducted by a panel of independent scientists has proven him dead wrong.
• In other words, there really is no need to ever test a nuclear weapon – something the US hasn’t done in the last 17 years – or build new replacement warheads. This study effectively undercuts one of the main arguments of CTBT opponents and should strengthen the push to ratify the treaty next year.

ElBaradei Urges Iran to Agree to Fuel Deal By Year End - Reuters [link]

• The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief urged Iran on Friday to accept an offer to process its enriched uranium abroad by the end of 2009, and advised Western powers not to impose further sanctions on Tehran.
• Noting that under Obama the United States had taken a "creative and pragmatic" approach to resolving the impasse over Tehran's nuclear program, ElBaradei used the news conference to send a message directly to the Iranian leadership.
• "You need to engage in creative diplomacy, you need to understand that this is the first time that you will have a genuine commitment from an American president to engage you fully, on the basis of respect, with no conditions.

A View from the Very Dark Side

Get Ready to Bomb Iran: It's the Last Best Chance for Peace - Washington Times Editorial [link]

• The case for using force against Iran is growing more plausible as the threat intensifies. Compared to the 2002 case for war against Saddam Hussein, it is a slam-dunk.
• It would be most helpful if the United States began to send signals to Tehran that the United States will assist Israel in its preparations for military action and maybe even participate when the attack ultimately is launched.

The Lighter Side

Number of Nuclear Weapons: Official Estimate of the American and Russian Nuclear Arsenals - John Sherffius in the Boulder Camera (via Slate) [link]