Probe Finds More Missileer Drug Use

More misconduct at nuclear silos - “Five more airmen are under investigation for illegal drug activity at a nuclear missile base in Wyoming, bringing the total to 19 and expanding the probe beyond the security forces group initially implicated, the Air Force said Wednesday. An Air Force spokesman, Capt. Mark A. Graff, said that two of the accused have been convicted in courts-martial proceedings held since the investigation was first disclosed in March,” writes Robert Burns for the AP.

--“This is not the first recent drug investigation at F.E. Warren [Air Force Base]. Two years ago, while then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was visiting the base, officials disclosed that a number of missile launch officers, known as missileers, were under investigation for illegal drug use. That investigation led to the discovery that dozens of missileers had been cheating on their proficiency tests at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, which also operates a fleet of 150 Minuteman 3 missiles.” Full article here. http://apne.ws/1XrnbT7

Tweet - @KingstonAReif: McCain: no way all important but expensive Air Force conventional/nuclear modernization programs will fit into projected service budget

Kerry on sanction relief - “The Obama administration has met its sanctions relief obligations to Iran under last year's landmark nuclear deal but is willing to further clarify what is and isn't allowed in response to renewed Iranian complaints that it's not getting all the benefits it deserves, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday,” writes Matthew Lee for the AP.

--“‘I think there are places where the United States could give confidence where there is doubt,’ Kerry said. ‘And, I feel that it is important for us if we're going to have future dealings (with Iran) or we want to have a reputation for good faith in negotiations we conduct anywhere. It's important for us to show good faith in executing this agreement and I intend to see to it that we do that.’” Full article here. http://apne.ws/21osAsF

See also - “Boeing nears landmark deal to sell airliners to Iran,” by Steven Mufson for The Washington Post. http://wapo.st/1Xo6ic5

Video - Watch “Can the U.S. Work with Iran: Challenges and Opportunities,” a series of panels webcast by the Atlantic Council on June 16. http://bit.ly/1XYmkKy

U.S. needs to clarify sanctions relief - “The danger of the agreement collapsing, to the detriment of U.S. interests, is now evident ... While Iran has so far lived up to its nuclear-related obligations — addressing U.S. concerns over its nuclear program by reducing its number of operating centrifuges, reconfiguring its heavy-water reactor, and permitting an unprecedented inspections regime — the United States has struggled to fulfill its end of the nuclear bargain,” writes Tyler Cullis for Foreign Policy.

--“The Obama administration needs a new game plan. Just as it expended political capital to secure the deal, it must expend the political capital to sustain it ... First, the Obama administration will need to provide detailed written guidance to foreign banks and companies explaining what steps are required to ensure that they do not risk exposure to U.S. sanctions … Second, the Obama administration will need to take action to ease market entry into Iran.” Full story here. http://atfp.co/1YtZolb

Video - Watch the Nuclear Threat Initiative’s Iran Deal Progress Report for June 2016 here. http://bit.ly/1XYlk9i

New Chinese sanctions on North Korea - “China on Wednesday banned exports to North Korea of technology and materials that might be used in weapons production in a new response to the North’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles. The list of banned ‘dual use’ items with possible civilian and military use includes metal alloys, cutting and laser-welding equipment and materials that could be used in production of chemical weapons, the Commerce Ministry said,” reports the AP.

--“Beijing has long supported the North Korean government but in a sign of growing frustration signed on in March to United Nations sanctions enacted in response to the North’s fourth nuclear test… China is the impoverished North’s main trading partner and aid donor, making its cooperation essential for the success of trade penalties.” Full article here. http://wapo.st/1OoUvr7

Tweet - @ReThinkDefense: Congress is debating whether to fund a new #nuclear cruise missile. Should you be concerned? http://bit.ly/1WOO7w8

Quick Hits:

--“The World's Nuclear Arsenal Is Getting Smaller But Deadlier,” by Kyle Mizokami for Popular Mechanics. http://bit.ly/1PtJ508

--“U.S. official sees opportunity in Obama’s Hiroshima visit,” from Kyodo News. http://bit.ly/1XYlFc4

--“US Seeks African Allies Against Pyongyang's Nuclear Drive,” by Anita Powell for Voice of America. http://bit.ly/1ZQxBcZ

--“Boeing deal would reverse 1993 decision to sell to Saudis, not Iran,” by Barbara Slavin for Al-Monitor. http://bit.ly/1XYnYvC

Events:

--“U.S. Nuclear Weapons in the Twenty-First Century,” with Brad Roberts and George Perkovich. June 28 from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. at the Carnegie Endowment, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington. RSVP online. http://ceip.org/1UXkD99

--“The JCPOA: Looking Ahead After One Year,” with William Burns and seven other speakers. June 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Carnegie Endowment, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington. Register here. http://ceip.org/1UxNvc7

--“After the Prague Agenda: The Future of U.S. Nuclear Security,” featuring Frank Klotz, Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration. June 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter St., Suite 200, San Francisco. Register online. http://bit.ly/1S7a2Xt

--“Nuclear Policy for the Next Administration,” with Christopher Peble, Cato Institute; Kelsey Davenport, Arms Control Association; and Steven Pifer, Brookings Institute. July 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the American Foreign Service Association, 2010 E St. NW, Washington. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1ZOcqs3

Dessert:

Too real, The Onion, too real - An Onion article jokes that the U.N. warns Trump may acquire nukes. “According to an alarming new global risk report published Tuesday by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump may be just seven months away from acquiring nuclear weapons ... ‘At this moment, a nuclear-capable Trump is now a very real and very imminent possibility,’ said UNODA high representative Kim Won-soo.”

--“‘The longer we wait to act, the closer he comes to obtaining a nuclear arsenal. The final red line for preventing him from acquiring this devastating capability comes in early November. If he is not properly dealt with before then, there will be no way to stop him from going nuclear.’ While U.N. officials said the international community should prepare for the destabilizing effects of Trump acquiring such weapons, they still held out hope that citizens of his nation might yet rise up against him and topple the extremist before he posed a global existential threat.” http://onion.com/1UOj67S

Chickens as WMD component - “In the 1950s, the UK designed a nuclear landmine that would be placed in West Germany to stop a hypothetical Soviet assault on the rest of Europe ... But the weapon had a major hitch. Buried underground, it was possible that the mine would become cold to the point that the detonator would be unable to trigger a nuclear blast. In 1957, British nuclear physicists found a solution: chickens,” writes Jeremy Bender for Business Insider.

--“‘The birds would be put inside the casing of the bomb, given seed to keep them alive and stopped from pecking at the wiring,’ the BBC notes. The chickens' body heat would be enough to maintain the triggering mechanism's working temperature. In all, the chickens would be estimated to survive for a week, after which time the bomb would return to a possibly cooled and inoperable state.” Read the full article here. http://read.bi/1PwgaIY