Seeking Explanations for Nuclear Cost Explosions

On the radar: The B61 debacle; Debating a new strategy for Iran talks; Critical nuclear issues in the election; DPRK repairing test tunnel; Heinonen on Iran; MEADS questioned; Cuban Missile Crisis Twitter Event; and Cirincione on Nunn-Lugar.

October 24th, 2012 | Edited by Mary Kaszynski and Marianne Nari Fisher

Pointing fingers - The cost estimate for the B61 Life Extension Program has skyrocketed from $4 billion to at least $8 billion, leaving many wondering where the responsibility lies. “There is blame to go around” for all decision makers, from Sandia Lab to the Nuclear Weapons Council, writes John Fleck of the Albuquerque Journal.

--The lesson: mission indiscipline is expensive. Decision-makers for the B61 design “loaded everything on it except for the kitchen sink, even though the B61 is OK the way it is,” said former Sandia VP Bob Peurify. http://bit.ly/SfyyKZ

More for more - As Western diplomats discuss strategy in advance of possible post-election talks with Iran, one option may be for both sides to put more on the table, Reuters reports.

--Experts are divided on the feasibility of the “more for more” approach, which would require Iran to accept stricter limits than those last proposed by the P5+1 in exchange for sanctions relief. http://reut.rs/SilJj5

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An election of tipping points - AP breaks down critical election issues in a collection of “why it matters” backgrounders. On missile defense, the U.S. plan for a shield in Europe and future cooperation with Russia will depend on the path the next president chooses to take. http://apne.ws/RVHNgQ

-- On Iran, the AP backgrounder concludes, “It's unclear what a war would ultimately accomplish...[but] Iran has shown no evidence that it is willing to seriously negotiate over its nuclear program.” http://yhoo.it/SicHmn

North Korea’s test site - Newly surfaced intelligence reveals a third tunnel within a North Korean atomic detonation site is now being repaired after the passageway was damaged by rain earlier this year. South Korean intelligence assesses that the North may be in the process of excavating two additional underground testing chambers. NTI's Global Security Newswire has the details. http://bit.ly/UC2zrj

Iran’s move - Misunderstanding of technical issues and varying definitions of “nuclear capability” are overshadowing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, write Simon Henderson and Olli Heinonen.

--“Until Tehran halts its enrichment program or shows that its attitudes are changing under the pressure of sanctions, there can be little optimism that negotiations - whether bilateral with the United States, or with the larger P5+1 group - will stem its perceived nuclear ambitions,” the authors argue at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. http://bit.ly/VoCKGH

Tweet - @gottemoller: Congrats to Lassina Zerbo - newly-elected Executive Secretary of the CTBTO PrepCom. We look forward to working with you. http://1.usa.gov/UyAb9k

Quote - “The rapidly changing face of our nation’s threats demands that we cast aside costly processes and take a 21st century approach to competitive manufacturing that will keep our country and our troops safe,” writes former Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) on the controversial Medium Extended Air and Defense System, which was funded under the Continuing Resolution despite opposition from key members of Congress. http://bit.ly/QG7C5H

Cuban Missile Crisis Twitter Q&A - NTI President Joan Rohlfing @NTI_WMD will be taking Cuban Missile Crisis questions in a Twitter Q&A today at 2pm EST. Details here. http://bit.ly/QG7Jy5

Resetting the Reset - On Russia’s determination to renegotiate rather than renew the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Joe Cirincione says “it is part of Putin’s attempt to create distance between Russia with the West... but this is not an irreparable situation.”

--Watch Joe’s full interview on HuffPost Live here. http://huff.lv/RfC7Rz