Morning Joe: Potential Rifts in Obama Administration Over New Warhead

Stories we're following today:

Inside Obama Administration, a Tug of War Over Nuclear Warheads - Global Security Newswire [link]

  • In pursuing the [reliable replacement warhead project], Defense Secretary Robert Gates appears to have won the backing of some pivotal Cabinet secretaries, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. One administration-watcher -- a critic of the replacement-warhead idea -- alleges that several key appointees at the Defense and State departments are now "scheming and maneuvering" to bring the program back to life.
  • However, Biden has strongly opposed the move, based on the view that pursuing a new U.S. warhead program could undermine Washington's efforts to discourage nuclear weapons proliferation around the globe. The issue remains unresolved, according to a wide array of policy officials and experts.

Chinese Offer Hope, Obstacles for Obama Nuclear Agenda - World Politics Review [link]

  • Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's presentation at Geneva last week suggests that Beijing and Washington still disagree, though perhaps less than ever before, on the road map for getting there.

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung dies - L.A. Times 

  • Kim Dae-jung, a former dissident who survived three assassination attempts, one death sentence and six years in prison to become South Korea's president and its first Nobel laureate, died today in Seoul after a long bout of pneumonia.
  • Kim is best known for the moment on June 13, 2000, when he stepped onto the tarmac at Pyongyang's airport with arms outstretched to embrace North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. That landmark meeting, which was supposed to end 50 years of enmity between the Koreas, won Kim the Nobel Peace Prize.

Peres: Russia to reconsider missile sale to Iran - Associated Press 

  • Israeli President Shimon Peres said Wednesday the Kremlin has promised to reconsider the planned delivery of air defense missiles to Iran that Israel and the U.S. fear could be used to protect Iran's nuclear facilities.

The Success of Disarmament - Matt Yglesias of Think Progress [link]

  • The fact of the matter is that even though there are a lot of challenges, tremendous progress has been made over the years and the odds of further progress are quite good if people don’t simply give up.

Gingerly, The Security Side Of The Government Explores Twitter - The Atlantic [link]

  • Twittering has two undeniable democratic features, at least from the standpoint of public relations officials. Effective Twittering can create the illusion that a senior government official is closer to the masses. And perhaps just as importantly, good Twittering can humanize decision makers.
  • Government agencies are experimenting with the transformational media platform at their own pace -- especially those dealing with National Security.