Recent Policy Analysis
HASC Bill Shows GOP Stuck in Cold War; Reduce SSBN-X, Nukes
May 21, 2012
Lt. General Robert Gard and Kingston Reif have written an oped entitled, "HASC Bill Shows GOP Stuck in Cold War; Reduce SSBN-X, Nukes," that was originally featured in AOL Defense on May 21, 2012.
Remarks at Event on Tightening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Rules
May 20, 2012
Remarks by Kingston Reif on strengthening US nonproliferation rules in nuclear cooperation agreements with other countries.
House Armed Services Committee Gone Wild -- Again
May 10, 2012
If you thought last year’s House version of the defense bill was bad, this year’s iteration is even more extreme writes Kingston Reif.
The Politics of Reduction
May 10, 2012
US congressional Republicans just passed legislation that will hamper implementation of New START as well as the administration's ability to make changes to the US nuclear arsenal. But this isn't a lingering Cold War hangover or an ideological battle. It's pure partisanship, writes Kingston Reif in his monthly column for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The Heritage Foundation’s Missile Defense Fantasies
May 8, 2012
The Heritage Foundation's most recent ode to missile defense predictably misses the mark, writes intern Matthew Fargo.
Senate and House Appropriators Increase Funding for Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Programs
May 3, 2012
Senate and House appropriators deserve credit for prioritizing core nuclear material security and nonproliferation programs in their versions of the FY 2013 Energy and Water bill, writes Kingston Reif in this new analysis.
Center Staff Members Briefing on Recent Congressional Action on National Security Issues
May 3, 2012
The week of April 23, the House and Senate approved their versions of the FY13 Energy and Water Appropriations Bills. Additionally, the mark up for the Defense Authorization Bill was also approved in subcommittee. Click here to hear three Center staff members parse through the appropriations mark ups and explain what it means for non-proliferation funding, missile defense and nuclear weapons provisions.
N. Korea Launches Rocket, Kills U.S. Deal
May 1, 2012
Defying international warnings, North Korea on April 13 fired a three-stage Unha-3 rocket with the aim of launching a satellite into orbit. The rocket failed and exploded into about 20 pieces over the West Sea (Yellow Sea) between the Korean peninsula and China, according to South Korean military officials. The launch, in effect, shattered a Feb. 29 deal made with the United States on halting all missile and nuclear activities.
Modest progress and an open door with Iran
Apr 19, 2012
Laicie Olson has written a follow up to her original oped on the P5+1 talks that was featured in the Hill, last week. This week she discusses the outcome from the talks in a piece entitled, "Modest progress and an open door with Iran," originally published in The Hill's Congress Blog on April 19, 2012.
Independence for Scotland and Disarmament for the United Kingdom: Or, the Law of Unintended Consequences
Apr 18, 2012
The future of Great Britain's nuclear deterrent is in doubt, writes Matthew Fargo in this new analysis.
CTBT or Not, Nuclear Test Detection and Monitoring Remains Critical
Apr 16, 2012
Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation's Senior Science Fellow Dr. Phil Coyle has a new article in the World Politics Review on U.S. nuclear test detection capabilities and why its important to sustain and improve them with our without the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
P5+1 talks with Iran are a first step in long process
Apr 12, 2012
Laicie Olson wrote an oped on the possible outcomes of the P5+1 talks with Iran that will begin April 13, 2012. This piece entitled "P5+1 talks with Iran are first step in a long process" was originally published for The Hill's "Congress Blog" on April 12, 2012.
Strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities would be illegal and ill-advised
Apr 11, 2012
The Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation's National Advisory Board Member, John C. Polanyi wrote an oped on Iran that was published in the Toronto Star on April 11, 2012.
The Case for the CTBT: Stronger than Ever
Apr 9, 2012
Kingston Reif's most recent oped on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) entitled, "The Case for the CTBT: Stronger Than Ever"was published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on April 9, 2012.
2012 Seoul Summit: Pivot to Global Nuclear Security
Apr 4, 2012
The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, Korea brought together 58 heads of state and world leaders to agree on ways to prevent nuclear terrorism, and secure nuclear and radiological materials and facilities. It picked up from the first Washington Summit in 2010 and was supposed to be the watershed moment but was generally a review of past commitments.
2012 Nuclear Security Summit: What It Was and Wasn't
Mar 30, 2012
The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul could have been a watershed moment for nuclear security, but it was largely a review of past successes. Still, there were noteworthy accomplishments, like setting a more detailed vision for the safety and security of nuclear and radioactive materials. Moving forward, the 2014 summit must be drastically different and must set future goals, rather than dwelling on past accomplishments.
Can President Obama Live Up to the Accomplishments of His Predecessors?
Mar 29, 2012
Every second term Republican President since the beginning of the nuclear age (i.e. Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, and Bush II) proposed drastic changes to reduce the threat posed by nuclear weapons, writes Center Policy Fellow Nickolas Roth.
Senate resolution on Iran may be bipartisan, but it could lead to war
Mar 28, 2012
Council Board Member, Colonel Richard Klass (USAF, ret), wrote an opinion piece for the Christian Science Monitorentitled, "Senate resolution on Iran may be bipartisan, but it could lead to war," which was published on March 28, 2012.
2012 Nuclear Security Summit National Achievements and Commitments
Mar 27, 2012
Highlights of Achievements and Commitments by Participating Countries as Stated in National Progress Reports
2012 Nuclear Security Summit: Seoul Communique
Mar 27, 2012
Abandon Negotiations with North Korea?
Mar 26, 2012
If the Washington Post had its way, the United States would refuse to negotiate with the North Korean government, leaving problems to fester and threats to peace in the region to grow, writes Lt. Gen. Robert Gard (USA, ret).
Nuclear Security and the Korean Peninsula Symposium in Seoul
Mar 22, 2012
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation will co-host an international conference with the Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies in Seoul, Korea on March 22, 2012.
Factsheet: 2012 Nuclear Security Summit Preview
Mar 20, 2012
The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit will be held on March 26-27 in Seoul, Korea. Fifty-eight heads of state and international organizations will agree on ways to prevent nuclear terrorism and vulnerable nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands. This factsheet highlights some key issues, expectations, and challenges.
Heeding the experts on Iran
Mar 20, 2012
Center for Arms Control National Advisory Board Member, General Joseph Hoar (USMC, ret), wrote an opinion piece for the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled, "Heeding the experts on Iran," which was published March 20, 2012.
The Wages of Missile Defense
Mar 19, 2012
A missile defense system which cannot reliably destroy incoming missiles under optimum conditions is not a defense system - it is an exceedingly expensive boondoggle, writes Matthew Fargo in this new analysis.
When less is not more
Mar 12, 2012
Kingston Reif's OPED on reducing the number of nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal entitled, "When less is not more," was published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on March 12, 2012.
North Korea: Small Step Forward, Many More to Go
Mar 1, 2012
In reaching an agreement with the United States, North Korea took a small positive step, but details of and compliance with the latest agreement will be key in determining whether Pyongyang is serious about denuclearization. The simultaneously released statements from the United States and North Korea open the door slightly to six-party talks but reflect clear contrasts between each side's understanding of and assumptions about the latest deal.
Out of Touch: GOP candidates choose political posturing over smart policy in Iran
Feb 29, 2012
Senior Policy Analyst, Laicie Olson wrote an oped for The Hill's Congress Blog entitled, "Out of Touch: GOP Candidates Choose Political Posturing Over Smart Policy in Iran." Published February 29, 2012.
Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation commends modest first step by North Korea
Feb 29, 2012
Washington D.C. - Today, the Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation commends the bilateral agreement between the United States and North Korea that says that the North Koreans agree to suspend their nuclear activities. Although, the Center notes that this is only a first step and there are still so few details regarding the announcement.
North Korean Nuclear Moratoria: A Positive Small Step
Feb 29, 2012
Under a February 23-24, 2012 deal with the U.S., North Korea agreed on a nuclear, missile and uranium enrichment moratoria as well as an invitation of IAEA inspectors back to Yongbyon in return for nutritional assistance.
Advocates for War Might Look Before They Leap on Iran
Feb 24, 2012
"A new report on Iran’s nuclear capability from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) does not contain any startling new developments, but already it has some conservatives in the U.S. and Israel beating the drums for war," says Laicie Olson, Senior Policy Analyst
Reason over Relics: Restructuring our Nuclear Force
Feb 22, 2012
Lt. General Gard's op-ed "Reason over Relics: Restructuring our Nuclear Force" was originally published in The Hill's Congress Blog on February 22, 2012.
Pentagon Should Be Preparing for Sequestration Ax
Feb 22, 2012
Lt. General Gard and Laicie Olson's op-ed "Pentagon Should Be Preparing for Sequestration Ax" was originally published in Roll Call on February 29, 2012.
The Dawn of Nuclear Sanity?
Feb 16, 2012
There are signs that nuclear sanity is slowly gaining a foothold. Proposals are being considered by the Obama Administration that could pave the way for deep cuts in the number of U.S. nuclear weapons.
Rep. Turner vs. the Budget Control Act: More Nukes is Good Nukes
Feb 15, 2012
Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) argues that the FY 2013 budget request does not provide enough money for the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) nuclear weapons programs. But not only did Turner lose this funding battle when Congress passed the Budget Control Act, but preventing the reductions required by New START would undermine U.S. security, writes Kingston Reif in this new analysis.
BRAC: The Next Steps for the Administration and Congress
Feb 14, 2012
The Pentagon is proposing to pursue two new base realignment and closure rounds in the coming years writes Senior Science Fellow Phil Coyle. But many questions remain.
Multibillion Los Alamos Project Threatened
Feb 12, 2012
John Fleck of the The Albuquerque Journal wrote a piece entitled "Multibillion Los Alamos Project Threatened" quoting Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation's Kingston Reif on the Los Alamos Laboratory's most expensive project in New Mexico history.
The Case Against Increasing Plutonium Pit Production Capacity
Feb 8, 2012
In this new analysis Policy Fellow Nickolas Roth explains the origins and purpose of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Nuclear Facility (CMRR-NF), its significance in terms of U.S. nuclear strategy, and potential consequences.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Experts Anticipate Release of Pentagon Budget
Feb 8, 2012
Washington D.C. – The Pentagon is scheduled to release its Fiscal Year 2013 budget next week. Although the full details of the President’s request will not be made public until Monday, February 13, 2012, the Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation anticipates a few of the details, makes comment.
Vietnam and Afghanistan: The More Things Change
Feb 8, 2012
John Isaacs and Matthew Hoh have written a piece entitled, "Vietnam and Afghanistan: The More Things Change..." on the fact that the U.S. mission in Afghanistan is not as rosy as U.S. officials are claiming. This oped was featured in The Hill's Congress Blog on February 8, 2012.
New START: One year later
Feb 2, 2012
With the anniversary of New START's entry into force, it's time for an examination of the treaty's successes, future opportunities, and the hurdles nuclear arms reductions still face, writes Kingston Reif in a new article published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
US weapons for future include key relics of the past
Jan 27, 2012
The Associated Press' Robert Burns wrote an article entitled "US weapons for future include key relics of the past" that features the Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation's Laicie Olson discussing the 2013 Defense Budget.
Pentagon Budget: Forced To Diet On Only $614 Billion
Jan 26, 2012
The Associated Press' Robert Burns wrote an article entitled "US weapons for future include key relics of the past" that features the Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation's Laicie Olson discussing the 2013 Defense Budget.
Are ambitious Life Extension Programs on Hold?
Jan 26, 2012
The B61 life extension program has come under increasing scrutiny. And for good reason writes Nickolas Roth in this new analysis.
Missile Defense Intercepts in Space: A problem not solved
Jan 17, 2012
A recent report by the Defense Science Board concludes that U.S. missile defenses are still unable to discriminate between an incoming missile and decoys or countermeasures designed to confound the system, writes Lt. Gen. Robert Gard (USA, ret.) in this new analysis.
UNSCR 1540 & the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit: A View From Seoul
Jan 11, 2012
The Republic of Korea (ROK) has been and remains a staunch supporter of the global nonproliferation regime as it borders a grave security threat and proliferator of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). With the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit just months away, the Republic of Korea should be more interested in enhancing UNSCR 1540, not only as the Summit Chair but against the backdrop of a “Global Korea” policy and the nation’s growing prominence in the nuclear energy industry.
What is to be done? – The Russian Reset and Missile Defense Cooperation
Jan 9, 2012
NATO and Russia are on the verge of missing a big opportunity on missile defense cooperation write Kingston Reif and Ulrika Grufman in this new analysis.
Some Additional Thoughts on the Pentagon Strategy Review and Nuclear Weapons
Jan 9, 2012
On January 5 President Obama and Secretary of Defense Panetta unveiled new defense guidance at a press briefing at the Pentagon. The new strategy sets the stage, albeit cautiously, for further reductions in the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the nuclear weapons budget. How the play ends, however, remains to be seen, writes Kingston Reif in this new analysis.
Where Nuclear Safety and Security Meet
Jan 6, 2012
A Fukushima-like nuclear accident does not have to be caused by nature. Similar results could be wrought by a dedicated terrorist group that gained access to a nuclear power plant and disabled its safety systems. To guard against natural accidents, terrorist sabotage, and possible combinations of these two classes of events, nuclear plant operators and regulators should consider a combined approach called nuclear safety-security.
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Applauds Pentagon Strategy Review, Urges More
Jan 5, 2012
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation today applauds the Pentagon’s decision to scale back Pentagon spending in a way that best provides for the strength and security of our country, but labeled the move “only a step in the right direction.”
Iraq - Irresponsible Accusations
Dec 29, 2011
Except for libertarian Ron Paul, all the candidates currently seeking the Republican nomination for President of the United States have chastised President Obama for his decision to remove U.S. troops from Iraq. Senior Military Fellow Lt. Gen. Robert Gard (USA, Ret.) explains why the GOP candidates are wrong in this new analysis.
North Korea After Kim Jong-il
Dec 19, 2011
North Korean media announced its leader Kim Jong-il died on December 17, 2011. Questions remain about North Korea after Kim Jong-il.
Press Release: Death of North Korean Leader
Dec 19, 2011
On December 18, 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il died--the Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation has released the following statement about the recent news.
Energy and Water Conference Agreement Protects Nuclear Material Security Programs, Begins to Reduce Bloated Nuclear Weapons Budget
Dec 16, 2011
The final conference agreement on the FY 2012 Energy and Water bill keeps the goal to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years on track and begins to responsibly scale back the nuclear weapons budget, writes Kingston Reif in this new analysis.
An Analysis of the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Authorization Conference Report
Dec 14, 2011
The conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 provides $530 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget, as well as $116 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $17 billion for nuclear weapons-related spending at the Department of Energy. The total bill, at $662 billion, provides $26.6 billion less than the President’s requested amount in accordance with limits set by the debt deal in August 2011.
GOP Presidential Candidates on National Security Issues
Dec 13, 2011
The U.S. presidential election is less than a year away and the media is currently filled with news regarding the Republican presidential candidates. We have put together a foreign policy profile for each Republican candidate in the race. We will of course do our best to keep it updated.
The Nuclear Weapons Budget, Cont’d
Dec 11, 2011
The ongoing debate about how much the U.S. spends on nuclear weapons shouldn't allow us to lose sight of the fact that the U.S. spends far more on its nuclear arsenal than is necessary writes Kingston Reif in this new analysis.
2012 Nuclear Security Summit: Opportunities and Challenges
Nov 22, 2011
“There are clear ways in which Seoul can capitalize on its strengths to flavor the 2012 [Nuclear Security Summit] with a “Korean twist” as it maintains depth on key substantive issues that ensure the security of nuclear materials, parts, and facilities…The challenge lies in clearly demonstrating that the benefits outweigh the costs, and that states would have a national interest in further investing their political capital in nuclear security," writes Duyeon Kim, Deputy Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation in The Nautilus Institute Policy Forum.
Additional Cuts to the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Authorization Bill
Nov 16, 2011
On November 15, 2011, the Senate Armed Services Committee revised the fiscal year (FY) 2012 defense authorization bill to include $21 billion in additional cuts, as mandated by the Budget Control Act.
Before we Bomb Iran, Let's Have a Serious Conversation
Nov 15, 2011
Brig. General John H Johns wrote "Before we Bomb Iran, Let's Have a Serious Conversation," which was featured on the New York Times blog 'Campaign Stops' saying, "America ought not consider another war in the Middle East without a very serious discussion of the consequences." November 14, 2011.
Nuclear Turkeys
Nov 15, 2011
Kingston Reif, "Nuclear Turkeys: The Pentagon has too much hardware once thought necessary to defeat the Soviet Union" was featured on Yuba Net on November 14, 2011.
What the super committee's failure means for nuclear weapons
Nov 14, 2011
On November 21, the 12-member congressional super committee announced that it failed to approve a plan to shrink the budget deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over the next decade, triggering an automatic sequester that, if implemented, could result in reductions of $500 billion to planned defense spending over the next decade. These cuts would be in addition to the more than $450 billion in reductions the Pentagon has planned over the next decade.
New Details on Iran Don’t Change the Game
Nov 8, 2011
"A new report on Iran’s nuclear capability from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) does not contain any startling new developments, but already it has some conservatives in the U.S. and Israel beating the drums for war," says Laicie Olson, Senior Policy Analyst
Economic Security is National Security
Nov 3, 2011
Lt. General Robert Gard's op-ed "Economic Security is National Security" ran in The Bellingham Herald in Washington State on November 3, 2011. Gard's piece argues for cutting wasteful military spending that weakens our national security.
Letter to the President on Nuclear Material Security and Non-Proliferation Funding
Nov 1, 2011
October 27 Letter to the President on Nuclear Material Security and Non-Proliferation Funding
Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Concern about the Threat Posed by Nuclear Terrorism
Oct 28, 2011
Republicans and Democrats agree: The threat posed by nuclear terrorism is one of the greatest threats to U.S. national security.
NGO Letter in Support of Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) Effort to Reduce Nuclear Weapons Spending
Oct 28, 2011
Information on the Nuclear Triad
Oct 28, 2011
Senate Subcommittee Action on Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Appropriations Bill
Oct 27, 2011
On September 15, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed action on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Defense Appropriations bill. The committee approved $513 billion for the base budget, plus $117.6 billion to pay for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, for a total of $630.6 billion.
A Certain Uncertain Certainty (Preview of U.S.-DPRK Talks)
Oct 24, 2011
Chief nuclear envoys from the U.S. and North Korea will sit down again for bilateral discussions in Geneva to explore ways to resume the stalled six-party talks. The main sticking point is Pyongyang's uranium enrichment program and differences in opinion on what it takes to jumpstart nuclear negotiations.
Adding Money to Weapons from Nonproliferation is a Bad Trade
Oct 21, 2011
Whatever one thinks about the merits of increased funding for nuclear modernization we should all be able to agree that Congress shouldn’t seek to ameliorate funding shortfalls for nuclear weapons by cutting funding for programs that are our first line of defense against nuclear terrorism, writes Kingston Reif in this new analysis.
Supercommittee should put military spending on the table
Oct 20, 2011
Center's Scoville Fellow Patricia Morris' op-ed entitled, "Supercommittee should put military spending on the table" was originally published in the San Antonio Express on October 20, 2011.
Not so Happy Anniversary
Oct 7, 2011
Lt. General Robert Gard and John Isaacs wrote a piece on the 10th Anniversary of Military Operations in Afghanistan for The Hill's Congress Blog on October 7, 2011.
A Modified B83
Oct 6, 2011
2012 Nuclear Security Summit: The Korean Twist
Sep 28, 2011
Duyeon Kim, Deputy Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation, gave a talk at the Korea Economic Institute on September 28, 2011 on ways Seoul can give the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit agenda a Korean flare.
Expanding Nuclear Weapons Budget a Bad Investment
Sep 26, 2011
"Getting America's fiscal house in order will require difficult budgetary choices. This means that we need to make smart decisions about what is most needed to safeguard U.S. national security in the 21st century," write Laicie Olson and Kingston Reif in their article published in World Politics Review on September 26, 2011.
Factsheet: 66th UN General Assembly | Nuclear Safety-Security & Treaties
Sep 19, 2011
The 66th UN General Assembly beginning in September in New York will address a host of nuclear issues particularly those pertaining to nuclear safety and security as well as multilateral treaties to prevent nuclear terrorism.
Factsheet: 2011 IAEA General Conference
Sep 19, 2011
The International Atomic Energy Agency's 2011 General Conference will address a host of nuclear issues pertaining to security, safety and safeguards.
Two treaties. One Congress. No time to wait.
Sep 16, 2011
Congress has a chance to take real steps to reduce the risks of nuclear terrorism -- if only they would act, write Kingston Reif and Miles Pomper in an article published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
UN Study on the Implications of Fukushima (2011)
Sep 14, 2011
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a UN system-wide study on the implications of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. It builds on his five-point plan and will be presented at a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 66th UN General Assembly. The study examines the emerging nexus between natural disasters, nuclear safety and nuclear security.
Olson's Letter to the Editor on Iran in the Washington Post
Sep 13, 2011
Senior Policy Analyst, Laicie Olson wrote a Letter to the Editor on "Iran's nuclear threat: Fact or Fantasy?" The letter appeared in The Washington Post on September 13, 2011
Review of the Senate Appropriations Committee Version of the FY 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
Sep 12, 2011
Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and the rest of the members of the subcommittee deserve great credit for prioritizing essential nuclear and radiological material security and nonproliferation programs, writes Kingston Reif in his analysis of the Senate Appropriations Committee version of the FY 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.
Senate Appropriations Committee Allocations for Defense (302B allocations)
Sep 8, 2011
An overview of the Senate Appropriations Committee Allocations for Defense.
A funding cut that endangers America
Sep 7, 2011
Lt. General Robert Gard's op-ed, "A funding cut that endangers America" was originally published in The Baltimore Sun on September 7, 2011.
[Op-Ed] Nature and Malice: Confronting multiple hazards to nuclear power infrastructure
Sep 7, 2011
Duyeon Kim, Deputy Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation, co-authors op-ed on "Nature and Malice: Confronting Multiple Hazards to Nuclear Power Infrastructure" published in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on September 7, 2011.
North Korea-Russia Summit: Still Standstill.. Perhaps Regression, Even?
Aug 24, 2011
Pyongyang and Moscow held their first summit in nine years focusing primarily on boosting economic ties amid diplomatic efforts to jumpstart the stalled Six Party Talks over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. An initial assessment based on the first media reports of the summit shows no news on the nuclear front.
Weighing the Impact of the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s New Guidelines
Aug 22, 2011
On June 23-24, the 46 members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a multinational consortium of nuclear technology suppliers that aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, decided to tighten its guidelines on the transfer of sensitive enrichment and reprocessing technologies. Emma Lecavalier assesses the impact of the new guidelines in this new analysis.
How Safe is the US?
Aug 18, 2011
"How Safe is the US?" was originally published in the Asia Times on August 18, 2011. Written by Chris Hellman, Military Policy Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation.
Laicie Olson quoted by the AP on defense cuts
Aug 14, 2011
Center for Arms Control and Non Proliferation Senior Policy Analyst Laicie Olson was quoted by the AP in "Doomsday defense cuts loom large for select 12" By Donna Cassata--August 14, 2011
Three Easy Steps to Increase U.S. National Security – With Bipartisan Backing
Aug 9, 2011
While Washington, DC has been riven between Democratic-Republican open warfare on the debt ceiling, Kingston Reif suggests three immediate steps that Congress can take to reduce the danger posed by nuclear weapons and the materials that could be used to make them, all of which enjoy strong bipartisan support – a rare occurrence on Capitol Hill these days.
Time to Think Safety-Security
Aug 8, 2011
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster gave terrorists and other malefactors a tip. By targeting nuclear plants, they can wreak havoc comparable to that wrought by an earthquake and tsunami, crippling a great economic and military power. It is high time to develop a new paradigm of nuclear safety and security that protects life while spreading the blessings of nuclear power.
Making the U.S.-Pakistan Relationship Less Toxic
Aug 1, 2011
Summer 2011 Intern Emma Lecavalier published an op-ed for YubaNet entitled "Making the U.S.-Pakistan Relationship Less Toxic" on August 1, 2011.
Parting words: Gates and tactical nuclear weapons in Europe
Jul 14, 2011
Before leaving office, Defense Secretary Gates criticized European NATO members for not appropriately sharing costs related to alliance defense obligations. His remarks raise an important question: Is it time to reconsider the deployment of nearly 200 US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe?
Fortenberry-Sanchez amendment a win for nuclear security
Jul 14, 2011
On July 13, the House approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2354) offered by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) to increase the appropriation for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative by $35 million. The result is an important bipartisan victory for the international effort to secure and eliminate vulnerable nuclear material at an accelerated rate and keep our nation safe from the threat of nuclear terrorism, writes Kingston Reif in this new analysis.
A Review of the Senate Armed Services Committee Version of the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Authorization Bill
Jul 11, 2011
On June 16 the Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1253). Kingston Reif and Laicie Olson review the key provisions in the bill in this new analysis.