by Kingston Reif Interview published on Daily Kos on November 22, 2009 Negotiators have been working tirelessly and continuously behind the scenes to meet the treaty deadline. Obama and Medvedev met in Singapore during Obama’s recent trip to Asia. Though the leaders downplayed any problems with the negotiations on “New START”, it has become clear […]
A Shift in Focus: Changes in the Missile Defense Program
by Kingston Reif Published by Foreign Policy in Focus on October 26, 2009 On September 17th, President Barack Obama announced changes in the American missile defense program seeking a more proven and cost-effective system than that introduced by the Bush administration. Such changes are part of Obama’s new comprehensive foreign policy based on an assessment […]
Analysis of FY 2010 Defense Authorization Conference Agreement (HR 2647)
by Travis Sharp On October 7, a House-Senate conference committee finalized the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Defense Authorization bill. The conference bill, which reconciles differences between the separate House- and Senate-passed bills, must now return to both houses for final approval before being submitted to President Obama for signature or veto. The House passed the […]
Analysis of FY 2010 Senate Defense Appropriations Bill (HR 3326)
by Travis Sharp September 24, 2009 On September 10, 2009, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed its markup of the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Defense Appropriations bill (HR 3326). The Committee bill provides $625.8 billion in total discretionary funding, $3.5 billion less than the President’s request. Of the total, $497.6 billion is for the Department of […]
President Obama’s Revamped European Missile Defense Offers Better Security
by Robert G. Gard, John Isaacs, Kingston Reif, and Travis Sharp September 17, 2009 In response to the Pentagon’s announcement today that it intends to modify plans for the U.S. missile defense system in Europe, experts at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation concluded that the decision is technically and politically wise. The Obama administration intends to […]