While Ben Affleck’s Oscar-nominated film Argo has refocused attention on the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, two former hostages argue that the lessons of the crisis are very relevant to modern U.S. policy toward Iran. As the U.S. restarts talks with Iran on February 26, former U.S. hostages Amb. Bruce Laingen and Amb. John Limbert are calling for sustained and comprehensive diplomacy to prevent war and an Iranian nuclear weapon.
Obama Addresses Key National Security Issues in State of the Union
“Lessening the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons usable materials is a vital national security and fiscal priority,” said Kingston Reif, director of non-proliferation programs at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “There is an emerging bipartisan and military consensus that a significantly smaller stockpile would meet our security needs. In this time of economic uncertainty, further reductions with Russia could create significant cost savings that would free funding for higher priority security programs.”
U.S. Nuclear Strategy to Make State of the Union – That’s a Good Thing
“I’ve been working on this issue for more than three decades and I’ve seen a continuous progression within the mainstream of both parties moving toward a safer world with fewer nuclear weapons,” said John Isaacs, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Council for a Livable World.
Military and Policy Experts Call on P5+1 and Iran to Set a Productive Agenda for Upcoming Meetings
“Bold leadership from the White House is needed,” said Lt. General (ret. USA) Robert Gard PhD, Chairman of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. “After decades of stagnation, hopping from one crisis to another with Iran, the negotiators are in a position to develop a proposal that will ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon and put its nuclear program under stricter controls by the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
North Korea Vows “High Level” Nuclear Test; Diplomacy Needed Now
Lt. General (ret. USA) Robert Gard Jr. PhD, Chairman of the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, stressed, “Even if the North Koreans engage in provocative behavior that should not dissuade us from engaging them.”
