By Michele Zilka On April 6, 2008, the latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq cited significant security improvements and overall progress toward unifying Iraq’s sectarian groups. The contents of the NIE, although classified, were reported in the New York Times, which called the assessment “upbeat” despite the fragility of the security situation in Iraq […]
Growing Economic Ties Better Deterrence
by Kingston Reif Published in the Washington Times, May 29, 2008 James T. Hackett’s column on India’s strategic posture suffers from two major problems (“India’s missile power lifts off,” Commentary, May 22). First, emphasizing the threat to India posed by China obscures the fact that China is set to overtake the United States as India’s […]
Analysis of House Armed Services Committee Action on the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill (HR 5658)
by Christopher Hellman and Travis Sharp SUMMARY The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) completed its markup of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Defense Authorization bill (HR 5658) on May 15, 2008. HASC’s marked up bill recommends an overall FY2009 authorization level of $601.4 billion, the amount requested by the administration. This $601.4 billion total includes $70 […]
The Seven Myths of Nuclear Terrorism
In the Seven Myths of Nuclear Terrorism, Dr. Matthew Bunn, a Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Board member, and Anthony Wier debunk the myths that terrorists do not have sufficiency capability, opportunity, and desire to acquire weapons-grade material, build or steal a nuclear weapon, and detonate it in the United States. Dr. Bunn makes […]
Analysis of House May 2008 Iraq-Afghanistan Supplemental War Funding Package
by Travis Sharp May 16 UPDATE: On May 15, the House passed amendments #2 and #3 but failed to pass amendment #1, which would provide $162.6 billion in DOD funding for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. That funding is expected to be added to the supplemental by the Senate, which is slated to […]