Ploughshares Fund
President of the Ploughshares Fund, a nonproliferation group based in Washington, DC, and author of Bombscare: The History and Future of Nuclear Weapons and Deadly Arsenals: Tracking Weapons of Mass Destruction; former senior Vice President for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think-tank
The Deal May Be Done, but the Grandstanding Continues Efforts to stop the Iran nuclear deal appear to have failed in the Senate, and leaders of Congress have postponed action on the "Resolution of Disapproval." But the opposition won't go away, and today's debate is a measure of how difficult future diplomacy will be for President Obama and his successor. While Hillary Clinton was supporting the deal this morning, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz were still rallying opposition. Collin Powell, Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin are being heard from on different sides of the issue. We look at the rhetoric and the reality.
Iran's Nuclear Technology: Is There a Threat of War? The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency has released a report expressing " serious concerns " that Iran is still trying to develop technology that’s only useful for nuclear weapons, and that it has enough enriched uranium to fuel a small arsenal, if it chooses to build one. Will Israel launch a pre-emptive attack? Should the US be more assertive? Is diplomacy possible without new sanctions that might threaten Iran’s economy?
Iran's Nuclear Technology: Is There a Threat of War? The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency is reporting " serious concerns " about Iran's ability to build an atomic bomb. There's still no evidence that it wants to. But it's still trying to develop technology that's only useful for nuclear weapons, and that it has enough enriched uranium to fuel a small arsenal, if it chooses to build one. It's also moving more projects to a chamber under a mountain. In Israel, there's public debate over whether it's time to attack. Is that likely? Would the US become involved? Will Iran engage in diplomacy if it faces a tough new round of economic sanctions?
Nuclear Weapons and the Politics of National Security Senate ratification of the New START treaty with Russia looked like a shoo-in but, after Republicans raised objections, debate went down to the wire. The Pentagon's top brass and Republican cold warriors said it would make America safer, but Senate GOP leaders and other confirmed hawks disagreed. Did the President cave in to Russian demands? What about missile defense? Why were short-range battlefield weapons left out? Will another victory in the lame-duck session advance the cause of a world without nuclear weapons or solidify opposition to the President's vision?
The Latest Crisis with North Korea North Korea has seized the world's attention with a new reactor, a new plant for enriching uranium and an artillery attack killing two South Korean civilians. In response, the US will hold joint military exercises with South Korea, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier strike group. North Korea's provocations could constitute a demand for renewed diplomacy or a show of power by an untested new leader. What about China? What are the implications for American policy?
The Latest Crisis with North Korea North Korea has seized the world's attention with a new reactor, a new plant for enriching uranium and an artillery attack killing two South Korean civilians. As a first response, the US will hold joint military exercises with South Korea, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier strike group. North Korea's provocations could constitute a demand for renewed diplomacy or a show of power by an untested new leader. Old hands see familiar patterns, but they still disagree. What about China? What are the implications for American policy — past, present and future?
American Double Standard for Nuclear Non-proliferation? In the Wall Street Journal last week, Jay Solomon reported that the Obama Administration is employing a " double standard " when it comes to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons technology. What's called "the gold standard" was established in a deal with the United Arab Emirates, which accepted help building power plants but agreed not to enrich uranium on its own soil. Solomon found that another standard is being used in negotiations with Vietnam. Non-proliferation advocates, like Joseph Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, are furious.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation and America's Deal with Vietnam The Obama Administration has set what's called the "gold standard" for helping other countries develop nuclear energy. The United Arab Emirates agreed not to enrich uranium on its own soil, a path to producing nuclear weapons. But Vietnam will be under no such restrictions. Vietnam says it won't build atom bombs, but nonproliferation advocates are outraged. They call it a risky giveaway to America's nuclear industry. Nuclear advocates say enrichment is no big secret, and that US squeamishness poses another risk: falling behind in a multi-billion dollar international business. What does it all have to do with China?
Freed Sailors Arrive in London amid Many Questions After a week and a half of what looked like comfortable captivity in Iran, fifteen British marines and sailors are back with their families as the rest of the world looks at the aftermath of a potentially dangerous episode. Iran and the European Union already have resumed discussions on Iran's nuclear program, so communications channels are still open. What about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Tony Blair? Was the prisoner release a "gift" from Iran or dramatic damage control? Despite Britain’s denials, was there a deal? We’ll hear how perceptions differ from the Middle East to the Western World.
Global Community Reacts to North Korea's First Nuclear Test North Korea says it has successfully conducted its first underground nuclear test, an action that has generated grave concern from the international community. News of the event dominated this morning's UN agenda, where the 15-member Security Council spent a brisk 30 minutes in universally condemning the test . President Bush responded by calling North Korea's actions "unacceptable" and deserving of "immediate response," vowing to hold Pyongpang "fully accountable." Similar statements of concern have been issued from spokespeople in South Korea, the UK, China, Japan and Australia. Guest host Diana Nyad explores the UN's response to what countries such as China are calling "flagrant and brazen" violations of international opinion.
Korean Nominated as Secretary General as Defiant DPRK Conducts Nuclear Test North Korea says it has successfully conducted its first underground nuclear test, an action that has reportedly brought joy to the people and the army of that country, and condemnation and concern from the international community. President Bush has spoken to the leaders of South Korea, China, Japan and Russia, all of whom agreed that North Korea's actions "are unacceptable and deserve an immediate response." Meantime, the United Nations Security Council has nominated South Korea's Ban Ki-moon to replace Kofi Annan as the next Secretary General. The General Assembly will vote this week. If approved, Ban would become take over the leadership role on January 1 of 2007. Guest host Diana Nyad explores the role Ban will play in the UN's "responsibility to protect" and the fine line he'll walk over negotiations with North Korea.
Is Iraq Helping or Hurting the War on Terror? President Bush has declassified about 3 pages of a 30-page National Intelligence Estimate saying the Iraq war is a “cause celebre” that has has helped produce a new generation of Islamic radicals and increased the threat of terrorism. It also says that if the jihadists appear to have lost in Iraq, fewer will be inspired to keep fighting. The President says selected portions of the NIE were leaked to reporters for political reasons. We hear how Democrats and Republicans are interpreting the report less than six weeks before the November elections. Different parties drew different conclusions about how to proceed in Iraq. Is President Bush right that the US is winning?” Is it time to pull out? Are there any good options left?
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.