Sanctions Are Only a Stop-Gap: Iran is Negotiating, But That Isn’t Enough
Sanctions have succeeded in bringing Tehran back to the negotiating table, but they are a tactic, not a strategy. Any long-term policy has to aim for a democratic Iran.
Botching the Bomb: Why Nuclear Weapons Programs Often Fail on Their Own — and Why Iran’s Might, Too
(From the new issue, out next week.)
Nuclear weapons are hard to build for managerial reasons, not technical ones. This is why so few authoritarian regimes have succeeded: they don’t have the right culture or institutions. When it comes to Iran’s program, then, the United States and its allies should get out of the way and let Iran’s worst enemies — its own leaders — gum up the process on their own. Read the full article.
Iran and the United States Face Off in Turkey (What to Expect When You Are Expecting Iran to Go Nuclear)
This weekend’s nuclear negotiations will almost certainly reach a dead end. Even so, they will have been worthwhile. Without a good-faith diplomatic effort, Washington would find it harder to get other capitals on board with alternative approaches, including a military strike.
Why North Korea Gets Away With It — Pyongyang’s Skillful Deterrence
Before North Korea conducted its latest missile test, President Barack Obama and other world leaders were condemning the regime for its act of aggression. But North Korea will inevitably go unpunished for this provocation — just as it has in the past. The country’s nuclear arsenal, potential for collapse, and reputation for unpredictability all keep its foes from retaliating. Full article.
Why Israel Should Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Bomb
The debate in Jerusalem about attacking Iran makes clear that Israel does not trust its “bomb in the basement” to do what nuclear weapons are best at doing: deterring their use by others. Embracing this capability would leave the country much safer.
The cases for, and against, a military attack against Iran to deter its nuclear program. Read the full collection.
Opponents of military action against Iran assume a U.S. strike would be far more dangerous than simply letting Tehran build a bomb. Not so, argues this former Pentagon defense planner. With a carefully designed attack, could Washington mitigate the costs and spare the region and the world from an unacceptable threat? Read the full article.
This interactive presentation traces Iran’s history, its evolution as an Islamic republic, and the controversial nuclear program. It also offers an expert overview of the main policy options for dealing with Iran.
Iran’s ambitions as a regional power, its links to groups considered terrorist organizations, and tensions within the Iranian regime pose a range of challenges to its neighbors and the world. Drawing on the insights of more than twenty-five leading analysts, government officials, and journalists, this interactive guide explores these challenges and offers a range of expert opinions on the policy options for addressing them. The guide also uses multimedia elements to trace the country’s history, examine its oil-driven economy, and survey its controversial nuclear program.
This guide is organized into seven chapters including a cinematic overview, photo timelines, followed by several chapters dedicated to overviews of certain aspects of Iran today, video discussions of the various policy options for dealing with the challenges posed by Iran, and lastly—a staple in every Crisis Guide—a thorough list of readings, primary source documents, and other resources for those looking to pursue further research.
(Source: fam.ag)
For decades, Israel has maintained an “opaque” nuclear posture — neither confirming nor denying that it possesses nuclear weapons. The time has come for Israel to reconsider the policy of nuclear ambiguity. It can do so without jeopardizing the nation’s security. In “Bringing Israel’s Bomb Out of the Basement”, Avner Cohen and Marvin Miller discuss legitimizing Israel’s bomb.
Image via Reuters
Image via ReutersIn our new Snapshot, Johan Bergenas refutes the nuclear domino theory in the Middle East.
It is rare to find at a Mexican restaurant/bar/store chain something this cool....
But things are different nowadays. Smart phones have...
The NPR Tumblr now has 100,000 followers. Thanks to everyone who has taken an...
Is America over? (Taken with instagram)
KAL’s cartoon: this week, a simple map.
A chart showing the population density of prisoners in various countries. Notice the one red...
dots or stripes (by ….casper vildrik justesen)
Twitter
Facebook
Subscribe via RSS
Follow on Tumblr
Mobile version
Random post