Chuck Freilich
Senior Fellow, International Security Program
Contact:
Telephone: 617-495-8898
Fax: 617-496-0606
Email: chuck_freilich@harvard.edu
AP Photo
February 2, 2012
"Israel's Profound Choice on Iran"
Op-Ed, Los Angeles Times
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
"So herein lies the dilemma: a potential risk to the nation's existence versus the uncertain results of military action, the likelihood of a devastating Iranian/Hezbollah response, the risk of an end to the peace with Egypt and even a military confrontation and regional war, severe international opprobrium and a partial rift with the United States."
AP Photo
December 16, 2010
"The Sparks That Light the Fires"
Op-Ed, BitterLemons-International.org -- Middle East Roundtable, issue 24
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
"The even worse news is that we may badly need the improved firefighting and other civil preparedness capabilities in the coming years. In the three primary scenarios for military conflict in the coming years—a further round with Hizballah, a strike against Iran and renewed strife with the Palestinians—the home front is likely to be hit hard."
AP Photo
Summer 2010
"Armageddon and the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism"
Journal Article, InFocus, issue 2, volume IV
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
"Nuclear terrorism poses a unique threat not only because of the magnitude of the destruction, but because those most likely to perpetrate an attack may be fundamentally nihilistic and therefore undeterrable — prepared to pay any cost in loss of life in pursuit of their objectives. As millennial movements for whom the crippling and even destruction of the U.S. and Israel are sacred missions, a nuclear terrorist attack where even a devastating response is assumed may be a worthy means of ushering in a messianic era."
AP Photo
April 28, 2010
"Israel Must Prepare for Nuclear Terror Threat"
Op-Ed, Haaretz
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
"Nuclear terrorism is one of the gravest threats to the world's security — so says United States President Barack Obama, who recently convened an international conference on the issue. In Israel, sunk in its own troubles, nuclear terrorism has elicited little interest until now. Beyond the dimensions of the threat, nuclear terrorism poses two unique problems in terms of deterrence. One is that the elements liable to employ nuclear terrorism are nihilist in nature — they are prepared to pay any price for Israel's destruction and are therefore not given to deterrence. The other is the absence of an "address" for purposes of deterrence and retaliation."
AP Photo
Spring 2010
"Decision Time in Jerusalem"
Journal Article, Journal of International Security Affairs, volume 18
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
In Israel, it has become commonplace—indeed, almost axiomatic—to speak of the Iranian nuclear program as an existential threat. Senior decision-makers and defense officials have repeated this warning so often that the words "existential" and "Iran" have become almost synonymous in Israeli discourse. Foreign media, meanwhile, repeatedly speculate on the prospects of an Israeli attack on Iran, and some have speculated that 2010 may be the "year of decision."
AP Photo
April 2010
The Armageddon Scenario: Israel and the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
Report
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
The following study focuses on the threat of nuclear terrorism facing Israel. It begins with an overview of the nature of the threat, before turning to the potential perpetrators of nuclear terrorism against Israel, possible delivery mechanisms and targets, and the specific scenarios under which the threat to Israel might materialize. The study then presents possible policy options for Israel to deal with the threat, both unilaterally and in conjunction with the United States.
AP Photo
April 8, 2010
"The Armageddon Scenario: Israel and the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism"
Paper
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
"...[G]lobal American efforts to minimize the threat of nuclear terrorism might be of significant indirect benefit for Israel. These efforts include, inter alia: heightened diplomacy to make better international use of existing diplomatic tools and to adopt new ones; intensified pressure on states to deny terrorists assistance and sanctuary; improvements in control over nuclear facilities, stockpiles and personnel; strengthening the NPT; heightened international cooperation regarding border security, export controls, intelligence sharing, and interdiction; and a variety of covert operations."
AP Photo
November 11, 2008
"A Parting Word of Thanks"
Op-Ed, The Jerusalem Post
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
"Today we know that Saddam Hussein did not have WMD, but to those of us in the US and Israeli governments at the time, who were sincerely convinced that he retained a residual program, it was an analytical reality. We were very wrong, but we were not irresponsible, nor malevolent. Israel, in case you have forgotten, took the threat very seriously and distributed gas masks, deployed forces and asked the US for antimissile defenses."
March 21, 2007
"Iraq: Consequences of Withdrawal"
Op-Ed, Human Events
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
"With the current partisan debate on Iraq raging in Congress, it is time to consider the reality there and consequent United States' options as they truly are, not as many wish."
AP Photo
Spring 2010
"Decision Time in Jerusalem"
Journal Article, Journal of International Security Affairs, volume 18
By Chuck Freilich, Senior Fellow, International Security Program
In Israel, it has become commonplace—indeed, almost axiomatic—to speak of the Iranian nuclear program as an existential threat. Senior decision-makers and defense officials have repeated this warning so often that the words "existential" and "Iran" have become almost synonymous in Israeli discourse. Foreign media, meanwhile, repeatedly speculate on the prospects of an Israeli attack on Iran, and some have speculated that 2010 may be the "year of decision."
