US AND NUCLEAR ISSUES
AP Photo
April 13, 2009
"Iran Should Honor Obama's Courage"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
Barack Obama has initiated a courageous first step in diplomacy with Iran. Iran must do likewise. Courage and boldness on both sides can initiate serious diplomatic engagement, which in turn can lead to breakthroughs that transform the entire Middle East.
April 13, 2009
"U.S. Needs Better System for Securing Radioactive Material"
Op-Ed, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
By William H. Tobey, Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
William H. Tobey, senior fellow with the Belfer Center, argues that if we are to make a lasting improvement in our efforts to prevent a dirty bomb attack, we need a better system for regulating the security and disposition of radiological sources. Tobey says the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should take two actions: establish the bona fides of all purchasers of radiological sources before issuing a permit; and require a deposit equal to the likely cost of safe disposition, to be refunded once disposition is complete.
April 1, 2009
"Taking a Walk on the Supply Side: The Determinants of Civilian Nuclear Cooperation"
Journal Article, Journal of Conflict Resolution, issue 2, volume 53
By Matthew Fuhrmann, Affiliate, Project on Managing the Atom
Matthew Fuhrmann's article "Taking a Walk on the Supply Side: The Determinants of Civilian Nuclear Cooperation," argues that countries provide civil nuclear assistance for three strategic reasons: to strengthen their allies and alliances, to strengthen their relationship with enemies of enemies, and to strengthen existing democracies and bilateral relationships with these countries. The hypotheses are tested using a new data set on more than 2,000 bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation agreements signed between 1950 and 2000.
istock Photo
March 23, 2009
"How to Keep the Bomb From Terrorists"
Op-Ed, Newsweek
By Graham Allison, Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Douglas Dillon Professor of Government; Faculty Chair, Dubai Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
The only thing that can keep nuclear bombs out of the hands of terrorists is a brand-new science of nuclear forensics.
AP Photo
March 16, 2009
"Report from the Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia -- The Right Direction for U.S. Policy Toward Russia"
Press Release
By Sasha Talcott, Director of Communications and Outreach
With the leadership of the Bipartisan Commission on U.S. Policy towards Russia, established by the Belfer Center at Harvard Kennedy School and the Nixon Center in Washington, Belfer Center Director Graham Allison met last week in Moscow with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
AP Photo
March 11, 2009
"Iran's Nuclear Deception"
Op-Ed, Boston Globe
By William H. Tobey, Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"We probably will never know whether the case of the found enriched uranium was a mistake or a feint. That uncertainty, however, and the horrible consequences of a significant lapse in our ability to monitor Iran's nuclear program should lead the IAEA, the Obama administration, and our European negotiating partners to exercise great caution in considering proposals that would depend on intricate and foolproof verification schemes."
Spring 2009
Preventing Nuclear Terrorism: Agenda for the President's Opening Weeks in Office
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
By Matthew Bunn, Associate Professor of Public Policy; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom; Co-Principal Investigator, Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (ERD3) Policy Project and Andrew Newman, Research Associate, Project on Managing the Atom
President Barack Obama took office in a world where the danger that terrorists could get and use a nuclear bomb remains very real. He should take several key steps in the opening weeks of his administration:This article is adapted from "Preventing Nuclear Terrorism: An Agenda for the Next President" (November 2008) by Matthew Bunn and Andrew Newman. For full text, see: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/18673.
Spring 2009
"Rolf Mowatt-Larssen and William Tobey Named Senior Fellows"
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
By Sharon Wilke, Associate Director of Communications
Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, former director of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and former head of the Central Intelligence Agency's WMD and terrorism efforts, has joined the Belfer Center as a senior fellow along with William H. Tobey, until recently the deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
February 26, 2009
Harvard Kennedy School’s Ashton Carter Nominated as Pentagon’s Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Press Release
By Beth Maclin, Communications Assistant and Dr. Ashton B. Carter, Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project (on leave), Harvard & Stanford Universities
President Barack Obama announced Monday that he has nominated Dr. Ashton B. Carter to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.
Belfer Center
Spring 2009
"Schlesinger Reports Call Attention to Nuclear Mission and Deterrence"
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
By Beth Maclin, Communications Assistant
Two groups focusing on nuclear weapons, both chaired by James Schlesinger – former secretary of energy, defense, and central intelligence and head of the Belfer Center International Council – recently released reports detailing the threats facing and challenges of the United States’ nuclear stockpile and policy.
