In The News

The Demise of the NPT: New Players in the Proliferation Game

Chua Hearn Yuit May 16, 2006
To keep their economies rolling, nations race to secure more energy, including that fueled by nuclear sources. Countries like Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam have announced ambitions to secure nuclear power with help from countries like China, Russia, South Korea and India. As a result, a growing number of players edge toward nuclear weapons capability. India did not sign the Nuclear...

If This Is Ahmadinejad’s Bluff, It Is Bluff Worth Calling

Simon Jenkins May 15, 2006
A nuclear Iran is undesirable. But starting a war with Iran is the height of folly, argues author Simon Jenkins. Iran offers more avenues for intelligent diplomacy than Iraq did before the US invasion in 2003, but two factors must be recognized: First, Iran is divided and many Iranians desire no conflict with the US and, second, belligerent rhetoric from western leaders like US President Bush...

Cracks in the System

Hassan Nafaa May 12, 2006
Nonproliferation is an admirable goal, but hardly stops the spread of nuclear weapons. Since its inception, the nonproliferation system was designed to be temporary. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) has flaws and loopholes that make it inadequate and unfair. Dividing the world into two groups – with nuclear capability acceptable for some nations and not for others – is not a viable...

The Problem Is: Iran Does Pose a Threat in Every Way Iraq Did Not

Jonathan Freedland May 4, 2006
After pursuing false threats in Iraq, the US and UK may have trouble convincing other countries to sanction or attack Iran. Regularly threatening Israel and boasting about every nuclear breakthrough, Iran’s president certainly does not hesitate in helping the US and UK make a case that the nation is a menace. Yet leaders in the world’s fourth largest oil producer insist that the nuclear research...

A US Attack of Iran Will Break NATO in Pieces

Frank Biancheri April 18, 2006
Even a world superpower can use a few allies. European nations, long stalwart friends of the US, express alarm that the Bush administration could consider attacking Iran without extensive diplomacy, consultation with allies, and reasoned responses such as revision of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Any attack on Iran would fracture NATO and isolate the US from its traditional allies, argues...

The US and China: Friends or Foes? – Part I

David Shambaugh April 18, 2006
The US and China are parties to the world’s most important bilateral relationship, and this two-part series analyzes the challenges and opportunities confronting two world powers. In the first article, China scholar David Shambaugh presents a litany of issues that bedevil their relations. From President Bush’s perspective, three points of contention most likely to take center stage: First is...

US Plans Strike to Topple Iran Regime - Report

Julian Borger April 10, 2006
An investigative article in the US magazine “The New Yorker” reports that President George Bush is seriously considering military strikes against Iran – strikes aimed not only at preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, but also at achieving “regime change.” The White House assumes that Iran will retain its nuclear weapons program as long as it retains its current government, writes...