Recent Policy Analysis
Growth in U.S. Defense Spending Since 2001
Mar 11, 2010
The Pentagon's budget has increased dramatically since 2001. In inflation-adjusted dollars, the total defense budget has grown from $432 billion in FY01 to $720 billion in FY11, a real increase of approximately 67 percent. The Pentagon’s base budget, which excludes war and nuclear weapons funding, has also grown steadily over the last decade, increasing from $390 billion in FY01 to $540 billion in FY11, a real increase of 38 percent.
Lips and Teeth
Mar 9, 2010
If it is true that North Korea’s WMD programs are being funded principally from illicit arms sales, then it is imperative that China take its UN Security Council sanctions obligations more seriously. In this new analysis, Chad O'Caroll questions whether this duty will ever be compatible with China’s goal of maintaining North Korean regime stability.
FY 2011 Threat Reduction and Nonproliferation Funding
Mar 2, 2010
In his historic Prague speech on nuclear weapons, President Obama pledged that the United States would lead “a new international effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years.” While last year's budget request was well below what is necessary to begin the hard work of achieving this lofty goal, the administration's Fiscal Year 2011 request includes significant increases for many key threat reduction and nonproliferation programs.
The Obama disarmament paradox: A rebuttal
Feb 24, 2010
Greg Mello's recent Bulletin article "The Obama Disarmament Paradox" distorts the Obama administration's nuclear agenda by making unjustified assumptions that discredit President Barack Obama's historic commitment to seek a nuclear-weapon-free world, write John Isaacs and Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, Jr. (USA, ret.) in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Fact Sheet: 2010 Nuclear Posture Review
Feb 24, 2010
The Nuclear Posture Review is scheduled for release sometime in March or April 2010. The review will set U.S. nuclear weapons policy for the next five to ten years and influence the implementation of President Obama's far-reaching agenda to reduce the role and number of nuclear weapons laid out in Prague. In this new factsheet, Kingston Reif and Chad O'Carroll examine the background, purpose, significance, and challenges of the Nuclear Posture Review.
John Isaacs vs. Baker Spring on Nuclear Reductions
Feb 17, 2010
On February 16, 2010, Center Executive Director John Isaacs debated Baker Spring, a research fellow in national security policy at the Heritage Foundation, on the topic of nuclear reductions as part of a live debate series conducted by the Project on Nuclear Awareness (PONI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Analysis of FY 2011 Budget Request
Feb 4, 2010
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, which begins on October 1, 2010, the Obama Administration has requested a base budget of $548.9 billion for the Department of Defense (DoD). This is $18 billion, or 3.4 percent, above the appropriated Fiscal Year 2010 base budget of $531 billion. In addition, the Administration has requested $159.3 billion for “Overseas Contingency Operations,” to fight the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This brings the Fiscal Year 2011 defense budget request to a total of $708.3 billion.
The Reliability and Safety of U.S. Nuclear Weapons
Feb 3, 2010
On January 28, 2010 at a Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation briefing for Senate staffers that was moderated by Center Chairman Lt. General Robert Gard (USA, Ret.), Dr. Richard Garwin discussed the reliability of U.S. nuclear weapons and options to ensure that these weapons remain safe and secure, and provided insight into what “modernization” is necessary.
Biological Threats: A Matter of Balance
Feb 2, 2010
In the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, the Center's Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Weapons Control argues that the Graham-Talent WMD Commission exaggerates the bioterrorist threat and proposes solutions that won't produce the comprehensive approach needed to strengthen public health security.
Turning the Doomsday Clock
Jan 27, 2010
Twenty-first century threats require innovative and global solutions. Reducing the numbers of nuclear weapons in the world and preventing their further spread will require concerted effort by many nations and sustained leadership from the United States, writes Katie Mounts in the Register Citizen.
Biological Threats: A Matter of Balance
Jan 26, 2010
In response to a report card released on January 26 by the Graham-Talent Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism, the Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Weapons at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation released a statement urging a balanced approach to dealing with biological threats.
Iran Sanctions Are Counterproductive
Jan 7, 2010
If the United States hopes for the emergence of an environment in Iran where pro-democracy forces may successfully challenge—and one day replace—the current regime, new sanctions are a step in the wrong direction. Poorly designed gasoline sanctions strengthen hardliners’ anti-American arguments and undercut moderates’ calls for internal reform and external engagement with our country, writes Laicie Olson in the East Texas Review.
Report of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament
Dec 18, 2009
The Report of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, “Eliminating Nuclear Threats: A Practical Agenda for Global Policymakers”, was presented December 15, 2009 in Tokyo.
Analysis of FY 2010 Defense Appropriations Conference Agreement (HR 3326)
Dec 17, 2009
The Conference agreement on the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill was adopted by the full House on Wednesday, December 16, roughly 24 hours after it became available for public viewing. The Senate is expected to act on the legislation this week. The bill includes $497.7 billion for the Department of Defense’s annual “base” budget, excluding funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rooting for Arms Control
Dec 15, 2009
Dwight Eisenhower was the first Republican to recognize that the achievement of an international system to restrain the proliferation of nuclear weapons would be well worth a minor abrogation of national sovereignty. It is to be hoped that the necessary handful of Republican senators will endorse the collective wisdom of predecessors Root, Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and join their Democratic colleagues in supporting START renewal and ratification of the CTBT.
Nuclear Weapons: The Modernization Myth
Dec 10, 2009
A comparison of U.S., Russian, Chinese, British, and French nuclear forces undermines the recurring argument that Washington is falling behind. As Kingston Reif explains in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, debunking this “modernization myth” demonstrates clearly that the U.S. nuclear arsenal remains second to none.
Fact Sheet: 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference
Dec 9, 2009
The next Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference is scheduled to take place in 2010 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The 2010 Review Conference will be a critical step in the ongoing process of consolidating and bolstering global confidence in the nuclear nonproliferation regime.
Fact Sheet: 2010 Global Nuclear Security Summit
Dec 9, 2009
The Global Nuclear Security Summit is scheduled to take place in April 2010 in Washington, D.C. The summit will focus on safeguarding against nuclear terrorism by bolstering international cooperation and improving security for nuclear materials worldwide.
Commitment to Nuclear Non-Proliferation: New Directions under the Obama Administration
Dec 4, 2009
In this speech delivered to the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, John Isaacs argues that we have entered an era of great change on nuclear weapons issues. The election of Barack Obama as President has provided an opportunity for unprecedented transformation. If we do not see substantial progress in the next six months, however, the President’s vision will be in jeopardy.
Rebuttals to Arguments Against “New START”
Dec 4, 2009
Responses to arguments made by skeptics of New START.
Introduction: START I and Nuclear Weapons Reductions
Dec 4, 2009
Background on START I and SORT and update on the New START negotiations.
How the "New START" Treaty Increases U.S. Security
Dec 4, 2009
Arguments in favor of the New START Treaty.
Pruning the Nuclear Triad? Pros and Cons of Bombers, Missiles, and Submarines
Dec 3, 2009
As the United States and Russia negotiate bilateral reductions in nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles, attention must be paid to the composition of each country’s strategic arsenal of nuclear-armed bombers, land-based missiles, and submarine-based missiles. This fact sheet considers the arguments traditionally made about the strengths and weaknesses of each leg of the nuclear triad.
Estimated Global Nuclear Weapons Inventories, 2009
Dec 3, 2009
A summary of the total number of nuclear weapons possessed by each state.
Putting Afghanistan Troop Increase Costs in Perspective
Dec 2, 2009
Adding 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan will cost $30 billion during Fiscal Year 2010. In this new fact sheet, Travis Sharp expresses this hefty sum in more accessible terms, including the cost per taxpayer, cost per minute, and opportunity cost.
Playing Chess With Russia: An Update on the New START Agreement
Nov 23, 2009
In this interview published on Daily Kos, Kingston Reif discusses New START and the obstacles faced by the United States and Russia, which include verification issues, missile defense, advanced conventional weapons systems, and upload capacity.
For Safety, Ban Nuclear Tests
Nov 12, 2009
The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is a simple, necessary, and effective instrument for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. It is unsettling that the United States has had such a tool within its reach for over a decade but has failed to grab it. To protect the nation, the Senate must move quickly to consider, and approve, the Test Ban Treaty, Kirk Bansak and Andrew Riedy write in The Register Citizen.
Congressional Caucuses and Arms Control
Nov 5, 2009
To illuminate the executive-legislative interaction that is already occurring and will intensify as the Obama administration moves to complete bilateral U.S.-Russian reductions of nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles, it helps to identify the congressional caucuses that exist to influence nuclear weapons policy. Travis Sharp briefly examines these conduits of informal power on Capitol Hill.
How to Ratify the Test Ban Treaty
Nov 2, 2009
Ten years ago last month, the U.S. Senate failed to approve the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. A decade later, the dangers posed by the potential spread of nuclear weapons and materials to additional states and terrorists have increased dramatically. Stopping proliferation will require a global effort -- and an early, essential step in that effort must be U.S. ratification of the test ban, Kingston Reif argues in this new op-ed for World Politics Review.
Obstacles to Negotiating a New START Agreement
Oct 30, 2009
In May 2009, the United States and Russia began formal negotiations on a follow-on agreement to replace START I, which expires in December 2009. Based on news reports, conversations with Russian and American experts, and discussions with senior U.S. officials, Kingston Reif outlines the four main sticking points in the negotiations.
Letter to Congress on Laser Enrichment Facility in North Carolina
Oct 30, 2009
A letter to Congress about the proliferation risks of a specific uranium enrichment method known as laser isotope separation that Global Laser Enrichment plans to use in its proposed uranium enrichment facility in North Carolina.
A Shift in Focus: Changes in the Missile Defense Program
Oct 27, 2009
On September 17, President Barack Obama announced changes in the American missile defense program seeking a more proven and cost-effective system than that introduced by the Bush administration. FPIF spoke with Kingston Reif, Deputy Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, to understand the reasons for the changes and its effects on American foreign policy.
Analysis of FY 2010 Defense Authorization Conference Agreement (HR 2647)
Oct 21, 2009
On October 7, a House-Senate conference committee finalized the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization bill. The bill authorizes $550.2 billion for the national security budget and $130 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, which adds up to $680.2 billion in total funding, the same amount requested by the Obama administration. The House passed the conference bill on October 8. The Senate is expected to follow suit soon.
New START Won’t Require Cuts in U.S. Force Structure
Oct 16, 2009
Assuming the United States and Russia can agree to new elimination, counting, and inspection rules as part of the New START negotiations, the United States should have no problem complying with a delivery vehicle limit of 800, which comports with the number of nuclear-armed systems it actually deploys and would not require it to eliminate bombers, missiles, and submarines that have been converted to conventional roles. Kingston Reif explains why in this new analysis.
Biohazard: Why U.S. Bioterror Research Is More Dangerous Than Bioterrorism
Oct 16, 2009
In their new article on ForeignPolicy.com, Lynn Klotz and Edward Sylvester argue that the race to develop countermeasures to biological weapons might have actually increased the probability of a bioterrorist attack and made it more difficult to achieve the kind of international cooperation that can truly reduce this threat.
Senate Sounds of Silence on Nukes
Oct 8, 2009
Given the important role Capitol Hill can play in foreign policy, recent Senate reactions to major Obama administration announcements are worth analyzing as a sign of challenges ahead. After a survey of press activity, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation concludes that only the sounds of silence have been heard from the Senate on arms control – except for Republicans’ predictable disavowal of reformulated plans for missile defense in Europe.
Rebalancing U.S. Foreign Policy: The State Department and Congressional Fellowships
Oct 5, 2009
This essay argues that in order to reclaim its proper place alongside the Pentagon as the chief incubator and executor of U.S. foreign policy, the State Department must strengthen its legislative affairs activities, and thereby its relationship with Congress, through the improved utilization of congressional fellowships for Foreign Service Officers.
Letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Laser Enrichment Facility in North Carolina
Oct 2, 2009
A letter opposing the laser enrichment facility planned in Wilmington, NC for which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering a license request. Laser enrichment poses proliferation risks because it is harder to detect than other enrichment technologies.
Analysis of FY 2010 Senate Defense Appropriations Bill (HR 3326)
Sep 24, 2009
On September 10, 2009, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed its markup of the fiscal year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill (HR 3326). The Committee bill provides $625.8 billion in total discretionary funding, $3.5 billion less than the President’s request. Of the total, $497.6 billion is for the Department of Defense “base” budget and $128.2 billion is for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Obama's Options on Missile Defense
Sep 21, 2009
While media elites and professional pundits love to frame public policy debates as epic battles of conservative and liberal worldviews, judgments about national security rarely boil down to two stark alternatives. The president typically considers at least a handful of distinct options when making any major foreign policy decision. The U.S. missile defense system in Europe, originally proposed by President George W. Bush, serves as the perfect example.
President Obama's Revamped European Missile Defense Offers Better Security
Sep 17, 2009
In response to the Pentagon's announcement September 17 that it intends to modify plans for the U.S. missile defense system in Europe, experts at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation concluded that the decision is technically and politically wise.
2009-2010 College Debate Topic on Nuclear Weapons: A Guide to Background Materials, Publications, & Organizations
Sep 14, 2009
In 2009-2010, the national college debate topic asks whether or not the United States “should substantially reduce the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal, and/or substantially reduce and restrict the role and/or missions of its nuclear weapons arsenal.” To help debaters prepare, the Center prepared an online guide to background materials, publications, and relevant organizations.
Fact Sheet: Quick Facts about U.S. Military Operations in Afghanistan
Sep 8, 2009
This new fact sheet by Christopher Hellman presents quick facts about the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan, including updated information on troop levels, costs, and casualties.
Local Priorities vs. National Interests in Arms Control
Sep 1, 2009
Would a senator from a state dependent on the nuclear weapons complex oppose an arms control treaty not on the basis of ideology, but because the treaty would mean the loss of jobs or funding in their home state? “Absolutely,” Travis Sharp argues in this new article for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Online.
Congressional Fellowships and Foreign Policy: DOD vs. State
Aug 25, 2009
The Pentagon’s growing control over U.S. foreign policy is partly attributable to its highly organized and efficient legislative operations, which are far superior to those of the State Department and allow DOD to dominate the zero-sum game of congressional budgeting. In this analysis on the Stimson Center Budget Insight Blog, Travis Sharp argues that the State Department should at least double the number of Foreign Service Officers working on the Hill.
Zero Nuclear Weapons: A Feasible Goal?
Aug 25, 2009
Global Zero is dependent on compliance, which in turn relies on mutual trust between states in the international system that weapons will not be concealed. This appears remote and subsequently so too does the feasibility of such a goal as complete nuclear disarmament, Lt. Gen. Robert Gard writes on Atlantic-Community.org.
Ensuring Compliance With the Biological Weapons Convention: Meeting Report
Aug 17, 2009
In 2008, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, together with several leading science and security policy organizations, met to discuss the processes used by Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States to assess and ensure compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). This new report presents the results of the meeting.
Factsheet: Current Status of Iran's Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs
Aug 17, 2009
There is no hard consensus as to exactly how close Iran is to acquiring a nuclear weapon, fitting a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile, and/or developing a ballistic missile capable of reaching most of Europe and the United States. In this new factsheet, Kingston Reif surveys the relevant intelligence reports and summarizes the various estimates.
Time to Grow the Acquisition Work Force
Aug 17, 2009
Today, problems that a robust defense acquisition and oversight corps might prevent are festering because there are not enough hands on deck, and the hands that are on deck all too often are attached to private industry. In this new op-ed published in Defense News, defense analyst Travis Sharp argues that it is finally time for Congress and the Pentagon to strengthen the largely forgotten defense acquisition work force.
Policy Briefing on Nuclear Reprocessing: Is the U.S. Missing Out on the Nuclear Waste Solution?
Aug 10, 2009
On July 20, 2009, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Physicians for Social Responsibility co-hosted a briefing on nuclear reprocessing. The briefing featured Dr. Frank von Hippel, Henry Sokolski, and Dr. Edwin Lyman.
Senators Letter on START and Missile Defense
Aug 4, 2009
Solid Progress on Nuclear Weapons Reductions
Aug 3, 2009
Obama and Medvedev in Moscow hammered out the framework for an agreement to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Much more work lies ahead, but conditions are now ideal for the United States and Russia to conclude significant arms control initiatives in the coming months and years. These initiatives will strengthen U.S. security and improve America’s standing in the world.
What Happened to the F-22?
Jul 31, 2009
Recent Senate and House votes to stop buying additional F-22 Raptor aircraft have been heralded as huge wins for President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the battle to reform the Pentagon. Certainly the votes were major political victories. Yet this year is not the first time Congress has attempted to stop the F-22. During the 1990s, legislators in both the House and Senate tried – unsuccessfully – to cut funding for the program. Why did Congress deliver the Obama administration’s preferred policy outcome this time around?
Analysis of FY 2010 House Defense Appropriations Bill (HR 3326)
Jul 28, 2009
On July 22, 2009, the House Appropriations Committee completed its markup of the fiscal year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill (HR 3326). The Committee bill provides $636.6 billion in total funding, $3.8 billion less than the President’s request. Of the total, $508.4 billion is for the Department of Defense “base” budget and $128.2 billion is for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bargaining Chip or Gas Mask? Prospects for Missile Defense
Jul 22, 2009
In this full-length article published by the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, John Isaacs and Travis Sharp review the history of missile defense since World War II in search of insights that can be applied today. Isaacs and Sharp argue that President Obama retains two viable options for U.S. missile defense in Europe: “The Bargaining Chip" or "The Gas Mask."
Factsheet on the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT)
Jul 15, 2009
Part of President Obama’s ambitious arms control agenda is a fissile material cutoff treaty (FMCT) that would ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons purposes. In this new factsheet, Kingston Reif and Madeleine Foley examine the purpose, background, politics, and challenges of the FMCT.
Analysis of Senate Defense Authorization for FY 2010 (S. 1390)
Jul 13, 2009
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) completed its markup of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Defense Authorization bill (S. 1390) on June 25, 2009. The marked up bill recommends $679.8 billion in funding, $375 million less than requested by the administration.
Decrease Stockpiles, Increase Security
Jul 6, 2009
This week in Moscow, Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev are holding a summit meeting that will heavily influence the next decade of U.S.-Russian relations. If the two leaders strike up a personal and political rapport, it could unfreeze a relationship that became icy in the final years of the Bush and Putin administrations. If the summit produces less favorable results, it could intensify mistrust and leave several foreign policy wounds to fester.
The Obama-Medvedev Security Summit
Jul 6, 2009
Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev are meeting this week in Moscow for their first full summit. High on their agenda is the landmark 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which will expire on December 5. In this op-ed published by Reuters, Lt. Gen. Robert Gard and Kingston Reif explain the importance of negotiating a START follow-on agreement.
Backgrounder on Obama-Medvedev July 2009 Moscow Summit
Jul 2, 2009
From July 6 to 8, 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev will meet in Moscow for their first full summit. High on their agenda is the impending expiration of the landmark 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and the ongoing negotiations to replace it with a new strategic arms reduction agreement.
Should Torture Be Part of the U.S.'s Counterterrorism Approach?
Jun 25, 2009
President Obama decided not to release a new group of detainee abuse photographs because he believes they would inflame our enemies and threaten American troops. Indeed, the shocking photos from Abu Ghraib have served as a powerful recruiting tool for al-Qaeda and have sparked outrage across the world.
House Armed Services Committee Action on the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 2647)
Jun 24, 2009
The House Armed Services Committee completed its markup of the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization bill (HR 2647) on June 17, 2009. The marked-up bill recommends an overall FY 2010 authorization level of $680.5 billion, which includes $130 billion for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and $550.5 billion for the Pentagon and nuclear weapons activities.
Factsheet on the F/A-22 Raptor Fighter
Jun 24, 2009
The F-22, known as the Raptor, is an air-superiority fighter intended to replace a portion of the Air Force’s fleet of F-15s. In this factsheet, Chris Hellman explains the history, cost, and current controversies surrounding the F-22.
U.S. Foreign Policy toward Iran in the Obama Era
Jun 23, 2009
Though burdened with political constraints on its freedom of action, the Obama administration already has made overtures to Iran that may appear merely symbolic but have historically proven successful at breaking the ice in preparation for larger diplomatic initiatives. In this new policy brief, Travis Sharp argues that there are reasons to be guardedly optimistic about the future of U.S.-Iranian bilateral relations.
Will the Senate Support New Nuclear Arms Reductions?
Jun 23, 2009
The one major piece of President Obama's arms control agenda that could be completed this year is a follow-on agreement to START. Most arms control experts agree that ratification with more than 67 Senate votes will be necessary to build momentum for more controversial treaties to follow. John Isaacs and Kingston Reif dissect the domestic politics of START in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Online.
Factsheet on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty
Jun 22, 2009
Despite recent setbacks, the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty has proven successful. Since 1990, over 60,000 weapons systems have been either removed from the treaty zone or destroyed. The United States should work to revive the CFE. But it must do so carefully because the treaty has become entangled in debates over wider European issues.
Major Public Support for Obama Nuclear Policies; Questions Remain
Jun 16, 2009
A Greenberg Quinlan Rosner/Democracy Corps poll taken May 10-12, 2009 has found that a majority of Americans, 71%, to be exact, supports President Obama's policies on a road to "a world free of nuclear weapons" - they just don't do so in those words.
Technical Issues for a Follow-On START Agreement
Jun 16, 2009
Q&A on the technical issues surrounding the START follow-on agreement
START Follow-On Timeline (Updated through January 2010)
Jun 16, 2009
A timeline of major START events between 1991 to 2009
Congressional Add-Ons to Second FY 2009 War Supplemental (H.R. 2346/S. 1054)
Jun 16, 2009
As part of their work on the second FY 2009 war supplemental, members of Congress provided nearly $7 billion in “add-ons” or funds not sought by the Pentagon. Much of this additional funding is being included as part of the supplemental because these programs are controversial and might not otherwise be funded through the normal budget process.
Analysis of Conference Agreement on Second FY 2009 War Supplemental (H.R. 2346/S. 1054)
Jun 15, 2009
On June 11, House and Senate conferees approved a $105.9 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill for the latter part of FY 2009. The bill includes $79.9 billion for the Department of Defense, primarily to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, roughly $4.4 billion more than the amount sought by the administration.
Analysis of the Council on Foreign Relations Task Force Report on U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy
Jun 9, 2009
The Council on Foreign Relations Task Force report shares many similarities with the final report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States. Most importantly, both reports call for reductions in nuclear stockpiles. Kingston Reif analyzes the CFR report in this new policy brief.
Nukes Remain Top Security Issue
Jun 9, 2009
"There are no second acts in American lives," the famous author F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote. Tell that to U.S. and Russian officials who met in Moscow in mid-May to begin negotiating a new nuclear arms reduction agreement. Left for dead during the Bush administration, nuclear arms control is back for an encore performance - and not a moment too soon.
Obama Nuclear Nonproliferation Budget Disappointing
Jun 2, 2009
The Obama administration pledged to safeguard all vulnerable nuclear weapons and materials within four years. Yet the fiscal year 2010 nonproliferation budget submitted to Congress in May is disappointing. Instead of an increase in nonproliferation funding to meet the aforementioned goal, the administration actually requested less money than Congress appropriated in fiscal year 2009.
The Aspiration of Global Zero
May 22, 2009
On April 5, 2009, before a crowd gathered at Hradcany Square in Prague, President Barack Obama declared “America’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.” With these words, Obama implicitly endorsed Global Zero—a movement founded in December 2008 by some 100 political leaders from around the world to ban nuclear weapons.
Analysis of Senate Appropriations Committee Markup of the Second FY 2009 War Supplemental (S. 1054)
May 20, 2009
On May 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $94.3 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill for the latter part of Fiscal Year 2009, which ends on September 30. The bill includes $73 billion for the Department of Defense, primarily to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
President Obama’s First Budget Shortchanges Nunn-Lugar
May 15, 2009
With critical security upgrades still incomplete and the Russian nuclear infrastructure becoming more dilapidated, now is not the time to reduce funding for the Nunn-Lugar nonproliferation program. Yet that is exactly what President Obama proposed in his fiscal year 2010 budget.
Analysis of House Appropriations Committee Markup of the Second FY 2009 War Supplemental (HR 2346)
May 14, 2009
On May 4, the House Appropriations Committee approved a $94.2 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill for the latter part of Fiscal Year 2009, which ends on September 30. For the Department of Defense, the bill includes $81.3 billion to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Newspaper Editorials Supporting Nuclear Weapons Reductions
May 12, 2009
A collection of newspaper editorials endorsing nuclear weapons reductions.
From the Other Side: Voices Skeptical of Further Reductions
May 12, 2009
A collection of articles by analysts who oppose nuclear weapons reductions.
Analysis of the Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Spending Request
May 8, 2009
On May 8, the Obama Administration released complete details of its Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Spending Request. The request included $533.8 billion for the Department of Defense and $130 billion to support "Overseas Contingency Operations" (military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan), included for the first time as part of the White House’s annual budget request, rather than through special supplemental appropriations bills.
Support for Nuclear Reductions Builds with Two New Bipartisan Reports
May 6, 2009
Two recent bipartisan reports strongly endorsed the importance of reducing the size of the U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals. Both reports clearly demonstrated that there is broad and wide support for a START follow-on agreement and that the United States and Russia have an important obligation to reduce the size and role of nuclear weapons in their national security policies.
Analysis: Final Report of the Congressional Commission on the Nuclear Strategic Posture of the United States
May 6, 2009
On May 6, the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States released its final report. As one might expect given the diverse make-up of the Commission, the final report offers a mixture of good and bad recommendations. In this comprehensive analysis, Kingston Reif examines the two competing visions in the Commission’s report.
The RRW's Vacuum Tube Myth
May 1, 2009
In this article published in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Online, Jeffrey Lewis and Kingston Reif explain why the need to replace outdated vacuum tubes is no reason to build a new generation of nuclear weapons such as the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW).
Analysis of S. 454: The Levin-McCain Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act
Apr 30, 2009
The Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 (S. 454), introduced by Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John McCain (R-AZ), has quickly become the legislative vehicle of choice for repairing the Pentagon’s weapons-buying process. For all of its merits – and there are many – the Levin-McCain bill is still riddled with loopholes and waivers. Lawmakers should work to strengthen the bill as it winds it way through Capitol Hill this year.
President Obama: 100 Days of Significant Progress
Apr 28, 2009
With 100 days now behind him and more than 1,000 left to go in his first term, President Barack Obama has given us much to celebrate – especially when compared to the dismal years of the Bush administration. John Isaacs offers a progress report on the Obama administration.
A Strategy for Achieving Senate Approval of the CTBT
Apr 16, 2009
In this new article published in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Online, Executive Director John Isaacs argues that the successful effort in the 1990s to approve the Chemical Weapons Convention provides a useful historical precedent to keep in mind as efforts move forward today to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. In both past and present efforts, Joe Biden is a central figure.
START Follow-On Treaty and Further Nuclear Reductions: Where Are We?
Apr 13, 2009
President Barack Obama has made it clear since the beginning of his administration that negotiating a new nuclear weapons reduction treaty with Russia is a high priority. In this new analysis, John Isaacs lays out the enormous momentum building for a follow-on agreement to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires at the end of the year. Isaacs also foreshadows the political challenges in getting a new treaty through the Senate.
Analysis of Second FY 2009 Iraq and Afghanistan Supplemental War Funding Request
Apr 13, 2009
On April 9, the Obama administration released details of its Fiscal Year 2009 supplemental funding request for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The total request is $83.4 billion to fund ongoing military, diplomatic, and intelligence operations. In this brief analysis, Chris Hellman examines the request and puts war funding to date in context.
Nukes Too Dangerous in World of Human Error
Apr 13, 2009
In this op-ed recently published in the Asheville Citizen Times, Katie Mounts argues that in today’s world, the possession of thousands of nuclear weapons is no longer necessary for U.S. survival. In fact, the very existence of so many weapons increases the danger that human error will trigger an unintentional nuclear catastrophe.
Foreign Policy Association Interviews Travis Sharp on U.S. Defense Spending
Apr 13, 2009
On April 10, Travis Sharp was interviewed about U.S. defense spending by the Foreign Policy Association's Rising Powers blog. Read the interview here.
Gates Throws Down the Gauntlet on Defense Budget
Apr 7, 2009
On April 6, Secretary Gates announced significant changes to the fiscal year 2010 defense budget. In this brief analysis, Travis Sharp examines the Obama administration’s rationale and looks at the battle brewing over Future Combat Systems, the Airborne Laser, the DDG-1000 destroyer, and the VH-71 presidential helicopter.
Joint Statement by President Dmitriy Medvedev and President Barack Obama
Apr 1, 2009
A joint U.S.-Russian statement from April 1, 2009
Spend More Wisely on National Security
Mar 31, 2009
In today's disastrous economic climate, the U.S. government desperately needs to prioritize its top national security objectives and realign spending accordingly. As Lt. Gen. Robert Gard and Travis Sharp argue in this Huffington Post commentary, Congress must stop recklessly pumping taxpayer dollars into weapons systems unneeded for the foreseeable future and instead focus on revitalizing underfunded competencies such as military personnel and foreign assistance.
Analysis of FY 2010 Budget Resolution for National Defense
Mar 31, 2009
During the week of March 30, both the House and Senate will consider their respective versions of the Budget Resolution. In their mark ups, both the House and Senate Budget Committees provide $686 billion in fiscal year 2010 funding for both the Pentagon and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Smarter Power in Obama's Budget
Mar 26, 2009
For those who believe that America's defense spending was dangerously misallocated over the last eight years, the good news is that national security spending under the Obama administration will be markedly different than under President Bush. In this new policy brief, Travis Sharp and Katie Mounts highlight three policy objectives President Obama is poised to begin implementing this year.
Corral That Bomb Testing (C.T.B.T.): Politics, Messaging, Verification, Cheaters
Mar 23, 2009
In this four-part series published on the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation’s new blog, Nukes of Hazard, Travis Sharp examines what it will take for the United States to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Sharp looks at political, messaging, verification, and cheating issues related to the CTBT.
The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership: Proliferation Concerns and Implications
Mar 20, 2009
Since the dawn of the atomic age, the United States has sought to encourage the use of nuclear energy while minimizing the proliferation risks associated with it. The latest U.S. initiative that sets out to accomplish this is the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). In this policy article recently published in The Nonproliferation Review, Jeff Lindemyer argues that GNEP erodes the successful thirty-year U.S. position against reprocessing and allows for the spread of technologies that are not proliferation-resistant.
Congress and President Obama's National Security Agenda
Mar 18, 2009
If Republicans continue to rally around "no," there will be important implications for national security issues in Congress over the next two years. John Isaacs explores three broad groups of executive-legislative national security topics in this article published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Online.