My Blog Posts

• Any since?
  09/21/2009 05:28:07 PM EST
  attached to Grading Democrats on Euro Missile Defense Ruckus
• On a related note...
  08/27/2009 05:26:50 PM EST
  attached to Message Force Multiplication
• Attacks on Pakistani Nuclear Facilities
  08/20/2009 01:28:02 PM EST
  In July, the CTC Sentinel published an analysis stating that over the past two years, several Pakistani nuclear weapons sites have come under attack. Shaun Gregory, the author of the report and an expert on Pakistani security, pointed to three instances where Pakistani sites were targeted by militants:

  …an attack on the nuclear missile storage facility at Sargodha on November 1, 2007, an attack on Pakistan’s nuclear airbase at Kamra by a suicide bomber on December 10, 2007, and perhaps most significantly the August 20, 2008 attack when Pakistani Taliban suicide bombers blew up several entry points to one of the armament complexes at the Wah cantonment, considered one of Pakistan’s main nuclear weapons assembly sites.

  Pakistan’s problem emanates in part from the location of its nuclear facilities. Worried about their vulnerability to an Indian invasion or strike, Pakistan placed many of its complexes around Islamabad and in the northwestern portion of the country. With the rise in militant extremism, many of these facilities now find themselves in or near areas populated by the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda...
• U.S. and Russia Struggle with Chemical Weapons Convention Deadline
  08/04/2009 02:48:20 PM EST
  In the latest Arms Control Today, an interesting news piece examines U.S. and Russian obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which requires its 188 ratifying members to destroy their stockpiles of chemical agents and delivery vehicles by April 2012. While both the United States and Russia have made progress, it is unlikely at this juncture that either will meet the deadline. Though not intentionally flouting an international agreement, the United States could face a diplomatic problem by not meeting its CWC deadline obligation.
• F-22 Debate Heats Up
  07/16/2009 01:19:39 PM EST
  This week, the Senate began debating an amendment, backed by Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin and Ranking Member John McCain, which would strip $1.75 billion for seven additional F-22s from the 2010 Defense Authorization bill. A vote on the Levin-McCain amendment was delayed yesterday because of alleged procedural wrangling, although one suspects that the sponsors may have had a bad feeling about their prospects and decided to delay the vote and twist some more arms. Levin vowed to bring it back up for a vote, however, as soon as next week. A number of prominent figures have come out against further F-22 production, including President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and several top Air Force officials. On Monday, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley issued a letter (h/t POGO) calling for an end to F-22 production. An excerpt reads:

  In summary, we assessed the F-22 decision from all angles, taking into account competing strategic priorities and complementary programs and alternatives, all balanced within the context of available resources. We did not and do not recommend F-22s be included in the FY10 defense budget. This is a difficult decision but one with which we are comfortable. Most importantly, in this and other budget decisions, we believe it is important for Air Force leaders to make clear choices, balancing requirements across a range of Air Force contributions to joint capabilities.

  Given that Obama promised to veto any legislation containing funding for more F-22s, it will be interesting to see where this debate leads over the next week or so.