My Blog Posts

• One Down, Two to Go - and a Big Win for India
  04/19/2010 10:57:08 AM EST
  On March 29, the U.S. and India reached an agreement which grants India the right to reprocess U.S.-origin spent fuel, meaning that the landmark U.S.-India nuclear trade deal is one step closer to reality.  The text of the agreement was released on March 30. The reprocessing agreement includes protocols intended to prevent the diversion of U.S.-supplied nuclear materials to India’s weapons program.  However, the agreement - like the larger deal it is a part of - increases the potential for proliferation and nuclear terrorism…
  
• Double Standards & Pakistan’s Quest for Nuclear Power
  04/05/2010 09:22:04 AM EST
  Critics of the U.S-India Deal have long warned that not only did the arrangement have the potential to undermine the global nonproliferation regime, but it would also make it more difficult to say no to other countries, particularly Pakistan, demanding the same treatment in the future.  Unfortunately, the critics’ worst fears are now becoming reality…
• Roadblocks to Implementation of the U.S.-India Deal
  03/23/2010 11:10:35 AM EST
  As I blogged in late February, there has been progress toward implementing the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal.  I also pointed out that obstacles remain to the deal’s entry into force, including completion of an agreement regarding a nuclear spent fuel reprocessing facility and approval by New Delhi of a liability limitation bill for U.S. firms. With the news last week that the government decided not to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill in the Indian parliament, there is still no telling when U.S. firms will be able to start reaping the benefits from nuclear trade with India.  The tragic comedy that many opponents of the deal warned it would become seems to be playing out as predicted: U.S. efforts to rewrite the rules on international nuclear trade are likely to end up benefiting firms in Russia, France, and other nations much earlier (and perhaps even far more) than their U.S. counterparts…
  
• Student Activisim and the Global Zero Movement
  03/17/2010 05:33:53 PM EST
  Part II of two posts on the Global Zero Movement
  Click here for Part I As I noted in an earlier blog, the Global Zero movement is supported by both senior level government officials, including Presidents Obama and Medvedev, and high profile celebrities who believe in the vision of a world free from nuclear weapons.  But developing a parallel base of grassroots support is equally as important as securing endorsements from the big names.   As Global Zero puts it “as more leaders in nuclear and non-nuclear countries come out in support of Zero, a show of global public support could help tip the balance.”  Global Zero is dedicated to raising the profile of the movement to eliminate nuclear dangers by both seeking out voices guaranteed to garner attention and attempting to build the necessary public support to ensure success. Student activism played an important role in the success of several past movements, including the nuclear freeze movement. Seeking to capitalize on this potentially enormous wellspring of support, Global Zero has worked to establish several chapters at universities throughout the United States and around the globe…
• The Nuclear Posture Review and the Global Zero Movement
  03/09/2010 11:20:49 AM EST
  Part I of two posts on the Global Zero Movement
  Click here for Part II The congressionally mandated Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), which outlines U.S. nuclear strategy, forces, and readiness, has been delayed until, at the earliest, the second half of this month.  According to a senior administration official, the review will call for “dramatic reductions in the stockpile,” a “greater role for conventional weapons in deterrence” and ruling out the need for low-yield, bunker-busting nuclear weapons capable of penetrating underground targets.   While this is very encouraging news, there is still some concern that the new NPR will not go far enough towards achieving President Obama’s goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.  Reports have indicated that early drafts of the Nuclear Posture Review fell short of the transformational vision put forth by the President in Prague.  Here’s to hoping that when he makes his final decisions on the review, President Obama will take his cues from the rapidly growing Global Zero movement rather than those who may be urging him not to stray too far from the status quo…