Years · 2008

November 2008

31 posts

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Iran Claims Solid-Fueled 2 Stage Sejjil

I love my job. You probably noticed that the Iranians tested what Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar reportedly claimed is a two-stage, solid-fueled missile with a 1,200 mi range the other day. (Naijar gives an interview in the video, but…

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Traces of Uranium at AlKibar?

Reader Allen Thomson sends along this image of the AlKibar dated 23 November 2007 showing an apparently thick slab of concrete over the remains of the BoE and one or two construction cranes erected on it. Credit:GeoEye/Space Imaging Middle East…

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More Classified Nuclear NSPDs

Reinvigorating the Air Force Nuclear Enterprise by the Air Force Nuclear Task Force (24 October 2008) reveals the names of several more NSPDs relating to nuclear weapons: National Security Presidential Directive-3, Defense Strategy, Force Structure, and Procurement, 15 February 2001…

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Blair on The Ever-Ready Nuclear Misileer

Ok, I am back. Let’s all have an electronic round of applause for Anya, Bob and Andreas — three fine guest bloggers. Last night I was flipping through my copy of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. In the correspondence section,…

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Russia: Its Own Worst Enemy?

Building on James’ post yesterday, Medvedev’s announcement about putting missiles in Kaliningrad shows that the Russians are quickly becoming their own worst enemy. Why Medvedev would revert to clumsy chest thumping at a time when cooler heads are set to…

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NAO on Trident

In Europe, Britain’s National Audit Office has released a report on the United Kingdom’s Future Nuclear Deterrent Capability. It is an interesting read. The main conclusion is that: There is a challenging timetable to meet if continuous at sea deterrence…

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Medvedev's Welcome to Obama

A shortish post—partly because I’m shattered from last night but mostly because you have lots of great new material to read from Andreas, Anya and Bob. As has been hinted at before, BBC news is now reporting that Russia is…

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Nuclear Weapons that Went to War

No Wonk’s virtual bookshelf would be complete without an electronic copy of the following historical study of nuclear weapons in Third World-conflicts and crises (23 megabyte PDF): William Yengst, Stephen Lukasik and Mark Jensen, Nuclear Weapons that Went to War…

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McElvany Nonproliferation Essay Event

While Bob and Andreas are minding the store, I just wanted to drop in and plug an event to honor the winners of the 2008 Doreen and Jim McElvany Nonproliferation Challenge Essay Contest. The event will feature a keynote by…

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Will Khan be back?

Do not worry, Captain Kirk. It’s not that Khan. Islamabad’s parks, houses, hotels and palaces are poured into the lowland between the Margala Hills. It’s a remarkably organized place with straight avenues, green and leafy side streets, bustling shops and…