Arms Control Wonk

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Which President Was Best for Arms Control?

Quote of the week: “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” — Bobby Unser When it comes to arms control, presidents are hamstrung or empowered by historical context. It also helps to be a Republican because Republican presidents have far…

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What Would Nuclear Peace Look Like?

Quotes of the week: “For the first time in our lives, we can feel the disturbing vibrations of complete human readjustment. Usually the vibrations are so faint as to go unnoticed. This time, they are so strong that even the…

Episode29 min

North Korea’s Small SLBM

North Korea seems to be taking its new, small, solid propellant missiles to the sea, after taking them to the show. Perennial friend of the pod and aficionado of all things submarine Joseph Dempsey of the International Institute of Strategic…

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Colin Powell

Blessing of the week: “May God bless you and keep you. May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May God turn His face toward you and give you peace.” — Numbers 6:24-26 Tribute of the week:…

Episode49 min

A Fractional Orbital Bombardment System with a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle??

This is a complicated one. According to Demetri Sevastopulo at the Financial Times, China tested something that sounds a whole lot like FOBS with an HGV. Something that orbited the globe and dropped a hypersonic glide vehicle against a target. …

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Birthing a Book

Note to readers: This writer usually succeeds in focusing on issues in this space, leaving the first person singular to others. Not this time around. I’m a proud pappa. Again. Lyrics of the Week: “Gonna pack my lunch in the…

Episode33 min

Glide or Die

Glide or die, baby.  The North Koreans, on a real cavalcade of missile debuts reminiscent of 2017, have tested what they claim to be a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). Which means they are just checking off their list of goals,…

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The Perfect Storm

Verse of the week: “I was wakened from my dream of the ruined world by the sound/ of rain falling slowly on the dry earth of my place in time.” — Wendell Berry With few exceptions, those who focus on…

Episode39 min

All Aboard the Missile Train

Put another pot of coffee on because it is launch week again. North Korean launched two missiles off of the back of a train this week, right as the president of South Korea watched their own tests of a submarine launched…