“Reciprocal unilateral measures” is not my favorite phrase, despite my rather considerable affection for some of the people who have made use of it. There is nothing wrong with the concept, mind you, but RUMs? Ugh. The term is back in our discourse, thanks to the Secretary of State’s International Security Advisory Board (ISAB), which has …
Small Change or Big Investment?
by | 2012-08-24 | 3 Comments
Last Sunday, the Washington Post ran my op-ed suggesting that the United States pursue a space Code of Conduct with Beijing, not only to foster norms relating to debris mitigation, space traffic management and purposeful, harmful interference, but also as a door opener for U.S.-China strategic cooperation. This could be a “SALT moment” for Washington …
Deterring Syria’s CW
by | 2012-08-21 | 30 Comments
A minor miracle the other day. U.S. President Barack Obama drew a “red line” concerning Syria’s chemical weapons. Everyone understood what he meant. No one thought he was threatening to nuke Syria. Hallelujah!
IAEA Inspectors’ Risk in Iran
by | 2012-08-20 | 63 Comments
In a phone call at one o’clock in the morning on March 17, 2003, the U.S. Ambassador to the IAEA, Kenneth Brill, advised IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei to remove his inspectors from Baghdad immediately. The following day, the IAEA gave orders for personnel to leave Iraq. On March 19, the U.S. launched Operation Iraqi Freedom. Fast-forward nine years. We’re now moving into the fifth month …
