Avatar photoGoogle Finally Shows IRI Space Center

Quite a few of my friends have been urging me to write something about the “new” images of Iran’s space center that have shown up recently on Google Earth. The trouble is, I hate rehashing stuff I wrote about almost two years ago when I “discovered” the facility—much like Columbus “discovered” America—and wrote about it …

Avatar photoChinese Missile Defense Test

On January 11, 2010, China conducted a test on ground-based midcourse missile interception technology within its territory. The test has achieved the expected objective. The test is defensive in nature and is not targeted at any country. (Xinhua File Photo) Greetings from Andalo. China announced that it has conducted a missile defense test. The announcement …

Avatar photoDeclaratory Policy: An Amplification

The recent essay on declaratory policy by ACW’s own Jeff Lewis is one of those rare writings that brings the reader to think about a well-trodden subject anew. Jeff is onto something when he says that the representatives of a nuclear weapons state — America, China, or any other — shouldn’t even try to answer …

Avatar photoTold You So…

click on the image for a larger version Slide from a talk I gave on Capital Hill (sponsored by the AAAS) in March 2008. Media reports today indicate that China has tested “ground-based midcourse missile interception technology.” Details necessary for evaluating exactly what system has been tested have not emerged yet. Nevertheless, it bolsters a …