I had to work today, so I decided to do it pool-side. Life is tough, I know. Tomorrow I am attending a two-day conference organized by the Financial Services Volunteer Corps and funded by the Carnegie Corporation. We meet every year for a trilateral dialogue among US, Chinese and Russian experts on energy, security and …
Strategic Uses for Tactical Nukes—not!
by | 2009-06-04 | 23 Comments
click on the image for a larger version Four Kt nuclear explosion over one “sub-harbor” in Ulsan. Overpressures are for a 4 Kt nuke detonated at the optimum height to maximize blast effects. POL destruction limit is the range where blast effects cause severe damage to oil tanks. Thermal effects, i.e. starting a firestorm, are …
W76 Problems Seem Overblown
by | 2009-06-03 | 5 Comments
Greetings from the Lufthansa Senators Lounge in Frankfurt. I’ve been struggling with how to describe Ralph Vartabedian’s story in the Los Angeles Times about the W76 Life Extension Program. On one hand, Vartabedian (with some help from POGO) dug out some really embarrassing information the W76 Life Extension Program. On the other hand, Vartabedian uses …
Stimson on Dangerous States
by | 2009-06-01 | 4 Comments
As we now contemplate how to deal most effectively with the nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran, it may be worth remembering how hard it was for U.S. officials to devise policies for the Soviet Union after World War II ended. The surprise unveiling of the Bomb meant that an unprecedented level of cooperation …
