Author: Tim J. Clark

N. Korea Says It Produced 30 Kilograms of Plutonium

ARTICLE: N. Korea Says It Produced 30 Kilograms of Plutonium, (Washington Post)…Reuters, April 21, 2008, Pg. 11

…North Korea has said it has accounted for its past and current activities as required. But the United States says that the North has not discussed any transfer of nuclear technology to other countries, notably Syria, nor has it accounted for its suspected pursuit of uranium enrichment.

Nuclear Deterrence

ARTICLE: “Deterring The Undeterrable,” by Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post, April 18, 2008

The era of nonproliferation is over. During the first half-century of the nuclear age, safety lay in restricting the weaponry to major powers and keeping it out of the hands of rogue states. This strategy was inevitably going to break down. The inevitable has arrived.

There are four ways to deal with rogue states going nuclear: preemption, deterrence, missile defense and regime change.

North Korea – Nuclear Agreement

 

ARTICLE: “Past Deals By N. Korea May Face Less Study,” by Helene Cooper, New York Times, April 18, 2008

The Bush administration appears to be preparing to back away from a demand that North Korea fully disclose all of its past nuclear weapons activities, in an attempt to preserve a nuclear agreement requiring it to disclose and dismantle the bulk of its nuclear weapons program.

As described by administration officials on Thursday, the step would relax a demand for North Korea to admit fully that it supplied Syria with nuclear technology. The United States would also agree to postpone its demand that North Korea provide an immediate and full accounting of its fledgling uranium program.

Diplomatic Liaison – North and South Korea

ARTICLE: “South Korean Leader Plans New Outreach To The North,” By Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, April 18, 2008

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said yesterday that he will propose creating a permanent high-level diplomatic channel between North Korea and South Korea, including establishing the first liaison offices in the nations’ capitals after nearly six decades of division. 

Iran Army Commander Threatens Israel

Boston Globe, April 16, 2008

TEHRAN — Iran will respond to any military attack from Israel by “eliminating” the Jewish state, Iran’s deputy commander in chief of the army, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, said yesterday. Some analysts have speculated that Israel might attack Iran to stop its nuclear activities, which the West fears are a front for weapons development. Iran, which does not recognize Israel, insists it wants nuclear technology only for electricity. (Reuters).

An Israeli viewpoint on defense strategies provided in the following report:

Israel’s Strategic Future, The Final Report of Project Daniel, April 2004
http://www.milnet.com/pentagon/mideast/israel/daniel-3.htm

What Price Freedom?

Washington Times, August 16, 2008, Lawrence Kudlow “Having failed to puncture Gen. David Petraeus’ story about great improvements on the ground in Iraq, liberals now say the cost of the Iraq war has somehow undermined the economy – even caused the current slowdown. What complete nonsense.”

Kudlow, who is host of CNBC’s Kudlow & Company and a syndicated columnist, provides economic facts that the economy has not been harmed. Total cost of the war is estimated at 1% of GDP and with projected troop cuts, total cost would be half of one percent of GDP. Real GDP has increased by 16%, unemployment has been below 5%, and industrial production expanded by 13.5 percent.  He raises some good questions about the costs of not going to war.  Has the war helped to prevent additional terrorists attacks in the U.S.?  How much would it have cost to contain Saddam Hussein? 

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/ what_price_freedom.html