Tag: Nuclear weapons

Stevenson’s army, September 22

– To try to avoid a government shutdown, Sen. Schumer plans to take up the FAA re-authorization passed by the House as a vehicle for a CR to fund the government. Using a bill with an HR number avoids any blue slip problems because revenue measures must begin in the House and makes the question in the House whether to accept a Senate version.

– CRS has some good background pieces on how the USG functions in a lapse of appropriations. Some FAQs and some broader background.

– Academics at the old Monkey Cage site have launched a new site, Good Authority.

– Among their good first articles are: Sarah Binder on the Tuberville holds; Andrew Rudalevige on the Schedule F problems; and Michael Tesler on GOP isolationism.

– In 2016 candidate Donald Trump didn’t run a typical campaign, just media. LATimes notes this year his campaign has done the nitty gritty work to get delegates, and it’s working.

– This week I ran across an article from last March profiling Trump’s last, acting SecDef, Chris Miller. While it’s mildly sympathetic, I stand by my low opinion of his performance and his views.

I somehow missed yesterday’s edition:

– Unclear what happens next after confirming 3 Chiefs.

– Same with the budget, though House may use King of he Hill amendment process.

– GOP group opposes Ukraine aid. Here’s their letter.

– GOP also divided over expiring PEPFAR

– FT says India spy agency operates abroad

– WSJ says US wants Israel to support nuclear program for Saudi

– Atlantic has long article on Gen. Milley

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here, with occasional videos of my choice. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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Stevenson’s army, August 12

– WSJ says Iran has slowed its uranium buildup

-New Zealand reports Chinese political interference

– CNAS analysts assess executive order on investment in China

– FP sees problems in Northern Ireland.

– FP also says Sisi ruined Egypt.

History lessons: Rich Lowry compares Trump to Huey Long.

Atlantic writer notes early US gun control laws.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here, with occasional videos of my choice. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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Stevenson’s army, July 23

I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I plan to. Here’s good additional information from Fred Kaplan and New York magazine.

I’ve read many books on the Manhattan Project and want to suggest 3 novels and one nonfiction about life in Los Alamos. Joseph Kanon wrote one. Ellen Klages another.

TaraShea Nesbit’s is fun. And Jennet Conant’s nonfiction is revealing.

The bulletin of the atomic scientists has a collection from its archives.

On other matters, David Ignatius has a good piece on China and space.

WSJ questions whether Japan would support the US over Taiwan.

On Lawfare there’s a good piece on fixing the Bumpers amendment on military coups.

– And my favorite budget wonk Kevin Drum has the fix for Social Security.

I also came across this article explaining why pollsters and political ad writers clash so often.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here, with occasional videos of my choice. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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Stevenson’s army, July 10

– NATO summit in Vilnius. Biden says Ukraine isn’t ready for membership.

Jake Sullivan explains more.

Max Boot says his heart is for admission but his head says no.

-Congress is back in town with only 12 days to get things done before August recess.

-Kremlin says Putin met with Prigozhin after mutiny attempt.

-Guardian says Sudan is on brink of civil war.

– Gzero saays South Korea is moving away from China, toward US

– Trump critic says his officials worried about nuclear war.

– Gordon Adams says Afghan withdrawal report shows State’s weaknesses.

– Former CAPE official responds to critics.

Axios says Biden has bad temper, but only in private.

My story: When I joined his Senate staff, Ted Kaufman told me, “Joe has a temper.” Having just spent 6 years working for John Culver, who was called “Big Vesuvius” for his outbursts in the HFAC, I said I could handle that. “But he really gets mad at times,” Ted replied. I said, “I know the difference between kilotons and megatons. I can handle Biden.” [And I did.]

Charlie added later:

I’ve long told my classes, “If you know how the system works, you’ll know how to work the system.” And the way Washington really works is through connections and conversations and perseverance.

The New Yorker has an excellent example this week, an article by historian Kai Bird about the effort to nullify a denial of a security clearance for the leader of the Manhattan Project that built the atom bomb, Robert Oppenheimer.

Bird and Martin Sherwin, who had co-authored a book about Oppenheimer, tried to get a DC law firm to take up the case, only to be blocked by a partner whose father had chaired the panel that punished Oppenheimer. Later they used Hill connections from long ago to try to get the Obama Administration to reconsider the matter. A legendarily effective Senate staffer, Tim Rieser, got his boss and other Senators to sign a letter to the Secretary of Energy, who has jurisdiction over the weapons labs and thus their security procedures. Unsuccessful at that time, they renewed their effort in the Biden administration, got additional letters from former officials, and finally favorable action by Secretary Granholm.

People mattered, both for and against Oppenheimer’s case. Organizations mattered: DOE officials were reluctant to revisit the issue or make legal rulings. The process mattered: connecting the advocates with people empowered to act. What a neat story, especially with a happy ending. —

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here, with occasional videos of my choice. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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Stevenson’s army, July 5

– FT quotes senior UK officer saying Russia has lost half its military capability in Ukraine.

– FT also says Xi warned Putin not to use nukes.

– WSJ notes US is funding many police forces around the world.

– 46 foreign policy experts support NATO membership for Ukraine. [FWIW I disagree.]

– RollCall tells what’s happening with earmarks.

– David Ignatius laments new violence between Israel and Palestinians.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here, with occasional videos of my choice. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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Stevenson’s army, June 24

What’s happening in Russia? Have to watch and wait. Updates at NYT, also at WaPo, and at this independent Russian site

Meanwhile, quick takes from Anne Applebaum and Tom Nichols.

Lawfare says a new Iran nuclear deal has to stay verbal.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here, with occasional videos of my choice. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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