Well over a decade ago, Strategic Demands founders put together a unusual conference in Washington DC. Entitled “Surviving Victory”, an ominous look at the security horizon. The conference brought together one of our own, Roger Morris with his National Security Council and political historian experience, and experts such as Steve Clemons, Susan Rice, Pentagon expert […]
Author: Strategic Demands Online
“Complete Denuclearization”
The nuclear question, the crisis, revolves around “CVID”. You ask, CVID? We answer, Complete, Verifiable and Irreversible Dismantlement (or Denuclearization?). Then we add calls for “complete nuclearization” on the Korean peninsula. Then we add — when, where, how, why. The world is asking for nuclear deescalation and not just on the Korean peninsula Update: […]
Embassy Opens, Peace Process Fades
The credibility gap, as the phrase goes, extends its reach as news of death, violence, evangelical preachers and hard right politics comes from Israel and the U.S. Talk about a Jared Kushner-brokered peace is so unrealistic and distant as to produce cognitive dissonance, chaos, loss of hope
May 8th, 2018
The lies of the Iraq war and subsequent disaster now shift toward an Iran disaster. After listening this past week to Israel’s PM present his country’s official POV regarding Iran, although it veered widely from top U.S. security officials public statements and testimony before Congress, the U.S. president has decided
Now Negotiation
The U.S. president threatens to throw out the Iran international agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He wants to renegotiate in the Mideast. At the same time, he says he is going to meet with North Korea’s leader to ‘denuclearize the peninsula’. Agreements ended, allies lost, opportunities gained?
‘The Iran Deal’ – Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
500 French, British and German MPs write to US counterparts to support the JCPOA. Quote: “Together, let’s keep the JCPOA alive and protect the fruits of successful diplomacy.”
Mike Pompeo, Next Up
As White House cabinet officials, aides and staff rapidly come and go, today comes Mike Pompeo. The CIA chief nominated to replace the recently departed Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, delivers a close presidential relationship and promises “not to play games at the negotiating table”
Blowback Risks, Asymmetrical Conflict
What’s an appropriate response to news of an unexpected meeting in Beijing and newest moves by the US president threatening trade war with China? The first shots in the trade war are now fired, global markets are responding, and the visit of N. Korea’s leader to meet the Chinese president signal a new asymmetrical conflict […]
Bolton Next Up
Nuclear Chain of Command
(Excerpt) The President may direct the use of nuclear weapons through an execute order via the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the combatant commanders and, ultimately, to the forces in the field exercising direct control of the weapons.
May in Korea
Tom Nichols Makes His Case. Strategic Demands’ editor responds… Former US Defense chief, William Perry, weighs in… Negotiating horizon? Time to prep? Two months. Negotiating prep to date? No visible prep. Korean Ambassador? No US Ambassador. Nuclear weapons experts? Arms Control team? Questionable at best. Winging it? Admittedly. Other options? War. Nuclear war. Dead-Hand Disaster.
Korean Talks, March 6th, 2018
Announced breakthrough in talks between North / South Korea… 1) Breaking: 2 Koreas 5 pt agreement: 1. inter-Korean summit end of April at Panmunjeom, 2. establish hotline between Moon-Kim to reduce tensions & consult, 3. NK has will to denuclearize, no reason to have nukes if security guaranteed, willing to have frank talks with US…
Nuclear Ratcheting II
March 1st : Russian president Putin addresses the nation. Accompanied by large screen animated demonstrations, he talks of a new generation of nuclear weapons. In the US, strategic experts question the weapons. Others begin debating the rising danger of a nuclear arms race. The US president reacts, angrily tweeting before dawn
Renewed Nuclear Arms Race
This is what ratcheting up looks like. This time ratcheting is three-sided. China’s in the nuclear game and the new nuclear arms race extends from cruise missiles with ‘usable’ nuclear warheads to hypersonic nuclear re-entry vehicles. The US, Russia and China — and alliance partners — are racing, each pushing the other, toward strategic disaster
Costs of War, Reality
Far from the US public mind, the reality of global war continues, far beyond “counter-terror” operations in 76 countries, every minute, hour, day, year… costs counted and unaccounted, blood/treasure, opportunities lost, security lost, health care lost, education lost, lives crushed, today and tomorrow a reality of perpetual war… Where is the ‘winning’?
Olympics Opening Ceremony
International Games — Political Spectacle Dangerous times. The world watches as athletes from North and South Korea march together and, in the background, threats of war form a counterpoint to beginnings of talks, glimpses of an ‘off ramp’ from war — Imagine
US Nuclear Posture Review Released
The new Nuclear Posture Review signals a new nuclear arms race. Luck of the draw. “Do you feel lucky?” The question of generational, existential risk takes on new dimension as strategic arms experts ask deadly end game questions. Nuclear tensions are turning to nuclear threats, an international ramp up of nuclear weapons development, ‘usable’ nukes, […]
