While experts do not believe Iran has the intellectual capacity to manufacture the fuel rods required for its research reactor in Tehran as it claims is its aim, it is capable of making enough enriched uranium for a weapon “within six months or less,” states a March 3rd report from the Institute for Science and [...]

If all goes according to plan, the 2010 Iraqi Parliamentary elections will take place on March 7th. Elections were previously scheduled to be held in January, but Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi forced a delay by vetoing the election law in November 2009. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s State of Law party is expected to win a [...]

From Justin Logan:
I don’t really have much to add, so I’ll reproduce post entirely:
Bad Intelligence–But in Which Direction? | Cato @ Liberty
Since the topic of the day seems to be right-wing anger at insufficiently panicky intelligence assessments on Iran, it might be worth looking at how bad U.S. intelligence on Iran is–and in which direction [...]

Interesting story in the NYT about Iran burying/hiding its nuclear program.  They claim it is just for security, Secretary Gates gives the conventional reponse:
Iran Shielding Its Nuclear Efforts in Maze of Tunnels – NYTimes.com
Mr. Gates, along with other Western officials, has dismissed that line of argument as cover for a covert arms program.
“If they wanted [...]

Iran tests long-range missile, raises ire of West – washingtonpost.com
Iran on Wednesday test-fired an upgraded version of its most advanced missile, which is capable of hitting Israel and parts of Europe, in a new show of strength aimed at preventing any military strike against it amid the nuclear standoff with the West.
Well, we can’t [...]

I am pretty skeptical of Iranian intentions, though I think that we still need to try to work on diplomacy before even considering what are likely to be unpalatable military options.  But sometimes, I wonder if even that is too strong a position.  The Chinese for, example, don’t think even sanctions are necessary.  But instead [...]

Gary Sick writes:
How to Keep Iran in Check Without War – The Daily Beast
The real purpose of negotiations, in my view, is to build a system of monitoring and inspections that will (1) provide maximum early warning of a potential future Iranian decision to “break out;” and (2) insure the maximum possible interval between that [...]

ASP Board member Senator John Kerry penned an op-ed in today’s New York Times about the Obama administration’s response to the Iranian elections, in which he urges caution on stronger rhetoric against the Iranian regime at the present time.
Here is an excerpt from the piece:
“Words are important. President Obama has made that clear in devising [...]

The Administration of George W. Bush was close to an unmitigated disaster for the image of the United States abroad. His ill-informed, often offensive, and counter-productive public statements and policy preferences set back American national security dramatically. Trying to undo some of the damage of the Bush years is the reason that President Obama has [...]

On March 20, 2003, the United States invaded Iraq. On April 9, Baghdad fell, ending Saddam Hussein’s tyrannical rule.
The effect of this victory seemed to transform the globe. In August 2003, Libya accepted responsibility for past terrorism and offered restitution as well as agreeing to conform with non-proliferation commitments. In 2003, the Iranians also suspended [...]