Stop the Presses: Is That A Real Increase in Pentagon Spending?
Feb 01, 2012

Tired of those messy debates about how to measure the growth on Pentagon spending?

Not to worry!

Should one use a straight percentage increase or decrease? Or should one adjust those numbers each year by factoring in inflation estimates (deflators, to use budget parlance, although I thought those were doohickeys to empty air out of a tire).

Should one say the Pentagon budget has increased, say by 4% (nominal), or by 1.8% (real) after adjusting for inflation (you know, the dollar does not buy this year what it used to).

House Republicans are determined to put an end to this pesky problem.  The House is scheduled to take up this week H.R. 3578 , which they have given the title: “Baseline Reform Act of 2011.” (no, not ensuring that the Washington Nationals base paths are straight).  

Europe bans Iranian oil imports in push to curtail nuclear program: What We're Reading Now
Jan 23, 2012

IRAN

Europe bans Iranian oil imports in push to curtail nuclear program
Edward Cody, The Washington Post - January 23, 2012
Europe banned the import of Iranian oil Monday and froze Europe-based assets of the Central Bank of Iran, intensifying an international campaign to choke Iran’s economy and force the radical Islamic government to dispel fears that it is working to develop nuclear weapons.

U.S. aircraft carrier sails through strategic Strait of Hormuz
David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times - January 22, 2012
A U.S. aircraft carrier sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the first transit since Iran warned American ships this year against using the strategic waterway.

Iran gets the message from Washington
David Ignatius, The Washington Post - January 20, 2012
The Iran nuclear crisis is far from over, but Tehran appears to have made a subtle blink — backing away from its threat a few weeks ago to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to escalating U.S. sanctions.

"What we know suggests the development of nuclear weapons'
Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic - January 20, 2012
Yukiya Amano, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is not shrinking in the face of Iranian denials. Once again, he has asserted his suspicions that Iran's goal is a nuclear-weapons capability.

John Isaacs quoted in National Journal
Dec 20, 2011

Bill Provisions on U.S. Nuclear Policy Await House-Senate Conference

By: Elaine Grossman
Originally published in the National Journal

The top four lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services committees met Thursday for a second day behind closed doors to hash out a compromise bill on fiscal 2012 defense authorization, a process expected to resolve months of disagreement over nuclear policy provisions.

Aiming to complete negotiations by early next week, the panel chairmen and ranking members had much more on their plate to discuss after each chamber took a stab at the Obama administration's $690 billion defense budget request. Other big issues in contention include Defense Department plans for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the handling of combat detainees, and possible sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran for its alleged role in helping finance Tehran's nuclear efforts.

Some Pentagon and congressional officials, though, are watching the conference committee closely for an outcome on U.S. nuclear policy issues. This follows a House initiative in the spring to include so-called "New START Implementation" measures in its version of the defense bill, dubbed H.R. 1540.

Under the defense authorization legislation passed by the House, the administration could be restricted in its ability to reduce deployed or nondeployed nuclear weapons below levels set by the U.S.-Russian nuclear accord, unless required by another treaty or authorized by Congress.

Just in time for the holidays: 2012 Congressional, Political, Cultural, Sports and Holiday Schedule
Dec 15, 2011

January
Sunday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day (federal holiday is Jan. 2)
Tuesday, Jan. 3: Iowa presidential caucuses
Monday, Jan. 9: BCS national college football championship between LSU and Alabama
Tuesday, Jan. 10: New Hampshire presidential primary
Monday, Jan. 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (federal holiday)
Tuesday, Jan. 17: House of Representatives convenes
Saturday, Jan. 21: South Carolina presidential primary
Monday, Jan. 23: Senate convenes
Tuesday, Jan. 24: President’s State of the Union address to Congress
Tuesday, Jan. 31: Florida presidential primary

February
Saturday, Feb. 4: Nevada presidential caucuses
Sunday, February 5: Pro-football Superbowl in Indianapolis, IN
Monday, Feb. 6: Likely date for submission of Fiscal Year 2013 budget to Congress
Tuesday, Feb. 14: Valentine's Day
Friday, Feb. 17 – Monday, Feb. 27: Senate and House President’s Day recess
Monday, Feb. 20: Presidents Day (federal holiday)
Wednesday, Feb. 22: Ash Wednesday
Sunday, February 26, 2012: 84rd annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles
Wednesday, Feb. 29: Leap Day

House advances Defense authorization bill: What We're Reading Now
Dec 15, 2011

IRAN
U.S. Concerned Iran on Verge of Underground Nuclear Enrichment
A.R. Lakshmanan, The San Francisco Chronicle -- December 15, 2011
The Obama administration is concerned Iran is on the verge of being able to enrich uranium at a facility deep underground near the Muslim holy city of Qom, which may strengthen those advocating tougher action to stop Iran's suspected atomic weapons program.

Iran ready to start nuclear work in bunker: sources
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters -- December 15, 2011
Iran could soon begin sensitive atomic activities in an underground facility deep inside a mountain, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday, a move that would up the ante in a stand-off with big powers demanding Tehran curb such work.

NORTH KOREA
US says food aid to North Korea could resume pending outcome of talks in Beijing
The Washington Post -- December 15, 2011
U.S. officials say food aid to North Korea could resume depending on whether Pyongyang can provide the necessary monitoring assurances in talks between the sides that began Thursday in Beijing.

UPDATE 1-US House votes sanctions on Iran, North Korea, Syria
Susan Cornwell, Reuters Africa -- December 15, 2011
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday that would expand sanctions on Iran, cracking down on a wider range of energy issues and closing some loopholes in existing energy and financial sanctions.

Iran Stays Away From Nuclear Talks: What We're Reading Now
Nov 21, 2011

IRAN
Iran Stays Away From Nuclear Talks
Alan Cowell, New York Times -- November 21, 2011
Iran stayed away on Monday from a meeting of the United Nations’ nuclear supervisory body, news reports said, in a continuing display of displeasure at being rebuked by the organization over its suspected efforts to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful, civilian purposes.

Iran nuclear sanctions hurt the middle class, not Guards
Oren Dorell, USA Today -- November 21, 2011
International sanctions aimed at Iran's nuclear program have hurt the country's middle class and caused factories to shut down while low-quality goods flood the country, say foreign policy analysts.

NORTH KOREA
S.Korea, China set for talks on N.Korea
Associated Foreign Press -- November 20, 2011
South Korea's pointman on Pyongyang left for China on Monday for talks that will focus on North Korea, amid diplomatic efforts to revive stalled multinational disarmament negotiations.

Secretive N. Korea opens up to cellphones
Jeremy Laurence, Reuters -- November 21, 2011
Secretive North Korea is expected to register the 1 millionth cellphone user on its new 3G network by the end of the year, barely four years after people were thrown into prison camps, or possibly even executed, for owning one.

Urge the Senate to End Afghanistan War
Nov 18, 2011

October 21, 2011 is a day to be remembered.  It was on that day that President Obama announced that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year.

While we celebrate this victory, we must recognize that there is much work left to be done.  Now that the war in Iraq is ending, it is time to end the war in Afghanistan.

There is now bipartisan legislation in the Senate sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) calling for President Obama to bring our troops home from Afghanistan.

Please tell your Senators to co-sponsor and support the Merkley resolution to end the war.

North Korean prime minister in China on visit emphasizing economic ties: What We're Reading Now
Sep 26, 2011

IRAN
Security Expert: U.S. 'Leading Force' Behind Stuxnet
Tom Gjelten, NPR -- September 26, 2011
The sophistication of the worm, plus the fact that the designer had inside intelligence on the Iranian facility, led Langner to conclude the United States had developed Stuxnet, possibly with the help of Israeli intelligence.

Freed U.S. hikers describe harrowing ordeal in Iran
CBS -- September 26, 2011
Two American hikers being held in an Iranian prison got a big surprise one day after their exercise routine: Instead of being blindfolded and led back to their cell, they suddenly heard the words, "Let's go home."

NORTH KOREA
North Korean prime minister in China on visit emphasizing economic ties
The Washington Post -- September 25, 2011
China and its impoverished neighbor North Korea are emphasizing trade and investment ties during a visit this week by Pyongyang’s prime minister that also highlights China’s efforts to restart talks on ending the North’s nuclear programs.

Japan launches spy satellite to monitor North Korea
Julian Ryall, The Telegraph -- September 26, 2011
A new Japanese spy satellite has started beaming back images from North Korea as Tokyo steps up monitoring of its unpredictable neighbour.

Council, WAND, FCNL and UCS Thank Rep. Loretta Sanchez
Sep 22, 2011

Together with FCNL, WAND and UCS--the Council thanked Representative Loretta Sanchez with an award for her hard work and leadership on nuclear non proliferation funding. Over the past couple of months. Sanchez proposed two amendments that increased funding for nuclear non proliferation programs and they were both adopted unanimously in the House.

Ms. Sanchez has been a champion on this issue. We greatly appreciate all of her hard work on non proliferation funding programs during this tough political climate.

The Super Super-Committee That Will Change the World -- or not
Sep 13, 2011

The Super-Committee that is in charge of saving the world -- or at least the economy -- is listed below.

These 12 super-heroes are charged with producing $1.5 trillion in reductions of the deficit by Thanksgiving.

And some are saying the committee should "go big," and produce $3 or $4 trillion in savings.

Or produce a turkey for Thanksgiving.

Good luck to them all.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas (Republican and committee co-chair)
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington (Democrat and committee co-chair)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland (Democrat)
Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona (Republican)
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts (Democrat)
Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania (Republican)
Sen. Max Baucus of Montana (Democrat)
Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio (Republican)
Rep. Xavier Becerra of California (Democrat)
Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan (Republican)
Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina (Democrat)
Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan (Republican)