John Isaacs in Malaysia Discussing Nuclear Weapons Issues
Jun 07, 2010

I was invited by the Department of State to speak to a variety of audiences in Malaysia in early June (and Brunei next week) about nuclear weapons issues.

It was an opportunity to speak favorably about the new United States nuclear weapons policies as well as to engage in some travel to far off places.

The primary purpose was to speak at a conference on The United States and the New Asia: Towards Partnership and Multilateral Engagement in the 21st Century. The conference was hosted by the Center for American Studies in Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian Association for American Studies.

While I focused on nuclear weapons issues, others at the conference spoke on emerging multilateralism in Asia, ASEAN's (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations)  role in Asia, the North Korean nuclear crisis, the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on American power and influence in Asia, rising China and India, cultural relationships between the US and Asia and non-traditional security issues.

While I was there, the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur set up a briefing for journalists, an Al Jazeera interview on Burma's nuclear intentions, and talks at the International Studies Center, the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations and the National Defense University...