My Blog Posts

• Response Published in The Washington Post
  09/13/2011 10:38:52 AM EST
  The following letter to the editor was published today in response to "The Undimmed Danger of Iran's Nuclear Program":

  We can agree that a more coherent strategy is needed in the U.S. approach to Iran’s nuclear advances, as was pointed out in the editorial on the Iranian threat. It is important to recognize, however, that time still exists to pursue a negotiated solution.

  Although Iran is currently enriching uranium with advanced machines, the work is far behind schedule. Contrary to Iran’s original forecast, it has not yet installed any advanced centrifuges at its intended facility, and a large part of the reason for this delay are the sanctions that The Post’s editorial implied have failed.

  While sanctions may buy time, they cannot solve the problem. The United States should continue its efforts to slow Iran’s program and maintain international pressure on Iran, while keeping the possibility open for a negotiated solution that establishes the inspections and transparency necessary to best detect and deter any eventual move to build a weapon.

  Laicie Olson, Washington

  The writer is a senior policy analyst at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

  
  
• Defense Appropriations Bill approved by House Appropriations Committee
  06/15/2011 02:18:39 PM EST
  Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Defense Appropriations Bill. The bill contains $530 billion in funding for non-war programs and accounts, an increase of $17 billion over FY 2011 and a decrease of approximately $9 billion from the President’s request. In addition to $530 billion in base spending, the bill contains $118.7 billion in spending for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, $842 million above the President’s request and $39 billion less than FY 2011, a decrease due to the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq. This total includes $12.8 billion for the training and equipping of Afghan Security forces, and $1.1 billion for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCCF), which has moved from the subcommittee on State/Foreign Operations to the subcommittee on defense. The total in the bill is $648.7 billion. Other portions of defense spending are contained in the Military Construction and Energy and Water Appropriations Bills. The bill is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives the week of June 20. It is expected that germane amendments will be permitted. Check out the full analysis here.
• House Acts on U.S. Military Engagement Abroad – A Bit Less Cautiously
  06/07/2011 12:16:13 PM EST
  By Executive Director John Isaacs Color me surprised. I recently wrote about votes in the House of Representatives signaling rising discontent with the use of military force abroad – but also pointed out that Members of Congress are not ready to take back the right to declare war.   The House came close to a majority vote against the Afghanistan War for the first time when it narrowly rejected (by a vote of 204 – 215) an amendment by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC).  While the bill called for a withdrawal plan, it did not call for cutting off funding for the war. At the time, I expressed skepticism that a resolution offered by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) to force the removal of U.S. armed forces from Libya would to get into the triple digits of support. Wrong!  Kucinich received 148 votes, including an incredibly high number of 87 Republicans. It used to be Kucinich was toxic to Republicans – and to many Democrats. No longer. In fact, a vote on the Kucinich resolution was delayed in the House so that Speaker John Boehner could put forward an alternative resolution to draw Republican votes from Kucinich. The Boehner resolution rebuked the President for his Libya policy, but did not require a troop withdrawal. His resolution was adopted by a stunning 268-145. Cynics in Washington, D.C. – is there anyone but cynics here – naturally assume that many Republicans are willing to repudiate a Democratic President but would have slavishly followed a Republican.
• House Armed Services Mark of the Defense Authorization
  05/20/2011 01:01:45 PM EST
  In case you're not keeping up with every little step in the budget process, we've got you covered.  New up on our sister site today is a summary of the most important and/or controversial provisions and amendments contained within the House Armed Services Committee's mark of the Defense Authorization bill last week. If you'd also like to read the full text of the bill and report you can do so here. A Review of the House Version of the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense Authorization Bill By a vote of 60 to 1, the House Armed Services Committee approved $553 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget, a 4.1% increase over appropriations for FY 2011, along with an additional $118 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, matching the administration’s request on both counts. The full House is expected to consider the bill the week of May 23. Many of the provisions listed below may be challenged on the House floor. (More below the jump)
• We're Hiring!
  10/27/2010 12:51:47 PM EST
  JOB OPENING – Contributions Coordinator / Officer Manager The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Council for a Livable World are dedicated to enhancing international peace and security and protecting the American people from the threat of weapons of mass destruction. They seek to accomplish this mission by reducing and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons as a tool of U.S. national security policy, halting the spread of all weapons of mass destruction, ending deployment of national missile defense  and redirecting Pentagon spending to better address the actual threats facing the United States. The Council and Center are currently hiring a Contributions Coordinator / Officer Manager.  The duties of this position are: Contributions Coordinator: The Contributions Coordinator is responsible for tracking a depositing all gifts to the Council and Center.  He/she will keep contributor data current and manage relations with donors.  The Contributions Coordinator is also primarily responsible for managing 2 fundraising events a year – one in Boston and one in Washington, DC.