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Category Archives: WMD
Iran Nuclear Talks – Progress?
The announcement of the new elements coming from the talks with Tehran represents progress of a sort. Basically there is a trade between Iran’s ongoing ability to enrich uranium (and produce plutonium) that could be used in a weapon and … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iran, United Nations, WMD
Tagged Iran Nuclear, Iran Nuclear Agreement, Weapons Inspections
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Syrian CW – The Next Stage
OPCW head Mehmet Uzumcu announced today that the initial removal of some chemicals from Syria had taken place today. Chemicals in their specially designed and built containers were loaded onto the Danish ship Ark Futura at the port of Latakia. … Continue reading
Posted in Iran, Iraq, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
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The Iran Nuclear Deal
It is difficult to be categorical when judging this agreement. Much depends upon huge uncertainties that will play out over years or decades. American politicians are condemned to focus on near-term costs and consequences. Our system tends to … Continue reading
Posted in Iran, Iraq, United Nations, WMD
Tagged Iran Nuclear, Iran Nuclear Agreement
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Knowledge is Expensive – Veterans Day 2013
Knowledge is Expensive Veterans day celebrates those who have served the country in the military services. There are many members of the military who served with me in the Iraq Survey Group (ISG). Overall there were more than 1500 people … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iraq, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
Tagged DIA, Iraq, Iraq Survey Group, Syria CW, United Nations Inspectors, WMD
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Syrian CW – “Funtional Destruction”
The OPCW-UN inspectors for Syria have “completed the functional destruction of critical equipment for all of its declared chemical weapons production facilities and mixing/filling plants, rendering them inoperable.” This is seven weeks after President Obama, in a dramatic prime time … Continue reading
Posted in Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
Tagged Sergey Lavrov, Syria, Syrian CW, UN Security Council
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Syrian CW – Major Progress Continues – Who’s Left with CW?
While US media fixated on the budget scrum in Washington, things have been moving ahead toward the goal of eliminating Syrian CW. Status. On the ground, inspectors are continuing to inventory and verify Syrian facilities, equipment and munitions. They … Continue reading
Posted in Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
Tagged CWC, Disarmament, Lavrov, Middle East WMD, OPCW, Russia, UN Security Council
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UN Security Council Resolution on Syrian CW–Good, But Who’s in Charge?
The UN process took a good step forward with the approval of UNSCR 2118 (http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sc11135.doc.htm). It is important to remember that this will be the mechanism for eliminating the Syrian CW. The other UN activity–headed by Ake Sellstrom and presently … Continue reading
Posted in Syria CW, Uncategorized, United Nations, WMD
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The Syrian CW Declaration…So far, so good
Syria has taken the first critical step in the process laid out by Lavrov and Kerry last week in Geneva. Damascus made its initial declaration of its chemical weapons inventory and infrastructure to the technical secretariat of the Organization for … Continue reading
Posted in Iraq, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
Tagged Chemical Weapons, Lavrov, Lavrov Susan Rice, President Obama and UNGA, s, Syria, Syrian CW, Weapons Inspections, WMD
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The Syrian Framework Agreement
The Framework agreement and its two annexes get many things right. The burden of proof and all the heavy lifting are on Syria. The UN weapons inspectors are meant to verify Syrian declarations, direct the aggregation and ultimate disposal of … Continue reading
Lavrov-Kerry Agreement on Syria-Now What?
Sometimes things work out. This may be one of those occasions. It appears the US has agreed with the general Lavrov proposition that an arrangement similar to what was imposed upon Saddam in the 1990’s be applied to Syria. This … Continue reading
Posted in Iraq, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
Tagged CW, Kerry, Lavrov, Norway, Sergey Lavrov, Syria, UN Security Council
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