Terrorism is a national priority

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/30/AR2008073003240.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated that terrorism should be the highest priority on top of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Gates issued a document that was not publicly released, according to hte Washington Post, but here is the quote: "Iraq and Afghanistan remain the central fronts in the struggle, but we cannot lose sight of the implications of fighting a long-term, episodic, multi-front, and multi-dimensional conflict more complex and diverse than the Cold War confrontation with communism."

For the full feature, check out the link above!

Presidential Candidates on Nuclear (unified)

Presidential candidates on the issue

The major-party U.S. Presidential Cadidates’08 on nuclear security, terrorism, disarmament and nuclear energy.

Beginning of the 2008 Presidential Campaign: positions of the presidential candidates on nuclear power: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjDmyToTYBE&feature=related

Sen. John McCain (Republican)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkFH_KEY29U

Speech: http://www.cfr.org/publication/16349/

Republican presidential candidate John McCain, the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. May 27, 2008.

Sen. Barack Obama (Democrat)

Video:

On nuclear terrorism: http://livableworld.org/elections/2008/presidential/obama_releases_video_on_loose_nukes/
On nuclear power:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R52J2D5QQU&feature=related

Speech:

http://www.cfr.org/publication/16807/barack_obamas_speech_at_the_university_of_purdue.html

Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama. Summit on Confronting New Threats. Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana. July 16, 2008

How will the next president reduce nuclear dangers? McCain and Obama campaign representatives discuss candidates’ strategies. Arms Control Association (ACA) Annual Meeting and Luncheon. June 16, 2008.

http://www.armscontrol.org/events/20080617_Presidential_Debate.asp

Nuclear Terrorism: Local Effects, Global Consequences

Today Saga Foundation released a new report: "Nuclear Terrorism: Local Effects, Global Consequences"

Report says lack of focus on threat of nuclear terrorism stems from failure to grasp global economic consequences of a nuclear terrorist attack.

Nuclear terrorism, a stated top concern of both major-party presidential candidates, is garnering little attention as an issue because of a failure to focus on the global economic consequences of such an attack, according to a new report by the Saga Foundation released today. The report, Nuclear Terrorism: Local Effects, Global Consequences, contends that a nuclear terrorist attack is the most serious threat to the U.S. homeland and the most likely nuclear attack scenario the nation faces. While the destructive effects of nuclear weapons have been studied in detail, the economic aftershocks likely to follow such an attack have received scant attention.

Press release, executive summary and a full text of the report is available at www.sagafoundation.org

Barak Obama and his speech at the University of Purdue

Barak Obama followed the McCain's path to address nonproliferation in a broader context.
It is critical that both candidates take stronger positions on the issue of nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament.

Full text:
http://www.cfr.org/publication/16807/barack_obamas_speech_at_the_university_of_purdue.html

16 July 2008

Author:	Barack Obama

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama

Summit on Confronting New Threats

Purdue University

July 16, 2008

"Throughout our history, America has confronted constantly evolving danger. From the oppression of an empire to the lawlessness of the frontier; from the bombs that fell on Pearl Harbor to the threat of nuclear annihilation – Americans have adapted to the threats posed by an ever-changing world."

"For most of our history, the most significant danger to our security came from states. The physical safety of our people was protected by oceans. The national security of the United States was buttressed by our economic strength, and a powerful military that answered every call. Today, the dangers extend beyond states alone to transnational security threats that respect no borders. These are threats that can arise from any part of the globe and spread anywhere, including to our own shores – dangers like pandemic disease, nuclear weapons proliferation, environmental degradation, international criminal networks, and terrorism."

"Today, we will focus on nuclear, biological, and cyber threats – three 21st century threats that have been neglected for the last eight years. It’s time to break out of Washington’s conventional thinking that has failed to keep pace with unconventional threats. In doing so, we’ll better ensure the safety of the American people, while building our capacity to deal with other challenges – from public health to privacy."

"It starts with the gravest danger we face – nuclear terrorism. One of the terrible ironies of the Iraq War is that President Bush used concern over this threat to invade a country that had no nuclear weapons program. In the meantime, Pakistani scientist AQ Khan was spreading to hostile nations the technology to produce nuclear weapons and the warheads to deliver them. But the fact that the President misled us into a misguided war doesn’t diminish the threat of a terrorist with a weapon of mass destruction – in fact, it has only increased it."

Barak Obama and a video on loose nukes

Barak Obama as a part of his presidential platform took a serious position on the issue of nuclear terrorism and nonproliferation.
His two videos on the matter can be seen here:

http://livableworld.org/elections/2008/presidential/obama_releases_video_on_loose_nukes/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/16/obamas-new-ad-focuses-on_n_113122.html

Let's remain hopeful that if Obama is elected, he will pursue his position on the matter and implement policies addressing nuclear terrorism, nuclear nonproliferation and reduction of the US nuclear weapon stockpiles.

Going Ballistic

Today I read an article by Tad Daley "Going Ballistic: Saving L.A. from nuclear terror" (http://www.lacitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/going_ballistic/7269/)
I think it's one of the best pieces I've read recently on nuclear terrorism. Tad Daley not only describes current reality, he is also very reasonable in addressing critical policy issues for the United States. It is not to scare people, but to make them think, act and ask their representatives to take responsibility in addressing nuclear security and disarmament.

I wish there were more of such articles to have the American public awake and get some action going. If there have been no another terrorist attack on U.S. soil after 9/11 it's a matter of pure luck.

Lieberman says terrorist attack likely

June 30, 2008

CNN released interesting observation by the Senator Joe Lieberman.

See the information below:

Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent who is a strong supporter of Republican John McCain's White House bid, suggested the United States will likely face a terrorist attack in 2009.

The controversial comments followed remarks by top John McCain adviser Charlie Black late last week that a terrorist attack leading up the general election would probably help the Arizona senator's White House hopes.

"Our enemies will test the new president early," Lieberman told CBS Sunday. "Remember that the truck bombing of the World Trade Center happened in the first year of the Clinton administration. 9/11 happened in the first year of the Bush administration."

Larry Page on how to change the world

Recently I read an interview by Larry Page to the Fortune Magazine (published 30 April 2008).
http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/29/magazines/fortune/larry_page_change_the_world.fortune/

I thought about how Silicon Valley has all the creative people and new approaches to improving our society and resolving problems.

Well, the key points of Larry Page very well fit in the approach that should be taken towards reducing nuclear weapons and addressing the US national security issues:

- "small groups of people can have a really huge impact"
- many Google innovations come or have come from riskier investments
- the "fear of failing and of doing something new" is natural, but "in order to do stuff that matters, you need to overcome that" (fear).
- "Silicon Valley...[is] the premier place in the world to do things.."

I wonder whether Google could take the lead on the issue and...probably establish a Google Nuclear Weapon Free Zone?