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Here's the final resolution and agenda for tonight's de-alerting debate between John Steinbruner and Walt Slocombe.  You can still RSVP by contacting Chris Jones at: cjones@csis.org.  We look forward to seeing you tonight.

PONI Live Debate: De-Alerting
November 5, 2009, 6:00-8:00 P.M.
B1 Conference Center, CSIS

Resolved: that the United States should pursue a negotiated agreement with Russia to de-alert each country's nuclear arsenal by implementing reversible physical changes to substantially increase the time required to launch

6:00-6:20     OPENING RECEPTION AND WELCOME

6:20-7:30     THE DE-ALERTING DEBATE
Affirmative: John D. Steinbruner, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland
Negative: Walter B. Slocombe, Former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
Moderator: John K. Warden, Project on Nuclear Issues, CSIS

6:20-6:35   Opening Statements
6:35-6:50   Cross-Examination and Moderator Questions
6:50-7:20   Audience Question and Answer
7:20-7:30   Closing Statements

7:30-8:00     CLOSING RECEPTION
 

FISSILE MATERIAL
Nuke negotiator heads to U.S. to discuss N.K.
Korea Herald by Kim Ji-hyun

Iran wants to be seen as regional power: ElBaradei
Reuters by Louis Charbonneau

Iran On the Edge
Foreign Policy by Hossein Askari

Mohamed ElBaradei looks to US to fix nuclear system 'in tatters'
CSM by Howard LaFranchi

Following up on Joshua Pollack’s post on ACW about the problems with negotiating through public statements, it looks like German Chancellor Angela Merkel took some time during her address to Congress yesterday, which was mostly about climate change, to add her two cents worth of provocation.

The $52 billion question looming large for the NPR and how to prepare the U.S. strategy for the 2010 RevCon: what are these things for? While the SPRC noted “the principal function of nuclear weapons has not changed in decades: deterrence” it was quickly explained that “the Commission takes a very broad view of the concept of deterrence, encompassing many elements.” Likewise, Laura Holgate noted the CFR Task Force “fails in what I believed was to have been its primary goal: to provide a clear and actionable statement of the purposes served by nuclear weapons.” In an effort to satisfy the President’s Prague object to reduce the role of nuclear weapons, many argue that the role should essentially be restricted to deterring the attack of nuclear weapons as seen in Daryl Kimball’s “Core Deterrence” concept, Joe Cirincione’s remarks in his interview with Daily Kos, and Scott Sagan’s article in Survival continuing his case for a No First Use.

Of all the items on the Obama administration’s nuclear weapons policy agenda, negotiating and ratifying a new START is the top priority.  START was also the topic of a panel discussion last week, hosted by the U.S. Institute for Peace.  Panelists included Ambassador Linton Brooks, Joe Cirincione, and Tom Scheber.  The discussion focused on both the details of START negotiations and the role that a new START plays in the administration’s disarmament and nonproliferation agenda.

It’s not surprising that a new START is the administration’s number one priority.  First, the current START expires on December 5th.  Without a new agreement, Russia will be able add warheads to its strategic launchers.  Furthermore, according to a report last week, the administration wants an agreement completed before Obama accepts his Nobel Peace Price on December 10th.

More importantly, completing a new START is seen as an important part of the administration’s disarmament and nonproliferation agenda.  According to Cirincione, the administration sees START as an important catalyst for the rest of its disarmament agenda.  Negotiated cuts in the U.S. and Russia arsenals could generate momentum for further reductions in the role of nuclear weapons (including ratification of the CTBT) before the May 2010 NPT Review Conference.

So the important question is:  Will the administration get its wish?  Really, it’s a two part question.  First, will the U.S. and Russia be able to complete negotiations promptly so an agreement can be signed?

Last call for those interested in the upcoming PONI Debates the Issues event between John Steinbruner and Walt Slocombe.   Details below: 

Date and Time: Thursday, November 5, 6-8 pm

Topic: Physical De-Alerting of the U.S. Nuclear Arsenal

FISSILE MATERIAL
U.S. pressed N. Korea to allow IAEA inspectors back
Breitbart by Kyodo News

Iran Raises Uranium Output as Photos Show Need for Wider Checks
Bloomberg by Jonathan Tirone

Iran's Khamenei rejects U.S. outreach
WP by Thomas Erdbrink and William Branigin

Why We Don't Need to Resume Nuclear Testing
Carnegie by Daryl G. Kimball

FISSILE MATERIAL
NKorea threatens to expand nuclear arsenal
AP by Jae-Soon Chang

Iran’s Politics Stand in the Way of a Nuclear Deal
NYT by Michael Slackman

Iran’s Military Power Subject to New U.S. Study Used for China
Bloomberg by Viola Gienger

Mixed Signals From West About Trusting Russia
NYT by John Vinocur