WMD Insights

The Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum project is an ASCO effort that explored approaches for leveraging strategic culture analyses to understanding WMD behavior. This new report includes a collection of commissioned essays and case studies that examine the field of strategic culture and assess its applicability as a methodological approach to understanding decisions to acquire, proliferate, or use WMD, or abide by or violate international norms regarding WMD. More information about this project, and the essays and case studies, can be found at http://www.dtra.mil/
ASCO/comparative
strategic
cultures.cfm

Dear Reader,
These articles, which are timely and important, serve as an interim issue while we work to publish a larger, year-end December 2008/January 2009 edition of WMD Insights.

Michael Moodie,
Editor-in-Chief

This monthly publication seeks to provide timely and noteworthy unclassified information on international attitudes towards weapons of mass destruction and efforts to curb their proliferation. Our goal is to assist our readers in planning for today’s issues and those that may be just over the horizon. Your opinions about this product are important to us. Please click Feedback to take a short electronic survey. Thank you

Jonathan Fox
DTRA Program Manager

Michael Moodie
Editor-in-Chief

Jennifer Borchard Managing Editor

Brenda McVeigh
Layout and Design

Timothy Long
Web Developer

The WMD Insights project is sponsored by the Advanced Systems and Concepts Office (ASCO) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). ASCO identifies, encourages, and executes high-impact projects to promote new thinking, address technology gaps and improve the operational capabilities of DTRA, DOD and other government agencies in response to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and related threats. A variety of ASCO studies, conference reports, and papers can be found at http://www.dtra.mil/
ASCO/publications.cfm

November 2008 Issue . . .

On July 13, 2008 a high-level summit meeting was held in Paris attended by representatives – almost all either presidents or prime ministers – from 43 states, mainly EU member states and their southern Mediterranean partners. The purpose of the summit was to launch French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s idea for a new Mediterranean Union . . . view article

After the Georgia War Part One: U.S.-Russian Nuclear Cooperation Disrupted
	Russia’s military intervention in Georgia and U.S. opposition to the decision has led many Russians and Americans to urge a reassessment of the key pillars of the strategic relationship between the two nations, including in the realm of arms control. As of late September, the Georgia War appears to have had a diverse impact on the Russian – U.S. arms control relationship . . . view article

After the Georgia War
Part Two: Regional U.S. Nonproliferation Programs Complicated

Many observers feared that the Georgia War would disrupt Russian-American collaboration on diverse nonproliferation issues, such as dealing with Iran over its nuclear weapons and addressing the continuing WMD legacy of the Soviet Union. Thus far at least, CTR programs in the Russian Federation appear unaffected by the recent clash. Even so, the conflict has had an indirect effect on U.S.-funded threat reduction and nonproliferation activities in Georgia, which has long been a priority target of U.S. nonproliferation programs . . . view article

After the Georgia War Part Three: Eurasian Missile Defense Dispute Intensifies
	Even before the August 2008 Georgia War it was evident that Russian and U.S. officials continued to differ sharply over a global missile defense architecture. The war, however, promoted growing East European acceptance of the desirability of the proposed BMD deployments, despite continuing Russian protests, threats, and diplomatic initiatives. . . . view article

The views expressed on this website are those of the authors only and do not represent the official policy or position of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.