The Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum project
is an ASCO effort that explored approaches for leveraging strategic culture analyses to understanding WMD behavior. The 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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

Leonard S. Spector Editor-in-Chief
Deputy Director
Monterey Institute
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies

Jennifer Borchard Managing Editor
National Security Analyst SAIC

Sarah Diehl
Associate 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


 

 

 

 
CURRENT ARTICLES - Middle East
 
New French Nuclear Deals in the Middle East Generate Proliferation Concerns
  On January 15, 2008, the Associated Press announced that France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had signed an agreement that establishes a framework for the construction of two nuclear reactors in the UAE . . . view article
 
Iran Likely to Take Accusatory Stance at CWC Review Conference
  Apparently applying the motto that the best defense is a good offense, Iran is seeking to deflect international pressure to halt its uranium-enrichment program by pressing complaints about U.S. and Western behavior with respect to chemical weapons . . . view article
 
Summary of Recent United Nations Security Council, European Union, and United States Sanctions Against Iran
  The following synopsis of various sanctions against Iran and the accompanying tables are intended to offer a convenient overview of the status of these international efforts to alter Iranian behavior, as of March 14, 2008 . . . view article
 
 
PREVIOUS ARTICLES - Middle East
 
March 2008 Issue

Test of Iranian Space Launch Vehicle Causes Another Crack in Russian-Iranian Relations

Fearing U.S. Military Intervention, Then Lack of U.S. Resolve, Arab States Try Engaging Iran

 
February 2008 Issue

International Reaction to the New U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Ambitions

Iran’s First-Generation Chemical Weapons Evaporate, as Certainty Declines in U.S. Intelligence Reports

Moscow Rejects U.S. Written Proposals on Missile Defense, Downplays New Iranian Missile Test

 
December 2007/January 2008 Issue

Russian President Putin's Visit to Iran: Much Speculation, Few Successes

Iranian Chief Nuclear Negotiator Ali Larijani Resigns

Iraq Moves Toward CWC Accession

 
November 2007
Explosion at Syrian Military Facility: A Chemical Weapons Accident?
 
October 2007

Sri Lankan Government Alleges Tamil Tigers Preparing for Chemical Warfare

Kurdish Political Party Alleges Turkish Military Using Chemical Weapons

Ahmadinejad Critics Take Leadership Positions; Iran Enters Deal with International Atomic Energy Agency

 
September 2007

Franco-Libyan Nuclear Protocol Triggers Controversy

Controversy Over Secret Anti-Anthrax Trials, Gas Mask Distribution Plague Israeli Passive Defense Efforts

Update: German and U.K. Investigations Target Nuclear Exports to Iran

 
July/August 2007 Issue

Israel Sees Growing Missile Threat From Syria

Larijani's Struggle With Ahmadinejad: A Prelude to the 2009 Presidential Election?

Iranian Nuclear Negotiations: Moving Towards a Partial Suspension of Sensitive Nuclear Work?

 
June 2007 Issue

India Walks Tightrope on Relations with Tehran

Mussavian's Arrest: National Security Risk or Domestic Political Ploy?

Update: The Bushehr Payment Dispute

 
May 2007 Issue

Special Report: Financial Controls Emerge as Powerful Nonproliferation Tool; North Korea and Iran Targeted

Chlorine as a Terrorist Weapon in Iraq

European Union-Iranian Nuclear Negotiations: What's Next?

The Bushehr Payment Dispute: Moscow Signals the Limits of Its Support for Iran

 
April 2007 Issue

Western Media Claim Iranian Scientist With Nuclear Connection Died Suspiciously; Iran Denies Any Foul Play Involved, Nuclear Connection

Iran's Announcement of a Space Rocket Test: Fact or Fiction?

Gulf Cooperation Council Moves Forward With Nuclear Energy Plans

 
March 2007 Issue

Iran's Internal Debate on Nuclear Issues Heats Up; Russia Presses Tehran for "Positive Steps"

Jordan Joins List of Arab States Announcing Nuclear Energy Program; Pakistan Promises Help

Uranium Smuggling Incident Reinforces Concerns About Nuclear Trafficking in South Caucasus

 
February 2007 Issue
Iran Reacts to UN, U.S. Sanctions

Algeria Announces Plans for Expanded Nuclear Energy Program; Iran Offers to Help

Arab Media Sees Plan Behind Olmert Nuclear Revelation

Iraqi Insurgent Group Releases Video of Chemical Weapon Attack
 
December 2006/January 2007 Issue

Iran Missile Tests Heighten International Concerns

Iran and Gulf States: Foes or Security Partners?

Iran-North Korea Relations Remain Strong After DPRK's Nuclear Test

Russia Announces Deadline for Completing Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, As Security Council Weighs Sanctions on Iran

 
November 2006

New Leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq Calls for Use of Unconventional Weapons Against U.S. Forces; Possible Poisoning of Iraqi Security Forces at Central Iraq Base

Renewed Egyptian Ambitions for a Peaceful Nuclear Program

Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Presses Government for Nuclear Weapons

Role of Iran’s New Foreign Policy Council in Nuclear Debate Still in Flux

U.S. – Turkey Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Stirs Debate in Turkey, Sets Benchmarks for Anticipated U.S. – India Nuclear Accord

 
October 2006

Special Report: Challenges of Iranian Missile Proliferation:
Part I – Partnership with North Korea
Part II – Assistance to Hezbollah

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Claim to Have Chemical and Biological Weapons

Palestinians Accuse Israel of an Assassination Attempt on Palestinian Prime Minister with Poison Gas

 
September 2006

Critics Urge More Active Arab Role in Iranian Nuclear Negotiations to Counter Tehran's Growing Influence, While Learning from Iran's Example

Saudi Ballistic Missile Bases: Prospective Target for Militants?

 
July/August 2006

Special Report:
Manual For Producing Chemical Weapon to be Used in New York Subway Plot Available on Al-Qaeda Websites Since Late 2005

Iran Exploited Turkish Trading Firm to Procure Dual-Use Goods From Western European, U.S. Companies

Controversy Over Belarusian Air Defense Systems and Seizure of Dual-Use Goods in Austria Turn Spotlight on Iranian Missile Program

Putin Meeting With Ahmadinejad in Shanghai Plays Well in Moscow, Brings Little Progress on Nuclear Impasse

Brazilian Nuclear Debate Highlights Parallels and Contrasts With Iran

 
June 2006

Top Iranian Political Figures Divided Over Nuclear Diplomacy

Germany, Belgium, and UK Act on Iranian WMD and Missile Equipment Trafficking

Egyptian Political Class Divided on Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions

 
May 2006

Secretary General of Arab League Urges Arab Countries to Exploit Nuclear Power, Enter "Nuclear Club"

Report Alleges Saudi Arabia Working on “Secret Nuclear Program” with Pakistani Assistance

Iran Tests Missiles For Domestic and Foreign Audiences; Origins of One Advanced System Remain Murky

 
April 2006

Former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Reveals Weaknesses in Iran’s Nuclear Program, Dissension Among Iranian Elite

Turkey Copes with Iran, Using Mix of Strategies

Kurds Accuse Turkish Military of Using Chemical Weapons

 
March 2006

New Light Shed on Turkish, Sudanese Involvement in Nuclear Black Market Sales to Libya

Non-Aligned Realigning to Confront Iran

Iran Steps Up Its Nuclear Training

Arab Attitudes Toward Iran’s Nuclear Program: Government Views vs. Public Opinion

Russia Cools to Iran, as Nuclear Crisis Deepens

Jordanian Security Forces Foil Planned Cyanide Attack on Americans

 
February 2006
Iranian Friday Sermon Leader Encourages Defiance of IAEA and NPT
 
Iran Hones Laser Skills...With Uranium Enrichment in Mind?
 
Gulf Cooperation Council Voices Fears of Iran’s Nuclear Program
 
December 2005/January 2006