Morning Joe: May 19, 2009
Missile Threat Not Imminent, Shield Not Effective
Stories we're following today:
U.S.-Russian Team Deems Missile Shield in Europe Ineffective - Washington Post [link]
- A planned U.S. missile shield to protect Europe from a possible Iranian attack would be ineffective against the kinds of missiles Iran is likely to deploy, according to a joint analysis by top U.S. and Russian scientists.
In a Nuclear Minefield - Richard Cohen in the Washington Post [link]
- That country has as many as 100 nuclear weapons and the missiles, as well as the airplanes, submarines and surface ships, to launch them. Pakistan also has around 100 nuclear weapons but lacks India's extensive delivery systems. Nonetheless, the two countries have what it takes to blow each other to kingdom come. They also have the reason. They hate each other.
- The stakes in this part of the world are worth reciting because they are both terrifying and virtually unprecedented.
Russia US restart nuclear arsenal talks - Financial Times [link]
- Russia and the US on Tuesday began talks in Moscow aimed at limiting their respective nuclear arsenals, which may provide the first breakthrough in an effort by both sides to “reset” a badly frayed relationship beset by mistrust.
Views from the Dark Side
Stopping an Iranian Bomb - John Hannah in the Washington Post [link]
- Successful denuclearization of hostile states is most likely to occur as a result of regime change, coercive diplomacy or military action, not U.S. pledges of mutual respect.
The Arms-Control Dinosaurs Are Back - Marc Thiessen in the Wall Street Journal [link]
- In the 21st century, arms-control agreements are as antiquated as cave drawings. We no longer need pieces of parchment and armies of arms-control aficionados to achieve deep reductions in nuclear weapons.
Views of the Heavens
Hubble's Final Servicing Misison - The Boston Globe's "Big Picture" [link]
