Missile Defense

Brzezinski Endorses Obama Missile Decision, Slams Rollout

By James Joyner

Yesterday, I noted that Brent Scowcroft supports President Obama’s missile defense decision.  Another distinguished member of our International Advisory Board,  Zbigniew Brzezinski, has voiced his support as well — albeit in an extremely colorful manner that’s not particularly flattering to the president.

Brent Scowcroft Supports Obama’s Missile Defense Decision

By James Joyner

While I remain highly critical of the optics of yesterday’s decision to change course on missile defense in Eastern Europe, timed as it was on the 70th anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Poland and coming after a year of bellicose actions from Moscow, it would be remiss not to point out that General Brent Scowcroft […]

Obama’s Missile Defense Decision: The View From Europe

By James Joyner

President Obama’s decision to abandon the missile defense systems in Poland and Czech Republic agreed to by his predecessor has created a firestorm of controversy, with quite different reactions in Russia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and domestically.

Brent Scowcroft Supports Obama’s Missile Defense Shield Decision

Former National Security Adviser Backs Administration Position on Europe Missile Defense Shield Washington, D.C. — Brent Scowcroft, Chairman of the Atlantic Council International Advisory Board and National Security Advisor to Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, today supported the Administration’s decision to pursue alternative technologies and architecture for the planned missile defense shield in […]

Time to Shoot Down Missile Defense

By Don Snow

President Obama is in Moscow meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, with the shadow Vladimir Putin not far from their sight. The highlight of the talks, which are aimed at improving relations with Russia typically soured by the Bush administration, center on nuclear arms agreements, which were at the heart of Cold War negotiations and […]

Public Relations, North Korean Style

By Patrick deGategno

North Korea’s launch of a Taep’odong-2 prototype intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) over the weekend was a political success for the Kim Jong-Il regime on a series of levels. The North effectively used international law to test its missile technology, the Obama administration, and the resolve of UNSC and the other 5 members of the Six-Party […]

How Serious is the North Korean Threat?

By Don Snow

As long anticipated, North Korea test fired a Taepodong rocket hours ago, which President Obama termed “a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security.”  Is that really so? Don Snow published the following analysis yesterday afternoon, viewing the test prospectively.

Deal or No Deal?: Missile Defense for Iranian Nukes

By Peter Cassata

A letter from Obama offering to shelve the planned U.S. missile defense system in return for Russian cooperation in stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons was hand-delivered to Medvedev three weeks ago by U.S. diplomatic officials, the NYT reported.  Although fervently objecting to the missile defense shield, Russia’s reception of the letter was lukewarm.  Obama […]

Poland Expects Worst on Missile Defense

By James Joyner

Warsaw seems resigned to the Obama administration reneging on an agreement signed by its predecessor to put a missile defense system in Poland.

North Korea Closer to Missile Test

By James Joyner

Yet more disturbing news on the Korean missile front: North Korea has built an underground fueling facility near a key launch pad, a news report said Thursday, making it harder for spy satellites to detect signs that a missile is being prepared for launch.