Last week brought Al Kibar speculation from another source, a report from ISIS Nuclear. As Peter Jenkins and Robert Kelley question the presence of nuclear fuel, ISIS worries about 50,000 kilograms of natural uranium and its proliferation implications. Continue reading
bySunday Comics
Open-Source Image Analysis
The analyses of the Al Kibar site and many other intelligence questions are being addressed by many people now that images are available through the internet. Wednesday’s post wasn’t primarily about image analysis, but that is part of the Al Kibar story, of which I plan another installment, probably next week. Bellingcat has been investigating Syrian barrel bombs and Russian military activity in Ukraine through overhead and ground photos. Continue reading
byNew Questions About Al Kibar
As the war in Syria goes on, the attention of some has turned to a site, Al Kibar, that was bombed by Israel in 2007 and said to have been a potentially plutonium-producing reactor that the Syrians were building with the help of North Korea. Continue reading
byLinks – July 8, 2015
The Iran talks continue past the July 7 deadline. That means that the US Congress will get two months to demagogue over any agreement. It appeared that Iran was trying to use the pressure of the deadline to get additional concessions on sanctions against weapons sales. Thanks, Congress! Much of the commentary is duplicative and predictable. The Twitter streams from reporters at the Palais Coburg were getting punchy, although things have settled down today. A couple of articles worth reading. Continue reading
byWorld War III Coming? Think Again.
Yes, Max Fisher, the world has become more dangerous since Vladimir Putin started violating norms like not annexing pieces of neighbor states. He’s also started rattling nukes. What should we make of this? Fisher and I approach that question differently. Continue reading
bySunday Comics
Links – July 3, 2015
More on the protests in Armenia from Paul Stronski and PONARSEurasia.
Evidence that Russian generals are leading the separatists in Ukraine. Who those generals are. Continue reading
byThe INF Treaty Violation Mystery
It isn’t Russia’s R-500 missile (launcher shown) that the US has claimed is in violation of the INF Treaty.
For a couple of years now, the United States has accused Russia of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. But they won’t publicly say how. That, of course, has led to speculation by the usual suspects. Continue reading
byLinks – June 30, 2015
Today is the deadline for the Iran talks, but they will continue for another week or two.
Jim Walsh’s testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is a good summary of how to look at an agreement.
Five former officials of the Obama administration issued a statement on the talks. Continue reading
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