Bomb strikes Damascus near U.N. and army sites, 3 wounded
Hadeel Al Shalchi / Reuters
A bomb exploded in central Damascus on Wednesday near several military buildings and a hotel housing U.N. observers, wounding three people and sending a pillar of black smoke into the sky above the Syrian capital.
Possible war with Iran could be month-long affair: Israel minister
Reuters
The Israeli civil defense minister projects that any conflict with Iran would be fought on several fronts, result in “some 500 dead,” and be over in approximately a month. These projections follow US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s remarks that Israel has not yet decided whether to strike Iran.
Two Ways Israel Can Deter a Nuclear Iran
Louis Rene Beres / U.S. News & World Report
Before making his final preemption decisions on a still-nuclearizing Iran, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must first make a carefully informed judgment on Iranian rationality. In essence, he will have to determine, systematically and dispassionately, whether Iranian decision-makers are apt to be rational, irrational, or “mad.”
Germany accuses four of breaking Iran nuclear embargo
BBC
Four men have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of illegally supplying Iran with parts needed to build a nuclear reactor.
UAE awards nuclear fuel supply contracts, worth $3 bln
Stanley Carvalho and Maha El Dahan / Reuters
The United Arab Emirates awarded $3 billion in contracts to six foreign firms, including global miner Rio Tinto and France’s Areva on Wednesday, to supply fuel for the Gulf Arab state’s first nuclear power plant.
UN Chief Seeks to Strengthen Law of the Sea Treaty
Environment News Service
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Sunday introduced the Oceans Compact, a new initiative to support and strengthen implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
U.S. not enthusiastic about NK-Japan talks
Lee Chi-dong / Yonhap News
The U.S. government expressed its typically cautious view Tuesday over any talks involving North Korea, as Japan is set to hold its first government-level meeting with the communist country in four years.
Satellite Images Show N. Korea’s Nuclear Reactor Progress
VOA News
A U.S. research institute says satellite images show North Korea could complete construction on a light-water nuclear reactor by the end of next year. But analysts say there is no consensus on what it means for the future of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.
Nigeria: Why FG Resists Terrorist Label for Boko Haram – Ambassador
Hugo Odiogor and Luka Binniyat/Vanguard in All Africa
Ambassador Adefuye has rejected the proposed US classification of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on grounds that it would “embolden” the group, “subject innocent Nigerian travelers to undue” scrutiny, and make it possible for the US to use UAVs in attacks against the group on Nigerian soil.
India plans mission to Mars next year
Associated Press
India plans to launch a mission to Mars next year in a giant leap forward for science and technology in the country, its prime minister, Manmohan Singh, said on Wednesday.
Siberian forests up in flames
UPI
Russia is experiencing its worst fire season in years as more than 2,000 hectares in Siberia were engulfed as of Wednesday, the government said.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Fusion Budget on Hold
Nicholas Cunningham
The U.S. has historically led in fusion energy research, but other countries are beginning to move ahead. China, Japan and Korea have constructed superconducting tokamaks, technologies that are more advanced than what we have in the United States.
The Nuke Review: August 6 – August 12
Daniel Painter
Energy Department officials have stated that in addition to personnel changes, four new guard patrols were added at the Y-12 complex. Officials insist that during the security breach “none of the nuclear material at the site was seriously threatened.”
About the American Security Project: The American Security Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges.
For more information, visit www.americansecurityproject.org. info@americansecurityproject.org
