Is the cyber threat a weapon of mass destruction?
Probably not--despite the fears of U.S. military officials and others. Nonetheless, it's troublesome, especially when it pertains to U.S.-Chinese relations.
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The Nuclear Posture Review, now and later
Any truly transformative change the upcoming Nuclear Posture Review institutes will take time. But there are two simpler strategies Washington can pursue immediately to fight nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
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Time for a test-ban bargain
There is a way to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty while also preserving the expertise of the country's nuclear weapons complex. It's called the Stockpile Management Program.
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Reducing the role of nuclear weapons
The first step--the United States should declare a no-first-use policy, signaling to the world that its nuclear arsenal is for deterrence and deterrence only.
Down the rabbit hole of BWC verification
The inconsistent U.S. message on verification of the Biological Weapons Convention compared with other international treaties leaves some with nightmares.
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Bringing a "culture of responsibility" to life scientists
After years of discussion around teaching a "culture of responsibility" to life scientists, it's about time to put talk into practice.
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Bringing increased biological and chemical weapons provisions to the ICC
Despite some criticism, opponents of biological and chemical weapons recognize the opportunity for increased weapons control that lies in the next two meetings of ICC Member States.
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Closing the biology-security gap
Few policy makers can say they are familiar with the intricate connections between biology and security. But two recent publications point the way toward refocusing policy on this important relationship.
Enhancing cooperation between the health and climate sectors
Despite the well-known relationship between climate change and health, WHO has been only tangentially involved in major international climate efforts--a situation that must change.
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Bringing climate change into global governance
Even taken together, today's international governance organizations aren't capable of addressing the changing climate. The necessary step toward rectifying this problem: a new financial architecture that supports both adaptation and mitigation strategies.
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Reflections on the U.N. climate change negotiations in Bali
The elusive road map to a global climate agreement begins with science--which is exceedingly clear about what our targets must be.
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A neglected climate strategy: Empower women, slow population growth
Instead of pouring resources into expensive geoengineering research, we should pursue low-tech reproductive health and women's empowerment programs that have widespread social benefits and can reduce CO2 emissions.
Germany's slowing nuclear phaseout
A new conservative German government has thrown the country's nuclear power phaseout into doubt. But it's unclear just how long a reprieve its reactors will be given.
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The reality of France's aggressive nuclear power push
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is promising to sell his country's nuclear power technology to any country that wants it--but how plausible is his offer?
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2008 world nuclear industry status report: Western Europe
As nuclear power's contribution declines in Europe's overall energy mix, efforts to build new plants are being met with legislative and technical delays.
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Nuclear waste repository case studies: Germany
With Germany's political parties in disagreement about how to dispose of the country's high-level nuclear waste, its final disposition is in a state of gridlock.
Web Edition
Columnists
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Profile
The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review: Separating the U.S. civilian and defense missions
If the inaugural QDDR doesn't clearly focus the State Department's mission, it could create civilian capabilities focused on the military's mission--a serious step backward for national security.
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Profile
Down the rabbit hole of BWC verification
The inconsistent U.S. message on verification of the Biological Weapons Convention compared with other international treaties leaves some with nightmares.
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Profile
An American suicide bomber?
While some pundits find it impossible that Washington would ever employ a war-fighting strategy that involves suicide bombers, they too easily forget the country's suicidal dance with nuclear weapons.
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Profile
Is the cyber threat a weapon of mass destruction?
Probably not--despite the fears of U.S. military officials and others. Nonetheless, it's troublesome, especially when it pertains to U.S.-Chinese relations.
-
Profile
The Nuclear Posture Review, now and later
Any truly transformative change the upcoming Nuclear Posture Review institutes will take time. But there are two simpler strategies Washington can pursue immediately to fight nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
Analysis
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Germany's slowing nuclear phaseout
A new conservative German government has thrown the country's nuclear power phaseout into doubt. But it's unclear just how long a reprieve its reactors will be given.
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Nuclear weapons: The modernization myth
Some who oppose new disarmament goals argue that Washington is dozing while other nuclear powers modernize their forces, threatening to surpass U.S. capabilities. Here's why they're wrong.
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Enhancing cooperation between the health and climate sectors
Despite the well-known relationship between climate change and health, WHO has been only tangentially involved in major international climate efforts--a situation that must change.
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Despite economic downturn, nuclear energy commerce is still worrisome
Although the economic crisis has diminished chances of a widespread nuclear renaissance, concerns remain that countries interested in nuclear energy could push wary neighbors toward nuclear weapons.
Op-Eds
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The Obama disarmament paradox
Last April in Prague, many thought the president signaled a strong commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free world. His recent considerable budget request for the country's nuclear weapon complex suggests otherwise.
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Biological threats: A matter of balance
Yet again, the WMD Commission has given Washington a failing grade on its preparations to prevent bioterrorism. But the commission's concerns are misplaced.
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Sanctioning Iran further won't work
The Obama administration must continue to engage Iran and resist calls for sanctions, which may make future efforts to bring Tehran to the negotiating table more difficult.
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Reducing the nuclear threat: The argument for public safety
Infectious disease, a scourge of nature, has been tamed by an effective campaign for public health. Can a similar push for public safety end the scourge of nuclear weapons?
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Opening up the Biological Weapons Convention to new voices
Now more than ever, the BWC has the potential to become an inclusive, interactive community of public and private interests, governments, NGOs, and academics.
Special Topics
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Solutions for Copenhagen
As the climate change meetings kick off in Copenhagen today, many skeptics suggest little progress can be made in the next two weeks. This isn't for lack of solutions. In fact, for months, Bulletin authors have been proposing ways in which to build and support international strategies toward slowing climate change. Are the world's politicians and diplomats listening?
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Semipalatinsk: 60 years later
Between 1949 and 1989, the Soviet Union conducted 456 nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in what is today Kazakhstan. It did so with little regard for the local population's safety or health. Sixty years have gone by since the first test, but for the Kazakh people, the Soviet testing program still presents a complicated legacy.
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European missile defense reversed
It's official. The Obama administration announced today that the contentious Bush-era missile defense system proposed for Eastern Europe is no more. Russia welcomed the news; Poland and the Czech Republic were dismayed. But it's clear that administration officials agree with what Bulletin experts have said all along--the plan was rife with technical and political problems.
Doomsday Clock
Announcements
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Current Edition
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Assessing the spectrum of biological risks
From naturally occurring disease threats to the deliberate creation of biological weapons, the field of biosecurity encompasses a broad swath of life science research and the associated risks.
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Advances in targeted delivery and the future of bioweapons
Biotechnology--and aerosol delivery specifically--is beginning to blur the line between solutions and threats. Could a cure for diabetes and a dangerous pathogen be delivered in the same way? Such a scenario isn't far off.
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How to control dual-use technologies in the age of global commerce
Voluntary standards in the synthetic biology industry point a way forward to controlling many emerging and potentially dangerous technologies, even as they become easier to acquire than ever before and traditional government controls and treaties become less effective.
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The human-climate-wildlife nexus
As more and more diseases are discovered to be of animal origin and the effects of climate change on disease become clearer, now is the time to examine how best to mobilize health professionals, policy makers, and security experts around these connections.