Joshua Pollack | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Extended deterrence and the tactical nuclear mirage

Joshua Pollack — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:50:26 -0800

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the need to reassure allies has become, perhaps by default, one of the more important rationales for continuity in U.S. nuclear posture. In fact, a view frequently expressed by current and former U.S. officials holds that Washington still maintains the largest strategic nuclear arsenal in the world precisely to provide these assurances.

Is the cyber threat a weapon of mass destruction?

Joshua Pollack — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:13:16 -0800

Google's surprise announcement of "a highly sophisticated and targeted attack" on its systems--a case of computer-aided espionage--has also raised the specter of offensive warfare. Defense News quotes Adm. Robert Willard of U.S.

The Nuclear Posture Review, now and later

Joshua Pollack — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:16:43 -0800

The long-awaited report of the third Nuclear Posture Review is now scheduled for delivery to Congress on March 1. According to a recent New York Times article, the posture review will consider the prevention of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism to be equally as important as the nuclear deterrence mission.

Time for a test-ban bargain

Joshua Pollack — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:32:51 -0800

On the face of it, quickly bringing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) before the U.S. Senate for ratification seems like an easy choice. In 1996, Washington signed the long-sought treaty, which reinforces the nonproliferation regime by banning all nuclear explosions. No U.S. nuclear testing has taken place since 1992, and there is scant interest in picking up where we left off.

Reducing the role of nuclear weapons

Joshua Pollack — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:23:46 -0700

In his April 5, 2009 speech in Prague, President Barack Obama pledged to "take concrete steps toward a world without nuclear weapons." In particular, he promised to "reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and urge others to do the same." This was not merely an idealistic gesture. Bounding the role of the U.S.

Deconstructing the Iranian challenge

Joshua Pollack — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:04:39 -0700

Long-awaited talks between Iran and six major powers (Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States) start on Thursday, October 1, in Geneva. Bolstered by last week's revelation of a enrichment facility hidden under a mountain near the Iranian city of Qom, Western officials reportedly will press Iran to commit to the Additional Protocol, an agreement that allows wide-ranging access for international inspectors.

Getting back to basics on missile defense

Joshua Pollack — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:34:42 -0700

The Obama administration has inherited a Gordian knot in strategic security affairs, but no sword. Instead of seizing opportunities to make far-reaching changes to post-Cold War nuclear posture, the previous two administrations pursued NATO expansion and national missile defense deployment. These choices set the scene for the Pentagon's missile defense review, which is expected to conclude shortly.