WMD Insights

The Comparative Strategic Cultures Curriculum project is an ASCO effort that explored approaches for leveraging strategic culture analyses to understanding WMD behavior. This new report includes a collection of commissioned essays and case studies that examine the field of strategic culture and assess its applicability as a methodological approach to understanding decisions to acquire, proliferate, or use WMD, or abide by or violate international norms regarding WMD. More information about this project, and the essays and case studies, can be found at http://www.dtra.mil/
ASCO/comparative
strategic
cultures.cfm

This monthly publication seeks to provide timely and noteworthy unclassified information on international attitudes towards weapons of mass destruction and efforts to curb their proliferation. Our goal is to assist our readers in planning for today’s issues and those that may be just over the horizon. Your opinions about this product are important to us. Please click Feedback to take a short electronic survey. Thank you

Michael Wheeler
Director, ASCO

David Hamon
Deputy Director, Research and Studies, ASCO

Jonathan Fox
DTRA Program Manager

Michael Moodie
Editor-in-Chief

Jennifer Borchard Managing Editor

The WMD Insights project is sponsored by the Advanced Systems and Concepts Office (ASCO) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). ASCO identifies, encourages, and executes high-impact projects to promote new thinking, address technology gaps and improve the operational capabilities of DTRA, DOD and other government agencies in response to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and related threats. A variety of ASCO studies, conference reports, and papers can be found at http://www.dtra.mil/
ASCO/publications.cfm

February 2009 Issue . . .

Minding Our Business: The Role of the Private Sector in Managing the WMD Supply Chain
	In today’s security environment, a diverse set of forces is gathering, presenting a growing challenge to the practicality of the existing nonproliferation regime and to governments’ ability to prevent proliferation without the determined efforts of the private sector. . . . view article

Export Controls in the United Arab Emirates: A Practical Manifestation of a Strategic Dilemma
	On January 15, 2009, the United States and the United Arab Emirates signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, known as the “U.S.-UAE 123 Agreement.” The deal has received mixed reactions from around the world . . . view article

DPRK Claims to Have “Weaponized” Nuclear Deterrent as Six-Party Talks Stall
	The Six-Party Talks aimed at eliminating the North Korean nuclear weapons program have reached an impasse as the parties were unable to conclude an agreement on a verification protocol during talks in Beijing in early December 2008 . . . view article

Following Fatal Disaster, Russia Still Considering Submarine’s Lease to India
	On December 4, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev confirmed that Moscow was considering leasing a nuclear submarine to New Delhi. The prime candidate for this decade-long lease is apparently the K-152 Nerpa, which made headlines in early November because of a fatal accident that occurred during Russian sea trials . . . view article

In Search of New Role, Turkey Offers to Mediate U.S.-Iran Dispute
	On November 12, 2008, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested in an interview that Turkey wanted to use its influence in the Middle East to mediate between the incoming Obama administration and Iran . . . view article

Biological Weapons Convention Sees Limited Progress in 2008
	The 2006 Sixth BWC Review Conference authorized the convening of four annual week-long Meetings of Experts and four Meetings of States Parties during the period 2007-2010. The mandate for the meetings allowed participants to discuss specific BWC-related issues and prepare for the Seventh Review Conference in 2011 . . . view article

The views expressed on this website are those of the authors only and do not represent the official policy or position of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.