What we are reading

 U.S. seeks missile-defense shields for Asia, Mideast

JIM WOLF / Reuters

The United States is seeking to build regional shields against ballistic missiles in both Asia and the Middle East akin to a controversial defense system in Europe, a senior Pentagon official disclosed on Monday.

Summit seeks to deter nuclear-armed terrorism

Foster Klug and Christopher Bodeen / AP

Nearly 60 world leaders who gathered Tuesday in Seoul for a nuclear security summit agreed to work on securing and accounting for all nuclear material by 2014. But widespread fear lingers about the safety of nuclear material in countries including former Soviet states, Pakistan, North Korea, Iran and India.

Nuclear fusion now seen as a real possibility

Jesse Emspak/ LiveScience / MSNBC

If new computer simulations pan out in the real world, nuclear fusion, the power source that makes stars shine, may be a practical possibility here on Earth, scientists say.

Climate Change Threatens the Poor in Cities

Manipadma Jena / IPS

India, like other Asian countries, has focused its climate change adaptation strategies on rural and urban areas while neglecting the urban fringes, say experts

Military Fostering Wide Range of Innovative Energy Solutions

Margaret Ryan / AOL Energy

The U.S. military can jump-start commercialization of energy innovations by serving as a test bed for new ideas, top Department of Defense officials say.

Obama: US and China will co-ordinate response to North Korea rocket launch

Justin McCurry / The Guardian

The US and China have agreed to co-ordinate their response if North Korea goes through with a planned rocket launch next month, a day after Barack Obama urged Beijing to use its influence to rein in its unpredictable ally.

Iran nuclear talks likely next month: diplomats

Reuters

Iran and six world powers are expected to resume in the next few weeks long-stalled talks about the Islamic state’s disputed nuclear program, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.

US imposes sanctions on Iranian firms, officials

AP

The U.S. has hit two Iranian companies with sanctions for helping Iranian special forces export arms. Tuesday’s action also penalized a Nigerian shipping agent and three members of Iran’s hardline Quds Force.

Economic talks open Arab League meeting in Iraq

Lara Jakes and Qassim Abdul-Zahra / AP

Drought and uprisings are threatening to undermine the Middle East’s economy, Arab officials said Tuesday as they discussed plans to boost the region’s stability at the start of a key summit in Baghdad.

United front is needed to counter nuclear terrorism

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) / The Hill

Despite the partisanship that currently afflicts our nation’s politics, there is at least one issue that both Republicans and Democrats can agree on – the need to prevent terrorist groups from acquiring nuclear bomb-making materials.

On Our Flashpoint Blog

Check out the videos of yesterday’s event with Dr. Robert Gallucci on Iran here

Gold: Dr. Robert Gallucci: Iran has no reason for an enrichment program

Washington D.C., 25 March 2012- Today, Dr. Robert Gallucci, the former Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs and chief negotiator during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis, spoke and lead a discussion at an event sponsored by the American Security Project entitled, “The Iranian Nuclear Program: Status and Prospects.”  In conjunction with the event, the American Security Project also released a Fact Sheet on basic geo-political Iran facts, and a Fact Sheet on the most important U.S. legislation, executive orders, and pending legislation on to Iranian sanctions.

Holland: Why Germany has decided to turn off nuclear power

The German government surprised Europe by announcing the closure of its nuclear power program a year ago this week, immediately after the Fukushima disaster. Some have since reopened, but others never will. They all will be closed and permanently retired by 2022.

This seemed to many of us in the energy field like a rash decision, but it was not. In my conversations around Berlin this week, it has become clear that this was not a simple, snap decision in response to the Japanese tragedy. Anti-nuclear sentiment has a long history and broad support across society.

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

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