The Russian government’s current bid for military hegemony in Asia and Europe has many hearts a-fluttering. In fact, the reporting on Russia seems more dramatic lately, and it is unclear whether this is a result of heightened threat perception in the US and Europe or increased aggressive posturing from Moscow.
President Obama became the first sitting President to chair a meeting of the U.N. Security Council today and used the occasion to push through an ambitious anti-nuclear proliferation resolution:
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council, with President Obama acting as chairman, unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday morning aimed at increasing deterrents for withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and decreasing the likelihood that a civilian nuclear program can be diverted toward the development of advanced weapons.
The resolution is aimed at ensuring full compliance with international arms agreements from countries like North Korea and Iran, which have either banned inspectors or severely limited their access. Mr. Obama said, though, that the resolution was not about singling out nations, but about ensuring that international agreements have real-world heft. “International law is not an empty promise, and treaties must be enforced,” Mr. Obama said.
The Obama administration hailed the resolution as a significant step forward. But officials said it was not binding, and would become so only if the Security Council required countries to take other steps, including making their nuclear exports subject to additional restrictions. Many countries have balked at that requirement, an indication of how difficult it may prove to toughen the treaty itself when it is up for review next year.
In their remarks following the resolution’s passage, both Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France expressed concern that the actions being taken against Iran and North Korea were not enough.
The British leader called on the council to consider “far tougher sanctions” against Iran.
As Obama continues his negotiations on nuclear weapons with the Russian government, he would do well to remember the mistakes made by American policy-makers who wished to drastically reduce the threat of nuclear weapons in the past. After World War II and the Truman administration’s use of atomic bombs in Japan, many Americans, awed by the power of the bomb to change the nature of war, pressed for policies that would reduce the risk of nuclear war.
The Alabama Public Service Commission recently approved a measure that would allow consumers to permit Alabama Power to install a device that would automatically cut off their air conditioners during peak usage times (when most people are at work anyway). The incentive is that consumers would save $20 on their November electric bills.
Although I think this is a good start towards providing consumers with greater flexibility and options as far as their electricity usage, it’s still way behind the times.
When I ran for the Alabama Public Service Commission in 2008, I learned a great deal about existing technology that would save power and dramatically cut utility bills.
Condoleezzaa Rice: “We’re not planning, or intending an attack on Iran.”
One of the key statements I picked up from Condi was this:
“Finally as to what we intend to do, when we have a carrier strike group into the Gulf…It’s simply to demonstrate that the US remains determined to defend it’s interests in the Gulf and the interests of it’s Allies. And that Congressman is a position that has been held by American Presidents going back 60 Years.”
60 years of some of the most horrific wars the world has ever seen? That is only the tip of the iceberg as far as what these policies have done to our reputation around the world. I’d highly recommend the books by Chalmers Johnson:
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