Introducing The Vile Maxim
My book on nuclear terrorism has, and continues, to occupy a lot of my time. This blog used to have much more detailed posts, but alas the nuke terror stuff has intruded a tad.
I sometimes would have liked to write about other issues. To be sure this is my blog and I can do what I want with it, but it wouldn't be right to put stuff, say on Paul Krugman or something, that is outside of the topic here. Stuff like that doesn't really belong here.
I have therefore set up another blog called The Vile Maxim.
The Nuke Strategy Wonk blog will have a much higher priority than The Vile Maxim.
Sukhoi PAK FA T-50 First Test Flight Full Video
Russia has conducted the first flight test of the PAK FA or T-50 fifth generation fighter aircraft. The full video of the flight test is available here.
Global Security org has a useful short primer on the T-50.
Moscow claims that the T-50 is on a par with the US F-22 Raptor. Reports suggest that the global financial crisis has not unduly affected the Russian military-industrial complex; in fact external demand for Russian hardware is exceeding supply.
According to the primer,
...The new fighter is intended to be about the same size as the US F-35 JSF, with a primary air superiority mission and ground attack and reconnaissance being secondary missions...
...The aircraft was to feature a long combat radius, supersonic cruise speed, low radar cross section, supermaneuverability, and the ability to make short takeoffs and landings...
Thought I would just post this while I'm hangin' out for the 2010 QDR. It's due, like, right now.
I notice also that the US moved a step closer towards the sale of the M777 155m Howitzer to India, including the associated sophisticated fire support package. It is reported that the M777 will enhance India's ability to bring firepower to bear in difficult conditions and that it will also enhance interoperability with the US Army. Recently Indian and US ground forces engaged in their first joint maneuvers.
Interesting one two from Washington; big arms deal to Taiwan and this little deal on the side.
We notice the Taiwan deal, but I bet the PLA has also noticed the Howitzer. Oh, so has, surely, Pakistani Army HQ.
ABC Lateline And The Second North Korean Weapon Test
Oh, and by the way; I have just seen the interview with Mark Fitzpatrick, from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, on the 2nd North Korean nuke test.
That interview was terrible.
Why does Tony Jones persist with Fitzpatrick, a former State Department official?
What was especially galling was Jones' reference to Fitzpatrick's "sophisticated analysis."
Man, that BS had me switching to Footy Classified. At least they know what they speak of.
Washington’s Iran Bombing Talk Goes Bi-Partisan
Further to my post on the Iran and Syrian nuclear fronts below, an intriguing report has appeared in The New York Times on cognoscenti discussion on bombing Iran. The report states
… It is a frightening notion, but it is not just the trigger-happy Bush administration discussing — if only theoretically — the possibility of military action to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
Of course, no president or would-be president ever takes the military option off the table, and Barack Obama and John McCain are no exception.
What is significant is that inside Washington’s policy circles these days — in studies, commentaries, meetings, Congressional hearings and conferences — reasonable people from both parties are seriously examining the so-called military option, along with new diplomatic initiatives.
One of the most thorough discussions is in a report by the Washington-based Bipartisan Policy Center, founded by four former senators — the Republicans Robert Dole and Howard Baker and Democrats Tom Daschle and George Mitchell — to devise policy solutions both parties might embrace.…
Other figures mentioned here include Ashton Carter and Dennis Ross. You can see here that, in so far as national security and foreign policy are concerned, “change that you can believe in” means just going back to Bill Clinton and the centrist Reagan-lite Democratic Party that he created.
I would not even be surprised that, should Obama win, that on election night we will hear Fleetwood Mac’s Don’t Stop, Thinkin’ About Tomorrow…
But, seriously.
One thing that is interesting here is the Israel angle. How exactly would Israel launch an air attack? Through Saudi Arabia? Man that would please Osama no end. Through Turkey? That’s possible given the Phantom Alliance, but even Turkey might look askance at any request for Israeli attacks launched from Turkey.
From Iraq? That might just about kill the Status of Forces Agreement, and Washington does not want that. Then again, now would be the time to go through Iraq i.e. before a SOFA comes into force.
Does Israel have the munitions required to knock out Natanz and the associated mountain tunnel? The Massive Ordnance Penetrator is for the B-2.
I still believe that the purpose of an air campaign is to strike Iranian strategic facilities beyond just the nuclear energy infrastructure. I could not imagine Israel gaining assistance from any neighbouring state for the large number of sorties that would be required.
One point mentioned in the Times report is not accurate
… With Iran projected to produce enough fuel for a nuclear weapon by 2010…
Who is projecting that? What is being projected by some is that Iran would acquire a theoretical break-out capability by 2010 not that it would actually produce enough weapons-grade uranium by 2010; that’s a big difference and this is coming from a critic of the bombing talk.
In so far as the Iran nuclear file is concerned all this bombing talk is quiet counter-productive. The most important thing now is not uranium enrichment suspension, but rather getting Iran to adhere to the Additional Protocol. However, Iran won’t adhere to the AP because it wants to keep some of its centrifuge technology away from those who say that they may bomb it.
Symmetrical Nuclear Weapons PGs
Just a silly little observation. After Nixon's PG on nuclear strategy, NSDM-242, came Carter's PD59. Then we had Reagan NSDD-13. Then we had Clinton PDD-60 and then we had 'dubya's NSPD-14. So we get since Carter
Republican's: NSDD-13 and NSPD-14
Democrat's: PD-59 and PDD-60
You don't have to be a mathematician to appreciate the symmetry.
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Marko is also interested in philosophy, especially the theory of knowledge, and science, especially physics, and considers himself to work within the naturalist and enlightenment tradition. He is writing a book on nuclear terrorism.