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WMD and Nuclear Proliferation

WMD & Nuclear Proliferation

Weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including the dangers of nuclear and biological weapons proliferation, pose perhaps the gravest national security threat to the United States. CNAS continues to examine the threat of WMD posed by state actors – including Iran and North Korea – as well as non-state actors. CNAS also examines U.S. nonproliferation and arms control efforts, as well as other preventative and response plans for potential WMD attacks. 

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  • Iran Well Prepared for the Worst
    Type: News Item
    Source: Asia Times

    January 31, 2012 — In Asia Times, Patrick Cronin, the CNAS Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program, comments on the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz and its consequences on the global economy.

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  • U.S. Must Ensure Relations with India don’t Fracture over Iran
    Type: News Item
    Source: The Diplomat

    January 26, 2012 — In an op-ed for The Diplomat, CNAS Senior Advisor Richard Fontaine writes that the U.S. and India urgently need to seek ways to bridge their differences over Iran.

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  • Q&A With Colin H. Kahl on Dealing With Iran
    Type: News Item
    Source: Foreign Affairs

    January 18, 2012 — CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl responds to questions from readers, discussing Iran's nuclear program and possible responses by the Obama administration.

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  • On the Brink with Iran?
    Type: News Item
    Source: The Kojo Nnamdi Show - WAMU

    January 12, 2012 — CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl speaks with WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi about the potential threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran.

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  • U.S., China seen to prioritize stability in N.K.
    Type: News Item
    Source: The Korea Herald

    December 22, 2011 — CNAS Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program Patrick Cronin comments in The Korea Herald on the need for stability following the death of Kim Jong-il.

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  • North Korea Transition Binds Adversaries in Search for Calm
    Type: News Item
    Source: Bloomberg BusinessWeek

    December 20, 2011 — CNAS Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program Patrick Cronin discusses the implications of North Korea's short-range ballistic missile test following Kim Jong-il's death with Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

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  • North Korea's Likely Leader: Young And Untested
    Type: News Item
    Source: NPR

    December 19, 2011 — CNAS Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program Patrick Cronin talks with National Public Radio about the transition of power in North Korea following the death of Kim Jong-il.

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  • CNAS Experts Comment on the Death of Kim Jong Il
    Type: Press Release

    Washington, December 19, 2011 — Washington, December 19, 2011 - The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has the potential to trigger a new crisis on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia but could also portend a new opening in relations between the United States and North Korea. CNAS experts offered the following analysis.

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  • U.S. Ground Forces Face Biggest Cut
    Type: News Item
    Source: Defense News

    October 10, 2011 — CNAS experts John Nagl, David Barno, and Nora Bensahel comment in Defense News on how budget cuts are likely to affect Pentagon spending.

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  • Experts Optimistic at U.S. Biosecurity Outlook
    Type: News Item
    Source: BioPrepWatch.com

    October 6, 2011 — CNAS Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Richard J. Danzig comments in BioPrepWatch.com on the challenges that lay ahead in confronting a major biological attack.

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  • The Partnership
    The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb
    January 4, 2012 - 5:30pm - 8:30pm
    The W Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) cordially invites you to the book launch for The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by award-winning New York Times journalist Philip Taubman. RSVP here or call (202) 457-9427.

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  • Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity
    October 7, 2011 - 8:30am - 10:30am
    The Newseum's Knight Conference Center
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On October 7, 2011, CNAS released Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity at an event featuring a discussion with the report authors - LTG David W. Barno, USA (Ret.), Dr. Nora Bensahel and Travis Sharp - and leading defense and budget experts Gordon Adams and Tom Donnelly.

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  • Counterstrike
    Counterstrike: The Untold Story Of America's Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda
    September 8, 2011 - 5:30pm - 8:00pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel's Grand Ball Room
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) cordially invites you to the inaugural book release party for COUNTERSTRIKE: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against al Qaeda by acclaimed New York Times national security reporters and former CNAS Writers in Residence Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker.

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  • Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons
    July 28, 2011 - 10:30am - 12:00pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel's Grand Ball Room
    Washington, District of Columbia

    In 1995, the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo unleashed terror on the Tokyo subway system with a highly-publicized sarin gas attack. However, less is known about the group’s development of biological and chemical weapons and about their prior attacks using these weapons. 

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  • CNAS Fifth Annual Conference - June 2, 2011
    CNAS Fifth Annual Conference, "Risk and Reward: American Security in an Age of Uncertainty"
    June 2, 2011 - 9:00am - 7:30pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security's (CNAS) fifth annual conference took place in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 2, 2011. Download the conference program, watch the videos and read the transcripts online.

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  • The ROK-U.S. Alliance: Planning for the Future
    The ROK-U.S. Alliance: Planning for the Future
    December 15, 2010 - 9:00am - 8:00pm
    Shilla Hotel
    Seoul, Republic of Korea,

    The Center for a New American Security and the East Asia Institute in Seoul, Republic of Korea, co-hosted a conference in Seoul on the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance with a keynote address from President of the Naval War College Rear Admiral Phil Wisecup, USN, and General Walter L. Sharp, Commander, UNC/CFC/USF.

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  • Press Briefing: An Insider's Look at President Obama's Asia Trip
    October 29, 2010 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm
    Center for a New American Security
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On October 29, 2010, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) will hold an insider's press briefing on what to expect from President Obama's trip to India, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia.

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  • 150 Years of Amity & 50 Years of Alliance
    June 17, 2010 - 1:00pm - June 18, 2010 - 7:30pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    This two-day conference brought together leading Japanese and American policymakers and experts to examine the challenges and opportunities for the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance, and featured a keynote address by Akihisa Nagashima, Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense.

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  • CNAS 4th Annual Conference
    Shaping the Agenda: American National Security in the 21st Century
    June 10, 2010 - 1:30pm - 8:00pm
    Willard Intercontinental Hotel's Grand Ballroom
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) will hold its fourth annual conference, Shaping the Agenda: American National Security in the 21st Century, on June 10, 2010. The event will feature a keynote address by Michèle Flournoy, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and three expert panels discussing the most salient national security challenges America faces. 

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  • Preventing Biological Attacks
    April 16, 2010 - 11:30am - 12:30pm
    U.S. Capitol Visitor’s Center, Lower Level, Room SVC 210-212
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On Friday, April 16, 2010, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) will hold the second of three luncheon briefings to inform the public, members of Congress and their staffs on the potential risks and opportunities to prevent biological attacks, including biological terrorism, warfare and criminal acts using biological agents.

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  • Striking Iran’s Nuclear Program
    Date: 01/24/2012
    Media: Audio

    On NPR's "On Point"  with Tom Ashbrook, CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl discusses the threat of war with a nuclear-armed Iran.

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  • the partnership, nuclear weapons, philip taubman, cnas, atomic bomb
    Audio - The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb
    Date: 01/06/2012
    Media: Audio

    On Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a book launch for The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by award-winning journalist Philip Taubman. Taubman shed light on one of the most divisive security issues facing Washington today and told the story of the unlikely efforts of five key Cold War players to eliminate the nuclear arsenal they helped create. David Sanger, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, interviewed Taubman followed by Q&A with the audience. Download the podcast from the event here.

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  • center for a new american security, cnas, the partnership, philip taubman
    Video - The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb (Part I)
    Date: 01/06/2012
    Media: Video

    On Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a book launch for The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by award-winning journalist Philip Taubman. Taubman shed light on one of the most divisive security issues facing Washington today and told the story of the unlikely efforts of five key Cold War players to eliminate the nuclear arsenal they helped create. David Sanger, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, interviewed Taubman followed by Q&A with the audience. Watch Part I of the conversation here.

    | more |
  • center for a new american security, cnas, the partnership, philip taubman
    The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb (Part II)
    Date: 01/06/2012
    Media: Video

    On Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a book launch for The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by award-winning journalist Philip Taubman. Taubman shed light on one of the most divisive security issues facing Washington today and told the story of the unlikely efforts of five key Cold War players to eliminate the nuclear arsenal they helped create. David Sanger, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, interviewed Taubman followed by Q&A with the audience. Watch Part II of the conversation here.

    | more |
  • center for a new american security, cnas, the partnership, philip taubman
    The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb (Part III)
    Date: 01/06/2012
    Media: Video

    On Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a book launch for The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by award-winning journalist Philip Taubman. Taubman shed light on one of the most divisive security issues facing Washington today and told the story of the unlikely efforts of five key Cold War players to eliminate the nuclear arsenal they helped create. David Sanger, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, interviewed Taubman followed by Q&A with the audience. Watch Part III of the conversation here.

    | more |
  • philip taubman, david sanger, cnas, nuclear, proliferation, kissinger, WMD
    Photo - The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb
    Date: 01/05/2012
    Media: Photo

    On Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a book launch for The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by award-winning journalist Philip Taubman. Taubman shed light on one of the most divisive security issues facing Washington today and told the story of the unlikely efforts of five key Cold War players to eliminate the nuclear arsenal they helped create. David Sanger, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, interviewed Taubman followed by Q&A with the audience. View a photo slideshow from the event here. 

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  • Command Post, World, Police, TIME, Center for a New American Security
    Command Post: "Should The U.S. Military Be the World's Cop?"
    Date: 07/29/2011
    Media: Video

    Following World War II, perhaps it was inevitable that the U.S. military would be consigned to walking beats around the world like a neighborhood cop -- from Europe to Asia -- especially as the Cold War heated up. But now that the Cold War has been over for a generation, does it still fall to the U.S. to patrol the world's hotspots -- especially when that means that other, just as wealthy nations, might be getting a free ride? Your Battleland trooper debates the topic with John Nagl of the Center for a New American Security, along with Nora Bensahel, a military strategist now at CNAS, and retired Army lieutenant general Dave Barno.

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  • Aum Shinrikyo, terrorism, chemical weapons, biological weapons
    Video: Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons, Part One
    Date: 07/28/2011
    Media: Video

    On July 28, 2011, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a major report, Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons, with never-before documented information on the group and its operations. Part One of the report release event features Nathaniel Fick, Richard Danzig and Marc Sageman discussing Aum Shinrikyo as an organization and its turn to violence.

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  • Aum Shinrikyo, terrorism, chemical weapons, biological weapons
    Video: Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons, Part Two
    Date: 07/28/2011
    Media: Video

    On July 28, 2011, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a major report, Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons, with never-before documented information on the group and its operations. Part Two of the report release event features Richard Danzig discussing Aum's chemical and biological weapons and applications to today's threats.

    | more |
  • Aum Shinrikyo, terrorism, chemical weapons, biological weapons
    Video: Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons, Part Three
    Date: 07/28/2011
    Media: Video

    On July 28, 2011, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a major report, Aum Shinrikyo: Insights Into How Terrorists Develop Biological and Chemical Weapons, with never-before documented information on the group and its operations. Part Three of the report release event features Richard Danzig, Marc Sageman, Lloyd Hough and Terrance Leighton answering questions from the audience.

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  • David Asher
    Dr. David Asher
    Non-Resident Senior Fellow

    Dr. David Asher is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at CNAS, where he specializes in issues related to Asia, economics and security. 

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Dr. Nora Bensahel
    Dr. Nora Bensahel
    Deputy Director of Studies and Senior Fellow

    Nora Bensahel is Deputy Director of Studies and a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security.  She recently co-authored Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity.  Her other research interests include stability operations, counterinsurgency, civilian capacity for operations abroad, and coalition and alliance operations. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Security Studies Program at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, where she teaches M.A.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Dr. Victor Cha
    Senior Advisor and Korea Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies

    Victor Cha was named to the newly created Korea Chair at CSIS in May 2009. He is also a professor of government and director for Asian Studies at Georgetown University. From 2004 to 2007, he was director for Asian affairs at the White House, where he was responsible for coordinating U.S. policy for Japan, the two Koreas, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Island nations. He also served as U.S. deputy head of delegation to the Six-Party Talks and has acted as a senior consultant on East Asian security issues for different branches of the U.S. government.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Dr. Patrick Cronin
    Senior Advisor and Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program

    Patrick Cronin is a Senior Advisor and Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).  Previously, he was the Director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at National Defense University and has had a 25-year career inside government and academic research centers, spanning defense affairs, foreign policy, and development assistance.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • The Honorable Dr. Richard J. Danzig
    Chairman of the Board, Center for a New American Security

    Richard Danzig is Chairman of the Center for a New American Security, a Trustee of The RAND Corporation, a member of the Defense Policy Board and The President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, a director of Human Genome Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ) and a director of Saffron Hill Ventures (a European venture capital fund).

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Robert Leslie Deak
    Robert Leslie Deak
    Board of Directors, National Defense University

    Robert Leslie Deak is President and Chief Executive Officer of Bittachon Holdings, Inc, a firm based out of Rye, New York, that develops and manages companies in the United States and the broader Middle East. Previously, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American National Bank of New York from 1985 to 1991 and before that was President and CEO of Deak-Perera US, Inc., from 1973 to 1985.

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  • Peter deNeufville
    Peter B. deNeufville
    Chairman, Voltaix, LLC

    Peter deNeufville serves as Chairman of Voltaix, L.L.C., a manufacturer of chemical-vapor-deposition materials for the semiconductor and thin-film photovoltaic industries.  He is also a partner in DNAC, a New York-based merchant advisory firm.  He has helped finance and served as a director for a number of early-stage technology companies. 

    Mr. deNeufville is also active in national security and environmental issues.  He is a reserve officer in the U.S.

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  • Lieutenant General David A. Deptula (Ret.)
    Lieutenant General David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.)
    Chief Executive Officer, MAV6, LLC

    Lieutenant General David A. Deptula (Ret.) is a thought leader on defense, strategy, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).  He is now Chief Executive Officer for MAV6, LLC, a high technology company whose focus is providing situation awareness. A highly decorated military officer with over 3,000 hours (400 in combat) and multiple commands in the F-15, he transitioned from the U.S.

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  • Daniel Gearin
    Daniel Gearin
    Joseph S. Nye, Jr. National Security Research Intern

    Daniel Gearin was a Joseph S. Nye, Jr. National Security Research Intern at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), where he supported the Asia-Pacific Security team. Prior to joining CNAS, Daniel was a research fellow at the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.  He previously held internship positions at the National Defense University, the Brookings Institution, the United Nations Development Programme in Beijing, and the State Department.

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  • Zachary Hosford
    Zachary M. Hosford
    Research Associate

    Zachary Hosford is a Research Associate at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).  He previously served as both the Executive Assistant and the Special Assistant to the two co-founders of the organization, Kurt Campbell and Michèle Flournoy, as well as the Special Assistant to the current CEO, Nathaniel Fick.

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