Federation of American Scientists: Conversation With An Expert

Syria has one of the most sophisticated chemical weapons programs in the world, and is suspected to have an active biological weapons program. Additionally, there are reports that Syrian rebels have acquired MANPADS, which are surface-to-air missiles fired by an individual or a small team. In a new video edition of the FAS series "A Conversation with an Expert," Mr. Charles Blair, Senior Fellow on State and Non-State Threats, and Mr. Matt Schroeder, Director of the Arms Sales Monitoring Project, discuss the crisis in Syria and the implications of rebels acquiring and using chemical weapons and MANPADS.

This week, FAS released a new issue brief, "Sanctions and Nonproliferation in North Korea and Iran," co-authored by Mr. Daniel Wertz, Program Officer at the National Committee on North Korea, and Dr. Ali Vaez, former Director of the Iran Project at FAS, which offers a comparative analysis of U.S. policy towards Iran and North Korea. Sanctions have played a major role in U.S. efforts for the denuclearization in Iran and North Korea. U.S. policymakers have had to find a balance between concerns over proliferation and other undesirable policies; between taking coercive action and considering humanitarian needs; and between taking immediate unilateral measures and seeking to build coalitions for a multilateral approach. In a new edition of the FAS podcast series, "A Conversation with an Expert," co-author Daniel Wertz discusses the similarities and differences in sanctions against North Korea and Iran, the relationship between U.S. and UN sanctions, and China’s role as a trading partner with both countries.

The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit is currently underway in Seoul, South Korea, where 53 heads of state and international organizations have come together to discuss international cooperative measures to protect nuclear materials and facilities from terrorist groups. The Nuclear Security Summit comes at a critical juncture. Global terrorist attacks have prompted concerns about nuclear terrorism, and many states may continue to shop for nuclear reactors to meet their energy supply needs, despite the horrific incident at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Against this backdrop, world leaders are charged with the difficult task of agreeing on measures that will secure vulnerable materials around the world. In this podcast, FAS President Dr. Charles Ferguson discusses policies implemented as a result of the first summit in 2010, the significance of South Korea hosting the summit and main goals of the 2012 summit. Additionally, Dr. Ferguson discusses the security of radioactive materials, which was the subject of a new paper released in March 2012.

March 11th marks the one year anniversary of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck the northeast coast of Japan. These natural disasters resulted in the crisis at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant. One year later, there are massive amounts of nuclear waste and high levels of radiation, and those citizens who live near the plant have not been able to return to their homes. As a result of this crisis, many questions still remain. What is the future of nuclear power usage not only for Japan, but other countries such as the United States, South Korea, Germany and China? How should Japan properly dispose of the radioactive waste as a result of this accident? Finally, what should Japan's new energy policy look like post-Fukushima? FAS President Dr. Charles D. Ferguson answers these questions, and examines the safety of U.S. nuclear power plants post-Fukusima.

Topics discussed include: the attitude of the United States toward Chinese nuclear arsenals, the recent report regarding China's increasing nuclear forces in The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists and opinions regarding the recent study conducted by Georgetown University students on China's nuclear forces.

Topics discussed include: the recent IAEA report on Iran (released November 8, 2011), history of Iran's relationship with IAEA and Iranian public opinion regarding nuclear pursuits.

Topics discussed include: sustainable housing, water security and clean energy investments.

In the second installment of this series, Dr. Norris discusses obstacles to the implementation of the Obama Administration's Nuclear Posture Review (NPR). After twenty years since the end of the Cold War, how far down the path are we toward a nuclear weapons free world? Despite President Obama's goal of eventual nuclear disarmament, Dr. Norris explains why the latest effort to alter the role of nuclear weapons--a necessity if we seek to eliminate them--is likely to falter.

Listen to a new edition of the FAS Podcast: "A Conversation With An Expert," featuring Director of Learning Technologies Program at FAS, Dr. Melanie Stegman. Topics discussed include: history of the Learning Technologies Program at FAS, the benefits of using technology such as video games in education, and suggestions for tools teachers can use to enhance comprehension of STEM topics in curriculum.

Listen to a special edition of FAS Podcast "A Conversation with an Expert," featuring Los Alamos native Charles P. Blair (FAS Director of Terrorism Analysis Project) interviewing Dr. Robert Standish Norris, Senior Fellow for Nuclear Policy at FAS. In the first installment of this series, Dr. Norris discusses the personalities behind the Manhattan Project, the lasting lessons from the atomic bombings ending World War II and President Obama's Nuclear Posture Review.

Listen to a new edition of the FAS Podcast: "A Conversation With An Expert," featuring FAS President Dr. Charles Ferguson. Topics discussed include the anniversary of Hiroshima, current state of nuclear security, the threat of nuclear terrorism to the international community and the Fukushima disaster in Japan.

Listen to a new edition of the FAS Podcast: "A Conversation With An Expert," featuring FAS Member, Dr. Pierce Corden. Topics discussed include the current prospects for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), an assessment of Sen. Jon Kyl's recent statement about the CTBT, what we can expect to see in the future from the Obama Administration and Congress on the CTBT, and much more!

Listen to a new edition of the FAS Podcast: "A Conversation With An Expert," featuring Steve Aftergood. Topics discussed include the release of records by Wikileaks, the consequences of this release, the other major government secrecy issues in 2010, the Fundamental Classification Guidance Review, and much more!

Listen to a new edition of the FAS Podcast: "A Conversation With An Expert," featuring Dr. Charles Ferguson. Topics discussed include an overview of his presentation at the 9th annual South Korea-United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues, the role of civil society in the nuclear disarmament effort, how the recent U.S. political developments affect future international arms control treaties, the way forward for civil society in the debate surrounding nuclear security, and much more!

Listen to a new edition of the FAS Podcast: A Conversation With An Expert, featuring Ms. Ivanka Barzashka and Dr. Ivan Oelrich, FAS experts on Iran. Topics discussed include an overview of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West over the last year, the differences between FAS analysis and the points of view put forward by others in the NGO community and mainstream media, the biggest common misconception about the fuel deal, and much more!