RUSI Gulf Security News
25 August 2010
RUSI NEWS
RUSI Gulf Security News is taking a summer break and will return at the end of September. RUSI offers GSN readers its best wishes through Ramadan and on occasion of the forthcoming Eid Al Fitr.
GULF SECURITY
Bushehr/Nuclear Proliferation Dawn of Nuclear Age Breaks Over Bushehr Mark Thomas, RUSI The operational launch of Bushehr does not make Iran nuclear, in the conventional meaning of a nuclear armed state, but it will allow Tehran to justify an expansion of its uranium enrichment programme that will take it closer to achieving a break-out capability. And, it will change perceptions of Iran in the minds of policymakers in the region, spurning active nuclear policies throughout the Gulf and beyond. Full Article
Russia’s Fuelling a Risky Iranian Gambit Aurel Braun, The Globe and Mail Russia’s construction of a nuclear reactor in the Iranian city of Bushehr suddenly turned virulent this month when the Russians announced they would begin fuelling the mammoth reactor. It’s a decision likely to prove dangerous both in terms of substance and symbolism. Full Article
Kuwait Committee Quietly Formulating Nuclear Plans James Calderwood, The National While the UAE has charged ahead with its nuclear energy programme and Egypt and Jordan are not far behind, another Arab country is quietly putting in place the framework to make it the region’s fourth nuclear-powered state. Full Article
Defence Iran Starts Producing Missile-Launching Assault Boats Farhad Pouladi, AFP Iran said on Monday it has started mass production of two high-speed missile-launching assault boats for deployment along its coastline and around the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Full Article
Iran Unveils "Ambassador of Death" William Yong and Robert F. Worth, The New York Times Iran unveiled a long-range unmanned bomber on Sunday, termed the “Ambassador of Death” by President Ahmadinejad, in the latest of a series of announcements about new Iranian military advances as tensions rise over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iraq Conclusion of US Combat Mission in Iraq: Beginning of the End, or End of the Beginning? Mina Al-Oraibi, RUSI.org As the US government prepares for its 2011 withdrawal date from Iraq, the finishing post may be further than anticipated. Full Article
John D. Negroponte, Foreign Policy The US combat presence in Iraq is over, and it is likely all troops will be gone by the end of next year. But strong support will still be needed in the weeks and months to come, lest the country slip back into chaos and conflict. Full Article
IN OTHER RUSI PUBLICATIONS Analysis on the region in other RUSI Publications:
RUSI.org
RUSI Newsbrief (July 2010. Vo. 30, No.4)
RUSI Journal (Feb 2010, Vol.155, No.1)
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