Military Balance 2009 - Press Coverage
- 29 Jan 2009 - - Stars and Stripes - Report: Violence could delay Afghan elections
Faltering security and rising Taliban violence throughout Afghanistan could delay elections planned for later this year and put the international mission here at risk of failure, according to a leading think tank.
In its annual publication, "The Military Balance," the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies warned that the war in Afghanistan is entering its most critical phase since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.
Those predictions come from the London-based International Institute
- 28 Jan 2009 - - Times - Taking a new tack with Iran
Mark Fitzpatrick, of the IISS think-tank in London, said that within a year Iran would have enough low-enriched uranium to make a weapon, if it then enriched the material further. He added that Iran had enough uranium in gaseous form to make 35 weapons.
- 28 Jan 2009 - - Fox News - Iran Capable of Producing Nuclear Bomb 'This Year'
Iran will have enough enriched uranium to make a single nuclear weapon later this year, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported on Tuesday.
The think tank made the prediction in its 'Military Balance 2009,' an annual assessment of global defense and military developments
- 28 Jan 2009 - - Daily Telegraph - Afghanistan enters 'critical period' as Nato's role is considered
"In Afghanistan, we are entering what is probably the most critical period since 2001," said John Chipman, the chief executive of the IISS. "Presidential elections are due to take place this year amid rising violence and with a government that is unable to exert its authority in the provinces. Against this background, there is a risk that it will not be possible to hold elections, or voter turnout may be below the minimum necessary for the ballot to be valid. The integrity of the whole international mission
- 28 Jan 2009 - - Daily Telegraph - Iran could have ability to build nuclear bomb by 2010, study warns
The International Institute for Strategic Studies has said Iran is months away from crossing a vital threshold which could put it on course to build a weapon.
Mark Fitzpatrick, the senior fellow for non-proliferation at the IISS, said: "This year, it's very likely that Iran will have produced enough low-enriched uranium which, if further enriched, could constitute enough fissile material for one nuclear weapon, if that is the route Iran so desires."
- 28 Jan 2009 - - Global Security Newswire - Iran Would Need One Year to Produce Bomb-Grade Uranium, Expert Says
Tehran insists it only intends to produce low-enriched uranium for use in civilian nuclear power plants. The United States and other Western powers have demanded that Iran halt its enrichment program because Tehran might continue enriching the uranium until it is suitable for use in a bomb, according to the International Institute of Strategic Studies.
"This year, it's very likely that Iran will have produced enough low-enriched uranium which, if further enriched, could constitute enough fissile material