Middle East & North Africa

A report on Iran's nuclear capabilities, released earlier in May 2009 by the EastWest Institute think tank, said that "with the components and technologies it now has, Iran could hypothetically build missiles with a range of 3,000km or more".

But the group said it would be at least another 10 to 15 years before Iran developed advanced intermediate-range ballistic missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles to carry nuclear warheads.

The EastWest Institute says Iran could build a nuclear weapon in one to three years, but it would take up to 15 to develop long-range technology that would pose a threat to the West.

A report by a group of Russian and American scientists and engineers at the EastWest Institute concludes that although Iran could build a nuclear device within one to three years of deciding to do so, it would not be able to deliver a long-range weapon for many more years. The scientists also say that a U.S. missile defense system being considered for Central Europe would be useless against an Iranian nuclear weapon.

Press TV - Tue, 19th May 2009 A new study by a US-based think tank questions the effectiveness of Washington's planned anti-missile defense system in Eastern Europe. "The Obama administration should conduct a serious technical review of the capabilities claimed for the proposed European missile defense system," said a study published by the New York-based EastWest Institute.

The study, "Iran's Nuclear and Missile Potential", both undermines the plans, proposed by former US President George W. Bush and the likelihood of an "imminent" attack from Iran.

A team of US and Russian technical experts want to put the kibosh on US plans for putting a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

There are two angles to this story: first, it's an important step in rebuilding relations with Russia -- or pushing the famous "reset" button -- which is a big step in itself. Second, it's part of a judicious and careful Obama opening to Iran, downgrading the alleged threat from that country, and boosting chances that the opening might succeed.

A team of U.S. and Russian scientists says deploying missile defenses in Eastern Europe would do little to protect against an attack from Iran. The report from the EastWest Institute says Iran is at least five years away from the technology needed to carry out such an attack, and the proposed U.S. shield "could not engage that missile." Washington Post, The (05/19)

EWI vice president Pal Sidhu appeared on Iran’s Press TV discussing security challenges the U.S. faces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among other topics, Sidhu discusses the eradication of poppy fields in Afghanistan, instability in Pakistan, and the prospects for regional approaches to ensure the stability of Southwest Asia.

Greg Austin suggested on Euronews, Europe’s leading international news channel, that NATO must invest in a “civilian surge” in Afghanistan, similar to the strategy under consideration in the U.S.

EWI's David Kilcullen, an influential military adviser to Western governments, on the possibility of negotiating with the Taliban.

An Australian counter-insurgency specialist who was a technical adviser to Washington on Iraq in 2005-08, Kilcullen was speaking on Wednesday on the sidelines of a conference hosted by the EastWest Institute security thinktank.

EWI's discussion on the Israeli conflict in Gaza with Mahmoud Labadi and Dror Ze'evi was translated by the Chinese magazine Caijing.

For the original English version click here