MEETING THE CHALLENGE: TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

• Author: Abrahamson, James L.

MEETING THE CHALLENGE: TIME IS RUNNING OUT www.bipartisanpolicy.org/sites/default/files/BPC%20Iran%20report%20final%20pdf.pdf

Senators Dan Coats and Charles Robb and General (ret.) Charles Wald

Prior to last year's presidential election, a task force of the Bipartisan Policy Center prepared a report, Meeting the Challenge, that suggested how the new administration might curtail Iran's nuclear and weapons programs. This September 2009 update by three of its authors, refreshes the earlier analysis and recommendations and warns that "Time is Running Out" for ensuring that Iran does not develop and perhaps proliferate nuclear weapons and technology and thereby disrupt energy markets, destabilize the Middle East, eradicate Israel, and assist international terrorism.

Though the earlier report recommended that negotiations follow laying the financial and military groundwork for stronger action prior to commencing negations, the authors accept President Obama's reversal of the order of events. Even so, they urge an accelerated timetable--about two months--for diplomatic progress. Predicting that by 2010 Iran will possess a nuclear weapon, a rocket capable of carrying it least 1,200 miles, and an improved air defense system using Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, the authors emphasize the likely necessity of strong...