Matthew Berger

Matthew Berger writes for Inter Press Service.

Looming Partisan Shift Adds Urgency to Nuke Treaty

When U.S. President Barack Obama capped a flurry of activity on nuclear non-proliferation this spring by welcoming the largest gathering of world leaders ever in Washington for a Nuclear Security Summit, many experts hoped to see cascading effects that would lead to even further elimination of nuclear weapons. But progress has stalled since then, with … Continue reading “Looming Partisan Shift Adds Urgency to Nuke Treaty”

Cluster Bomb Ban to Become Law – Without US

Just over a year after it was opened for signature, an international treaty banning cluster bombs received the final two ratifications it needed to become international law Tuesday. Burkina Faso and Moldova ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions to much praise from human rights and victim advocacy groups. The treaty will become international law Aug. … Continue reading “Cluster Bomb Ban to Become Law – Without US”

New Defense Strategy Envisions Multiple Conflicts

A report [.pdf] and budget request from the U.S. Defense Department released Monday reveal both new and old priorities for President Barack Obama’s Pentagon. Strategically, the military recognizes new, non-traditional threats ranging from failed states to cyber-warfare to climate change. But there is little change in the military spending habits of the Obama Pentagon versus … Continue reading “New Defense Strategy Envisions Multiple Conflicts”

Rights Groups Urge UN to Rein in Congo Army

U.N.-supported military operations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have had an "unacceptable" cost for the civilian population, said a coalition of rights groups Tuesday. The call to action by the Congo Advocacy Coalition said 1,000 civilians have been killed, 7,000 women and girls have been raped, and nearly 900,000 people have been forced to … Continue reading “Rights Groups Urge UN to Rein in Congo Army”