For most people, writes Belfer Center Executive Director for Research Kevin Ryan, the story of Pat Tillman, the former professional football star who joined the Army after 9/11, ends with his tragic death and the ensuing controversy surrounding the Army’s handling of it. But for those who know Marie Tillman, Pat’s wife, and the Pat Tillman Foundation, the story does not end there. It continues in the same way it started – in selfless service to others.

The newsletter is a forum for discussing nuclera terrorism and actions to contribute to improved joint US-Russian assessment of the threat of nuclear terrorism.

This newsletter is a forum for discussing nuclear terrorism and actions to contribute to improved joint US-Russian assessment of the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Kevin Ryan is director of the U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism.

"In an effort to address this [nuclear terrorism] threat, the Belfer Center has teamed with other United States and Russian partners to form the U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism. The goal of the Initiative is to contribute to improved joint U.S.-Russian assessment of the threat of nuclear terrorism and concepts, strategy, and actions to prevent a successful nuclear attack by terrorists."

Kevin Ryan, senior fellow at the Belfer Center, notes that while many people have been discussing the resurgence in Russia's military strength and its threat to US security, its military power does not pose a threat to the United States. He says, "Military officials openly hype the notion of resurging Russian power, and some defense observers in Washington seem only too willing to start preparing for a return to Cold War conditions. But that would be a waste of the United States' time and money. Russia's military flexing is hollow, and its aggressive arms sales are doing little to rebuild the country's ability to compete with United States."

With the war in Iraq stretching past the five-year mark, experts weigh in on what has gone right, what has gone wrong, and lessons learned. Paul Kane, a Marine veteran of Iraq, writes of the “serious disconnect” between civilians and those who have served in uniform, while Meghan O’Sullivan, former deputy national security advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan, says that today “we have the right strategy in place — and it is making a difference on the ground.”

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev visited Harvard's John F. Kennedy School on December 4 and told an overflow crowd at the JFK Jr. Forum that the time has come to rejuvenate efforts to eliminate the danger from nuclear weapons and materials.

Brigadier General (ret) Kevin Ryan, senior fellow at the Belfer Center, examines the pros and cons of pausing the troop withdrawal in Iraq. It may be beneficial for the war in Iraq, he says, but could seriously complicate the conflict in Afghanistan for U.S. forces.

Time magazine has named Russian President Vladimir Putin its Person of the Year for 2007. Belfer Center experts Graham Allison and Brigadier General (ret.) Kevin Ryan weigh in on his selection.

Brigadier General (ret.) General Ryan examines the relationships that the U.S. has with both Russia and Georgia. He writes "it's certainly understandable and justified that the United States would consider its own national interests first when dealing with Georgia or Russia, but the truth is that the U.S. attitude toward the region too easily falls into the tired Cold War paradigm of "what is bad for Russia is good for the United States.'"