The United States plans to decommission its MX ICBMs as part of an effort to reduce the number of deployed strategic warheads (U.S. Air Force photo). Bush Pushed for Nuclear Cuts, Rep. Says By David Ruppe Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — The White House pressed the U.S. Defense and Energy departments for three years to produce a plan to significantly reduce the estimated 10,000-warhead nuclear weapons stockpile, a senior Republican legislator said yesterday. The classified Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum, indicating the planned size and composition of U.S. nuclear forces in future years, only came through this year, leading to the June delivery to Congress of a required report on the details of the document (see GSN, June 4)...Full Story

U.S. Recovers German Reactor Fuel Under New Program, Plans to Help Convert Argentine Reactor By Mike Nartker Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON   — The United States this month received the first shipment of U.S.-origin spent fuel repatriated through the Global Threat Reduction Initiative, which seeks to recover U.S.- and Russian-origin fresh and spent nuclear fuel from research reactors around the world, the U.S. Energy Department announced this week (see GSN, July 21)...Full Story

Panama Pushes U.S. to Clean Up Chemical Weapons Panama is continuing to seek an agreement with the United States for the removal of a small number of U.S. World War II-era chemical munitions abandoned on San Jose Island, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 19, 2003)...Full Story

	Friday, August 13, 2004

Bush Pushed for Nuclear Cuts, Rep. Says By David Ruppe Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — The White House pressed the U.S. Defense and Energy departments for three years to produce a plan to significantly reduce the estimated 10,000-warhead nuclear weapons stockpile, a senior Republican legislator said yesterday. The classified Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum, indicating the planned size and composition of U.S. nuclear forces in future years, only came through this year, leading to the June delivery to Congress of a required report on the details of the document (see GSN, June 4). “The president asked for this report in 2001 and it was sent up [to the White House] two or three times and was sent back because it wasn’t done correctly,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Chairman David Hobson (R-Ohio), whose panel helps oversee the U.S. nuclear weapons complex.   The numbers of weapons to be retained were higher in earlier versions of the report, he said, adding that the final product “is a lot better, this is going in the right way.” A senior White House official confirmed a key detail of Hobson’s account, saying, “The DoD sent over the memo in January and in February it went back when the president indicated that he had some questions and a desire to do more,” meaning deeper cuts. The memorandum was returned to the White House in April, the official said. Hobson has advocated sharp cuts to U.S. nuclear weapons forces, arguing the current arsenal is “sized to fight the Soviet Union” (see GSN, Aug. 12). “After years of maintaining a nuclear stockpile sized for the Cold War, we are finally bringing the numbers down to a more realistic and responsible level,” he said. He praised President George W. Bush for pressing for the reductions. “The commitment that the president has made is good. … It may not be to the degree of where he wants to get right now, but it’s a lot better than where we are today,” he said. Bush did have some help from Congress, though, which last year froze some money for nuclear weapons research and development until the report was delivered to Capitol Hill. Numbers Classified Hobson criticized the administration, though, for not releasing the report to the public, which he suggested might clear up some misconceptions about U.S. nuclear weapons plans. “If they would ever put out the nuclear weapons stockpile report they [sent to Congress], I think it gives you a different perspective of a lot of the things that they’re doing. For some reason, they have chosen not to do that, but I think that’s a mistake,” he said. The Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration head Linton Brooks opaquely described the plan to reporters and in a publicly released letter to Congress in June, after sending the classified report to the Hill. Brooks said he could not disclose specific reduction numbers, but said the plan is to cut the nuclear weapons stockpile “almost in half.” He did not discuss any types of weapons that would be retained or substituted into the stockpile.  An analysis by the nongovernmental Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that United States has about 10,000 nuclear weapons, and the new plan would cut that number to around 6,100, suggesting which types of weapons would probably be cut. “For reasons of military security, those memoranda remain classified,” the White House official said. Redundancies Hobson, a former Air National Guardsman, suggested the Defense Department was reluctant to plan for steep cuts because of a natural inclination toward redundancy when it comes to security matters. When “they’ve got to have one thing, they [prefer to] have nine other things to make sure that the one works. That’s a problem,” he said at a conference hosted by the National Academy of Sciences. A Defense Department spokesperson in June referred all questions on the memorandum to the White House. The planned reductions also could have significant implications for Energy Department programs, according to Philip Coyle, the Pentagon’s former top testing official and a former associate director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. It could save money spent on the Y-12 weapons component plan at Oak Ridge Tenn., which he said, “needs more extensive facilities to remanufacture components for 10,000 weapons, than for only, say, 5,000, and those facilities are expensive,” said Coyle, now with the Center for Defense Information. Plans for a Modern Pit Facility for plutonium pit production could also be scaled back, as “dealing with an aging stockpile of 10,000 weapons is more demanding than with, say, 5,000 weapons.” While some might view these developments as positive, Coyle said, "Other people see it as bad news in that lower stockpile numbers could mean lower budgets for the nuclear weapons complex overall, with everybody in the complex including the labs losing." Brooks, in his unclassified letter to Congress, wrote that the planned reductions would require increasing investments in the nuclear weapons complex to prevent an erosion of U.S. nuclear deterrence capabilities.  Such investments he wrote would include continued planning for a new plutonium parts production facility, funding nuclear weapons research and development to “retain critical skills and to provide the United States with means to respond to new, unexpected, or emerging threats in a timely manner,” and shortening the preparation time estimated for resuming nuclear testing. Hobson yesterday argued that the nuclear weapons complex, with a $6.3 billion budget this fiscal year, does not need more money, but instead requires broad reforms to maintain the quality of U.S. nuclear deterrence. Problems he identified “are not solved by additional funding for the nuclear weapons complex, but rather by holding people and organizations accountable for their performance.” Back to top       U.S. Recovers German Reactor Fuel Under New Program, Plans to Help Convert Argentine Reactor By Mike Nartker Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON   — The United States this month received the first shipment of U.S.-origin spent fuel repatriated through the Global Threat Reduction Initiative, which seeks to recover U.S.- and Russian-origin fresh and spent nuclear fuel from research reactors around the world, the U.S. Energy Department announced this week (see GSN, July 21). In addition, the United States plans to work through the initiative to support the conversion of an Argentine research reactor to use low-enriched nuclear fuel instead of weapon-usable high-enriched fuel, a spokesman for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration told Global Security Newswire this week. On Aug. 5, the United States received 126 U.S.-origin spent fuel assemblies containing highly enriched and low-enriched uranium from three research reactors in Germany. The spent fuel will be stored at the Energy Department’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina until final plans are made for its disposal, the department said. “By accepting this material, particularly highly enriched uranium that could be used in nuclear weapons if it falls into the hands of terrorist groups, the Global Threat Reduction Initiative plays a key role in removing this material from international civilian commerce,” U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said in a statement released Tuesday.  “This program is vital to our nonproliferation efforts worldwide and I welcome the support of these efforts by Germany, a close partner of the U.S. in the effort to address the threat of proliferation,” he added. The German material was repatriated to the United States through the Energy Department’s “takeback” policy, which has been incorporated into the broader initiative. The policy allows foreign research reactors that use U.S.-origin fuel to return the spent material to the United States for storage and disposal if those reactors agree to shut down or convert to use low-enriched uranium. The Energy Department launched the initiative in May to help prevent terrorists from obtaining fresh and spent research reactor fuel, which could be used to develop crude nuclear or radiological weapons (see GSN, May 26). Under the initiative, the United States plans to recover all U.S.-origin research reactor spent fuel through the takeback policy within a decade. It will also work with Russia to repatriate all Russian-origin fresh highly enriched uranium fuel by the end of 2005 and accelerate and complete the return of all Russian-origin spent fuel by 2010 (see GSN, May 27). Since the initiative was launched, the United States has agreed to aid in the repatriation of Russian-origin spent fuel from a research reactor in Romania. NNSA spokesman Bryan Wilkes told GSN this week that the United States will also work through the initiative to recover U.S.-origin spent fuel from a 500-kilowatt research reactor in Argentina and to aid in the conversion of the reactor to LEU use. The effort was first mentioned in a July 9 notice published in the Federal Register. The RA-6 reactor is operated by the Argentine Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica and located at San Carlos de Bariloche. The reactor’s HEU core could be returned to the United States approximately one year after the material becomes spent, Wilkes said. He did not say, though, when the material would be returned. The cost of the repatriation is estimated at between $1.5 million to $2 million. Under an agreement reached with the United States described in the Federal Register notice, Argentina is set to recover and blend down to a lower enrichment level more than 7 kilograms of U.S.-origin highly enriched uranium provided to the country through the U.S. Cold War-era “Atoms for Peace” program. The material would then be converted into fuel for use in the RA-6 reactor and a second Argentine research reactor. Argentina wants to convert the RA-6 reactor and create the LEU fuel for its use by next year, Wilkes said, adding that Energy Department technicians would aid in the conversion. The United States has no “special concerns” over the security of the RA-6 reactor because it is covered by International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Wilkes said. He added that the reactor is “one of the last” research reactors abroad that has announced its willingness to convert to LEU use. “This project will contribute to our worldwide effort to eliminate the use of HEU in research reactors,” the National Nuclear Security Administration said in a written response to GSN. Earlier this month, the Energy Department came under fire from U.S. congressional auditors for delays in its efforts to convert research reactors abroad to use low-enriched uranium (see GSN, Aug. 2). According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, only 39 of the 105 reactors targeted by the department for conversion since the late 1970s have converted or are in the process of changing. The agency attributed the delay to conversion cost concerns by research reactor operators and technical difficulties the Energy Department has experienced in creating new types of LEU fuel. Back to top       South Korea Enlists Libya for Nuclear Diplomacy; Australia Called Within Range of Missile Strike South Korea yesterday asked Libya to help persuade North Korea to follow Tripoli’s example in abandoning its nuclear programs, Asia Africa Intelligence Wire reported (see GSN, Aug. 12). “Libya’s abandonment of its nuclear weapons development program is receiving a good appraisal from the international community. We hope this will be a good lesson for North Korea’s leadership,” Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Muhammad Sayyalah during a meeting in Seoul. “We also hope Libya will offer good advice when contacting North Korea,” he added. Sayyalah responded that a “good student” is as important as a “good teacher,” apparently implying that North Korea ought to modify its behavior, according to Ban spokesman Shin Bong-kil (BBC Monitoring/Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, Aug. 12). On an earlier visit to Japan this week, Sayyalah urged Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons drive, indicating that economic and security benefits would be linked to such a move, according to the Korea Times. “Now is the time for economic development, peace and security to be pursued,” Sayyalah said (Ryu Jin, Korea Times, Aug. 12). Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that the United States would help fund the removal and destruction of North Korea’s nuclear programs if Pyongyang agrees to a “totally irreversible” atomic dismantlement, Korea Times reported. “I think just as we did with Libya in helping to remove the burden it had with those programs, we would certainly help North Korea,” Powell said, adding that such an agreement would have to include Pyongyang’s acknowledgement and disposal of all nuclear programs, including any uranium enrichment activities. “So, if that was what they were willing to do, certainly the United States would be willing to assist with the cost of removal, destruction and total elimination of the programs,” Powell said. However, Powell said the United States would still not supply energy aid to Pyongyang as a means of ending the crisis. “Since other members of the six-party talks have said they would put something up front to assist North Korea with its fuel and energy needs, that should be enough,” he said. However, he said Washington would provide security guarantees to Pyongyang of “our lack of a hostile intent” and “our assertion and statement that we have no plans to invade or attack” the communist state (Ryu Jin, Korea Times, Aug. 13). Elsewhere, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today that North Korea is capable of targeting his country with a long-range missile, Reuters reported. “We believe they have developed a long-range missile that could go all the way from North Korea to the United States or, for that matter, here,” Downer said, ahead of an Aug. 17-18 visit to North Korea to discuss its nuclear ambitions. “They could fire a missile from North Korea to Sydney,” Downer said. Although Australia is not involved in six-party talks, Downer said its close alliance with the United States and diplomatic ties with North Korea, rare for a Western country, enabled it to take a role in mediating the crisis. “We’ve got to do what we can ... A regime like this should not be able to hold on to nuclear weapons,” said Downer. While in North Korea, Downer said he planned to meet with the premier, the head of the supreme parliament and the foreign minister. He added that he had discussed the visit with Powell and U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (Michelle Nichols, Reuters, Aug. 13). Downer also said he would tell the North Koreans that they must abandon any nuclear ambitions before receiving more aid from the West, the Associated Press reported. “The strategy this time is to say to them ‘Yes, you will get some aid, you will get some economic rewards but first of all you must dismantle your nuclear programs,’” Downer said. “They’ve got to understand that that’s going to be the sequencing of it this time around,” he added (Associated Press/San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 13). Back to top

United States to Increase Funding for Biological Nonproliferation Projects in Uzbekistan The United States has agreed to increase funding for joint projects conducted with Uzbekistan to help prevent biological weapons proliferation, Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov said yesterday (see GSN, July 16). Uzbekistan was informed of the U.S. decision to provide an additional $21 million during a recent visit by Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Norov said. Part of the money is set to be used to develop an infectious disease monitoring system, Norov said. In 2001, the United States pledged about $39 million for biological nonproliferation projects in Uzbekistan (Agence France-Presse/DefenseNews.com, Aug. 12). Back to top       Tests Find No Anthrax at U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka is set to reopen on Monday, nearly a week after an anthrax scare that officials say turned out to be a hoax, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Aug. 10). Tests on a suspicious powder received by mail Tuesday were negative for anthrax, embassy spokesman Chris Long said today. “The tests showed that there was no toxic substance,” Long said (Agence France-Presse, Aug. 13). Back to top

Panama Pushes U.S. to Clean Up Chemical Weapons Panama is continuing to seek an agreement with the United States for the removal of a small number of U.S. World War II-era chemical munitions abandoned on San Jose Island, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 19, 2003). “We cannot exempt the United States of its responsibilities,” said Panamanian Foreign Minister Harmondio Arias. “We don’t have chemical weapons. The ones that are on the island were left there by them,” he added. A government report on foreign relations says that contacts between Panama and the United States on the issue “have continued,” AP reported (Associated Press, Aug. 12). Back to top       Chemical Depot Investigating Improper Monitoring A contractor for the U.S. Army Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility yesterday announced it has been investigating monitoring irregularities for the past three weeks, according to officials at the Deseret Chemical Depot in Utah (see GSN, Aug. 5). EG&G Defense Materials Inc. concluded that an employee made improper adjustments to an Automatic Chemical Agent Monitoring System unit on July 16. “Initial review of independent monitoring equipment data has confirmed that there were no instances of chemical agent release from the plant,” the Army’s acting Site Project Manager Ted Ryba said in a prepared statement. EG&G discovered additional instances of possible monitoring irregularities, and its investigation continues. An employee of an EG&G subcontractor has been suspended during the examination. Meanwhile, EG&G has inspected all monitoring devices and taken other corrective actions, according to Deseret officials (Deseret Chemical Depot release, Aug. 12). Back to top       Chemical Agent Alarm Sounds at Aberdeen A chemical agent alarm sounded shortly before 5:30 a.m. yesterday in a drain station room at the Aberdeen Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Maryland, officials said (see GSN, June 29). Upon further investigation, officials detected a trace amount of mustard agent vapor in the room. However, the vapor did not escape the facility, according to a press release.  Subsequent monitoring indicated that the vapor has dissipated, according to the press statement (Aberdeen Chemical Agent Disposal Facility release, Aug. 12). Back to top

Russia to Discuss Concerns Over Thule Radar During St. Petersburg Meeting With Rumsfeld Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov is expected to express Moscow’s concerns over U.S. plans to upgrade an early warning radar system in Greenland during a meeting this weekend in St. Petersburg with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a Russian Defense Ministry official said yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 10). Last week, the United States, Greenland and Denmark signed an agreement to upgrade the Thule radar, which the United States wants to use in missile defense efforts. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said this week that the radar would be aimed mostly at monitoring Russian ICBM launches, according to the Moscow Times.  “Russia can’t help being concerned,”, the Russian Defense Ministry official said. “These actions directly affect Russia’s security interests,” the official added (Moscow Times, Aug. 13). Back to top       First PAC-3 International Sale Nears Completion The first international sale of the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missile (PAC-3) is expected to take place before the end of the year, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. (see GSN, March 19). The Netherlands has agreed to a $33.9 million preliminary contract with the company to upgrade the country’s existing Patriot systems so they can fire the PAC-3, according to Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. The Dutch parliament was asked in February to approve the purchase of 32 PAC-3 missiles. Purchase of the upgraded missiles and related equipment “aims to improve the defense against ballistic missiles and cruise missiles with nuclear, biological or chemical payloads,” the Dutch Defense Ministry announced on its Web site. Japan and Taiwan are likely to announce missile orders in early 2005, with Germany, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also looking at the PAC-3, according to a Lockheed Martin source (Marc Selinger, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, Aug. 13).   Back to top

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