Bush Signs Energy Bill with Mini-Nuke Funding
December 1, 2003 :: Newsday :: News
President Bush has signed legislation which includes research funding for low yield nuclear weapons—dubbed “mini-nukes” and billed for their capability to penetrate underground bunkers. Such weapons are essential for the U.S. to maintain a credible and usable nuclear arsenal, of value not only in deterring China and Russia but smaller ‘rogue’ states less easily categorized as rational actors. (Article, Link)
» Heritage Foundation’s Spencer: Learn to love the bomb
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons
“35 to 40” Nations with Nuclear Capabilities
October 30, 2003 :: Spacewar.com :: News
As many as 40 nations are estimated to have the capability to produce nuclear weapons, Chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Mohamed ElBaradei said in an interview. In context of calling for an updated and expanded version of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), ElBaradei noted that “under the current regime, there is nothing illicit for a non-nuclear state to conduct uranium-enriching activities…or even to possess military-grade nuclear material,” he said. If one of these countries should choose to break its commitments under the NPT, it “could produce a weapon in just a few months,” or just as easily transfer materials to terrorist groups.
ElBaradei’s call for increased treaty restrictions may have merit, but only goes so far. Efforts on this front, like those of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), should continue, but be accompanied by vigorous efforts toward deploying missile defenses to prepare for the event if and when treaty measures fail. American security must not depend upon mere parchment barriers. The proliferation of nuclear technology proceeds apace with the proliferation of ballistic missiles. The United States should cooperate with stemming wholesale proliferation, but simultaneously prepare for the perhaps inevitable possession of nuclear armed ballistic missiles by ‘rogue’ states and terrorist groups. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Proliferation
U.S. to Resume Vital Tritium Production
October 22, 2003 :: ABC News :: News
The production of Tritium, an important component to the American nuclear arsenal, on hold since 1988, will now resume. Because the hydrogen isotope decays over time (half life of 12 years), new Tritium must constantly replace the old to even maintain the nuclear stockpile in functioning condition. Despite complaints from disarmament enthusiasts, the Tennessee Watts Bar nuclear reactor has now resumed the production of this strategic material, however, an action essential to the future of American strategic operations. Were production to be further suspended, the U.S. would have had to dip into its five year reserve beginning in 2005.
The Watts Bar reactor is located in Spring City, TN, approximately 45 miles from the town of Oak Ridge, where part of the Manhattan Project (the U.S. atomic bomb program) was located. (Article, Link)
» Nuclear Regulation Commission Fact Sheet on Tritium
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Technology
Bush Pushes for New Generation of Smaller, Cleaner Nuclear Weapons
July 6, 2003 :: USA Today :: News
Coupled to the idea that defenses against nuclear attack are necessary is the idea that nuclear war is possible. A new, smaller and cleaner, generation of nuclear weapons weapons is necessary to a credible, because usable, deterrent. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Technology, Testing - American
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