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)
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