No Effect Seen on CW Disposal from Rumsfeld Exit

Efforts to eliminate the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile should not be hampered by the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, The Pueblo (Colo.) Chieftain reported yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 30).

Defense Undersecretary Kenneth Krieg has oversight over weapons disposal, and has supported the program.

While she does not foresee a major staffing shakeup under Rumsfeld’s anticipated successor, former CIA chief Robert Gates, one observer said Krieg might leave his job before the next presidential administration is chosen in 2008.

“People don’t like to be the last ones out,” said Irene Kornelly, a member of the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission.  “They just start jumping ship.  That’s going to be a problem.  When that happens, they’ll appoint an acting whatever, then you won’t get anything done unless Congress orders it.”

Commission member Ross Vincent of the Sierra Club said he would not expect the Pentagon to change the $150 million annual budget for construction of the weapons disposal facility at the Pueblo Chemical Depot.

“It’s remotely conceivable that out of this will come a change in budget priorities within the defense budget, where Congress says you’re no longer allowed to steal money from all these other programs to fund adventures overseas,” he said (John Norton, The Pueblo Chieftain, Nov. 9).

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