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Russia Unsure of Nuclear Holdings, Tenet Says
Russia might not have a complete accounting of its nuclear weapons and materials, according to the book released this week from former CIA Director George Tenet, the Washington Times reported (see GSN, April 13). Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, U.S. President George W. Bush conferred with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss al-Qaeda’s nuclear weapon ambitions, Tenet says in his book, “At the Center of the Storm.” The CIA had information suggesting that the terrorist network was trying to buy three Russian nuclear warheads. Bush “asked Putin point blank if Russia could account for all of its (nuclear) material,” says Tenet’s book. “Choosing his words carefully, the Russian president said he was confident he could account for everything — under his watch,” Tenet says, expressing concern over possible nuclear smuggling efforts shortly after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Tenet also discloses that his agency discussed with Russian intelligence officials the possibility of former Russian nuclear scientists working with al-Qaeda. The Russian officials “refused to delve into any matters related to the security of their nuclear facilities and nuclear weapons, including reports sourced to Russian officials concerning possible theft of Russian ‘suitcase nukes,’” Tenet says, referring to concerns in the mid-1990s that Russia was missing a number of portable nuclear warheads (see GSN, Oct. 27, 2004). Russia has publicly denied that any weapons are missing (Bill Gertz, Washington Times, May 2).
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