U.S. President George W. Bush has nominated former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik as the new Homeland Security secretary (AFP photo/Brendan Smialowski). Bush Nominates Former New York Police Commissioner as Homeland Security Secretary By Joe Fiorill Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — U.S. President George W. Bush today nominated former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik as secretary of the Homeland Security Department (see GSN, Dec. 1). As the head of the largest city police department in the United States, Kerik was a key figure in New York’s response to the Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda attack and its aftermath, as well as the city’s handling of the anthrax mailings of October 2001. After subsequently stepping down from his police post, he was sent by Bush to Iraq to oversee development of domestic security forces...Full Story

Iran Reportedly Bought Nuclear Weapon-Related Metal Iran has purchased large quantities of beryllium, a metallic element with a range of civilian uses that can also be used as a catalyst for a nuclear explosion, Reuters reported today (see GSN, Dec. 2)...Full Story

Libya, Albania Receive Deadline Extensions for Chemical Weapons Destruction By Chris Schneidmiller Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — Albania and Libya were granted extensions of the intermediate deadlines for the destruction of their Category 1 chemical weapons this week during a meeting of Chemical Weapons Convention parties (see GSN, Dec. 2)...Full Story

	Friday, December 3, 2004

Bush to Press for Approval of Intelligence Bill U.S. President George W. Bush is set to send a letter to congressional leaders today expressing his support for the stalled national intelligence reform bill and asking the House of Representatives to approve the measure next week, according to the Washington Post (see GSN, Dec. 1). The letter is expected to say that the compromise bill prepared by House and Senate negotiators would maintain the existing powers of the defense secretary in the intelligence community, according to congressional and administration sources. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) cited such concerns in his opposition to the bill, which last month helped derail chances for a vote on the legislation. The letter is also expected to address the concerns of House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), who has called for the inclusion of several provisions related to law enforcement and illegal immigration in the compromise bill, according to the Post. In his letter, Bush will support several of the provisions, but agree that some of more controversial proposals should be handled separately from the intelligence reform bill, sources said. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers said yesterday that he now supports the compromise bill, saying it addressed his previous concerns over the creation of a national intelligence director, the Post reported. During House-Senate negotiations on the bill, Myers sent a letter to Hunter expressing his support for the legislation passed by the House. Myers wrote that the House bill would have adequately preserved the defense secretary’s control over intelligence funding. “The issue that I commented on, I understand, has been worked satisfactorily in the conference report,” Myers said (Pincus/Ricks, Washington Post, Dec. 3). Back to top

China Criticizes Recent U.S. Sanctions China yesterday criticized sanctions imposed this week by the United States on four Chinese entities for allegedly aiding Iran’s WMD and ballistic missile programs (see GSN, Dec. 1). “If there are certain violations of Chinese companies and individuals, we will punish them according to law. However, in the meantime, we oppose other countries citing their domestic laws to impose sanctions on Chinese companies,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said. “We hope the U.S. side can start from our cooperation on nonproliferation in other fields and not impose sanctions citing domestic laws,” she said. The United States is pressing China to develop export control regulations and to enforce them in “a robust and systematic way,” said State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli. “There are unrepentant proliferators out there and it’s going to require a concerted, sustained effort to fight them,” he said (Agence France-Presse/Borneo Bulletin, Dec. 2). Back to top       United Kingdom to Spend More than $200 Million Next Year on Antiterrorism Measures The United Kingdom plans to spend more than $200 million next year on antiterrorism measures, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 4). The funding includes spending to improve security at British airports and seaports, to train firefighters in responding to WMD attacks, and to purchase public decontamination equipment and new WMD protective suits for first responders, according to the London Independent. About half of the funding announced yesterday, however, has been previously announced in past spending reviews, the Independent reported (Jason Bennetto, London Independent, Dec. 3). Back to top

Iran Reportedly Bought Nuclear Weapon-Related Metal Iran has purchased large quantities of beryllium, a metallic element with a range of civilian uses that can also be used as a catalyst for a nuclear explosion, Reuters reported today (see GSN, Dec. 2). Iran bought “huge amounts of beryllium from a number of countries,” said one non-U.S. diplomat, citing intelligence gathered by his country. Other diplomats and one U.S. official said they had intelligence Tehran had acquired and worked with beryllium. They added that International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei was aware of the situation but had withheld the information from his agency’s Board of Governors. The board this week refrained from referring Iran’s nuclear work to the U.N. Security Council. Iran’s beryllium work was mentioned in an early draft of the agency’s September inspections report on Iran but was removed when Iran objected, according to a three-page memorandum delivered to Reuters by a non-U.S. diplomat “This early draft contained issues that later were not included in the final report, such as the beryllium issue, which was omitted after negotiations between the Iranians and ElBaradei,” the document said, citing sources with “proven access” inside the agency. Other diplomats confirmed the deletion. The information was also omitted from the agency’s November report, according to Reuters. ElBaradei’s efforts to serve another term as IAEA chief could be damaged if it is determined he knew of Iran’s beryllium work, according to Reuters. IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said many issues that are later excluded from the final report are included in initial drafts. “There are all kinds of technical details in first drafts which are later removed. That’s part of the drafting process,” she said (Louis Charbonneau, Reuters/Yahoo!News, Dec. 3). Meanwhile, Iran may be hiding sensitive equipment from the U.N. agency by restricting access to certain sites and withholding key information, diplomats told the Associated Press yesterday. Tehran in October provided only a partial inventory of components used at the suspected military site of Lavizan-Shian and has ignored a request by the agency for a complete list, the diplomats said. The inventories document purchases by Iran’s military-run Physics Research Center, they said. There is also concern that nuclear equipment missing from the Lavizan complex could have been taken to a nearby site, the diplomats added (George Jahn, Associated Press/Miami Herald, Dec. 3). The United States yesterday slammed Iran for not allowing IAEA inspectors to visit suspect sites, Agence France-Presse reported. “We expect Iran to provide prompt and unrestricted access to the International Atomic Energy Agency,” said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. “If Iran truly has nothing to hide, one would expect them not only to comply, but to do so with gusto,” he said (Agence France-Presse/SpaceWar.com, Dec. 2) U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday that Iran is “making a lot of mistakes” and that President George W. Bush and leaders of other nations would decide what steps to take to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons (Agence France-Presse/SpaceWar.com, Dec. 3). Iran’s suspension of uranium enrichment is expected to last up to six months, former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said today, AFP reported. “The last word is after this period, which I do not assume will exceed six months ... we must seriously and firmly follow enrichment programs and use the very important advantages of nuclear technology,” he said (Agence France-Presse/SpaceWar.com, Dec. 3). Back to top       Sub Launch Shows China Has Boosted Nuclear Deterrent China has launched a new type of ballistic missile submarine that will give Beijing a second-strike nuclear capability for the first time, the Washington Times reported today (see GSN, June 3). The Type 094 boat was launched in July and is expected to carry a version of China’s DF-31 ballistic missile when the submarine becomes fully operational within the next two years, according to defense officials. With a range of about 7,500 miles, the submarine-launched missile would give China “a secure, second-strike nuclear attack capability that it will use to bolster is nuclear strategy of seeking to deter the United States from aiding Taiwan” after a Chinese attack, said Richard Fisher, vice president of the International Assessment and Strategy Center. China’s progress came much faster than U.S. intelligence assessments predicted, the Times reported. A Defense Department report released in May said the new submarine would not be deployed until about 2010, and a 1999 Defense Intelligence Agency report estimated a 2020 deployment date (Bill Gertz, Washington Times, Dec. 3). Back to top       North Korea Sending Signals of Possible Return to Nuclear Talks, Experts Say North Korea has indicated that it could resume stalled multilateral talks on its nuclear program, USA Today reported today (see GSN, Dec. 1). Senior North Korean, Chinese, Russian and South Korean officials this week told Donald Gregg, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, and Kenneth Quinones, a former State Department negotiator with North Korea, that Pyongyang has signaled its willingness to rejoin negotiations and has dropped demands for bilateral negotiations with Washington. “They have said flatly that they will come back to the (six-nation) talks and see the talks as the vehicle through which the nuclear crisis can be resolved,” Gregg said. Both Gregg and Quinones meet regularly with North Korean diplomats, according to USA Today. However, the North Koreans are first “looking for a face-saving gesture — a speech or visit of some kind that indicates that we are not into regime change,” said Donald Zagoria, director of a project that promotes nonofficial dialogue with North Korea for the National Committee on American Foreign Policy. “It could start with the new secretary of State assuring North Korea that the United States is ready to coexist” with the country, Quinones said (Barbara Slavin, USA Today, Dec. 3). Back to top       Los Alamos Scientists Train Ukrainian Counterparts U.S. scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory were in Ukraine in August and September to help scientists there improve radioactive material tracking methods, the Albuquerque Tribune reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 5). During their visit, the U.S. scientists taught their Ukrainian colleagues how to use new equipment capable of measuring different types of radioactive material, according to the Tribune. “This expertise helps in the same way that an accountant in a bank helps prevent theft by knowing how much money the bank expects to have,” said Los Alamos scientist Doug Reilly. “If you don’t account for your money in a bank, and somebody walks out with it, you probably won’t know it’s happened” (Sue Vorenberg, Albuquerque Tribune, Dec. 2). Back to top       U.S. Nuclear Laboratories Need More Security Improvements, Energy Department Finds U.S. nuclear weapon laboratories continue to need improvements to the ways they conduct national security-related activities, including the handling of secret information and aging nuclear weapon materials, according to report issued Tuesday by the Energy Department’s inspector general (see GSN, Sept. 23). A series of security lapses this year at Los Alamos National Laboratory, including losing track of two computer disks thought to hold classified data, spurred the report to focus on security improvements, the Associated Press reported. “The [Energy] Department must ensure that its most sensitive materials, facilities and information are secure and protected from hostile groups and countries,” the report says, urging the laboratories “to assure that laptop, desktop and related equipment are appropriately controlled and adequately safeguarded from loss or theft.” The report, entitled “Management Challenges at the Department of Energy,” also takes Los Alamos to task for slow progress on efforts to stabilize nuclear materials at the facility. “Unless the department and Los Alamos place a higher priority on stabilizing these materials, radioactive materials at the laboratory may continue to deteriorate, negatively impact the safety and health of workers and increase costs to stabilize these dangerous materials,” the report says (Associated Press, Dec. 3) Back to top

Vaccination With Anthrax Capsule Protects Mice Against Infection, Researchers Find Capsule anthrax vaccines containing a disease-causing component of the bacterium protected laboratory mice from lethal anthrax infection, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Fort Detrick, Md., announced this week (see GSN, Dec. 2). The capsule enhanced the effects of protective antigen, the protective component of the current licensed human vaccine, according to the study, recently published in the journal Vaccine. Scientists believe the effectiveness of the current vaccine is based on the presence of protective antigen, according to the press release. The study provides the first definitive proof that the anthrax capsule plays a role in supporting protection, according to senior author Arthur Friedlander. The next step would be testing in other animal models, he said (U.S. State Department release, Dec. 2). Back to top

Libya, Albania Receive Deadline Extensions for Chemical Weapons Destruction By Chris Schneidmiller Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — Albania and Libya were granted extensions of the intermediate deadlines for the destruction of their Category 1 chemical weapons this week during a meeting of Chemical Weapons Convention parties (see GSN, Dec. 2). The four-day summit ended yesterday in The Hague. Under guidelines for the 1993 treaty, all member states with declared chemical weapons stockpiles are required to have destroyed 1 percent of their munitions by 2000, 20 percent by 2002 and 45 percent by 2004. Nations can request extensions; the United States, Russia and another unidentified state party last year received extra time to destroy 45 percent of their weapons. Albania and Libya have only declared their chemical arsenals since late 2003, meaning they would miss all three deadlines, said Peter Kaiser, spokesman for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.  “It was clear that an extension of the intermediate deadlines would be required,” he said. The two countries now have until March 2005 to submit detailed plans for chemical weapons destruction, including dates at which they expect to reach the milestones, Kaiser said. Both Albania and Libya have pledged to meet the final deadline for destruction of their Category 1 chemical weapons by April 29, 2007, according to an OPCW press release. Treaty states also approved during the conference a plan for verification of chemical weapons destruction at the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Indiana. A fiscal 2005 program and budget of $101 million were also approved for the treaty secretariat. Half of the budgeted funds are allocated to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s verification regime, according to the press release. Back to top       Umatilla Depot Suspends Chemical Disposal Operations to Investigate Procedural Incident The Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Oregon halted agent destruction work yesterday after two workers unclamped a door inside one of the plant’s filter units, allowing a small amount of chemical agent vapor to drift into an adjacent room, the U.S. Army announced (see GSN, Nov. 12). “Although the door was not opened, unclamping it allowed agent vapor to migrate into the adjacent room,” Steve Kirkendall, Umatilla plant manager for contractor Washington Group International, said in a press release. The employees were not exposed to chemical agent and safety controls in the second room blocked the agent from spreading further, according to the press release. Washington Group is expected to complete a project management review before agent operations can resume (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency release, Dec. 2). Back to top

Iran Developing Longer-Range Missiles, U.S. Says The United States has intercepted technology shipments that have increased Washington’s belief that Iran is developing a ballistic missile with a range that could reach the United States, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Nov. 30). Iran through the end of 2003 had received missile equipment, technology and expertise from North Korea, China and parts of the former Soviet Union, according to an intelligence report to Congress this week.  The report says Iran, while working to improve its existing capabilities, is “also pursuing longer-range ballistic missiles” (Barry Schweid, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Dec. 3). An Iranian exile group alleged yesterday that Iran is developing nuclear and chemical warheads and missiles that could reach European capitals, Reuters reported. The National Council of Resistance of Iran, at times a source for accurate information on Iran’s nuclear efforts, said Tehran was developing missiles with a range of 1,600 to 1,900 miles. The group said Iran was carrying out research, testing and production of the Ghadr 101 and Ghadr 110 missiles at the Hemmat Missile Industries Complex. “Militarily speaking, by obtaining long-range and medium-range missiles, the clerics are trying to put many regions of the world, including all of Europe, within their range,” said Ali Safavi, a member of the group, adding that Iran’s Shahid Karimi Industrial Group is working to develop nuclear and chemical warheads (Madeline Chambers, Reuters, Dec. 2). Back to top       Japan Reportedly to Consider Long-Range Missile Japan is reportedly preparing to study the development of a long-range surface-to-surface missile, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, Nov. 22). The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japanese Defense Agency plans to consider development of the new missile “as a measure to counter a possible invasion on a remote island several hundred kilometers (miles) away from mainland Japan,” AFP reported. The newspaper cited defense officials as expressing concern over the increasing presence of Chinese and North Korean ships off the coast of Japan, according to AFP. Japan now has only missiles capable of hitting targets in the air or sea, and is constitutionally only allowed to use the weapons if attacked, according to AFP (Agence France-Presse, Dec. 3). Back to top

Bush Nominates Former New York Police Commissioner as Homeland Security Secretary By Joe Fiorill Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — U.S. President George W. Bush today nominated former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik as secretary of the Homeland Security Department (see GSN, Dec. 1). As the head of the largest city police department in the United States, Kerik was a key figure in New York’s response to the Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda attack and its aftermath, as well as the city’s handling of the anthrax mailings of October 2001. After subsequently stepping down from his police post, he was sent by Bush to Iraq to oversee development of domestic security forces. If confirmed by the Senate, Kerik would become the second leader of the young department, which has been headed by Secretary Tom Ridge since its inception in March 2003. Ridge announced Tuesday that he was stepping down to spend more time with his family. Appearing today with Bush, Kerik praised Ridge’s leadership, saying, “Our nation is truly safer because of Secretary Ridge and his tireless efforts.” Kerik would inherit numerous difficulties that have developed as Ridge oversaw the largest federal-government reorganization in half a century. Bush’s announcement comes just a day after a semiannual report to Congress by Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General indicated continuing problems in areas such as airport screening, visas, terrorist watch lists and uranium smuggling. “It is critical,” Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin wrote Ridge in a letter accompanying the summary of recent publications by the office, “that our recommendations in these reports be carried out as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible, so as to assure the American people that the department is doing everything within its power to keep the nation safe.” Change Could Favor Cities, Worry States The bid to replace Ridge, a former Pennsylvania governor, with ex-city police chief Kerik raises the possibility of a shift in allegiances at Homeland Security, where grant-giving practices have spurred squabbles between state- and local-level officials seeking more control over antiterrorism funds (see GSN, July 23). Under Ridge, Homeland Security has generally upheld the primacy of states in determining antiterrorism policy and controlling spending. Signaling a possible difference between the secretary and his potential replacement, both Bush and Kerik alluded to the latter’s special relationship with local government, in particular police and other emergency personnel. “Every first responder defending our homeland will have a faithful ally in Bernie Kerik,” Bush said today. Moments later, Kerik directly addressed the country’s emergency responders, telling them, “I look forward to the opportunity to join with you in protecting the nation we all love.” Kerik’s nomination will please cities and could cause concern among states, Heritage Foundation homeland-security expert James Carafano said today in an interview. “One of the tough things about homeland security is there’s so many stakeholders and so many people with constituencies that it would be almost impossible to please them all,” Carafano said. “The governors were very comfortable with Ridge, because he was one of their own.” Nevertheless, Carafano said, “I think the basic strategies are going to remain the same and the basic programs are going to remain the same.” One area in which Kerik could become a newly prominent voice is the highly charged area of intelligence reform, with which Congress is now grappling in preparing controversial legislation (see GSN, Dec. 1). Testifying May 18 before the federal Sept. 11 commission, Kerik offered a brief list of “lessons learned” from the response to the 2001 attack, including a recommendation for a “culture change” in the use of intelligence for terrorism preparedness. “Success in securing our homeland requires accurate and real-time intelligence that is shared with all the necessary stakeholders, whether they are at the local, state or federal level,” Kerik told the commission. “There must be an internal monitoring system that will ensure efficiency and accountability with regard to information-sharing and communications.” Kerik told the panel his department’s intelligence division, which he reorganized several months before the al-Qaeda attack, “would serve as a model to the federal government and others on creating a central clearinghouse for intelligence, taking every federal database and putting it into one centralized center.” “A culture change in intelligence and information-sharing is essential, and those that refuse to change must be removed,” he said. “There can be no compromise.” Early Congressional Reaction is Positive Key congressional Republicans and Democrats today praised Bush’s choice.  Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine), who said her panel would hold confirmation hearings on Kerik “as expeditiously as possible,” stressed the nominee’s affinity with emergency personnel. “No one understands better than Mr. Kerik the needs of our first responders, those who are on the front lines in the event of a terrorist attack,” Collins said in a statement. A spokeswoman for Collins’ Democratic counterpart on the committee, Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), called Kerik a “tough cop” but withheld a final judgment on the nomination. Lieberman “looks forward to examining Commissioner Kerik’s record in preparation for the nomination process, but his early judgment is that Kerik appears to be a good choice to lead the Homeland Security Department,” spokeswoman Leslie Phillips said.  “He was a tough cop who became a strong leader with experience in running large organizations, and he ably led the New York City police through one of the most difficult periods in its history.” House of Representatives Select Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Christopher Cox (R-Calif.) said in a statement that “there is no doubt that Bernie is a strong, no-nonsense manager who is intimately familiar with the homeland-security mission.” Carafano noted that Kerik has relatively little Washington experience and said he could face difficulties in early dealings with Congress and senior Bush administration officials. “He’s got to work very closely with some very powerful people — the attorney general and the secretary of defense. Compared to them, he doesn’t have the kind of inside-Washington experience,” Carafano said. However, Carafano said, Kerik is sufficiently qualified to manage the massive Homeland Security Department. “Anybody that’s run the New York City Police Department — I mean, that is a huge, complex organization,” Carafano said. “Quite frankly, he’s got a lot more management experience than a lot of [Cabinet] secretaries have had when they’ve walked on the job.” Back to top       U.S. to Issue “Dirty Bomb” Cleanup Guidelines The U.S. Homeland Security Department is expected before the end of the year to issue draft guidelines for cleaning an area following a “dirty bomb” attack, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 25). The latest draft of the document states that areas might have to be put off-limits permanently and “existing land uses may not be practicable” following the explosion of a radiological device. An earlier draft of the guidelines written last year detailed allowable radiation levels, according to AP, but the latest version says cleanup efforts should be guided by radiation benchmarks established by federal agencies and advisory groups such as the International Commission on Radiation Protection and the Health Physics Society. “They basically punted,” said Daniel Hirsch, head of an anti-nuclear advocacy group, Committee to Bridge the Gap. Those benchmarks allow for radiation levels above what is accepted over long periods at U.S. Superfund and nuclear waste sites and commercial reactors, nuclear watchdog groups said. That could increase the incidence of cancer for those exposed to the radiation, the organizations said. The guidelines are “not intended to define ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ levels of exposure or contamination” but represent “the approximate levels at which the associated protective actions are justified,” according to the most recently obtained draft. Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Don Jacks said he could not comment on the draft, saying the document could still change as it goes through the final approval process. After being issued, the guidelines must undergo a 60-day comment period, AP reported. “Trying to interpret (the guidelines) now is way ahead of the curve,” Jacks said (H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press/Seattle Post Intelligencer, Dec. 2). Meanwhile, Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Inc. is developing what would be the first approved drug for acute radiation sickness, Reuters reported yesterday. “If a major city were hit with a nuclear device, it has been estimated that close to a million people would be exposed to the radiation,” said Richard Hollis, the company’s chief executive. Neumune, the company’s experimental radiation sickness drug, seems to be effective in healing radiation injury, said Terry Pellmar, scientific director at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute. Extremely high radiation levels render it less effective, Reuters reported. Company representatives are scheduled to meet with U.S. regulators this month to discuss details for a final animal study of Neumune, according to Reuters. (Deena Beasley, Reuters, Dec. 2).   Back to top

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

© Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.