U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to soon issue several executive orders concerning intelligence reform, including increasing the authority of the CIA director (AFP photo/Luke Frazza). Bush Set to Boost CIA Chief’s Authority U.S. President George W. Bush is set to soon issue an executive order to strengthen the authority of the CIA director to much of the level envisioned for the planned national intelligence director, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, Aug. 26). The order, which is expected to be issued as today, would be intended to strengthen the oft-limited authority the CIA director is supposed to have over all U.S. intelligence agencies, according to senior U.S. officials. For example, the executive order is expected to direct the heads of the intelligence agencies, including those under the Defense Department, to allow the CIA director to exercise full authority on budgetary and other issues, according to the Times...Full Story

U.S., Russian Scientists Exploring Collaboration on Floating Nuclear Power Plants By Mike Nartker Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — U.S and Russian scientists are considering possible collaboration on the development of floating nuclear power plants, which could reduce proliferation concerns, the director of the U.S. Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico told Global Security Newswire this week (see GSN, June 22)...Full Story

Leaders Must Give Increased Priority to Nuclear Terrorism Threat in U.S., National Security Experts Say By David Ruppe Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — National security experts, including a prominent senator, have recently warned again that U.S. government leaders must give higher priority to addressing the potential threat of terrorists using a nuclear weapon...Full Story

	Friday, August 27, 2004

Bush Set to Boost CIA Chief’s Authority U.S. President George W. Bush is set to soon issue an executive order to strengthen the authority of the CIA director to much of the level envisioned for the planned national intelligence director, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, Aug. 26). The order, which is expected to be issued as today, would be intended to strengthen the oft-limited authority the CIA director is supposed to have over all U.S. intelligence agencies, according to senior U.S. officials. For example, the executive order is expected to direct the heads of the intelligence agencies, including those under the Defense Department, to allow the CIA director to exercise full authority on budgetary and other issues, according to the Times. In addition, Bush is expected to issue an executive order creating a National Counterterrorism Center that would have the authority to direct operations in a number of areas, including military and law enforcement affairs, the Times reported. Bush is also expected to issue an executive order intended to increase information sharing among intelligence agencies, officials said (Jehl/Shenon, New York Times, Aug. 27).  Some U.S. lawmakers are concerned that the planned executive orders are an attempt by the White House to block more sweeping intelligence reform, according to the Los Angeles Times. “This is the way it works,” a congressional official said. “They do it by executive order and tell Congress they don’t have to act” (Greg Miller, Los Angeles Times, Aug. 27). Back to top       Al-Qaeda Looks to Build WMD Bombs, U.N. Report Says Al-Qaeda is believed to be seeking “the means to construct bombs that would disperse chemical, biological or radiological pollutant,” according to a U.N. report released yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 19). “Al-Qaeda related groups have tried at least twice to buy the basic ingredients for a dirty bomb and a good deal of the necessary technical knowledge is available on the Internet,” says the report by a new team monitoring U.N. sanctions against the terrorist network and the Taliban. “There is real need therefore to try to design effective measures against this threat.” The report found that al-Qaeda’s attacks in Spain, Indonesia and Turkey, and on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, each cost less than $50,000. Only the Sept. 11, 2001 airline hijackings “required significant funding of over six figures,” the report says.  The team concluded that U.N. sanctions have had a “limited impact,” according to the Associated Press. While the Security Council has largely reacted to events, “al-Qaeda has shown great flexibility and adaptability in staying ahead of them” (Edith Lederer, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Aug. 27). Back to top       U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee Leaders Differ Over Pentagon Control of Intelligence Agencies By Mike Nartker Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — The leaders of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence this week offered differing proposals for how much control a new national intelligence director should have over those intelligence agencies controlled by the Defense Department (see GSN, Aug. 24). Senator Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.), the top Democrat on the committee, today proposed that during times of war, the planned national intelligence director and the defense secretary should be given equal roles in the management of the intelligence agencies controlled by the Pentagon — the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office. In the event of disputes between the two officials, the matter would be resolved by the National Security Council and the president. Rockefeller’s proposal was one of a number of intelligence reform measures outlined in a letter sent to Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Senator Joseph Lieberman (Conn.), the top Democrat on the committee. The Governmental Affairs Committee is responsible for preparing legislation implementing intelligence reform. In his letter, Rockefeller stressed the need to maintain a balance between national intelligence needs and the tactical intelligence requirements of battlefield commanders — a concern often raised by Pentagon officials during congressional hearings on intelligence reform held over the past several weeks.  “Striking this balance requires, as it does now, close coordination between the Pentagon and the intelligence community,” Rockefeller wrote. Rockefeller’s proposal contrasts sharply with one unveiled earlier this week by the Senate intelligence committee’s chairman, Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), who would transfer direct control of the NSA, NGA and the DIA human intelligence service from the Pentagon to a deputy national intelligence director (see GSN, Aug. 23). Unlike Rockefeller, Roberts has also proposed converting the three main directorates of the CIA into separate, independent agencies and placing them under the national intelligence director. Administration officials and lawmakers have met Roberts’ proposal with reactions ranging from cool to hostile. Sept. 11 commission Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton, however, said this week there are a “number of areas” of agreement between the panel and Roberts, such as the creation of national intelligence director with full budgetary and personnel authority. While there are some differences, Hamilton said in an interview with the Council on Foreign Relations, “they are matters of less importance, probably, than the things we agree on.” Rockefeller, who has been critical of Roberts’ proposal, reiterated his opposition today. “While certain aspects of the Roberts legislation have merit, the heart of the proposal is flawed,” Rockefeller wrote. “I would suggest that while the intelligence community is plainly in need of significant reform, it is not so fundamentally broken that the current structure be abandoned altogether.” In his letter, Rockefeller also supported giving the new national intelligence director full budgetary and personnel authority over all national intelligence agencies; separating the national intelligence director from the management of the CIA; and the creation of three deputy directors who would also serve as CIA director, defense undersecretary for intelligence and FBI intelligence director. In addition, Rockefeller supported the creation of a National Counterterrorism Center, as well as national intelligence centers that would be responsible for both collection and analysis on issues such as proliferation — both of which were recommended by the Sept. 11 commission,  According to reports today, U.S. President George W. Bush is set to soon issue a series of executive orders to strengthen the authority of the director of central intelligence, to create a national counterterrorism center and to improve information sharing among intelligence agencies (see related GSN story, today). Rockefeller also proposed the creation of an intelligence community ombudsman similar to one in place at the CIA, who would address complaints concerning alleged politicization of intelligence; the creation of a “red team” under the national intelligence director to test assumptions made in analyses; and the creation of an intelligence community inspector general’s office. To help improve congressional oversight of intelligence, as called for by the Sept. 11 commission, Rockefeller offered support for providing the Senate and House intelligence committees with both funding appropriation and authorization authority. He also proposed eliminating term limits for intelligence committee members, but opposed reducing membership to between seven to nine lawmakers, as the Sept. 11 panel has suggested. Noting that the Senate intelligence committee now has 17 members, Rockefeller wrote that “reducing the size of our committee by half would hinder not help oversee what are complex and secretive organizations.” This week, the Senate formed a 22-member working group to examine proposals on improving intelligence and homeland security oversight (see GSN, Aug. 26). Back to top       Terrorists Could Attack Using Small, WMD-Laden Airplane, Experts Warn in Upcoming Report A small airplane could be used to carry chemical, biological or radiological material for an attack on the United States, according to experts at a Washington think tank preparing a study on general aviation’s vulnerabilities, the Boston Globe reported yesterday (see GSN, July 20). The Center for Strategic and International Studies began working with the federal government in January to evaluate Pakistani intelligence from several years ago indicating that al-Qaeda has explored using small airplanes and helicopters for attacks in the United States, the Globe reported.  Possible scenarios include al-Qaeda members using a small aircraft to target a stadium holding tens of thousands of people, said Phil Anderson, a senior associate at the center who specializes in homeland security issues. “The no-fly zones over these stadiums are loosely enforced,” Anderson said. Anderson said terrorists could load a plane with explosives, shrapnel and possibly chemical or biological materials, and then detonate a bomb inside a stadium. “You just roll in low and go over the top of the rim of that stadium and you can slow it down to about 45 knots so it’s very manageable, put it on the 50-yard line, and push the button,” Anderson said. Terrorists could also pack radiological material into a small aircraft, add explosives, and then target a stadium or other crowded outdoor venue, Anderson said. “You would have a radiological effect . . . like a dirty bomb.” Despite concerns about aviation after the Sept. 11, 2001 hijackings, there are no metal detectors, luggage screening or other safety restrictions on smaller planes, the Globe reported. “You can just drive up to your plane, load it with whatever you want and be off in 15 minutes,” said Mike Fierberg, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration. “These planes aren’t a focus for us. We take risk assessments and analyze information and then focus the resources where the risks are higher. We don’t have unlimited funds to deal with everything.” The center plans to release the study by the end of next month, according to the Globe (Karen Schaler, Boston Globe, Aug. 26). Back to top

U.S., Russian Scientists Exploring Collaboration on Floating Nuclear Power Plants By Mike Nartker Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — U.S and Russian scientists are considering possible collaboration on the development of floating nuclear power plants, which could reduce proliferation concerns, the director of the U.S. Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico told Global Security Newswire this week (see GSN, June 22). The idea was discussed during a meeting last month between representatives of U.S. and Russian national laboratories at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, said Sandia Director Paul Robinson. The meeting resulted in the creation of a joint document calling for the increased use of nuclear power that has been submitted to the U.S. and Russian governments for consideration. “The time has come to develop a comprehensive and realistic plan to ensure the development and deployment of nuclear energy,” the joint document was quoted in a Sandia press release as saying. “It must preserve access to nuclear energy sources for all countries of the world, and in parallel, reduce the risks of nuclear arms proliferation, nuclear terrorism and hazardous impacts on environment and population health.” The full text of the joint document has not been released. Russia is already interested in developing floating nuclear plants, with several design bureaus that previously worked on nuclear submarines exploring the concept, Robinson said. As described by Robinson, such nuclear plants would be sent to a recipient country, travel into the interior where needed via canals and linked to the country’s power grid. The plants would be provided under “turnkey” agreements, Robinson said, which would require the recipient to return the plant to its country of origin once it has ended operation. By returning the plant, the recipient country would lose access to equipment and materials that could be used to produce nuclear weapons. There has been increasing concern that countries seeking to develop nuclear weapons may do so under the guise of operating civilian nuclear programs, which share many of the same elements. As an example, U.S. officials and some independent experts have pointed to Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran has repeatedly claimed is for civilian purposes.  The Bush administration has proposed several measures intended to close what it describes as a “loophole” in the nuclear nonproliferation regime, such as a ban on the export of enrichment and reprocessing technologies to countries that do not already possess them (see GSN, June 23). During this year’s meeting of the Group of Eight top global economic powers, G-8 members agreed to a one-year freeze on new initiatives to export enrichment and reprocessing capabilities (see GSN, June 10). Floating nuclear plants could also benefit nonproliferation by requiring less expertise and personnel on the part of the recipient country to operate, reducing the likelihood that the country would develop a cadre of nuclear-trained scientists that could later be used in weapons efforts, said Matthew Bunn of Harvard University’s Project on Managing the Atom Bunn also said, though, that Russia’s atomic energy agency has supported the development of floating nuclear plants that would use highly enriched uranium as fuel, which could limit the nonproliferation benefit of such facility. A proposal before the International Science and Technology Center nonproliferation program to develop low-enriched uranium fuel for such plants has not received funding, he said. In addition, because the floating plants would likely be used in more remote areas of a country, they may have less security and thereby increase the risk of the possible theft or diversion of nuclear materials, Bunn said. The United States could aid in the development of floating nuclear power plants by assisting their marketing to other countries, Robinson said, adding that Russia has acknowledged the difficulties they would have in promoting the plants themselves. Russian nuclear reactors are still burdened with the legacy of the 1986 Chernobyl reactor meltdown, he said. Past cost estimates for floating plants considered by Russia for its own use ranged from about $100 million to more than $300 million. Cost or schedule estimates have not been developed for a potential U.S.-Russian plan. Robinson said last month’s meeting was “very promising,” and that U.S. scientists were impressed with the nuclear engineering expertise of their Russian counterparts. U.S. and Russian scientists now plan to begin examining possible nuclear collaboration measures by the end of the year, he said, adding that the issue could be discussed during a possible U.S-Russian summit in early 2005. Back to top       Leaders Must Give Increased Priority to Nuclear Terrorism Threat in U.S., National Security Experts Say By David Ruppe Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — National security experts, including a prominent senator, have recently warned again that U.S. government leaders must give higher priority to addressing the potential threat of terrorists using a nuclear weapon. “It is past time for our government to set as its highest priority the prevention of this catastrophe and then having set the priorities act on the priorities,” said former Clinton administration Defense Secretary William Perry in a speech this month to the National Academy of Sciences. He estimated a greater than 50 percent chance of nuclear terrorism against a major city in the next 10 years. The next president “must bring the full weight of U.S. diplomatic and economic power to bear” to make breakthroughs on at least a dozen proliferation issues, said Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) in a speech at the National Press Club, also this month. “Persistent diplomacy at the highest levels of our government is needed each day if we are to succeed,” he said. A similar warning was made in a book recently published by Charles Ferguson and William Potter of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute for International Studies.  Titled The Four Faces of Nuclear Terrorism and co-published by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, the book recommends the United States “alter dramatically its ranking of threats to its national security and to that of its friends and allies.” It says U.S. leaders have correctly identified the prospect of nuclear terrorism as a serious national security challenge facing the country but have failed to address that threat accordingly. “Despite the recognition of the dangers of nuclear terrorism by President [George W.] Bush and other U.S. leaders, numerous U.S. policies remain mired in the past and are impeding measures to reduce the nuclear terror dangers of today,” it said. The book said there is insufficient information to calculate the probability of nuclear terrorism. It said, though, while the challenges to terrorists of exploding a nuclear weapon make it less likely to occur than other forms of terrorism, the potential devastation is so great it must be given the highest priority. Concerns for Nuclear Terrorism Expressed Both Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) in major speeches this year identified the prospect of nuclear terrorism as the gravest national security concern facing the United States and recommended actions to address the issue. Kerry said in a June 1 speech that “the greatest threat we face today” is the “possibility of al-Qaeda or other terrorists getting their hands on a nuclear weapon.”  In a major address in February, Bush similarly said, “The greatest threat before humanity today is the possibility of secret and sudden attack with chemical or biological or radiological or nuclear weapons.” The Bush administration, though, has been subject to criticism by Kerry and others for not sufficiently emphasizing nonproliferation measures to address the threat, for instance, with respect to obtaining a reversal of North Korea and Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons programs and efforts to secure and eliminate nuclear weapons and materials worldwide “The honest answer, in each of these areas, is that we have done too little, often too late, and even cut back our efforts or turned away from the single greatest threat we face in the world today, a terrorist armed with nuclear weapons,” Kerry said in the June 1 speech. Bush in a June 2 speech said, however, that the government is “using all elements of our national power to deny terrorists the chemical, biological and nuclear weapons they seek,” including nonproliferation measures. He has cited as administration successes Libya’s renunciation of weapons of mass destruction, the invasion of Iraq in pursuit of such weapons — though no stockpiles have been found — and the rollback of the proliferation network associated with Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.  Kerry has said one of the most important challenges is securing nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union, and said the Bush administration has previously under-funded the so-called “Nunn-Lugar” that aims to do that. Lugar, who co-authored the program and has been its tireless proponent, in his speech said Bush has “embraced” the effort and that government attitudes toward it are changing. “Until recently, we … faced a general disinterest in nonproliferation that made gaining support for Nunn-Lugar funding and activities an annual struggle,” Lugar said. He advocates high-level government diplomacy with Russia to make more progress, as well as numerous other measures, including securing Russian tactical nuclear weapons, a new effort to contain fissile materials worldwide and foremost negotiating a “phased, verifiable agreement” to eliminate North Korea’s suspected nuclear weapons program. Public Priorities Despite apparent recognition by both candidates of the seriousness of the issues, neither appears to have made nuclear proliferation and terrorism a central issue of his campaign, with nuclear proliferation infrequently mentioned in speeches around the country. That may be partly due to a traditional lack of strong public concern about nuclear terrorism, said John Isaacs, president of the Council for a Livable World arms control organization. “It’s not a cutting issue. It’s not an issue that brings votes. Kerry has staked out an advanced position. But it does not pay to talk about it day-to-day,” he said. Lugar ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for president in 1996 focusing on the threat posed by nuclear proliferation. “I found that this was not an issue that moved voters or generated media interest,” he said. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, though, he said the issue is getting greater attention, citing the candidates’ major speeches, support for the Nunn-Lugar program, and a June 2004 New York Times/CBS poll suggesting a historically large number of Americans (38 percent) want foreign policy to be the top issue of discussion of the campaign. Greater public interest, Lugar said, makes room for more aggressive policies to stop nuclear proliferation in ways he has suggested. “I am confident that whoever is elected in November would find substantial public support for this set of initiatives.” [EDITOR’S NOTE: Richard Lugar serves on the Nuclear Threat Initiative board.  NTI is the sole sponsor of Global Security Newswire, which is published independently by National Journal Group.] Back to top       Bush Says He Plans to Continue Diplomatic Efforts to Resolve North Korean, Iranian Nuclear Issues U.S. President George W. Bush said yesterday that he would continue to use diplomatic means to resolve the crises surrounding the suspected nuclear weapons programs of Iran and North Korea (see related GSN story, today). In an interview with the New York Times, Bush said he would not be hurried into establishing timelines for resolving either the Iranian or North Korean nuclear issue. “I don’t think you give timelines to dictators,” he said. Referring to diplomatic efforts, Bush said, “I’m confident that over time this will work — I certainly hope it does.” During his interview with the Times, Bush refused to comment on the possibility that North Korea may attempt to sell nuclear material to terrorists. Bush also reportedly opened his hands and shrugged when a Times interviewer told him of recent intelligence reports that indicated Pyongyang may have enough material to produce six to eight nuclear weapons (Sanger/Bumiller, New York Times, Aug. 27). Back to top       German Man Appears in Court on Suspicion of Aiding Libya Nuclear Weapons Efforts A German man appeared in court on suspicion that he aided Libya’s nuclear weapons efforts, according to a statement issued yesterday by a German federal prosecutor’s office in the city of Karlsruhe (see GSN, Feb. 9). The man, identified only as Gerhard W., is suspected of facilitating Libya’s attempt in 2001 to acquire aluminum tubing from a South African company to be used in a uranium enrichment plant, according to Agence France-Presse. German prosecutors believe that the tubing was made, but never delivered, AFP reported. Gerhard W. was released on bail, the office said in a statement. An arrest warrant was issued for a suspected accomplice, Gotthard L., whose house was searched by Swiss authorities (Agence France-Presse, Aug. 26). Back to top       South Korea Denies Japanese Press Report Claiming Plans for North-South Nuclear Summit South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hai-chan reportedly told a Japanese newspaper yesterday that his country hopes to hold a bilateral summit meeting with North Korea to discuss Pyongyang’s nuclear work. Lee later said he was misquoted, Xinhua reported (see GSN, Aug. 26). “We could find a clue to resolving the problem if a North-South summit is held,” the Nihon Keizai Shimbun quoted Lee as saying in an interview, according to Agence France-Presse. He also said Seoul had proposed a meeting to Pyongyang, according to the report. “There has been an indirect request for a visit (by the South Korean leader) to the North,” said Lee. He added that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il should come to South Korea for talks. Seoul is prepared to offer wide-ranging assistance to Pyongyang if it abandons its nuclear programs, he added (Agence France-Presse/SpaceWar.com, Aug. 27). Lee, however, said today that his remarks had been “wrongly conveyed” by the Nihon Keizai and demanded a correction, according to the Yonhap News Agency. Lee said he had told the newspaper that if a summit were held, he hoped that it would lead to a solution to the nuclear standoff. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun’s office also dismissed the report, according to Yonhap. “South Korea can push for the summit if meaningful and significant progress can be made on the nuclear issue through the summit,” spokesman Kim Jong-min said, adding that now was not the time to pursue such talks (Xinhua, Aug. 27). Back to top

Japanese Experts to Aid Recovery of Abandoned World War II-Era Chemical Shells in China Japan plans to send another team of experts to China next month to help recover Japanese World War II-era abandoned chemical weapons, Japanese officials said yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 23). The 32-member team is set to travel to the northeastern city of Ningan, Kyodo News Service reported. China estimates that about 700 chemical munitions, some of them carrying mustard agent, remain in the area. The Japanese team will assist Chinese experts in excavating the munitions and transporting them to a temporary storage facility. In addition, as many as 1,000 people are expected top be evacuated from an area within a 150-mile radius of the site, officials said. The Japanese Cabinet Office has to date retrieved 11,200 abandoned munitions in the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang and Jiangsu. The Japanese Foreign Ministry has conducted additional recovery efforts (Kyodo News Service/BBC Monitoring International, Aug. 26). Back to top       Army Studying Methods of Destroying Mustard Agent in Mixed-Content Containers at Aberdeen Proving Ground The U.S. Army is developing a plan to dispose of 19 mixed-content containers of mustard agent and other substances being stored at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, officials announced yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 19). The nonagent substance in the containers is believed to be primarily oil, according to an Army press release. Two containers were drained last year and their contents neutralized. “Our on-site laboratory analyzes each batch of wastewater, also known as hydrolysate, for detectable mustard agent and for a wide variety of chemical compounds,” Aberdeen Chemical Agent Disposal Facility lead scientist Dan Taylor said in a prepared statement. “The analytical results for all of the hydrolysate produced, including the batches with neutralized mixed-contents, are closely examined by all parties involved prior to shipment off-site for disposal. This examination includes ensuring that the hydrolysate meets the waste acceptance criterion of the receiving facility” (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency release, Aug. 26). Back to top

Arrow Intercept Test Fails The U.S.-Israeli jointly developed Arrow missile interceptor failed to hit its target during a test conducted yesterday in California, U.S. Missile Defense Agency spokesman Chris Taylor said (see GSN, Aug. 12). “The engineers don’t yet know what happened,” he said. Yesterday’s test was the 13th Arrow intercept test and the eighth of the entire weapon system, according to the Associated Press. An Arrow intercept test conducted last month was successful (John Antczak, Associated Press/San Jose Mercury News, Aug. 26). Israeli Defense Ministry official Aryeh Herzog said yesterday’s test could still be considered a success even with the failed intercept, noting that the interceptor had been able to identify the target warhead. “The element of distinguishing was successful, and the element of final interception had a local malfunction in the Arrow missile,” said Herzog, who heads the Arrow project. “We are now trying to identify the source of the malfunction” (Agence France-Presse, Aug. 27).       Back to top

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