U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge (shown in a September 2004 photo) is expected today to release a National Response Plan to terrorist acts or other disasters (AFP photo/Marcus Brandt). Ridge to Unveil New U.S. National Response Plan By Joe Fiorill Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is set this afternoon to unveil a new system for coordinating the national response to WMD incidents, terrorist attacks and other disasters (see GSN, Dec. 2, 2004)...Full Story

U.S. Defense Department Proposes $46 Million Cut in Cooperative Threat Reduction Program By Amy Klamper, CongressDaily WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is proposing to trim funds for a program designed to curb the spread of nuclear and catastrophic weapons (see GSN, Dec. 21)...Full Story

Poland to Help Dismantle Libyan Chemical Weapons Poland has agreed to help Libya dismantle its chemical weapons stockpile, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 3)...Full Story

	Thursday, January 6, 2005

Ridge to Unveil New U.S. National Response Plan By Joe Fiorill Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is set this afternoon to unveil a new system for coordinating the national response to WMD incidents, terrorist attacks and other disasters (see GSN, Dec. 2, 2004). After a preliminary implementation period which is to end by a year from today, the National Response Plan will definitively replace a host of existing federal emergency plans, assigning responsibility to specific federal agencies for different types of incidents — the Homeland Security Department’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate in the case of WMD events, for example. The plan also governs federal support during incidents to states, municipalities and businesses. “This approach is unique and far-reaching in that it, for the first time, eliminates critical seams and ties together a complete spectrum of incident management activities to include the prevention of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from terrorism, major natural disasters and other major emergencies,” Ridge wrote in the preface to a November 2004 version of the plan (see GSN, Nov. 16, 2004). A Homeland Security Department spokeswoman said today that differences between that version and today’s “final, final document” were “insignificant.” A February 2003 directive by President George W. Bush set in motion development of the plan and of the associated National Incident Management System, which lays out the nuts and bolts of implementing the plan. The plan is designed to go into effect upon the emergence of specific conditions, including an appeal for help to the Homeland Security Department by another federal agency, a request by a state or city for federal help in managing a large disaster, a terrorist threat to a major gathering or an order by the president. German Township, Ind., Fire Chief John Buckman, who served on a council of state and local officials that advised Homeland Security on the national plan, said it “is a unifying document” that “will bring all of the players together before the event.” “It is a new day in this country, and the NRP brings a fresh approach to assisting state, tribal and local agencies [to] respond to the threats against our society,” Buckman said today in an e-mail. Back to top

U.S. Defense Department Proposes $46 Million Cut in Cooperative Threat Reduction Program By Amy Klamper, CongressDaily WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is proposing to trim funds for a program designed to curb the spread of nuclear and catastrophic weapons (see GSN, Dec. 21). According to a draft of the fiscal 2006 budget proposal, the Pentagon wants to cut $46 million from its Cooperative Threat Reduction program, initiated in the early 1990s to dismantle and secure the former Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal. The total cost of the CTR program is slightly more than $400 million. “This is classic Bush,” said Charles Fant, spokesman for House Budget Committee ranking member John Spratt (D-S.C.). “He touts programs like CTR in the rhetoric, then he cuts them in the budget. We've seen this kind of thing all throughout the Bush budget, in programs like veterans' health care and education.” Chris Hellman, director of the Project on Military Spending Oversight at the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, lamented the proposed cut, noting that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was one of the few topics both Bush and Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) agreed on during the 2004 presidential campaign. “This sends the wrong message from a president who says countering proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a priority for his administration,” said Hellman. “It may seem like a small amount of money, compared to other Pentagon programs, but when you look at the CTR program, it's a significant reduction of nearly 10 percent.” Hellman said the proposal pushes a considerable amount of funding toward homeland security programs, including chemical and biological agent detection and other programs to deal with the consequences of a WMD attack. However, he criticized the administration for putting too many resources in one basket. “Instead of getting at the root causes, they're dealing with the effect, building higher fences instead of going out and dealing with the problem of proliferation,” he said. Hellman also noted that while such a small funding cut might be devastating to the CTR program, it would do little to boost other areas of the budget in need of additional funding. A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment. Congressional aides from both parties assert that the Pentagon's proposal lacks detail and that it remains to be seen whether the cut is warranted. Last year the program lost $50 million in funding because the Pentagon simply did not spend it. Critics of the program note that the schedule for a number of CTR programs is beginning to wind down, and that the United States increasingly has trouble gaining access to former Soviet Union facilities associated with the program. Others say that despite the potential for legitimately reducing CTR funding, lawmakers are likely to be concerned with the trend line. “There are other things that we could be doing that could pay down the proliferation risk beyond the programs that the Defense Department is running currently,” one congressional aide said. “There are very legitimate reasons to be concerned about these cuts.” Back to top

Iran Increases Defenses at Nuclear Sites Iran began boosting air defenses around its nuclear sites in November, Israeli security sources said in a Jerusalem Post article today (see GSN, Jan. 5). “They really believe that the United States and maybe Israel will attack them, so they are improving their defenses,” said one security source. The Iranian Aftab newspaper reported yesterday that U.S. warplanes in recent days had flown over Iranian nuclear facilities near the country’s borders with Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Post. The aircraft appeared to be on reconnaissance missions, the report says. Israel, however, remains in favor of diplomatic efforts to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions, said Ra’anan Gissin, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. “At this stage, we don’t think that the military option is the option that should be used. There are still sufficient measures that can be taken and must be taken before you come to the conclusion that everything’s lost. ... You still have time,” he said.  Gissin added that, even if diplomatic efforts failed, Israel would not lead any military campaign against Iran. Israeli security sources also said that Iran cannot yet arm its Shahab 3 missiles with a nuclear warhead. “We assess that this won’t happen for at least three years or more,” said one source. A 1-ton warhead would reduce the missile’s range by between 250-300 kilometers, meaning it could not reach Israel, according to the Post. The more immediate “nightmare scenario,” if Iran did obtain “nuclear-upgraded material,” according to Gissin, would be that it might “assemble a dirty bomb, strap it to a couple of suicide bombers... and send them” (O’Sullivan/Horovitz, Jerusalem Post, Jan. 6). Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation is expected to meet with International Atomic Energy Agency officials tomorrow to discuss details of the upcoming inspection of the Parchin military complex, Iran’s official news agency reported today, according to Agence France-Presse. The report said the inspectors could be granted access to Parchin “within a few days” of the discussions (Agence France-Presse/Khaleej Times, Jan. 6). Analysts said Iran’s decision to open the complex to inspectors was likely intended to stave off further international criticism, the New York Times reported. “The Iranians are playing a shrewd game of giving international opinion just enough to keep the wolves at bay,” said Ashton Carter, co-director of the Preventive Defense Project and a former Clinton administration official. “At least they are showing a sensitivity to the perception they create, even though I don’t believe that instinct will be enough to turn around Iran’s nuclear ambitions.” There is no guarantee that inspectors will be permitted free reign at Parchin, where U.S. officials suspect nuclear weapons development is occurring, IAEA officials acknowledged. U.S. officials said they believed the inspectors would be given access by Iran to any location where there was no evidence of current nuclear work. “They are great at removing soil,” said one U.S. nuclear expert with extensive experience dealing with Iran. “They have mastered the art of cat-and-mouse when it comes to inspections” (David Sanger, New York Times, Jan. 5). Elsewhere, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei suggested that the agency’s investigation of Iran’s nuclear work might be coming to an end, the Associated Press reported. While pledging to “continue to keep the Board (of Governors) updated” on Iran, ElBaradei told AP he might not produce another report on the country for the next board meeting in March. ElBaradei added that he hoped to downgrade Iran’s dossier to “routine reporting” over the next six months (George Jahn, Associated Press/San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 6). Back to top       United States Reportedly Expects Reply From North Korea on Nuclear Talks by February The United States wants to know by early February whether North Korea is willing to resume six-party talks on its nuclear program, according to a report in today’s issue of the Japanese Sankei Shimbun newspaper (see GSN, Jan. 5). If North Korea does not agree to talks by the time U.S. President George W. Bush delivers his State of the Union address — expected around Feb. 2 — the United States would prepare to report North Korea to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions, the Sankei quoted a diplomatic source as saying, according to Reuters (Reuters, Jan. 5). The nuclear standoff with North Korea “has been a pending issue for 12 years, and frankly it is getting worse,” said International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei. “I would like to see the six-party talks restarted as early as possible,” he told Reuters. “I’d like to see by the end of the year a package agreement that takes care of the nuclear activities in North Korea and makes sure it is all under irreversible verification, that their security concerns are taken care [of] and their humanitarian needs addressed” (Louis Charbonneau, Reuters, Jan. 5). Meanwhile, Pyongyang has issued guidelines for evacuating residents of cities across North Korea to underground bunkers in preparation for war with the United States, the Associated Press reported. The 33-page “Detailed Wartime Guidelines,” published in South Korea’s Kyunghyang newspaper yesterday, was issued April 7, 2004, and signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Reuters reported. “The United States has cooked up suspicion over our nuclear programs and is escalating an offensive of international pressure to strangle and destroy our republic,” the document says. “If this tactic doesn’t work, it plots to use this [nuclear] problem as an excuse for armed invasion.” When evacuating to the underground facilities, North Koreans are also instructed to take portraits, plaster busts and bronze statues of Kim and his parents for protection, Reuters reported. Officials in Seoul confirmed that they believe the document to be authentic. “We believe the document reflects North Korea’s wartime preparations,” South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said in a statement (Associated Press/Baltimore Sun, Jan. 6). Back to top       Pakistan Prevents Nuclear Personnel Under Investigation in Khan Affair From Leaving Capital Pakistan has ordered more than 12 staff members from the country’s top nuclear facility, who are under investigation for alleged proliferation, not to leave Islamabad without official permission, the Press Trust of India reported today (see GSN, Jan. 4). The suspects, who work at Khan Research Laboratories, must obtain approval from the facility’s director-general of security before leaving the capital. They are also barred from meeting or exchanging information with any foreigners, PTI reported. The staff members are under investigation as part of Pakistan’s inquiry into the activities of scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, who confessed last year to transferring nuclear technology abroad (Press Trust of India/Hindustan Times, Jan. 6). Back to top       Russia to Add Strategic Missiles, Bombers The Russian military plans to purchase four new ICBMs this year, the Russian newspaper Vremya Novostey reported last week (see GSN, Jan. 3). The missiles are part of planned defense purchases totaling more than $6 billion, the newspaper reported. In addition, the Russian military also plans to purchase two Tu-160 strategic bombers armed with cruise missiles (Kuznetsova/Poroskov, Vremya Novostey, Dec.30/BBC Worldwide Monitoring, Jan. 5). Back to top       U.S Energy Department Awards Top Performance Grade to Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Plant Contractor The U.S. Energy Department has awarded contractor BWXT a grade of “excellent” for its management last year of the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn., the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 21). Along with the designation, BWXT was awarded $24.9 million in performance fees, up from the $21.3 million the contractor received in 2003, according to AP. Bill Brumley, who oversees Y-12 operations for the National Nuclear Security Administration, cited improvements in security, safety, project management and environmental activities in awarding BWXT the top grade, AP reported. In a letter released yesterday, though, Brumley said there were still some concerns over productivity and efficiency at the plant, AP reported. The facility also “remains too expensive in its performance of work,” the letter states. (Associated Press, Jan. 5). Back to top

U.S. Researchers Develop New Biological Detector Researchers at the U.S. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have developed a type of “biological smoke detector” capable of detecting a biological attack, according to a study published last week in Analytical Chemistry (see GSN, Jan. 4). The detector can continuously monitor the air for bacteria, viruses and toxins. The device uses two tests to reduce the likelihood of false positives (American Chemical Society press release, Jan .5). Back to top

Poland to Help Dismantle Libyan Chemical Weapons Poland has agreed to help Libya dismantle its chemical weapons stockpile, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 3). The decision was reached during a meeting yesterday in Tripoli between Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka and Libyan leader Col. Muammar Qadhafi. Belka arrived in Libya on Tuesday for a two-day visit, according to AP. “We have proposed to Libya to provide Polish technical assistance to transform its weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, to peaceful ones and Libya has welcomed it,” Belka said yesterday. Libya’s chemical arsenal included 23 metric tons of mustard gas and 1,300 tons of precursor chemicals, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said last year. Belka also offered to train Libyan troops and to “remove storages of internationally banned weapons in Libya” (Associated Press, Jan. 5). Back to top       Anniston Chemical Depot Expects to Complete Destruction of Sarin Munitions By November The U.S. Army’s Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Alabama has incinerated nearly 700 sarin-filled artillery shells since work began early last month, and officials expect the facility’s entire stockpile of such munitions to be destroyed by November, the Anniston Star reported (see GSN, Dec. 10, 2004). Once all sarin projectiles are destroyed, the plant would begin destroying VX-filled rockets, said Army project site manager Tim Garrett. Since incineration began in August 2003, the incinerator has eliminated approximately 9 percent of all chemical agent in the stockpile, according to the Army. Officials said it would take until 2010 to destroy remaining sarin, VX and blister agent in Anniston’s stockpile (Rob Jordan, Anniston Star, Jan. 5). Back to top       Mustard Agent Leak Detected at Deseret Workers at the Deseret Chemical Depot in Utah on Tuesday found mustard agent vapor leaking from two over-packed 155 mm projectiles, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Dec. 21, 2004). The workers subsequently placed the munitions in larger airtight containers, and no vapor escaped into the environment, according to the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (Associated Press/KSLTV5, Jan. 4).       Back to top

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