U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with NATO diplomats today in New York (Stan Honda/Getty Images). U.N. Powers Delay Iran Deadline Faced with an inability to muster U.N. Security Council support for sanctions against Iran, the United States agreed Tuesday night to set a secret deadline, reportedly October 1, for Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment activities (see GSN, Sept. 20). U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with her counterparts from the four other permanent council members and Germany Tuesday night in New York.  ..Full Story

U.S. Ready to Give Nuclear Aid to Egypt, Envoy Says The United States is prepared to cooperate with Egypt if it decides to pursue a civilian nuclear program, the U.S. ambassador in Cairo said today (see GSN, Sept. 20)...Full Story

Terror Threat to Has Grown, House Committee Finds The terrorist threat facing the United States has grown since Sept. 11, 2001, despite the U.S.-led war on terrorism, according to a new congressional report (see GSN, Sept. 11)...Full Story

	Thursday, September 21, 2006

Terror Threat to Has Grown, House Committee Finds The terrorist threat facing the United States has grown since Sept. 11, 2001, despite the U.S.-led war on terrorism, according to a new congressional report (see GSN, Sept. 11). The al-Qaeda terrorist network has replaced leaders killed or captured, and Iraq has served as a breeding ground and a training opportunity for new terrorists, says the report issued yesterday by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Los Angeles Times reported. Vacancies in al-Qaeda’s top leadership have been filled, the report says. “Most of those new leaders have obscure backgrounds, and the intelligence community lacks knowledge about their particular methods of operating,” the report says. Also, “[Extremist] fighters who leave Iraq will have acquired first-hand experience in urban warfare,” the report says.  “Upon returning home, they have the potential to use their knowledge, credibility and popularity to recruit and train younger generations to fight against the United States (Greg Miller, Los Angeles Times, Sept. 21). The report also warns that Islamic extremist groups, including al-Qaeda, are seeking to obtain weapons of mass destruction. “There is little doubt that if [al-Qaeda leader] Osama bin Laden were successful in acquiring WMD, he would use these weapons against the West,” it says (Committee report, Sept. 20). The report was approved by the Republican-led committee on party lines, with Democrats complaining that it was excessively alarmist and questioning the timing of its release just weeks before congressional elections. Americans “do not need the House Intelligence Committee to remind them” of the al-Qaeda threat, Democrats said in a statement. The report “cherry-picks and gives a picture that is less than complete,” said senior committee Democrat Representative Jane Harman (Calif.).  “The timing here fits the election calendar.” Late last month, the committee issued a report on the Iranian nuclear threat that was criticized by the International Atomic Energy Agency as inaccurate and unsubstantiated (see GSN, Sept. 14; Miller, Los Angeles Times). Back to top

Defense Industry Analysts Expect WMD Detector Market to Earn $1 Billion Annually in Five Years Companies selling WMD-detection technology have earned $710 million this year, and revenues are expected to reach $952 million annually by 2011, according to an analysis released yesterday by defense consulting firm Frost and Sullivan (see GSN, Aug. 4). “The [U.S. Defense Department] is the largest purchaser of chemical and biological detection equipment,” said Senior Homeland Security Analyst Matthew Farr.  The Pentagon has, however, consolidated its purchasing into fewer, larger programs, making the market more difficult to enter for manufacturers, he said. “Companies must position [their products] as time-saving tools, which allow them to quickly identify an unknown substance, thereby saving countless man-hours,” he said.  “Security alone will not be enough to entice an organization, outside the military, to spend the considerable amount of money needed to procure these products” (Frost and Sullivan release, Sept. 20). Back to top

U.N. Powers Delay Iran Deadline Faced with an inability to muster U.N. Security Council support for sanctions against Iran, the United States agreed Tuesday night to set a secret deadline, reportedly October 1, for Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment activities (see GSN, Sept. 20). U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with her counterparts from the four other permanent council members and Germany Tuesday night in New York.  U.S. officials said she agreed to allow a diplomatic effort led by the three largest European Union nations to continue and consented to extend an August 31 deadline set by the Security Council in July.  At that time, the council demanded Iran suspend its sensitive nuclear activities or face further council action.  Iran has so far continued to conduct uranium enrichment activities (Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, Sept. 21). “What we have done last night is to authorize [EU foreign policy chief] Javier Solana to go anywhere at any time in order to facilitate a meeting” with the top Iranian nuclear negotiator, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said yesterday.  “The Iranians do seem to have some quite extraordinary logistical difficulties, so perhaps Javier can overcome them by going to wherever it is that they can make themselves available” (Edith Lederer, Associated Press I/San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 21). The new deadline falls in the first week of October, according to U.S. officials (Kessler, Washington Post).  Meanwhile, a European diplomat said the specific date was October 1 (Giacomo/Parsons, Reuters/Boston Globe, Sept. 20). “We have a hard end-date in mind,” confirmed a U.S. official, but the date would be kept secret, perhaps to avoid pressure should Iran ignore this deadline as well, according to a European diplomat (Kessler, Washington Post). Meanwhile, the EU negotiator Solana spoke yesterday by phone with his Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani and agreed to meet next week in a European capital. One European diplomat said Solana was seeking a face-saving way for Iran to come return to talks without acceding to the U.S. demand that Tehran first freeze its nuclear program. One possibility would be for Solana and other European representatives to initiate the talks without the United States, allowing Iran to suspend its activities after the talks began.  That in turn could open the door for U.S. officials to join the negotiations already in progress (Giacomo/Parsons, Reuters). Former U.S. President Bill Clinton appeared to endorse the extension this morning and encouraged contact between U.S. and Iranian officials. “If you think you might have trouble with somebody, and God forbid if you think it could lead to a military confrontation, then there needs to be the maximum amount of contact beforehand,” he told NBC’s “Today” show. “The United States should not be afraid to talk to anyone.  They should not be reluctant and shouldn’t have too many conditions,” he added (Associated Press II/Los Angeles Times, Sept. 21). Back to top       U.S. Ready to Give Nuclear Aid to Egypt, Envoy Says The United States is prepared to cooperate with Egypt if it decides to pursue a civilian nuclear program, the U.S. ambassador in Cairo said today (see GSN, Sept. 20). Speaking in Arabic on local television, Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said Washington would have no objections if Egypt sought to exploit nuclear energy, Reuters reported. “If Egypt, after detailed study on this subject, decides that nuclear power is a positive thing and important for Egypt, was can cooperate in this field. Why not,” he said. Ricciardone said there can be no comparison between Egypt and Iran, which the United States has charged with hiding nuclear weapon ambitions behind a program to develop uranium enrichment technology. “Iran has…a program to produce nuclear weapons. This is one thing, but the matter of civilian nuclear energy is something totally different,” he said. Earlier this week, Gamal Mubarak, son of Egypt’s president and a high-ranking official in the riling National Democratic Party, said that Egypt should consider alternative means of producing electricity, including nuclear power. Gamal Mubarak is regarded by analysts as a likely successor to his 78-year-old Hosni Mubarak despite claims that he does not wish to assume the role of president held by his father since 1981. “We have a program, the Global Nuclear Energy Program. We are ready to supply nuclear technology to friendly states which want to benefit from civilian, peaceful nuclear power,” Ricciardone said (Reuters, Boston Globe, Sept. 21). Back to top       Russia Might Target U.S. Missile Defenses in Europe Russia could be preparing plans to attack future U.S. missile defense sites in Europe, Interfax reported yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 2). The possible deployment of U.S. missile defenses close to Russian borders would force Russia to take steps to ensure its ability to launch strategic missiles, said retired Maj. Gen. Vladimir Belous, a scientist at Moscow’s Institute of World Economy and International Affairs (IMEMO).  The United States is currently discussing such a deployment with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (see related GSN story, today). “Our military doctrine envisages that Russian armed forces are allowed to attack installations in foreign countries that threaten its security,” he said. Before resorting to attacking U.S. sites, though, Russia would need to shorten the boost phase of its missiles to decrease the period of flight when the missiles would be most vulnerable to interception, Belous said. “The reduction of the time of sustained flight to 130 seconds will make it impossible for any kinetic interceptors to engage such missile[s],” he said. In addition, Russia could consider other countermeasures, including making its weapons more stealthy to radar and deploying anti-interceptor missiles, according to Belous (Interfax, Sept. 20). Back to top       British Party Estimates Higher Missile Replacement Costs Liberal Democrat calculations peg the cost of replacing and operating the British Trident missile system at $143 billion over 30 years, the Guardian reported today (see GSN, July 21). The figure — which includes the cost of building new missiles, replacing a fleet of nuclear submarines and maintaining the warheads over 30 years — is at least three times higher than most estimates.  However, those estimates failed to include annual maintenance costs, according to the Guardian. The Liberal Democrat figure is based on the value the government has placed on the cost of the existing Trident nuclear system plus the percentage of the $56 billion defense budget now devoted to Trident for the next 30 years. A Liberal Democrat party spokesman said the figures were extraordinary and called for a “genuine” debate before a decision to replace the system is made.  “The government’s ludicrous position that the decision should precede the debate is irresponsible and undermines the democratic process,” said Nick Harvey. The Defense Ministry said it was premature to speculate on the possible replacement costs of the missile system.  The government has said it will publish a report later this year once a decision has been made, to be followed by debate and a vote in parliament, the Guardian reported. Tony Blair, leader of the ruling Labor party, is in favor of maintaining British nuclear deterrence, as is Gordon Brown, his likely successor within Labor (Richard Norton-Taylor/Guardian I, Sept. 21). Meanwhile, Liberal Democrats today rejected party calls to delay a parliamentary vote on Trident until they formulate a policy this spring, the Guardian also reported (Helene Mulholland/Guardian II, Sept. 21). Back to top       Qadhafi Offers to Help With North Korea Libyan leader Col. Muammar Qadhafi is prepared to try to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear program but offered little hope that the effort would be successful, the South Korean news service Yonhap reported today (see GSN, Aug. 21). “The Libyan leader also said he has made efforts to mediate in the dispute over the North Korea nuclear issue, but without a tangible result,” said a spokesman for South Korean Prime Minister Han Myung-sook, who visited Tripoli today (Yonhap, Sept. 21). Nevertheless, Qadhafi “is still interested in mediating the dispute,” the spokesman said. The United States and other nations have hoped that Libya’s 2003 example of abandoning its WMD programs in exchange for international aid and recognition could serve as model for North Korea. Washington has restored diplomatic ties to Tripoli and removed trade barriers, but Qadhafi complained to Han that the aid and compensation received by Libya have been inadequate so far (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, Sept. 21). Back to top       UC Hopes to Keep Lawrence Livermore Lab A University of California governing body voted yesterday to move forward on a bid to retain its long-standing management of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif. (see GSN, July 18). The university’s full board of regents is expected to approve the recommendation today, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The university has managed Livermore and the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico for decades, but recent questions over safety and poor management at the nuclear weapons labs prompted Congress and the U.S. Energy Department to open up future management for bids. Last year, the university partnered with the engineering firm Bechtel to retain control of the Los Alamos lab, beating out a team from Lockheed Martin and the University of Texas. In one recent incident at Livermore, employees were contaminated with plutonium (see GSN, Feb. 27).  In February, Linton Brooks, head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees all the nuclear labs, said it “casts significant doubt on the laboratory’s ability to effectively analyze and correct performance problems.” Competitors for the Livermore management contract have until Oct. 12 to submit proposals to the government.  A winner is expect to be named in March (Keay Davidson/ San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 21) Back to top

Boston Slaps Tighter Regulations on Biolabs The Boston Public Commission has tightened regulations on laboratories conducting biological research in the city and has banned classified or biological weapon activities (see GSN, Aug. 24). Under a new set of rules passed Tuesday, labs working at biosafety levels 3 and 4 must be permitted by the city commission, create a safety committee including two community members and submit periodic reports on safety procedures, the Boston Globe reported yesterday. Laboratories must also hold public meetings to disclose the type of research being conducted.  Failure to comply would result in a $1,000 daily fine per violation and suspension of research.  Applications for permits are due in April 2007. “The commission listened to all sides and came up with a regulation that is both meaningful in terms of safety and supportive of the important work that laboratories do every day,” Mayor Thomas Menino said. The more stringent oversight comes as a result of Boston University plans to study highly virulent organisms in a $178 million federally funded lab in the city’s South End.  In 2004, researchers at a separate university facility became sick while working with tularemia at a laboratory city officials were unaware of (Boston Globe, Sept. 21). Back to top

Railroads to Expand Chemical Detection in NYC Two New York railroads have approved a joint contract to expand and improve chemical-detection systems in two New York City train stations (see GSN, Sept. 13). The $4 million contract between the Long Island and Metro-North railroads would allow the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to expand the chemical-detection system it has been testing at Grand Central Terminal for the past two years, Newsday reported today. The Long Island Railroad would also install a similar system in a section of Penn Station. The systems are “designed to detect chemicals that at least historically have been used by terrorist organizations,” said Lewis Schiliro, director of interagency preparedness for the MTA. Schiliro discussed only limited aspects of the system but said it is comprised of a combination of sensors that would detect chemicals and sound an alarm immediately and a surveillance system that allows officials to see if commuters are succumbing to chemical exposure, Newsday reported. The MTA is exploring the possibility of expanding detection systems at other transportation hubs and has already installed radiation monitors at Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station. A biological agent detection system is currently being tested at Grand Central Terminal but “is a little more complicated,” Schiliro said.  “We’re working on it very diligently” (Jennifer Maloney/Newsday, Sept. 21) Back to top

U.S. Should Spread Missile Defense Bases Among Different European Countries, Czech Official Says A proposed missile defense facility the United States plans to build in Europe should be broken up to locate it in more countries that share defense interests, a senior Czech official said yesterday in Prague (see GSN, Sept. 8). “The fewer countries that are involved in the system, the lower the possibility of the appearance of joint defense,” said Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar. Addressing the Senate foreign committee, he said there were locations in the Czech Republic and Poland that were being considered for the facility that would intercept and destroy incoming missiles.  The base would house both radar systems and missile batteries. Pojar said he expected to receive a number of possible plans from U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld by the end of this month, CTK reported.  However, neither the Czech Foreign Ministry nor the Defense Ministry have discussed possible scenarios, he said. The United States is likely to postpone any decision on the most suitable location for the base until after a NATO summit planed for November, said Stefan Fuele, the Czech ambassador to NATO. In May, NATO published a report indicating Europe faces an increasing threat of long-range missile attack and said it would be technically feasible to build a NATO missile defense shield, CTK reported (CTK/Prague Daily Monitor, Sept, 21). Back to top

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