Six-nation talks to discuss the North Korean nuclear crisis resumed today in Beijing (Andrew Wong/Getty Images). North Korea Pledges Moves Toward Denuclearization North Korea today offered a preliminary pledge to begin eliminating its nuclear weapons program, the Associated Press reported.  The move came during the first day of the latest round of six-nation talks in Beijing (see GSN, Feb. 7)...Full Story

DHS Auditors Fault Biowatch Program By Jon Fox Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — The Homeland Security Department’s biological agent detection system in more than 30 cities has been overhauled after years of poor management, according to the agency’s oversight office (see GSN, Jan. 11)...Full Story

U.S. Pressure on Iran Threatens Rift With Europe The United States and the European Union might be seeing increased tension as Washington presses for EU nations to impose more stringent economic sanctions against Iran, wire services reported (see GSN, Feb. 7)...Full Story

	Thursday, February 8, 2007

White House Issues WMD Medical Response Directive The Bush administration yesterday issued a directive for the federal medical response to a WMD incident, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, May 25, 2006). A terrorist strike involving a biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear weapon “could cause mass casualties, compromise critical infrastructure, adversely affect our economy, and inflict social and psychological damage,” the order states. “We must be fully prepared to respond to and recover from an attack if one occurs,” it says. It would not be possible to prepare equipment and medical countermeasures for all potential threats, the White House said.  Priority must be given to threats that pose a major public health danger for which the most capabilities exist for a medical response. The plan calls for authorities to focus on existing drugs and equipment, and to conduct research to “get ahead of the curve,” said Homeland Security Department spokesman Russ Knocke (Beverley Lumpkin, Associated Press/RedOrbit, Feb. 8). Back to top       WMD Aftermath Could Be Disastrous, Report Says A panicked public and “alarmist media” reports could create additional chaos in the aftermath of a WMD attack in the United Kingdom, a British think tank said in a report today (see GSN, Nov. 10, 2006). Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons could be employed by terrorist organizations “from the largest to the smallest … from the poorest to the best funded,” according to Paul Cornish, head of the international security program at Chatham House. “A good deal of the effect of a terrorist attack in the United Kingdom using CBRN could prove to be self-inflicted by the victims of the attack — the general public, business leaders and government officials — or magnified by alarmist media,” Cornish wrote, according to Agence France-Presse. “The United Kingdom might prove to be rather brittle in the face of a CBRN attack … and it seems reasonable to assume that terrorists might hope for such brittleness in order to expand the effect of their attack,” he stated. “The desired ‘effect’ might be no more than some hundreds or thousands of deaths or the destruction of a few buildings, all of which would be magnified by terrorists’ ‘propaganda of the deed,’” he added. The public should be informed in a calm fashion about potential attack scenarios in order to prevent widespread paralysis should an event occur, according to Cornish (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Feb. 8). Back to top       Airport Bio, Chem Sensor in Development California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is developing an airport security device that could screen passengers and luggage for explosives, along with biological and chemical agents, United Press International reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 22). Single-particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SPAMS) used in the device has been proven capable of detecting biological and chemical materials.  Work by George Farquar and others at the laboratory has enabled the technology to detect a number of explosives. “SPAMS is a sensitive, specific, reliable option for airport and baggage screening,” according to the scientists.  “The ability of the SPAMS system to determine the identity of a single particle is a valuable asset when the target analyte is dangerous in small quantities or has no legal reason for being present in an environment” (United Press International, Feb. 7). Back to top

North Korea Pledges Moves Toward Denuclearization North Korea today offered a preliminary pledge to begin eliminating its nuclear weapons program, the Associated Press reported.  The move came during the first day of the latest round of six-nation talks in Beijing (see GSN, Feb. 7). Negotiators hope to prepare an agreement detailing those initial steps, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill. “We had a good first day today,” he said.  “We hope we can achieve some kind of joint statement.” China today submitted a draft plan that delegates had indicated would detail the beginning steps toward North Korean nuclear disarmament.  The document was expected to include a “set of actions taken in a finite amount of time,” Hill said prior to its release.  He said Pyongyang would be expected to take those actions in a period of “single-digit weeks.” Pyongyang in September 2005 agreed in principle to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.  Talks then stalled for more than a year.  They resumed in December, but little progress was made as North Korean negotiators demanded the focus be on elimination of U.S. financial sanctions. Officials from the negotiating nations have expressed optimism recently about the chances for forward movement at these talks. “We are prepared to discuss first-stage measures,” head North Korean negotiator Kim Kye Gwan said upon arrival in Beijing. Pyongyang has reportedly agreed to suspend work at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and allow international nuclear inspectors back into the country, if it receives energy aid and additional concessions from the other countries. “We are going to make a judgment on whether the United States will give up its hostile policy and come out toward peaceful coexistence,” Kim said today.  “I’m not either optimistic or pessimistic because there are still many points of confrontation to resolve,” he added (Burt Herman, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Feb. 8). A Japanese newspaper reported today that Hill and Kim last month in Berlin signed an agreement that calls for Pyongyang to shut down the Yongbyon reactor and allow inspections in exchange for U.S. energy and humanitarian support. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei received a copy of the document, which was expected to serve as the basis for this week’s talks, the Asahi Shimbun reported (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Feb. 8). Hill denied the report, according to AFP. “We did not sign anything,” he said (Agence France-Presse II/Yahoo!News, Feb. 7). Back to top       U.S. Pressure on Iran Threatens Rift With Europe The United States and the European Union might be seeing increased tension as Washington presses for EU nations to impose more stringent economic sanctions against Iran, wire services reported (see GSN, Feb. 7). A December U.N. Security Council resolution established a set of trade prohibitions targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, but the United States has urged its European allies to take further measures not required by the resolution. “A nonmilitary campaign, if serious and sustained, and supported by like-minded countries, has the potential to succeed against a regime that has failed to deliver on its economic promises, that needs foreign investment to sustain government revenue, and that faces increasing opposition at home,” said U.S. envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency Gregory Schulte, speaking yesterday at a Munich conference (Giacomo/Heinrich, Reuters/Washington Post, Feb. 7). European officials and oil industry leaders have received increasing calls by U.S. officials, urging them to reduce their ties with Iran, the Associated Press reported. “All the oil companies will tell you that they are having regular visits from the U.S. embassies in their countries,” said a European oil consultant. U.S. officials have tried to encourage “companies to consider whether such investments will really be stable over the long term, and whether they will be worth the risk to their investments and to their international reputations,” according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. However, those arguments are unlikely to succeed, the oil consultant said. “Nobody in Europe is going to give up the opportunity of doing business with Iran just for the sake of pleasing the Americans,” said the consultant (George Jahn, Associated Press/CBS News, Feb. 8) Schulte denied that the U.S. pressure was creating any friction between nations. “Each country is free to adopt decisions as appropriate,” he said.  “It doesn’t mean this nuance between the United States and EU is triggering tensions” (Giacomo/Heinrich, Reuters). Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heard concerns yesterday from her own party that the Bush administration was failing to provide evidence of Iran’s nuclear-weapon ambitions or its support for insurgents in Iraq, Agence France-Presse reported. “Unproven charges against Iran’s nuclear intentions are eerily reminiscent of the false charges made against Iraq before we invaded that country,” said Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) during a Rice appearance before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “Pressed for proof of dramatic claims of Iranian involvement in Iraq, the administration keeps promising that they are compiling it,” he added.  “This sounds like Iraq, where accusations came first and proof was supposed to come later — only that proof never came because the accusations turned out to be false.” Rice denied that the administration was seeking to build a case for military action against Iran. “We are not planning or intending an attack on Iran,” she said.  “What we are doing is that we are responding to a number of Iranian policies both in Iran and around the world that are actually quite dangerous for our national security” (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Feb. 7). Rice also denied knowledge of a 2003 Iranian overture to hold bilateral talks with the United States on a wide range of issues, the Washington Post reported (see GSN, Feb. 21, 2006). In a two-page fax sent to the State Department via the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland, Iran offered to discuss its nuclear program, to coordinate policies in Iraq, to take “decisive action” against terrorists, and to accept a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to the Post. The fax said Iran was seeking access to peaceful nuclear technology, the removal of economic sanctions and U.S. recognition of Iran’s “legitimate security interests,” the Post reported. Rice denied knowledge of the fax, which was sent when she was serving as the president’s national security adviser. “I have read about the so-called proposal from Iran,” she told the committee.  “We had people who said, ‘The Iranians want to talk to you,’ lots of people who said, ‘The Iranians want to talk to you.’  But I think I would have noticed if the Iranians had said, “We’re ready to recognize Israel.’ … I just don’t remember ever seeing any such thing,” she said (Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, Feb. 8). Back to top       Lantos Offers Bill to Support Nuclear Fuel Bank A leading congressman has introduced legislation to support U.S. participation in an international effort to supply nuclear fuel to developing nations, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 19, 2006). Introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), the bill would authorize the president to aid a “nuclear fuel bank” effort sought by the International Atomic Energy Agency.  Under the plan, the bank would guarantee supplies of nuclear power fuel to nations that abstain from producing their own fuel, a process that can also produce nuclear-weapon materials (see GSN, Nov. 7, 2005). “This bank will ensure that any state that keeps its nuclear nonproliferation commitments can get the fuel it needs without establishing its own fuel production facilities,” Lantos said (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Feb. 7). Back to top       Russia Plans to Add Eight Nuclear Missile Submarines Russia announced plans yesterday to build eight ballistic missile submarines by 2015, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, July 31, 2006). Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov played down the importance of recent test failures of the missile to be deployed on the new submarines, saying the results “were within the norm” of expectations for a testing program (see GSN, Feb. 5). Combined with increased numbers of land-based missiles, the sea-based deployments would allow Russia to replace 45 percent of its existing nuclear arsenal by 2015, Ivanov said. Improved revenues from the oil exports have allowed Russia to increase its defense spending.  The defense budget was $8.1 billion in 2001 and grew to $31 billion this year, AP reported. “The Russian leadership believes that a nuclear parity with the United States is vitally important because it allows it to conduct an equal dialogue on other issues,” said military analyst Alexander Golts (Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, Feb. 8). In announcing Russian nuclear ambitions, Ivanov lamented the nation’s past reductions, in particular a U.S.-Russian treaty to ban the possession of medium-range ballistic missiles. The 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty led the two nations to destroy thousands of nuclear missiles that had been deployed in Europe during the Cold War (see GSN, March 3, 2006). “The gravest mistake was the decision to scrap a whole class of missile weapons — medium-range ballistic missiles,” Ivanov told parliament.  “Only Russia and the United States do not have the right to have such weapons, although they would be quite useful for us” (RIA Novosti, Feb. 7). Back to top       U.S. Tests Minuteman Missile The United States tested a Minuteman 3 strategic missile yesterday, sending a single mock nuclear warhead 4,200 miles after its launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, July 21, 2006). The test was the first in years to be conducted from a closed-door silo, requiring the silo’s 105-ton concrete cap to be blasted open just before launch, according to AP.  The test was also the first to use global positioning satellite data to aid navigation (Associated Press/North County Times, Feb. 07). The closed-door testing was aimed to better simulate real-world conditions, in which U.S. missiles are deployed in sealed silos to protect them from nuclear first strikes.  Previous Vandenberg tests had sealed test silos with plastic to protect the missiles from weather, but that system failed once in 2005, disabling a test missile (Janene Scully, The Lompoc Record, Feb. 8). The missile tested yesterday had been pulled at random from a field of deployed missiles at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota (Air Force News, Feb. 7). Back to top

DHS Auditors Fault Biowatch Program By Jon Fox Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — The Homeland Security Department’s biological agent detection system in more than 30 cities has been overhauled after years of poor management, according to the agency’s oversight office (see GSN, Jan. 11). Released yesterday, the report by the Homeland Security Inspector General’s Office described a number of problems with the Biowatch monitoring network that could have undermined its ability to detect biological agents and “protect the populace of the United States.” Launched in 2003, the federal program installed detectors in urban areas to test for roughly 20 pathogens that might be released by terrorists.  The list of the cities in which equipment has been deployed has not been released, but New York and Washington are believed to be included. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the anthrax mailings that followed, terrorism exports warned of the serious potential for a major biological attack.  Analysts continue to caution that a strike could cause as many casualties as an act of nuclear terrorism. Homeland Security rolled out Biowatch in just 80 days between late January and mid-April 2003.  By 2004, however, an evaluation uncovered faulty techniques and mistakes in taking the air filters from the field to laboratories for analysis. Filters were improperly transferred, the bags they were transported in were not decontaminated, procedural errors were made and quality control was lacking, the inspector general found.  In 2005, laboratories received an even lower grade in a second round of evaluations.  “DHS identified areas for improvement in the operation of the program but did not follow up on these areas,” according to the report. The inspector general also found deficiencies in the cooperation between the Homeland Security Department and the other agencies involved in the monitoring program, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “DHS did not enforce the required submission of monthly and quarterly status reports … which would have enabled it to properly monitor its federal partners,” auditors wrote.  Lax management controls over the program opens it up to mismanagement of funds, they said. Action has been taken to fix the issues, according to the report, although no specifics were given. “We consider all recommendations resolved and closed,” the report’s authors wrote. Still, the House Homeland Security Committee plans to revisit the program this year, Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said late last month (see GSN, Jan. 30). Lawmakers, he said, want to take a look at the “very low-key” program to see if it has “has any success at all.” In October 2003, shortly after the program’s launch, detectors in Houston detected airborne evidence of the bacteria that causes tularemia, but analysis later determined that the results were due to a naturally occurring bacteria and not a malicious act.  There have been 15 such positives later attributed to natural causes, according to Homeland Security (see GSN, Oct. 26, 2005). Back to top       Budget Undercuts Local Biodefense Work, Group Says A U.S. public health advocacy organization says the Bush administration’s proposed fiscal 2008 budget cuts $185 million for local and state medical preparedness programs, damaging providers’ abilities to respond to acts of bioterrorism, the Centers for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reported yesterday (see GSN, June 19, 2006). The Health and Human Services Department plans to spend $4.3 billion on bioterrorism defense efforts in fiscal 2008, a $143 million boost from the present fiscal year.  That funding includes $135 million for more-rapid development of countermeasures to be placed in the Strategic National Stockpile and $154 million for expansion, training and coordination of medical response teams. However, the budget represents a 25 percent drop since 2005 in money for public health preparedness, according to the Trust for America’s Health. “We are cutting core boots-on-the-ground support for emergency disaster response, leaving the country at unnecessary levels of risk,” said Richard Hamburg, the organization’s government relations director (Lisa Schnirring, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy release, Feb. 7). Back to top       Anthrax-Infested Building Declared Safe to Occupy Health officials have declared as safe a Florida building contaminated by the 2001 anthrax mail attacks that killed one worker there, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, July 7, 2005). The Boca Raton building was once home to American Media Inc., publisher of the National Enquirer.  Bob Stevens, a photo editor, died in October 2001 after he was exposed to anthrax spores delivered by mail. Years of uncertainty followed before cleanup of the building began in July 2004. The cleaning effort has succeeded, leading federal officials to inform the Palm Beach County Health Department that the building could be “safely reoccupied.”  The department is expected to lift its quarantine next week, AP reported (Associated Press/Houston Chronicle, Feb. 8). Back to top

More Japanese Chemical Weapons Recovered in China A recent excavation of Japanese chemical weapons in China recovered 461 of the abandoned World War II-era munitions, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Dec. 21, 2006). The dig in the Guangdong province city of Guangzhou began on Nov. 22 and ended Tuesday, according to Japanese Cabinet Office official Yoshinobu Abe.  It involved 30 public and private officials from Japan, who received “full cooperation from the Chinese government,” Abe said. About 100 of the shells were of Japanese origin and would be moved to warehouses to await destruction, Abe said.  The remainder would be transferred to Chinese custody. The retreating Japanese army is believed to have dumped 700,000 weapons filled with mustard agent and other toxic chemicals in China at the end of the war. Japan to date has recovered about 37,000 weapons, AP reported (Kozo Mizoguchi, Associated Press, China Post, Feb. 8). Back to top

U.S. Seeks to Add Alaskan Missile Defenses The Bush administration has asked Congress to fund a third field of missile interceptor silos in Alaska as part of an effort to accelerate the deployment of U.S. missile defenses, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, April 5, 2006). The Missile Defense Agency disclosed the deployment plans in its fiscal 2008 budget request released this week. The plan calls for deploying as many as 30 Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptors at installations in Alaska and California by the end of fiscal 2008, AP reported. Currently, 13 interceptors are deployed in two missile fields Fort Greely, Alaska, and eight more are planned by the end of the year. The $8.9 billion missile defense budget request would include $2.5 billion for GMD systems, according to AP.  The total budget request is less than current annual funding, but budget increases are planned for the next years (Associated Press/Anchorage Daily News, Feb. 7).   Back to top

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