Japanese Ambassador Yukiya Amano (left) and Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh, shown at a nuclear meeting last year, are this week embroiled in a dispute over the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (Getty Images). NPT Meeting Suspended A meeting of Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty members has been suspended for the second day in a row after Iran continued to refuse to endorse the session’s proposed agenda that calls for “full compliance with the treaty,” the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, May 2). Meeting Chairman Yukiya Amano of Japan dismissed delegates from about 130 nations yesterday to try to resolve the dispute informally.  He then convened the session again this afternoon to announce a continued suspension until tomorrow, AP reported...Full Story

Lawmakers Call for U.S. Nuclear Posture Study A House of Representatives panel yesterday cut $20 million from the White House’s request for the Reliable Replacement Warhead program in order to fund a review of U.S. nuclear plans, the Washington Post reported (see GSN, April 25)...Full Story

Khan Smuggling Network Might Survive, Study Finds Although Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan has been under house arrest since 2004, many parts of his international nuclear smuggling network remain intact and could be rejuvenated, warns a new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (see GSN, Nov. 27, 2006)...Full Story

	Thursday, May 3, 2007

NPT Meeting Suspended A meeting of Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty members has been suspended for the second day in a row after Iran continued to refuse to endorse the session’s proposed agenda that calls for “full compliance with the treaty,” the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, May 2). Meeting Chairman Yukiya Amano of Japan dismissed delegates from about 130 nations yesterday to try to resolve the dispute informally.  He then convened the session again this afternoon to announce a continued suspension until tomorrow, AP reported. The annual “preparatory committee” meeting was intended to be a two-week session to plan for the treaty’s 2010 review conference, but the meeting cannot proceed unless all participants agree to the agenda by consensus. Iranian officials have said the “full compliance” language unfairly targets Iran and that the agenda should also include a reference to the treaty obligation of nuclear-weapon states to eliminate their arsenals. At least one of the treaty’s five declared nuclear powers, France, objected to including additional language in the agenda, according to AP (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, May 3). Back to top       Lawmakers Call for U.S. Nuclear Posture Study A House of Representatives panel yesterday cut $20 million from the White House’s request for the Reliable Replacement Warhead program in order to fund a review of U.S. nuclear plans, the Washington Post reported (see GSN, April 25). “This commission is designed to help frame the debate over the future direction of the nuclear weapons program and place it in the context of related strategic consideration,” said Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairwoman Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.). The panel was considering the $51.4 billion request for strategic programs included in the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill. The Bush administration sought $88 million in the next fiscal year for finalizing design and cost studies for the program to develop new nuclear warheads.  That schedule would enable lawmakers to vote on the new submarine-launched warhead in 2008, and for the weapon to enter service by 2012. Tauscher indicated her desire to slow the rate of spending of the RRW program, along with the Complex 2030 initiative intended to update the U.S. nuclear weapons complex.  Cutting RRW spending would produce “a measured, knowledge-based approach,” said subcommittee ranking Republican Terry Everett (R-Ala.). The $20 million would allow for a one-year review by a bipartisan commission of the U.S. nuclear posture, Tauscher said.  There needs to be backing from both major parties regarding the necessary size of the nuclear weapons complex, she said. Tauscher said the White House was not being realistic when it said in a 2001 Nuclear Posture Review that the country needed between 1,700 and 2,200 deployed warheads (Walter Pincus, Washington Post, May 3). The Federation of American Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council yesterday estimated that there are now more than 9,930 nuclear warheads in the U.S. arsenal, and that the number would drop to slightly more than 5,040 before the end of 2012. The two organizations released the estimates to challenge the decades-old practice of classifying the size of the stockpile. The Bush administration has been slower than any other U.S. administration since 1957 in dismantling nuclear weapons, the organizations said.  Actual numbers are classified; the claim is based on information collected by authors of a new fact sheet published by the two groups (Federation of American Scientists, May 2). Back to top       Khan Smuggling Network Might Survive, Study Finds Although Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan has been under house arrest since 2004, many parts of his international nuclear smuggling network remain intact and could be rejuvenated, warns a new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (see GSN, Nov. 27, 2006). “At least some of Khan’s associates appear to have escaped law enforcement attention and could, after a period of lying low, resume their black market business,” said IISS head John Chipman in a statement releasing the study.  “Decapitating the nodes of nonhierarchical networks does not necessarily eradicate the enterprise.” Following the 2003 disclosure of Iran’s long-hidden uranium enrichment program, international investigators unearthed an extensive smuggling network led by Khan.  He has reportedly confessed to Pakistani officials to providing enrichment technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea. Chipman cautioned that “most of Khan’s foreign accomplices remain free and only three have been convicted and imprisoned.  The international framework of export controls still contains serious gaps that could be exploited by a network similar to that of A.Q. Khan.” Iran, once Khan’s leading customer, “has built a network equivalent to, if not larger than, Khan’s,” Chipman said (International Institute for Strategic Studies release, May 2).  Back to top       South African Court Hears Complaints Over Request to Close Nuclear Smuggling Trial to Media Media groups yesterday protested an attempt by South African prosecutors to keep a trial of suspected nuclear smugglers closed to the public, the South African Business Day reported (see GSN, April 3). South Africa’s High Court convened yesterday to hear arguments on keeping media out of the trial of two men — Swiss citizen Daniel Geiges and German citizen Gerhard Wisser —charged with violating South African nuclear export control laws.  Their trial is set to begin in July, and court officials have not yet ruled on whether to shutter the proceedings.  Prosecutors have argued that media coverage could release information that would harm national and international security, according to Business Day. Both the South African and U.S. energy departments have asked the court to protect the identities of their expert witnesses because they could become terrorists targets. “Even in the 1980s where witnesses were being killed, our courts consistently declined an order that is being sought here,” said Gilbert Marcus, an attorney representing media groups (Ernest Mabuza, Business Day, May 3). Back to top       U.N. Powers Threaten More Action Against Iran Six U.N. Security Council powers yesterday urged Iran to scale back its nuclear program if it wants to avoid additional international sanctions, Reuters reported (see GSN, May 1). Officials from the five permanent council members and Germany met in London to discuss their plans if Iran chooses again to ignore a council deadline to freeze its uranium enrichment activities.  “There was strong agreement on the way ahead, reflecting our shared concerns about Iran’s noncompliance with [the International Atomic Energy Agency] and Security Council requirements and our common interest in a negotiated solution,” said a statement released by the six.  “All agreed that if Iran failed to meet international requirements the Security Council would need to take further action” (Sophie Walker, Reuters/Malaysia Star, May 2). Meanwhile, former Iranian nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian apparently could face charges of spying after his arrest yesterday in Tehran, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, May 2). Mousavian, reportedly an ally of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was a leading diplomat on Iran’s nuclear team before the group was replaced by current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad two years ago. “The probable charge of espionage activities may be raised against him,” said an official quoted by the semiofficial Fars new agency.  “Mousavian was arrested because of connections and exchange of information with foreign elements.” “Mousavian's case is under initial investigation and interrogation, and his release is unlikely,” the agency added. Rafsanjani’s political camp has advocated more moderate nuclear policies in Iran, AP reported, and Mousavian’s arrest could be sign of an effort to restrain this growing influence, said one nuclear expert. “It may be an attempt by the supreme leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] to not let them get too powerful,” said Jon Wolfsthal of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.  Khamenei, he said, tries to keep a balance between the Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad factions. Another expert, however, suggested it is too soon to assess the arrest’s significance. “There are lots of tactical gambits by one side or the other” in Iran, said Jon Alterman, director of the CSIS Middle East program. “This is one of those tactical gambits” (Nasser Karimi, Associated Press/San Diego Union-Tribune, May 2). Back to top       Foreign Ministers Could Discuss North Korea The foreign ministers from five nations could meet tomorrow to discuss their ongoing efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program, Kyodo News reported (see GSN, May 2). The officials from China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States are scheduled to attend a conference today and tomorrow at Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hopes the session would provide a display of unity on the nuclear standoff, Kyodo reported.  It was not known if the other officials were open to the proposal (Kyodo News/Yahoo!News, May 3). Back to top

Expert Calls for Higher Scrutiny of Foreign Students Former weapons inspector Rod Barton is calling for Australian universities to increase their scrutiny of foreign science students, to ensure they are not intent on using their newfound knowledge for dangerous purposes, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported today (see GSN, Feb. 1). “We have to be very vigilant in this regard,” said Barton, a microbiologist and one-time member of the U.S.-led Iraq Survey Group (see GSN, May 15, 2006).  “It would be terrible if we, Australia, helped another country (to develop biological weapons), another Iraq.” Iraq in previous decades received unknowing support from other nations for its biological weapons program, he said.  Iraq imported bacterial growth medium and other equipment while shipping students to universities in other countries to study WMD-related topics.  The students themselves did not know the government’s intent in supporting their studies, Barton said. Screening in Australia of international science students must be strengthened, he said. “The universities themselves need to be more aware,” particularly of academic areas that could aid a WMD program, according to Barton.  That would include chemistry, biology and physics. Defense and immigration officials should be supporting the screening effort, he said. The process would not be easy, Barton said. “Obviously if someone wants to come and work on anthrax in Australia and they have anthrax problems in their own country, isn’t that legitimate?  I think you have to look at it on a case-by-case basis,” he said. “I don’t think we should stop all students from certain countries from coming here just because they may finish up in some program or other.  I think that would be unreasonable,” Barton added. Officials at Australian universities said they already consider this issue, according to ABC. “Australia’s universities will continue to work collaboratively with the government to enable appropriate engagement and cooperation between all relevant parties,” said professor Gerard Sutton, president of the Australian Vice Chancellors’ Committee. All doctorate students at the University of Technology, Sydney, must accept ethical and safety controls, said former dean of science Tony Moon. “I don’t think there’s any evidence that says international students are more or less prone to illegal or immoral activities than local students,” he said (Anna Salleh, Australian Broadcasting Corp., May 3). Back to top       Feds to View Possible Texas Biodefense Sites Federal officials next week are scheduled to visit four locations in Texas that could house the planned National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, the San Antonio Express-News reported (see GSN, April 19). A total of 17 sites across the country are being considered for the $451 million facility dedicated to researching potential disease and food supply threats, some of which could be produced by acts of terrorism.  Hundreds of scientists would prepare detection strategies and vaccines and other disease countermeasures at the laboratory, which would replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York. Locations under consideration in Texas are:  Brooks City-Base, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research and the Texas Research Park, all in the San Antonio area, along with a site at Texas A&M University in College Station. “This is an amicable competition within our states,” said Garry Adams, associate dean for research at the Texas A&M veterinary school.  “We want to win this for the state of Texas.” The list of candidates is expected to drop to three or four by the end of next month.  Those sites would then undergo environmental assessments, with a winning site identified in October 2008, the Express-News reported.  Construction is scheduled to begin in 2010, followed by laboratory operations in 2014. While the U.S. food supply is seen as significantly safe from tampering, “you might have 28 nodes in [the supply chain] where a terrorist could potentially attack,” Texas State Health Services Department food and drug safety officer Dan Sowards said during a bioterrorism conference. The most significant danger would come from imported food, only 2 percent of which undergoes inspection, Sowards said (Cindy Tumiel, San Antonio Express-News, May 2). Back to top

Sarin Vapor Detected at Umatilla Chemical Depot Umatilla Chemical Depot workers on Tuesday detected a sarin nerve agent leak inside a storage unit used to hold weapons that were already known to leak, the U.S. Army said in a press release (see GSN, March 28). Personnel at the Oregon facility detected trace amounts of sarin vapor during monitoring. Weapons in the storage igloo had previously been placed in larger containers to prevent additional escape of nerve agent.  Workers plan to find, inspect and decontaminate the leaking container. A powered filter system has also been installed in the structure to complement the passive filter system. The vapor posed no threat to nearby residents or the environment, the Army said (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency release, May 1). Back to top

House Panel Cuts Missile Defense Funding A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee yesterday eliminated funding in the fiscal 2008 budget for construction of a missile interceptor site in Poland, the Financial Times reported (see GSN, April 30). The Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee cut $160 million from the $310 million requested to develop European missile defense installations. The Bush administration has not adequately addressed Russian and NATO concerns about the project, said subcommittee Chairwoman Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) (Demetri Sevastopulo, Financial Times, May 3). The remaining funding would allow for developing the 10 interceptors proposed to be deployed in Poland, along with a radar base in the Czech Republic, the Washington Post reported. The panel also called for an independent study of the plan, Tauscher said. “There has to be a debate,” she said recently.  “We should be working within NATO and make this part of a NATO system.” Responding to China’s recent antisatellite test (see GSN, April 23), the panel called for development of a “Space Protection Strategy” by the Defense Department and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.  It provided $130 million to fund “space situational awareness” and “space control” capabilities, such as a surveillance program for monitoring satellites, debris and other objects in space. The $8.9 billion budget request for the Missile Defense Agency took a $760 million hit from the subcommittee.  Of that, $400 million would come from funding of the Airborne Laser program, in which aircraft would carry lasers that could shoot down missiles in their boost phase (see GSN, March 19). The panel favors missile defense systems that are closer to readiness rather than “programs that are less mature or involve higher technical risk,” Tauscher said (Walter Pincus, Washington Post, May 3). Meanwhile, Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said his country would consider participating in U.S. missile defense efforts in Europe, the Financial Times reported yesterday. “If (the U.S.) came and told us that they want to, we would certainly be willing to talk about it,” he said.  “There is no formal application, not even informal talks.  But if they ask for help, we will talk with them.” The head of the Missile Defense Agency, Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, has expressed interest in deploying a long-range radar to the Caucasus to boost tracking of potential Iranian missiles (see GSN, March 2; Schmid/Sevastopulo, Financial Times, May 2). Back to top

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