Wielding the threat of an Iranian agenda veto, Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh has stalled a Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty conference in Vienna (Dieter Nagl/Getty Images). NPT Conference Remains in Limbo Halfway through its two-week schedule, a Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty conference in Vienna remained scuttled today as Iran continued its refusal to approve an agenda for the session, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, May 3). Iranian diplomats have said the proposed agenda emphasizes the treaty’s nonproliferation functions over its disarmament aims.  The current draft agenda reaffirms “the need for full compliance with the treaty,” a clause that Iranian officials perceive as targeting their nation, according to other diplomats in Vienna...Full Story

Money Matter Still Dogs North Korean Standoff North Korea continues to face roadblocks in collecting $25 million from a Macau bank, funds it has linked to its willingness to begin dismantling its nuclear weapons program, the Financial Times reported yesterday (see GSN, May 3)...Full Story

Europe Shows Willingness to Cut Trade With Iran Support has grown among European nations for expanding limits on their own trade with Iran as a way to pressure Tehran to curb its nuclear program, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, May 3)...Full Story

	Friday, May 4, 2007

U.S. Considers Cell Phone-Based WMD Detectors The U.S. Homeland Security Department is considering deploying WMD detectors in cellular telephones as a way to speed the emergency response to a terrorist attack, USA Today reported today (see GSN, April 11). “If the intent is to have ubiquitous detection, there’s nothing quite as ubiquitous as a cell phone,” said Rolf Dietrich, deputy director of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency.  “It’s a really, really neat thing.” The program, dubbed Cell-All, would work by placing WMD detectors in cell phones equipped with Global Positioning System navigation receivers.  If a phone detected a WMD agent it would communicate its position to emergency responders. A single reading could prove to be a false positive, but multiple detections from the same location would trigger an emergency response, Dietrich said. Still, the technology is far from complete, and it faces both technological and political obstacles. Privacy concerns, for example, could hinder such a system.  Any effort in which “consumer products become surveillance devices for the government” should raise concerns, said Kevin Bankston of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Dietrich said participation would be voluntary. “Not all people would want to play in this game,” he said (Mimi Hall, USA Today, May 4). Back to top       Pentagon Updates WMD Counterproliferation Policy The U.S. Defense Department last month released a new policy on addressing the threat of weapons of mass destruction and the potential response to a terrorist incident involving such a weapon, Inside the Pentagon reported (see GSN, April 26). The Pentagon has taken a number of steps to address weapons of mass destruction in recent years.  It designated U.S. Strategic Command in 2005 as the agency responsible for facing the threat, with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency leading the way. The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review focused significantly on threats such as nuclear weapons in a failed state or terrorist acquisition of an unconventional weapon, according to Inside the Pentagon (see GSN, Feb. 6, 2006). The Joint Staff in spring 2006 for the first time released an unclassified version of the National Military Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction. The 10-page “Department of Defense Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy” is intended to complement those efforts.  It assigns jurisdictions within the military for handling “the full range of counterproliferation, nonproliferation, and consequence management efforts to counter (weapons of mass destruction) and related materials.” “The Department of Defense will combat WMD to dissuade, deter and defeat those who seek to harm the United States, its citizens, its armed forces, and its friends and allies through WMD use or threat of use, while maintaining the ability to respond and mitigate the effects of WMD use, and to restore deterrence,” according to the policy, which updates a 9-year-old document (Jason Sherman, Inside the Pentagon, May 3). An eight-person team of intelligence personnel is working at a DTRA site in California to provide U.S. combatant commanders worldwide with information regarding potential WMD threats in their regions, Inside the Pentagon reported yesterday. The work of the Biological Defense Fusion Cell involves tracking and analyzing intelligence on biological, chemical and nuclear threats.  The group reports to the Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction at Fort Belvoir, Va. The team “enhances situational awareness by fusing open-source near-real-time information … both at the classified and unclassified level, and turning it into timely, actionable intelligence in support of combatant commanders’ force protection requirements,” Rear Adm. William Loeffler, deputy director of the Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction, told Inside the Pentagon.  That information allows commanders to prepare “appropriate … defense postures,” Loeffler said (Sebastian Sprenger, Inside the Pentagon, May 3). Back to top       Nashville Police Get WMD Detection Vehicle The Nashville Police Department was scheduled today to unveil a new armored rescue vehicle equipped with WMD detection technology, The Tennessean reported (see GSN, Jan. 12). The department used a $250,000 Homeland Security Department grant to buy the vehicle, which also carries thermal imaging technology and equipment for detecting radiological and explosive material. The vehicle is the only one of its kind in Middle Tennessee, the newspaper reported (Tim Ghianni, The Tennessean, May 3). Back to top

NPT Conference Remains in Limbo Halfway through its two-week schedule, a Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty conference in Vienna remained scuttled today as Iran continued its refusal to approve an agenda for the session, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, May 3). Iranian diplomats have said the proposed agenda emphasizes the treaty’s nonproliferation functions over its disarmament aims.  The current draft agenda reaffirms “the need for full compliance with the treaty,” a clause that Iranian officials perceive as targeting their nation, according to other diplomats in Vienna. Iranian delegation leader Ali Asghar Soltanieh has proposed modifying the language to also stress the disarmament obligations of the treaty’s recognized nuclear-weapon states, AFP reported. The disagreement has prevented about 130 treaty parties from beginning substantive talks intended to ready the treaty’s 2010 review conference.  Under conference rules, the agenda must be adopted by consensus. Meeting Chairman Yukiya Amano of Japan today said he would not change the agenda’s wording but he stressed that “full compliance” should be interpreted to apply to “all” treaty requirements. That explanation, however, “was not enough,” Soltanieh said. Iran’s motivations for holding up the meeting have been ripe for speculation. “Iran is trying to undermine this conference, this treaty, because they understand that the treaty will be an occasion to blame them,” said one European diplomat. Iranian officials might also be trying to prevent discussion of other issues that could later affect the nation, such as how treaty members should respond if one withdraws from the treaty, the diplomat said (Agence France-Presse/Khaleej Times, May 4). Back to top       Money Matter Still Dogs North Korean Standoff North Korea continues to face roadblocks in collecting $25 million from a Macau bank, funds it has linked to its willingness to begin dismantling its nuclear weapons program, the Financial Times reported yesterday (see GSN, May 3). Pyongyang pledged in February to shut down its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and to allow international inspectors back into the country by April 14.  However, it subsequently said it must first receive funds that had been frozen at the Banco Delta Asia. Even after the United States said the money was available, North Korea has faced a number of obstacles consolidating its accounts at the bank, one senior U.S. official said.  Pyongyang apparently did not know the number of accounts and has had problems acquiring all the signatures needed for the money to be freed. The money ultimately is to be transferred to accounts in Italy and Russia. A U.S. official reaffirmed Washington’s willingness to be patient as the process continues. “If we got to a point where North Korea was not trying to move the money, we would have to say, ‘What’s going on?’  But the Macanese authorities are saying there is a real effort to move the money,” the official told the newspaper (Sevastopulo/Fifield, Financial Times, May 3). The Yonhap News Agency reported yesterday that the funds had been consolidated and that the transfer could occur by this weekend, according to Agence France-Presse. “We hope the issue will be solved in the near future.  As yet we have no official information on when the funds will be released,” said a South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, May 4). Back to top       Europe Shows Willingness to Cut Trade With Iran Support has grown among European nations for expanding limits on their own trade with Iran as a way to pressure Tehran to curb its nuclear program, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, May 3). U.N. powers met this week in London to discuss what to do if Iranian leaders ignore the Security Council’s demand that the nation suspend its uranium enrichment activities. Russia has indicated its reluctance to impose additional economic sanctions, already levied twice since December, unless European nations agree to bear more of the burden, according to a diplomatic official. Russian officials have argued that Moscow has made a greater sacrifice in sanctioning Iran because it has delayed completing a nuclear power plant in Iran and has a longtime arms supply relationship, Reuters reported. European nations might be ready to further reduce ties with Iran.  Some have indicated a readiness to limit future export credits and loans, according to a European diplomat (Carol Giacomo, Reuters/Washington Post, May 3). Meanwhile, U.S. Republican presidential candidates took rhetorical aim at Iran last night in California during their first debate prior to the 2008 election, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, April 27). “My greatest fear is the Iranians acquire a nuclear weapon and give it to a terrorist organization and there is a real threat of them doing that,” said Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.). “It’s the worst nightmare of the Cold War, isn’t it?  The nuclear weapons in the hands of an irrational person, an irrational force,” said former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “is clearly irrational,” he added (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, May 4). Back to top       Nuclear Terror Prevention Effort Adds Members Four additional nations plan to join a U.S.-Russian effort to combat nuclear terrorism, the U.S. State Department announced yesterday (see GSN, April 27). Armenia, Cambodia, Macedonia and Romania intend to become partners to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, according to the release.  The four are expected to join nearly two dozen other nations at the initiative’s June meeting in Kazakhstan. Moscow and Washington announced the collaborative program at last summer’s G-8 summit in St. Petersburg.  It is designed to help nations improve security over nuclear materials and to enhance antismuggling efforts (U.S. State Department release I, May 3). As part the initiative, Japan recently hosted a seminar to aid nations in their efforts to sign, ratify and implement antiterrorism treaties and protocols, according the State Department (State Department release II, May 3). Back to top       U.S., India Seek Compromises on Nuclear Deal U.S. and Indian negotiators this week discussed several compromise solutions to key disagreements that have barred the completion of a bilateral nuclear trade deal, The Hindu reported today (see GSN, May 2). Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon met Monday and Tuesday in Washington with U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns to try to break an impasse that has stalled progress on the deal.  The two nations have signed an agreement of principles on the trade pact but have not completed a detailed deal specifying the equipment and technology India could receive and the conditions surrounding those sales. A U.S. statement this week suggested a final agreement could be achieved this month. India has been seeking relief from two components of U.S. nuclear nonproliferation laws that were not eased as part of a sweeping exemption granted by the U.S. Congress late last year. The first issue centers on the “right of return” clause of U.S. law that would enable the United States to demand the return of nuclear equipment and material sold to India if New Delhi tests a nuclear weapon, according to The Hindu. One compromise under consideration is to adopt “all or nothing” language that would keep the U.S. right of return but make such a move practically impossible by forcing Washington to take back everything it provided, not just some key pieces of equipment or materials. Still, such a solution would continue to limit India’s freedom to test again, a restriction opposed by many Indian government and nuclear leaders. India has been unwilling to commit to any legally binding testing restriction, but it could be willing to agree to continue its unilateral moratorium until another nation tests a nuclear device.  Officials have been exploring whether such a policy would satisfy Washington, The Hindu reported. A second contentious issue focuses on the U.S. refusal to provide uranium enrichment technology to India or to allow India to separate plutonium from reactor fuel originally provided by the United States. The two sides are exploring whether they can agree to “neutral” language on this subject that would require each nation to adhere to its own rules without specifically mentioning enrichment or reprocessing. Above all, India has been demanding a U.S. promise not to prevent other nations from providing nuclear fuel in case the United States cuts off its own supplies to India, according to The Hindu (Siddharth Varadarajan, The Hindu, May 4). Back to top

FBI Briefs Senators on Anthrax Case The FBI delivered a long-awaited briefing to key U.S. senators in March to describe the status of its investigation into the 2001 anthrax mail attacks, Roll Call reported yesterday (see GSN, March 5). Lawmakers have criticized the bureau for refusing to provide briefings which stopped when officials said information was leaking to the media. The attacks killed five people on the U.S. East Coast and many congressional offices were closed after anthrax-laced letters were sent to Capitol Hill. Those receiving the March briefing included Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa).  Leahy was the addressee of one anthrax-tainted letter and Grassley has led the call for more FBI briefings. “With the concurrence of [the Justice Department], the FBI briefed Senator Leahy on the Amerithrax investigation,” said special agent Richard Kolko in a Tuesday e-mail to Roll Call.  “Senator Leahy was provided this brief due to his specific status as a victim in this case.” Neither Leahy nor Grassley provided any substantive details of the briefing or of the investigation.  The FBI has made no arrests in the case (see GSN, April 12). “They say [the case is] active, and I hope it is,” Leahy said. U.S. House lawmakers have also been seeking an anthrax investigation briefing but were not invited to the March briefing.  House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) said Tuesday that he would work to get more information (Jennifer Yachnin, Roll Call, May 3). Back to top       Operations Blocked at Los Alamos Biodefense Lab The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration has denied a request from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico to begin limited operations at a biodefense laboratory, the Albuquerque Journal reported yesterday (see GSN, March 30). Officials had hoped the Biosafety Level 3 facility could conduct research on nonlethal biological materials while they await the completion of an environmental review of the site. However, NNSA deputy general counsel Paul Detwiler said in a letter that only maintenance, office and safety certification work is allowed at the laboratory. The biological laboratory is intended to promote research at Los Alamos of anthrax, plague and other diseases that could be used in acts of bioterrorism.  It was finished more than three years ago, but has been blocked from opening by a legal challenge and an extended environmental review. The organization Nuclear Watch New Mexico had threatened to sue if any research operations began before the environmental assessment was done. “Our position is that bioweapons research, even for purported defensive purposes, at a secret nuclear weapons site is a provocative signal to other countries,” said Jay Coghlan, head of the watchdog group (Albuquerque Journal, May 3). Back to top

Souvenir Hunters Urged to Return Chemical Vials Federal officials are urging the return of any vials filled with chemicals that might have been picked up by souvenir hunters at an Oklahoma wildlife refuge, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, May 1). A cache of the glass containers, components of kits once used to prepare soldiers for chemical weapons attack, came to light late last month after a Boy Scout broke one open while digging at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.  U.S. Army personnel have since recovered 130 vials and incendiary devices potentially meant to destroy the chemicals. Any person in the possession of the vials or devices should call their local police agency to ensure the chemicals are destroyed, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department. Chemical agent contained in the vials “have a potential to create an extreme irritation to your skin, your face, your eyes,” said agency spokeswoman Victoria Fox. “Having these items places you, your family and your neighbors at risk,” according to a department press release (Tim Talley, Associated Press/York Dispatch, May 4). Back to top       U.S. Army Cleans VX Production Plant Pipes The U.S. Army has finished decontaminating all components of a demolished facility once used to produce VX nerve agent, according to a press release issued yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 3, 2006). The Army Chemical Materials Agency cleansed thousands of feet of piping from the plant that was dismantled by April 2006 at the Newport Chemical Depot in Indiana.  An autoclave was used to heat the pipes to temperatures above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency release, May 3). Back to top

Democrats Question U.S. Missile Defense Plans U.S. House of Representatives Democrats yesterday challenged Bush administration officials over plans to deploy missile defense installations in Europe, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, May 3). House Foreign Affairs Europe subcommittee Chairman Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) questioned during a hearing of two House panels the value of the system itself, as it has not been tested under combat conditions. Lawmakers also addressed Russia’s frequently voiced objections to placing 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic.  Defying Moscow in this instance could damage efforts to drive Iran away from its suspected nuclear weapons program, said Representative Brad Sherman (D-Calif.). “We need cooperation on Iran,” Sherman said.  “I can think of no better way to ensure that Russia will do very little to help stop the Iranian program than to stick it to them by putting our missiles in what used to be their allies.” Administration officials vouched for the missile defense system’s capabilities, and reiterated their argument that it could not threaten Russia’s strategic security, AP reported. “Ten defensive missiles would be of no use against Russia’s hundreds of missiles and thousands of nuclear warheads,” said Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.  “The Russians know this.” Concerns about future additions to the European missile defense sites “are not all that fanciful,” Sherman countered. However, Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.) said Moscow’s objections are “about Russian ambition to diminish U.S. clout and to expand its power eastward, not its national security.” The hearing yesterday followed a move by the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee on Wednesday to strip fiscal 2008 funding for preparation of the interceptor site in Poland (George Gedda, Associated Press/Northwest Florida Daily News, May 3). The funding cut could “present issues for us in our discussions” with Poland and the Czech Republic regarding the missile defense sites, Assistant Secretary of State John Rood said during the hearing. “And at a time when NATO allies have responded so positively to our recent discussions, I would urge against taking such a step,” he said.  “We obviously would like to see Congress fully fund the president’s request.” The White House is seeking $310 million in the next fiscal year for its European missile defense initiative. Rood plans this month to lead a team of officials from several agencies for talks in Prague and Warsaw regarding locations for the installations, Agence France-Presse reported (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, May 3). Back to top

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