U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, shown last year, spoke by phone yesterday to reaffirm their support for a nuclear trade deal (Raveendran/Getty Images). India, U.S. Quell Domestic Critics of Nuclear Trade Deal U.S. and Indian officials have interpreted controversial terms of a pending nuclear trade deal in different ways, seeking support from their respective lawmakers, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, Aug. 14). In particular, the officials have offered somewhat contradictory descriptions of what would happen to the deal if India were to resume nuclear testing, according to AFP...Full Story

U.S. Should Deploy Missile Defenses, Says Ex-Envoy A former high-level U.S. official yesterday urged the United States to deploy missile defenses across Eastern Europe to contain an emerging Iranian missile threat, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, July 30)...Full Story

Diplomats Prepare for Next North Korea Nuclear Talks Diplomats have expressed optimism about two days of working-level talks scheduled to begin tomorrow on technical details of North Korean denuclearization, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 14)...Full Story

	Wednesday, August 15, 2007

U.S. to Designate Iranian Guard a Terrorist Group The United States appears ready to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a “terrorist” entity in a move to financially isolate the organization, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, June 21). U.S. officials are prepared to label parts of the Revolutionary Guard a “specially designated global terrorist” group — a designation created in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks to place financial sanctions on extremist organizations.  However, debate has lingered over whether the label should be applied to the whole corps or only to the Al-Quds force, the group’s primary military section. The Bush administration alleges that the Guard is providing support for insurgents in Iraq, the Taliban in Afghanistan and Hezbollah in Lebanon.  The White House also continues to worry about Iran’s nuclear program (see related GSN story, today). A terrorist designation would prevent the Revolutionary Guard Corps from accessing U.S. financial networks, freezing any assets that it, its members or subsidiary organizations might have that are under U.S. control. It was not immediately known yesterday how much money U.S. sanctions could cut off from the corps, but a terrorist designation would allow the United States to take measures against companies that conduct business with the Revolutionary Guard, AP reported. The Washington Post, which first reported the planned designation, said last night that the Bush administration is aiming to formally announce its move before the U.N. General Assembly reconvenes in New York in September. An official speaking to AP, however, said that officials have not settled on a date, but only that “it’s going to happen at some point” (Matthew Lee, Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, Aug. 15). Back to top

India, U.S. Quell Domestic Critics of Nuclear Trade Deal U.S. and Indian officials have interpreted controversial terms of a pending nuclear trade deal in different ways, seeking support from their respective lawmakers, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, Aug. 14). In particular, the officials have offered somewhat contradictory descriptions of what would happen to the deal if India were to resume nuclear testing, according to AFP. The deal calls for the United States to sell nuclear technology and materials to India by exempting New Delhi from decades-old nuclear nonproliferation laws that prohibit such sales to nations that have not joined the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.  In exchange, India has agreed to place its civilian nuclear sector under international monitoring. Critics in both nations have expressed concern over how the deal affects India’s nuclear weapons program and its freedom to test nuclear weapons.  Conservative and leftists lawmakers in India have said the deal would restrict the nation’s ability to develop its military nuclear activities.  U.S. critics have said the agreement would do little to discourage a new round of tests because it appears to promise continuing U.S. support following a test, even if U.S. supplies are halted (P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse I/Yahoo!News, Aug. 15). Officials in both countries have tried to rebut the objections. “The agreement does not in any way affect India’s right to undertake future nuclear tests, if it is necessary in India’s national interest,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told parliament Monday.  “Let me hence reiterate once again that a decision to undertake a future nuclear test would be our sovereign decision, one that rests solely with the government.  There is nothing in the agreement that would tie the hands of a future government or legally constrain its options to protect India’s security and defense needs” (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh release, Aug. 13). The U.S. State Department has offered a different interpretation of the so-called “123 agreement,” named for section of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act. “The proposed 123 agreement has provisions in it that in an event of a nuclear test by India, then all nuclear cooperation is terminated,” spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday. The deal’s text, however, does not specifically mention how it would be affected by an Indian test.  Most U.S. nuclear cooperation agreements with other nations include specific language giving Washington the right to cancel the cooperation following a nuclear test, AFP reported (Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse I). The U.S.-Indian agreement does not mention nuclear testing in its “termination and cessation” clause, but in another section the United States appears to promise to help India find alternative nuclear suppliers in case U.S. support is cut off. “If … a disruption of fuel supplies to India occurs, the United States and India would jointly convene a group of friendly supplier countries to include countries such as Russia, France and the United Kingdom to pursue such measures as would restore fuel supply to India,” the text says (U.S. State Department release, Aug. 3). Meanwhile, Singh and U.S. President George W. Bush spoke by telephone yesterday to reaffirm their support for the deal.  Singh addressed a tumultuous parliamentary session Monday (see GSN, Aug. 13), and Bush must gain congressional approval of the deal before it can proceed. “The civil nuclear agreement has many wonderful aspects to it, one of them being bringing India into the system of some monitoring and compliance,” Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said yesterday (Agence France-Presse II/Yahoo!News, Aug. 14). In Moscow, Indian nuclear envoy Shyam Saran reported yesterday that he received Russia’s “firm backing” for the deal from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Russian support is critical because the deal’s implementation requires the approval of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, a body that informally sets international nuclear trade guidelines. Lavrov promised Russia’s “firm support for India in the NSG,” Saran said.  “Moscow is the first capital I am visiting, as Russia is our time-tested strategic partner and is already working on the ground in nuclear cooperation.” Next for Saran are visits to Germany, Brazil and Argentina, the Press Trust of India reported (Vinay Shukla, Press Trust of India/OutlookIndia.com, Aug. 14). Back to top       Diplomats Prepare for Next North Korea Nuclear Talks Diplomats have expressed optimism about two days of working-level talks scheduled to begin tomorrow on technical details of North Korean denuclearization, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 14). The meeting in the northeastern China city of Shenyang follows another working group meeting last week that addressed energy assistance that North Korea stands to receive in exchange for shuttering its nuclear program. “If the D.P.R.K. can give out the true and honest attitude that they showed in the energy meeting at Panmunjom last week, I think a certain level of result can be achieved,” said South Korean nuclear negotiator Chun Young-woo. “I think the atmosphere at these talks will be good,” said North Korean envoy Ri Gun, according to Kyodo News. There is no schedule yet for Pyongyang to fully declare and disable its nuclear program, the crucial second phase of an agreement reached at six-party talks in February, said Japanese envoy Akio Suda.  “The faster the better,” he said. “I don’t think the timetable will be the topic at this stage,” he added (Anita Chang, Associated Press I, Aug. 15). There are still areas of disagreement between North Korea and the United States on the next move toward disarmament, chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill acknowledged yesterday. The assistant secretary of state met Monday with top North Korean negotiator Kim Kye Gwan for talks on what to include in the declaration of the Stalinist state’s nuclear holdings, AP reported. “We discussed what should be in the declaration.  I wouldn’t call it a common view though, but I think it’s certainly the basis for sitting down and having further discussions,” Hill said. Talks on normalizing diplomatic relations between Pyongyang and Washington should occur in the next month, he said.  They are likely to be held in a third county, which Hill would not name (Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press II, Aug. 14). South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said today he believes his Aug. 28 to 30 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il would aid the nuclear talks, Agence France-Presse reported.  Some experts have questioned whether Pyongyang would allow significant discussion of that issue during the meeting. “The summit will be in harmony with the six-party talks and will be carried out in such a way that it expedites their success,” Roh said during a speech (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, Aug. 15). Back to top       Giuliani Outlines Policy on Iranian Nuclear Sites Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani said he would consider destroying Iranian nuclear facilities as a last resort if negotiations fail to resolve concerns surrounding the country’s nuclear program, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, Aug. 9). The former New York City mayor detailed his foreign policy views in Foreign Affairs magazine. “The theocrats ruling Iran need to understand that we can wield the stick as well as the carrot, by undermining popular support for their regime, damaging the Iranian economy, weakening Iran’s military, and, should all else fail, destroying its nuclear infrastructure,” Giuliani wrote. Both Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, another Republican presidential contender, said in a debate this year that if elected they would not rule out using tactical nuclear weapons to halt Iranian development of an atomic arsenal (Katharine Seelye, New York Times, Aug. 15). Meanwhile, two Chinese citizens are suspected of spying on Iranian nuclear and military sites, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, May 8). “The Chinese nationals were detained while taking photos and recording video of a military complex in Arak city,” Iranian state radio quoted judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi as saying.  “They entered Iran through Kish Island as tourists.” Kish Island is a free-trade resort area near Iran’s southern coast.  Iran is building a 40-megawatt nuclear reactor at Arak, 435 miles north of Kish (see GSN, July 31). Jamshidi said that Iranian judicial authorities were investigating the accusation, but gave no further information on the case. Iran has reported similar cases involving Westerners several times in recent years, but it had not before arrested visitors from China, with which it has good relations (Associated Press/London Guardian, Aug. 15). Back to top       Russia Conducts Bomber Drills Over North Pole Russia yesterday started a five-day period of drills using nuclear-capable strategic bombers over the North Pole to launch cruise missiles, practice navigation and conduct aerial refueling exercises, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Aug. 15). The drills announced by the Russian air force are the latest in a series of exercises Russia has carried out in recent months using strategic bombers. A Russian air force officer said U.S. military aircraft were likely to be seen during the drills. “It is a traditional practice for military pilots to see foreign pilots come up to meet them and say to hello,” he said. "The United States [is] aware of our exercise,” he said. About 30 Russian planes are expected to participate in the drills, including Tu-95 long-range strategic bombers, Tu-22 strategic supersonic bombers, and four-engine Il-78 aerial refueling craft (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, Aug. 14). Back to top

Anthrax Spilled A University of Mississippi graduate student accidentally broke open a container holding anthrax cells Saturday while conducting research at the school’s Medical Center, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reported (see GSN, Aug. 2). The mishap occurred inside a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory at the university in Jackson.  A flask of medium inoculated with anthrax cells broke while the student was putting it into a shaker, according to the Medical Center press office. The student adhered to a biosafety plan intended to ensure that personnel are not harmed and that there is no escape of pathogens from the laboratory. “At no time was there a risk of infection to anyone outside the lab, which is specially designed to contain biohazards,” according to a press statement. The student was treated for possible anthrax exposure and allowed to go home (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Aug. 14). Back to top

U.S. Should Deploy Missile Defenses, Says Ex-Envoy A former high-level U.S. official yesterday urged the United States to deploy missile defenses across Eastern Europe to contain an emerging Iranian missile threat, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, July 30). Robert Joseph, a former assistant secretary of state who last week left his post as a special proliferation envoy, said U.S. officials should not be deterred by Russian objections and offers of alternative plans. The Bush administration wants to place a radar base in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland.  Moscow has countered with offers of a joint radar in Azerbaijan or Russia and pressed Washington to hold off on deploying the interceptors. Joseph said Russia has attempted to thwart U.S. negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic because Moscow does not consider Iran’s missile program to pose a significant threat. “Perhaps from paranoia, or perhaps from a concern for lost prestige, or perhaps both, Russia wants to prevent the permanent presence of U.S. military forces in Eastern Europe,” he said. Russia two weeks ago demanded an additional U.S. commitment not to deploy missile defense systems in outer space, Joseph said in his speech at a conference in Huntsville, Ala., sponsored by the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command. In a recent newspaper column, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said the Bush administration should pursue Russia’s proposal of missile defense cooperation.  Such an initiative could help relieve mounting tensions between the countries, he said. Joseph alluded to Kissinger’s stance, but said the United States should not accept any Russian preconditions for a cooperation agreement. “One question that many are asking today is whether Moscow is now serious about cooperation on missile defense having rejected for several years numerous U.S. offers to cooperate,” he said. “The best answer I can give is maybe, or maybe not.  But what is clear is that we must reject the preconditions.” Joseph said that complying with Russian demands would undermine the support of U.S. allies in Europe by suggesting a lack of resolve. “On missile defense, especially a third site in Europe, I don’t believe we do share the same mutual interest as Russia,” he said. “We need the site to protect the United States and our allies from Iranian missiles, a threat Russia continues to deny,” Joseph said. “It’s my experience that Russia will understand our position, and will accept it.  They are never going to like it, but they will accept it as based on U.S. self-interest,” he said (Jim Mannion, Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Aug. 14). Back to top       Doubts Persist on Floating Missile Defense Radar Some observers continue to question the value of the floating X-band radar that is intended to be a key component of the U.S. missile shield, Time magazine reported yesterday (see GSN, July 19). The 280-foot tall, $900 million sea-based radar can detect objects as small as a baseball at great distances and distinguish between incoming warheads and decoys, according to the Missile Defense Agency. Its designated home is Arak, Alaska, but the radar has spent more time over the last year shuttling to and from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for testing and repairs, Time reported.  While putting the radar on water gives it mobility, it also subjects the rig to deterioration caused by salt water, waves and wind.  It has already required $27 million in upgrades, including work on the ballast system and the installation of nonslip surfaces on decks. “You have to wonder what the people who designed the thing were thinking,” said Center for Defense Information senior adviser Philip Coyle, who served as an assistant defense secretary in the Clinton administration.  “It’s like you’ve hired a contractor to build a kitchen, and they’ve forgotten to build a stove that doesn’t catch fire.” The radar survived a month in rough Alaskan waters with no notable effects.  Improvements to the radar are not much different than those needed for any complicated sea vessel, one MDA official said, noting that new Navy ships undergo a year of testing. “When you go out and shoot a rifle, you have to go out and calibrate it to make sure it’s tuned and performing how you want it to,” said Col. John Fellows.  “Is it perfect yet?  No.  That’s why we continue to work with it.” The agency hopes to see the radar operating in Alaska in early 2008, Fellows said. Coyle and other observers remain unconvinced.  Funding being poured into improving and repairing the radar and some other missile defense components indicates these systems might simply not yet be technologically realistic, said Center for Defense Information research analyst Victoria Samson.  “It’s giving (the program) a blank check to keep developing and never have to justify itself,” she said (Krista Mahr, Time, Aug. 14). Back to top       China Could Develop Antisatellite Weapons in Three Years, Says U.S. Missile Defense Official A U.S. military official said yesterday that China could be near to developing effective antisatellite weapons that could threaten U.S. superiority in space, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, June 26). “It is not inconceivable that within about three years we can be challenged at a near peer level in a region,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell, head of the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command, in a speech at missile defense conference in Huntsville, Ala.  “That means taking out a number of communications capabilities over a theater of war.” China in January conducted a successful antisatellite test, in which a converted ballistic missile launched an interceptor that destroyed an aging weather satellite (see GSN, Jan. 19). In response, the United States has developed a “space alert” system to warn of potential threats to U.S. military equipment in orbit. “I’m not free to talk about specifics, but the bottom line is we’re thinking about and taking steps to ensure we have a capability … that shows we have freedom of action in space,” Campbell said (Jim Mannion, Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Aug. 14).     Back to top

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

© Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.