A panel of experts is set to provide recommendations to U.S. Strategic Command on a nuclear missile-equipped submarine that could replace U.S. Navy Ohio-class submarines like the one shown above (U.S. Navy photo). U.S. Study Panel Eyes New Nuclear Weapons Submarine By Elaine M. Grossman Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — In a closed-door meeting in November, advisers to U.S. Strategic Command are slated to report their recommendations for what could become the Navy’s next nuclear weapons-carrying submarine, Global Security Newswire has learned (see GSN, Dec. 20, 2001). The command, which is responsible for the nation’s nuclear force operations, has assigned its “Strategic Advisory Group” to develop a list of capabilities desired for a boat that might ultimately replace the service’s Ohio-class submarines and the Trident D-5 nuclear-armed ballistic missiles they carry, according to sources close to the panel. A number of officials provided information for this article on condition that they not be named, because they were not authorized to address the matter publicly...Full Story

Syria on Nuclear “Watch List,” U.S. Says Syria might have sought out nuclear equipment from “secret suppliers” and is currently hosting North Koreans, a high-level U.S. nuclear nonproliferation official said today (see GSN, Sept. 13)...Full Story

Russian Suspected of Smuggling Biological Material A Russian scientist acknowledged today that he is being investigated on suspicion of smuggling material that could be used to develop a biological weapon, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 22)...Full Story

	Friday, September 14, 2007

U.S. Lawmakers Push Transit Security Funding Representative Rush Holt (D-N.J.) on Wednesday defended a $400 million spending plan for tightening U.S. rail and port security that U.S. President George W. Bush has threatened to veto, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, July 18) The legislation would substantially increase funding for rail and port security, which last year received $175 million and $100 million in supplemental funds. Holt argued for the increase, noting that since the 2001 terror attacks, Congress has appropriated $30 billion for aviation security while providing about $720 million for mass-transit security. In other words, he said, Congress provided “less than a penny” for the security of each rail passenger and $7 in security funding for each airline passenger, although 16 times as many people use trains and buses. Since 2004, attacks on trains and buses have killed more than 400 people worldwide, AP reported. “These are all-too-real, disturbing examples of the vulnerability of transit systems,” Holt said. New Jersey transit police yesterday demonstrated security equipment funded since 2003 through federal homeland security grants.  The gear included sensors for detecting chemical and biological agents as well as hand-held detectors that transit police carry to measure exposure to radiation (David Porter, Associated Press/Home News Tribune, Sept. 13). Back to top       DHS Issues National Preparedness Guidelines The U.S. Homeland Security Department said yesterday it had issued a planning document intended to help boost preparedness around the nation for a major catastrophe (see GSN, March 2). The National Preparedness Guidelines “establish a vision for national preparedness and provide a systematic approach for prioritizing preparedness efforts across the nation,” the agency said in a press release. The purpose of the guidelines is to:  organize and synchronize efforts at all levels of government to boost disaster readiness; guide national preparedness investments; incorporate the lessons of prior catastrophes in developing preparedness priorities; facilitating a “capability-based and risk-based investment planning process”; and prepare a system for measuring progress and overall preparations for terrorism and other potential crises. There are four parts to the guidelines, the agency said: — A vision statement:  “The vision for the National Preparedness Guidelines is a nation prepared with coordinated capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from all hazards in a way that balances risk with resources and need”; — Fifteen planning scenarios for a range of threats, intended to “form the basis for national planning, training, investments and exercises needed to prepare for emergencies of all types”; — A list of 1,600 tasks that would bolster prevention, protection, response and recovery efforts in the event of a major catastrophe; and — A set of 37 capabilities for development by states, municipalities and the private sector to strengthen the response to a disaster (U.S. Homeland Security Department release, Sept. 13). Back to top

WMD Interdiction Drill set for October Several nations are expected to participate in a sea drill next month near Japan simulating the interception of weapons of mass destruction, Kyodo News reported (see GSN, May 26, 2006). The Proliferation Security Initiative exercise is expected to involve personnel and ships from Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.  Officials from other Asian and Pacific nations might observe the event, to be conducted near Izu-Oshima Island and the ports of Yokosuka and Yokohama, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry (Kyodo News, Sept. 14). Back to top

U.S. Study Panel Eyes New Nuclear Weapons Submarine By Elaine M. Grossman Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — In a closed-door meeting in November, advisers to U.S. Strategic Command are slated to report their recommendations for what could become the Navy’s next nuclear weapons-carrying submarine, Global Security Newswire has learned (see GSN, Dec. 20, 2001). The command, which is responsible for the nation’s nuclear force operations, has assigned its “Strategic Advisory Group” to develop a list of capabilities desired for a boat that might ultimately replace the service’s Ohio-class submarines and the Trident D-5 nuclear-armed ballistic missiles they carry, according to sources close to the panel. A number of officials provided information for this article on condition that they not be named, because they were not authorized to address the matter publicly. The advisory group’s “Next SSBN Task Force” is scheduled to report its findings to the top strategic commander during a two-day session beginning Nov. 13, defense sources said.  The session — typically held twice a year in Omaha, Neb. — is to include the entire Strategic Advisory Group, a nearly 30-year-old organization that has grown to more than 45 experts from the government, private sector and academia. With the group’s deliberations kept secret, it could not be determined this week exactly what the task force would recommend for the future submarine or the missiles it carries.  However, the assessment could include possible performance characteristics for the new weapons platform, such as how it might achieve the stability required for launching missiles while at sea, according to defense sources.  Additional recommendations likely would address how many missiles, and of what size, the submarine should carry. The task force is also expected to sketch initial suggestions for technology development and prototyping that might be funded beginning in fiscal 2009 or 2010, said advisory group sources. “We’re always interested in the future of our mission areas and being able to serve the nation’s interests,” Bruce Sudduth, executive director of the Strategic Advisory Group at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., said in a Sept. 13 telephone interview.  “So the viability of our platforms and capabilities is always … something we’re looking at.” The Defense Department carried out a Nuclear Posture Review in 2002 projecting that a replacement for the Trident submarine would be needed around 2029, assuming the nation continues to require a sea-based strategic nuclear force (see GSN, Jan. 7, 2002). To fill the need, the Pentagon study laid out two potential options:  a dedicated nuclear weapons-bearing submarine, known as an SSBN; or a variant of the Virginia-class attack submarine, which might be modified to take on the SSBN mission.  A replacement for the Ohio-class submarine could be an all-new design or derived from the current Trident platform, according to the posture review.  The review projected that a new program would have to begin around 2016 for the first submarine to be fielded in 2029.  However, defense sources tell GSN that it now appears initial funding would be sought by 2010. In 2004, then-commander of the Pacific Fleet’s submarine force Rear Adm. Paul Sullivan told independent news weekly Inside the Navy that the replacement fleet should have more submarines than the 14 currently fielded, with each vessel carrying fewer missiles.  Sullivan is now a three-star flag officer who heads Naval Sea Systems Command. Since its establishment in 1968, the Strategic Advisory Group has provided recommendations on scientific, technical, intelligence, and policy-related issues to Strategic Command’s top officer, according to information the command provided to GSN.  Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Kehler is acting commander of Strategic Command, pending the Senate’s confirmation of Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, the White House nominee to assume the post.  Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright vacated the command position last month when he became vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Meetings of the Strategic Advisory Group “are closed to the public for security reasons,” according to disclosure information the panel has posted to the Web as an official federal advisory committee.  Funded at more than $600,000 a year, “the SAG meets to discuss strategic issues which relate to the development of the national nuclear war plan,” the group states.  “Unauthorized disclosure of the information discussed at SAG meetings could have grave impact upon national security.” Back to top       Syria on Nuclear “Watch List,” U.S. Says Syria might have sought out nuclear equipment from “secret suppliers” and is currently hosting North Koreans, a high-level U.S. nuclear nonproliferation official said today (see GSN, Sept. 13). Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Semmel made the remarks while answering questions about Israeli air strikes inside Syria last week, the Associated Press reported.  The Washington Post reported yesterday that North Korea might be helping Syria to build a nuclear facility. “There are indicators that they do have something going on there,” said Semmel, who heads the department’s nuclear nonproliferation policy work.  “We do know that there are a number of foreign technicians that have been in Syria.  We do know that there may have been contact between Syria and some secret suppliers for nuclear equipment.  Whether anything transpired remains to be seen.” Washington has placed Damascus on its “watch list,” Semmel said. “Good foreign policy, good national security policy, would suggest that we pay very close attention to that,” he said.  “We're watching very closely.  Obviously, the Israelis were watching very closely.” Semmel did not name potential nuclear suppliers, but he acknowledged that North Koreans are in Syria. “There are North Korean people there.  There's no question about that,” Semmel said when questioned on the possibility that Pyongyang was supplying the materials.  “Just as there are a lot of North Koreans in Iraq and Iran.” Semmel also declined to rule out the possible involvement of the nuclear smuggling ring once led by top Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, which supplied nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea (Nicole Winfield, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Sept. 14). Back to top       China, U.S. Prepare Fuel for North Korea China has joined the United States in preparing to supply fuel aid to North Korea as the Stalinist state progresses toward full denuclearization, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, Sept. 13). Reports emerged yesterday that Washington planned to ship 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil — valued at $25 million — to North Korea.  That would be preceded by a 50,000-ton shipment this month from China, a U.S. administration official said. Pyongyang is expected to receive a total of 1 million tons of fuel or equivalent assistance for fully declaring and disabling its nuclear program.  It received a first shipment of 50,000 tons from South Korea in July for halting operations at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. The next shipments are expected to follow an upcoming round of six-party talks in Beijing, which could be held next week, AFP reported. “This is something that is done with an eye toward if North Korea does in fact follow through on their commitment,” said U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.  “So what it does is that it prepares us in the case that we do need to fulfill some commitment as part of the six-party talks” (P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, Sept. 13). Back to top       NNSA Converts Research Reactor The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced yesterday that it had converted a 1 kilowatt research reactor at Purdue University in Indiana to use low-enriched uranium fuel rather than less proliferation-resistant highly enriched uranium (see GSN, Oct. 19, 2006). “In the past year, we have converted three U.S. research reactors from the use of highly enriched uranium.  This clearly demonstrates NNSA’s strong commitment to minimizing the use of highly enriched uranium and to accelerating our nonproliferation efforts here at home and around the world,” NNSA nonproliferation programs chief William Tobey said in a press release. The agency’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative seeks to convert research reactors in the United States and abroad to the use of low-enriched fuel, which could not be used in nuclear weapons. Advances in designs have allowed research reactors to move away from highly enriched uranium, which has been used mainly to produce isotopes needed in the medical field. The United States in October 2006 finished converting reactors at Texas A&M University and the University of Florida.  Under an agreement to switch fuel at North American civilian research reactors by 2011, the United States intends to convert six plants, while Canada would conduct three conversions and Mexico one, the press release states. Washington also this year announced the conversion of two reactors in China and the closure of a facility in Shanghai (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release, Sept. 13). Back to top       Air Force Chief to Review Nuclear Weapons Handling The head of the U.S. Air Force today is expected to discuss nuclear weapons handling procedures with officials at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where six nuclear warheads were loaded last month on to a B-52 bomber that flew the weapons over several states, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Sept. 6). “The recent breakdowns in the munition system is a very serious incident,” said Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col. Brenda Campbell.  “This is an opportunity for [Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne] to get on the ground in Minot and understand firsthand what the processes and procedures are to make sure this never happens again.” In light of the Aug. 30 bomber incident, Air Combat Command has scheduled a command-wide stand down today to review “procedures, discipline and attention to detail,” said Minot Air Force Base spokeswoman Maj. Patricia Traynor. “All continental United States-based nonmission essential flying operations will cease that day,” Traynor said.  “Mission-critical flights will still occur.” Discipline has been meted out to at least one unidentified Air Force officer and several airmen in connection with the incident.  An investigation continues. “A munitions squadron commander has been relieved of duties,” Traynor said.  “Additional airmen have been temporarily decertified to perform duties involving munitions.” Traynor declined to say how many Air Force personnel have been found responsible for arming the B-52 bomber bound for Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana with nuclear-armed Advanced Cruise Missiles. “We can’t discuss specific numbers,” Traynor said.  “Individuals or crews that deviated from our extremely strict standard of proficiency have been decertified, pending corrective actions or additional training.” The Air Force plans to publicly disclose the investigation’s findings, Campbell said. “We are going to do everything we can to release as much of it as we can,” she said (James MacPherson, Associated Press/Minot Daily News, Sept. 14). Back to top       European Union Fights Proposed U.S. Sanctions on Companies Doing Business With Iran A U.S. congressional initiative aiming to penalize foreign companies for conducting business with Iran faces opposition from the European Union, Reuters reported today (see GSN, Aug. 1). Diplomats said that EU officials would fight U.S. attempts to penalize European companies that invest in Iran or conduct trade with the nation, although Europe’s main powers have expressed willingness to support new sanctions on Tehran through the U.N. Security Council. The legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would terminate a waiver enacted by the president that now shields European firms from U.S. sanctions on companies with $20 million or more invested in Iran’s energy sector (Reuters/Moscow Times, Sept. 14). Meanwhile, Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Pour Mohammadi traveled to China yesterday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Sept. 13). Iran is “willing to enhance cooperation with relevant international organizations and we welcome full inspections on our nuclear activities,” Pour Mohammadi said after his arrival. “We will conduct nuclear activities legally, abiding by a series of international laws and regulations,” he said. “We consider it is beneficial to us as well to cooperate with [the] international community," he said. Pour Mohammadi said that sanctions were “not the most effective measures to solve problems,” and he insisted that Iran is not aiming to develop weapons through its nuclear program. “I want to reiterate our position that we develop [a] nuclear program only for peaceful purpose and that is our legal right,” he said (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, Sept. 13). Back to top       Russian Bombers Enter NATO Airspace Russia sent at three military airplanes into NATO airspace today, prompting  Norway and the United Kingdom to scramble jets to meet incoming aircraft, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Sept. 7). Two Norwegian fighter jets and then British aircraft tracked two Russian Tu-160 long-range bombers that flew through NATO airspace, defense officials said. Officials in Finland said a Russian Ilyushin-76 transport plane also spent about three minutes in Finnish airspace. “These kinds of (violation) must not happen,” said Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.  “And when they do happen, then they need to be sorted out between the countries in question.” Russia announced last month that it would begin sending strategic bombers on long-range flights for the first time since the end of the Cold War (see GSN, Aug. 20).  Several intercepts have occurred since August, one involving U.S. fighter jets based on the Pacific island of Guam. “All flights of our strategic bombers have been conducted in accordance with international rules,” said Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky, spokesman for the Russian air force.  “Our planes have flown over neutral waters without approaching air borders of any foreign nation” (Raphael Satter, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Sept. 14). Back to top       Illegal Immigrants Caught Seeking Los Alamos Work The Los Alamos National Laboratory on Wednesday caught three illegal immigrants using faked documents to obtain badges that would have allowed them to do construction work at the New Mexico nuclear weapons research site, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Feb. 13, 2006). Suspicious officers in the laboratory’s badge office faxed the documents to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Albuquerque.  The documents proved to be false and the men were detained. Providing a false identity to federal government agencies constitutes a federal offense, police said. The three men were employed by a construction firm that had recently won a contract with the laboratory, but securing work with that company was only step one for the immigrants, said laboratory spokesman Kevin Roark. “Step two is you’ve got to get a badge, and that means you have to prove you’re who you say you are,” he said. “The badge office has a procedure that is thorough, but so efficient that it appears easy,” Roark said.  “The truth is, it isn’t easy at all.  So anyone thinking about falsifying documents should forget about doing that” (Associated Press/Santa Fe New Mexican, Sept. 13). Back to top

Russian Suspected of Smuggling Biological Material A Russian scientist acknowledged today that he is being investigated on suspicion of smuggling material that could be used to develop a biological weapon, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 22). The Russian Federal Security Service has investigated an increasing number of academics and researchers suspected of spying, giving up state secrets or improper use of classified information. Biologist Oleg Mediannikov said that in December he tried to transport harmless samples of typhoid vaccine to colleagues in France.  Customs authorities at Sheremyetevo Airport confiscated the vials, but allowed Mediannikov to continue on his trip. The scientist was barred from taking a vacation trip to Africa in February and had his passport seized for two months, he told AP. Mediannikov said he learned in June he was being investigated for smuggling potential WMD materials.  Conviction for such a crime could result in a seven-year prison sentence. He said he was carrying the required papers and permits for the seized samples, and has refused a request to resign from his position at the Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow. “Logically, this shouldn’t be happening at all, but it is and why it is remains a complete mystery to me,” he said.  “I really hope that wiser heads will prevail.” Mediannikov failed to declare the samples while exiting Russia, thus violating customs law, according to institute deputy director Anatoly Osipenko. Russia earlier this year banned the export of all human biological material, such as hair and blood (see GSN, May 30).  Whether the new rules would cover the samples in Mediannikov’s case was not immediately known (Mike Eckel, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Sept. 14). Meanwhile, Australia is tightening controls on research of potentially weaponizable viruses, bacteria and toxins, Australian Associated Press reported today. Lawmakers are considering a system to track and regulate materials that could be used in biological weapons.  Researchers working with such materials would have to register with a federal agency, undergo continuing monitoring and regulation, and obey heightened storage and security rules.  A system would be developed allowing authorities to monitor movement of infectious disease samples, even across state borders. “Currently, there is no nationally consistent legislation that covers all facilities and entities that handle security-sensitive biological agents,” said Health Minister Tony Abbott.  “Indeed, it is not possible to accurately identify those facilities and entities … or their location.” A list of regulated materials has not yet been prepared.(Australian Associated Press, Sept. 13). Back to top

Mustard Leak Found at Umatilla Chemical Depot Umatilla Chemical Depot personnel on Wednesday found trace amounts of mustard agent leaking from a bulk container during a routine inspection of a storage unit at the Oregon facility, the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency said (see GSN, Sept. 4). A passive filter system prevented the agent from escaping to the outside environment.  Depot workers installed a powered filter system on the storage igloo and planned to isolate the container and fix the leak (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency release, Sept. 12). Back to top

European Missile Defense Funds Chopped in Senate The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday cut $85 million from the White House fiscal 2008 funding request for development of European missile defense installations, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, July 26). House appropriators slashed an equal amount from the program budget, along with $54 million from a separate funding area. The Senate cut would have the greatest effect on plans to deploy 10 missile interceptors in Poland, rather than on the proposed radar base in the Czech Republic, said Heritage Foundation national security analyst Baker Spring.  The project might be delayed, though the opportunity exists to have the funds reinstated before the intended beginning of construction in 2008. “It’s not such a big cut that you could be irretrievably behind schedule,” Spring said. The Senate must approve the defense appropriations bill that includes the cuts.  House and Senate lawmakers would then have to agree on a single piece of legislation to be submitted to President George W. Bush (Desmond Butler, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Sept. 12). One Polish expert expressed doubt yesterday that the present U.S. Congress would back placement of missile interceptors in his nation, Interfax reported. “In this Congress, the probability (of winning funding for the project) is low because it is used as an argument against President Bush’s policy on military spending, which has grown out of proportion,” said Warsaw University professor Bohdan Szklarski (Interfax, Sept. 13). A senior Russian official said yesterday that Moscow and Washington in talks this week failed to find common ground in their dispute over the missile defense plan, Agence France-Presse reported. “I could not say that there has been great progress,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak, who led the Russian delegation at the meeting in Paris. Russia has characterized the U.S. plan as a threat to its national security, and has offered a counterproposal under which the two nations would jointly operate early warning radars in Azerbaijan and southern Russia.  Moscow has also questioned the threat posed by Iranian missiles. Additional talks are planned for Oct. 3 in Moscow (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, Sept. 13). Back to top

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