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Russia and China appear to be worried that the U.S.'s
burgeoning missile-defense system and possible new weapons – such as nonnuclear
intercontinental ballistic missiles and a new nuclear Reliable Replacement
Warhead – really are aimed at them. See story from
Christian Science Monitor
The Bush administration has begun to step up its efforts to
build a controversial missile defense system in eastern Europe, launching a
public push in recent weeks to counter bitter opposition in Russia and to
overcome fears of a new arms race elsewhere on the continent. See
story from Los Angeles Times
Iran's mantralike insistence that its pursuit of nuclear
technology is an internationally guaranteed right that it will never curtail
has countries as diverse as the United States and China worried it is seeking a
nuclear weapon. But the huge increases in energy demand anticipated across the
developing world over the next two decades, coupled with a growing urgency
about global warming, have nuclear nonproliferation experts focused on Iran's
case for broader and even more unsettling reasons. If a sense of entitlement to
nuclear power and the fuel that makes it possible is allowed to take root, they
say, the world soon could find itself with dozens of nuclear countries with the
means to switch from peaceful energy production to building a nuclear arsenal
virtually overnight. See story from
Christian Science Monitor
US nuclear weapons are among the most sophisticated
scientific devices on the planet. Through the years of the cold war, US
designers labored to make warheads that were frighteningly powerful, yet so
small that as many as 10 could fit on top of a single missile. Now the
nation's nuclear bureaucracy believes the time has come to start replacing
these complex weapons with simpler ones. See story from
Christian Science Monitor
New alarms are sounding over signs that China may be
developing space weapons. The latest alert came from an independent panel -
created by Congress to assess the economic and security situations in China -
that questions Chinese intentions and urges lawmakers to lean on the Bush
administration to talk with Beijing about curtailing space militarization. See story from
Christian Science Monitor
The United Nations is responding positively to a call from
peace activists and human rights organizations for a new international treaty
to monitor the world's growing 1.1-trillion-dollar global arms trade. See story from
Inter-Press
An overwhelming UN vote paving the way to an arms trade
treaty controlling the growing international trade in conventional weapons was
welcomed enthusiastically yesterday by Britain, human rights groups and aid
organizations. See story
from The Guardian
With North Korea now armed with nuclear bombs, some of Japan's
policymakers wonder if they need them, too. See story from
Christian Science Monitor
The United Nations is responding positively to a call from peace activists and human rights organizations for a new international treaty to monitor the world's growing 1.1-trillion-dollar global arms trade. See story from Inter-Press
An overwhelming UN vote paving the way to an arms trade treaty controlling the growing international trade in conventional weapons was welcomed enthusiastically yesterday by Britain, human rights groups and aid organizations. See story from The Guardian
With North Korea now armed with nuclear bombs, some of Japan's policymakers wonder if they need them, too. See story from Christian Science Monitor
The United Nations is responding positively to a call from peace activists and human rights organizations for a new international treaty to monitor the world's growing 1.1-trillion-dollar global arms trade. See story fromInter-Press
An overwhelming UN vote paving the way to an arms trade treaty controlling the growing international trade in conventional weapons was welcomed enthusiastically yesterday by Britain, human rights groups and aidorganizations. See story from The Guardian
With North Korea now armed with nuclear bombs, some of Japan's policymakers wonder if they need them, too. See story from Christian Science Monitor
North Korea's apparent test of a nuclear device could have a
devastating effect on the world's long struggle to contain the spread of the
most powerful military weapon known to man. Everything depends on what the US
and other interested governments do to try to repair a nonproliferation system
that, despite its faults, has served the globe well for decades. See story from
Christian Science Monitor
Despite progress on security, tons of nuclear material are
"dangerously vulnerable" to theft by terrorists across the globe, a
private group contends. See story
from Hindustan Times
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) is losing ground
in achieving its goal. North Korea declared its withdrawal from the NPT in
January 2003, while the de facto nuclear weapon states of India, Pakistan and Israel
refuse to join the NPT. In addition, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty has not
come into force since it was adopted by the United Nations in 1996. An expert
panel discusses the future of arms control. See story from
Asahi Shimbum
There are indications that the US is shifting from its policy of insisting on regime change as a means of achieving nuclear nonproliferation. See story from Christian Science Monitor
The United States proposed a new treaty to curb proliferation of nuclear weapons by banning the production of weapons-grade uranium and plutonium to improve the world's leverage against "hard cases" like Iran and North Korea. But the prospects for serious negotiations toward such an agreement are not good. See story from Associated Press
The world may be teetering on the edge of a worrisome new phase in the sixty-year-old age of atomic weapons as more countries may be realizing that it is in their interest to develop such weaponry. On the other hand, the existing record of limiting the availability and use of such weaponry has been remarkably successful as there has been no military use of such weaponry since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. See story from Christian Science Monitor
While Iran faces international pressure over developing the raw material for nuclear weapons, Brazil is quietly preparing to open its own uranium-enrichment center, capable of producing exactly the same fuel. Brazil - like Iran - has signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and Brazil's constitution bans the military use of nuclear energy. Also like Iran, Brazil has cloaked key aspects of its nuclear technology in secrecy while insisting the program is for peaceful purposes, claims nuclear weapons experts have debunked. See story from Associated Press
Iran's nuclear development is worrisome for the West even if it really is only presently enriching uranium for energy purposes because once a nation has mastered the art of enriching uranium for a power plant, it does not take much more effort to increase the concentration of fissile elements to the level required for bombs. Thus, Iran may already have collected almost everything it requires, if it wants to become a member of the nuclear weapons club. See story from Christian Science Monitor
As diplomats from around the world gather this week to lay the groundwork for a major June summit on arms control, leading rights advocacy groups are demanding that governments agree on a proposed treaty that would ban the illegal trade in guns. "No one but a criminal would knowingly sell a gun to a murderer, yet governments can sell weapons to regimes with a history of human rights violations or to countries where weapons will go to war criminals," says Barbara Stocking, director of the international humanitarian group Oxfam International. See story from One World Net
Japan has approved a plan to develop a next-generation ship-borne missile defence system with the United States. The approval comes at a time of growing concern about North Korea and rising tension between Japan and China. See story from Aljazeera.net
With the Cold War over for nearly 15 years, Russia and the United States have been working together to reduce Moscow's nuclear stockpiles and ensure that what remains is held securely. But questions remain as to whether protection from theft and terrorism has been achieved. See story from Voice of America
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting with three top European leaders in a renewed effort to form a common front that might dissuade Iran from developing nuclear weapons. See story from Knight Ridder
Iran is determined to acquire nuclear weapons and the United States may find it less costly to deter a nuclear-armed Iran than to dismantle its weapons program, according to two U.S.-funded researchers who advise the Pentagon. See story from Reuters
Iran has hardened its determination to pursue its controversial nuclear program, brushing aside US and European threats of censure while trying to create a new diplomatic framework for nonproliferation. See story from Christian Science Monitor
Russia said it opposed reporting Iran to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program, putting itself on a collision course with the United States in a global body where Moscow holds a veto. U.S. and European Union officials have warned they will push for Iran's nuclear case to be sent to the Security Council -- which could impose sanctions -- if Tehran does not halt all nuclear fuel work and resume negotiations with the EU. See story from Reuters
Reports that the Bush administration plans to adopt a new policy that would more explicitly spell out the military's commitment to placing offensive and defensive weapons in space are sparking an increasing debate. Proponents say such weapons are needed to protect the U.S. homeland and satellites in space essential for modern military endeavors. Opponents warn that a new arms race will result if the United States moves ahead with experiments experiments for such weapons as hypervelocity rods that are designed to strike ground targets from space at a speed of 120 miles a minute. See story from San Francisco Chronicle
The House soundly defeated a proposal by Dennis Kucinich to direct the U.S. to initiate an international treaty for the purpose of banning space weaponry. See vote
Reports that the Bush administration plans to adopt a new policy that would more explicitly spell out the military's commitment to placing offensive and defensive weapons in space are sparking an increasing debate. Proponents say such weapons are needed to protect the U.S. homeland and satellites in space essential for modern military endeavors.
experiments for such weapons as hypervelocity rods that are designed to strike ground targets from space at a speed of 120 miles a minute. See story from San Francisco Chronicle
The House soundly defeated a proposal by Dennis Kucinich to direct the U.S. to initiate an international treaty for the purpose of banning space weaponry. See vote
Reports that the Bush administration plans to adopt a new policy that would more explicitly spell out the military's commitment to placing offensive and defensive weapons in space are sparking an increasing debate. Proponents say such weapons are needed to protect the U.S. homeland and satellites in space essential for modern military endeavors.
experiments for such weapons as hypervelocity rods that are designed to strike ground targets from space at a speed of 120 miles a minute. See story from San Francisco Chronicle
The House soundly defeated a proposal by Dennis Kucinich to direct the U.S. to initiate an international treaty for the purpose of banning space weaponry. See vote
The International Atomic Energy Agency adopted changes to a 1979 treaty that will require states to boost security at nuclear sites and cooperate more to track down stolen or smuggled atomic materials. See story from Reuters
The Senate rejected a measure that would have banned research into the feasibility of "bunker busting" nuclear weapons. See story from Associated Press See vote
The G8 group of industrialized nations is undermining its commitment to reduce global poverty by exporting arms to the world's poorest and most conflict-ridden countries according to a new report. "How can G8 commitments to end poverty and injustice be taken seriously if some of the governments are undermining peace and stability by approving arms transfers to repressive regimes, regions of extreme conflict or countries who can ill afford them," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International. The report accuses the G8 of exporting weapons to Sudan, Myanmar, the Republic of Congo, Colombia and the Philippines. See story from Politics.co
President George W. Bush may have pledged to promote democracy around the world, but most U.S. arms sales to the developing world still go to prop up dictatorial regimes, according to a new report. The report, issued by the New York- based World Policy Institute, found that a majority of U.S. arms sales to the developing world go to regimes defined as undemocratic by the State Department. It also says that U.S.-supplied arms are involved in a majority of the world's active conflicts. See story from United Press International
After a month of bickering, the 188 signatories to the global pact against atomic weapons ended their conference with no agreement on new steps to combat the danger of a nuclear holocaust. See story from One World Net
Despite the hopes of many nations, two significant modifications were not agreed upon: control over enrichment technology and sanctions for nations choosing to renounce the treaty. See story from BBC
The global effort to curb nuclear proliferation may now be facing some of its most daunting challenges in years as evidence is emerging about nuclear projects in both North and South Korea and Iran. Taken separately, the news items above are bad enough. But some experts worry that, added together, they might spiral into a whole more dangerous than the sum of its parts because a few serious cracks could conceivably shatter long-held international taboos against acquiring an atomic arsenal. See story from Christian Science Monitor
UN nuclear inspectors have launched an urgent investigation in South Korea after the government admitted that its scientists enriched uranium close to the level required for an atomic bomb. Coming amid a 22-month nuclear standoff between North Korea and the US, the revelations are likely to heighten fears of a nuclear arms race in north-east Asia. See story from Guardian
Analysts say that a combination of US military efforts - including missile defense, plans for new low-yield nuclear weapons, and expansion up to Russia's western doorstep - are chilling relations with Moscow and spurring a new, higher-tech arms race. See story from Christian Science Monitor
The Senate rejected an amendment to a $447 billion defense bill that would cancel further research on the Bush administration's research into new nuclear "bunker buster" and "mini-nuke" nuclear warheads. See vote
The missile defense is fundamentally flawed--not just in technology but in rationale and in concept. It should not be built. It should never have even been started. And like the war in Iraq, if deployed, missile defense will leave the U.S. more vulnerable and less secure than if it had never been built at all. See story from Common Dreams
As the nature of warfare changes, the Bush administration is considering new kinds of nuclear bombs. These include smaller "tactical nukes" meant to pack a bigger punch than any conventional weapon, as well as "bunker busters" designed to penetrate an enemy's deep command and weapons-storage sites. And in case Russia, North Korea, or some other nuclear power should fire missiles at the US, the administration is pushing ahead on ground-based systems to try to knock down incoming warheads. See story from Christian Science Monitor
Decades after the end of the cold war, there remains a very real possibility that an all out nuclear war between the United States and Russia could result from a computer malfunction. See story from Christian Science Monitor
Research on a new generation of precision atomic weapons by the Bush administration threatens to undermine international efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms and to tarnish recent successes, according to diplomats and nonproliferation experts. See story from Los Angeles Times
The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said in an interview that al Qaeda and other extremist groups had sought to obtain a nuclear weapon. See story from NewsMax
Under a new planned agreement, U.S. and Russian officials would accelerate long-delayed security upgrades at Russia's many poorly protected nuclear facilities, jointly develop emergency responses to a nuclear or radiological terrorist attack, and establish a program to replace highly enriched uranium in research reactors around the world to prevent it from being used for weapons. See story from Washington Post
Despite the fact that Osama Bin Laden has apparently obtained a clerical blessing for his intention of using nuclear weaponry in terrorist activities, his likelihood of achieving this goal is technically very doubtful. See story from Washington Post
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