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December, 2002
December 23, 2002
December 17, Russian State Duma’s defense and international affairs committees met to discuss the ratification of the US-Russian Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty. As a result of the discussion a further procedure was agreed upon for the joint work of the executive and legislative powers on intensifying the ratification process.
- Duma Committees Discuss Moscow Treaty Ratification, (Global Security Newswire, Thursday, December 19, 2002)
- Russian MFA Official Press Release On Joint Meeting of the Russian Federal Assembly State Duma Committees on Defense and on International Affairs Devoted to Ratification of Russian-American Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, December 17, 2002
- Moscow Treaty Tops U.S. Senate Agenda, but Delays Expected, (by Bryan Bender, Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 16, 2002)
December 17, Russian Strategic Rocket Forces celebrated their professional holiday.
- Security Guarantee, - in Russian, (by Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, Krasnaya Zvezda, December 17, 2002)
- Missile Men, - in Russian, (by Vadim Koval, Anna Potekhina, Krasnaya Zvezda, December 17, 2002)
Debate on the future of the Russian strategic nuclear triad continues at the pages of Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye. The December 20th issue presents opposite views of those who advocate priority development of land-based missiles, and those who give priority to sea-based ones:
- All Strategic Missiles to Navy, - in Russian, (by Vladimir Zaborskiy)
- Balanced Preservation, - in Russian, (by Sergey Brezkun)
December 17, George W. Bush announced the decision to step up fielding US missile defense capabilities. Particularly, up to 20 ground-based interceptors are planned to be deployed by 2005:
- DoD Missile Defense Deployment Announcement Briefing, Tuesday, December 17, 2002
- Missile Defense Operations Announcement, US DoD, December 17, 2002
- President Announces Progress in Missile Defense Capabilities, White House, December 17, 2002
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement which stressed that the realization of missile defense deployment plans has entered a destabilizing new phase:
- Moscow Miffed Over Missile Shield but Others Merely Shrug, (by Michael Wines, The New York Times, December 19, 2002)
- Russia Has Warning, and Overture, on Missile Plan, (by Susan B. Glasser, The Washington Post, Thursday, December 19, 2002; Page A29)
- Opposition Unlikely for Missile Defense, (by Ken Guggenheim, Associated Press, Wednesday, December 18, 2002; 5:53 PM)
- Statement By The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Of The Russian Federation Regarding Step-up of US Attempts to Create a "Global Missile Defense", December 18, 2002
Arms control experts note that this decision is politically driven. Key technologies will not be ready by the time announced:
- Calculated Surprise, - in Russian, (by Vladimir Frolov, Vremya MN, December 19, 2002), the author is Deputy Director of State Duma's International Affairs Committee Staff
- Bush's Folly, (by Joseph Cirincione, Carnegie Endowment for Peace, Wednesday, December 18, 2002)
- Deployment Will Lack Key, Proven Systems, Critics Say, (by David Ruppe, Global Security Newswire, Wednesday, December 18, 2002)
See also media comments:
- Officials Explore Space-Based Missile Defense, (Global Security Newswire, Friday, December 20, 2002)
- Arms Race Restarted, - in Russian, (by Sergey Sokut, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, December 19, 2002)
- America Opens "Nuclear Umbrella", - in Russian, (by Nikolai Poroskov, Vremya Novostey, December 19, 2002)
- USA Turned To Anti-Missile Offensive, - in Russian, (Ivan Sofronov, Kommersant, December 19, 2002)
- Washington to Deploy Missile Defenses, - in Russian, (by Alexei Lyaschenko, Krasnaya Zvezda, December 19, 2002)
- George Bush Jr. vs George Bush Sr.,- in Russian, (by Feodor Burlatskiy, Izvestia, December 19, 2002)
- Missile Defenses of Russia and the US can be United, - in Russian, (by Dmitriy Litovkin, Izvestia, December 19, 2002)
- The Missile Rush, (The Washington Post, Thursday, December 19, 2002; Page A40)
- Pentagon plans defense against Mideast missiles, (by Bill Gertz, The Washington Times, December 19, 2002)
- Missile Plan Doesn't Fly, (Los Angeles Times, December 19, 2002)
- Bush Builds Anti-Missile Shield, - in Russian, (by Artur Blinov, Vremya MN, December 18, 2002)
- Bush Ordering Missile Shield, (by Eric Schmitt, The New York Times, December 18, 2002)
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld officially requested permission to improve US radar capabilities at the Royal Air Force Fylingdales base in the United Kingdom and the Thule airbase in Greenland. In exchange, at least with respect to the British base, Rumsfeld said the United States would "extend missile defense coverage" to Britain:
- Bush Plan Could Lead to U.S. Funding of European Missile Defense, (by David Ruppe, Global Security Newswire, Friday, December 20, 2002)
- Official UK Government position on Missile Defence, (by Nigel Chamberlain, BASIC, December 18, 2002)
- Ottawa Skeptical on Participation in U.S. System, (by David Ruppe, Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 16, 2002)
- Officials Will Request Use of British Base in Missile Defense, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 16, 2002)
US experts criticize recent National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction. However, most Americans favor using nuclear weapons against Iraq if Saddam Hussein attacks US military forces with chemical or biological weapons in a war that the public believes is virtually inevitable:
- Most Favor Nuclear Option Against Iraq, (by Richard Morin, The Washington Post, Wednesday, December 18, 2002; Page A18)
- Ellen O. Tauscher, Member of Congress, Letter to President George W. Bush, December 16, 2002
- Arms Control Experts Warn Bush Strategy to Counter WMD Threats Sends Wrong Signal to the World, (Arms Control Association, December 12, 2002)
The Group of Eight economic powers have held a series of discussions to advance their $20 billion proposal to help dismantle former Soviet weapons and materials. International officials and arms control advocates, however, remain concerned about the lack of a coordinating mechanism for the complex effort and the shortage of financial commitments:
- G-8 Nonproliferation Effort Picks Up Steam, (by Bryan Bender, Global Security Newswire, Friday, December 20, 2002)
- Reshaping Threat Reduction - New Approaches for the Next Decade, (by Jon Wolfsthal, Carnegie Endowment for Peace, presentation at the seminar on International Cooperation in the Combat against Nuclear Terrorism and the Role of Nuclear Arms Control, convened by the German Foreign Office, UNIDIR and the Frankfurt Peace Research Institute, 17 December 2002) (pdf)
Georgy Mamedov, Deputy Foreign Minister who oversees strategic stability issues comments on the situation around Iraq, Iran and North Korea: "Evil Axis " is a Provocative Expression, - in Russian, (by Katerina Labetskaya, Vremya Novostey, December 23, 2002)
North Korea removed the equipment that international inspectors installed more than eight years ago to make sure that it would not make use of its large stockpile of plutonium to produce nuclear weapons. Bush administration officials said they feared that North Korea could use that plutonium to manufacture five or six nuclear weapons within months:
- North Korea Restarted Nuclear Reactor, (by Yekaterina Kudashkina, Vedomosti, December 23, 2002)
- North Korea to Restart Nuclear Reactor, - in Russian, (by Gennadiy Charodeyev, Izvestia, December 23, 2002)
- North Korea Says It Regains Access to Its Plutonium, (by David E. Sanger and James Dao, The New York Times, December 23, 2002)
- Surveillance Gear Removed, N. Korea Admits, (by Peter S. Goodman and Akiko Kashiwagi, The Washington Post, Monday, December 23, 2002; Page A12)
- US, Allies Push to Stop N.Korea Nuclear Move, (by Paul Eckert, Reuters, Monday, December 23, 2002; 1:47 AM)
- Powell Discusses N. Korea With Allies, (by Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press, Monday, December 23, 2002; 1:44 AM)
- Inspectors Remain at Yongbyon; Russia Determining Its Policy, (Global Security Newswire, Wednesday, December 18, 2002)
- Kremlin divided on how to disarm Pyongyang, (by Nicholas Kralev, The Washington Times, December 18, 2002)
- North Korean Nuclear Weapons Programme and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime: Reactions and Prospects for Regime Adaptation, (by Fiona Simpson, BASIC, December 11, 2002)
Last week, Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, asserted that Iraq's declaration on its weapons capacities "totally failed" to meet the conditions laid down by the United Nations. The document, he said, was nothing more than "a catalogue of flagrant omissions and recycled information":
- Missing: four tons of nerve gas, 8.5 tons of anthrax, and assorted nuclear bomb parts, (by David Usborne and Rupert Cornwell, Independent, December 20, 2002)
- Secretary Colin L. Powell Press Conference on Iraq Declaration, Washington, DC, December 19, 2002 (2:30 p.m. EST) Arms Report Names Western Suppliers To Nuke Program, (by Dafna Linzer, The Washington Times, December 19, 2002)
Scandal over reports that Iran is building two nuclear facilities that can be used for military purposes is still burning. Russian experts and analysts believe that accusations against Iran are groundless:
- Iran Does Not Have a Bomb. Yet, in Russian, (by Vladimir Skosyrev, Vremya MN, December 20, 2002)
- Sources Say Iran Lays Groundwork For Nuclear Bombs, (by Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post, Thursday, December 19, 2002; Page A26)
- Khatami Says Iran Has No Plans to Make Nuclear Arms, (by Reuters, December 18, 2002)
- Atom of Discord, in Russian, (by Boris Volkhonskiy, Kommersant, December 17, 2002)
- United States Links Russia to New Nuclear Facilities, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 16, 2002)
- Rumyantsev to Sign Spent-Fuel Pact Next Week, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 16, 2002)
The five Central Asian countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- have said they hope that a treaty establishing a nuclear weapon-free zone in the region can be signed in April next year: Central Asia Aims for Weapon-Free Zone by April 2003, (Global Security Newswire, Friday, December 20, 2002)
Russian Federation's Accounting Office found infringements in the Minatom's use of finances received under the "Megatons to Megawatts Program": Sale of Molecules in Extremely Large Quantities, - in Russian, (by Yekaterina Ignatyeva, Novaya Gazeta, December 16, 2002)
December 16, 2002
We present a new section -- US Nuclear Forces C3 System (in Russian). Contents of the section were prepared by a well-known Russian expert Col. Valery Yarynich, Ret., Professor of Academy of Military Sciences. Welcome to take part in a discussion on expediency of a wider open coverage of Russian Nuclear Forces C3 system at the Russian START Bulletin Board.According to Nikolai Bezborodov, Vice-Chairman of the State Duma's Defense Committee, relevant Committees plan to conduct hearings of the SORT treaty this week: U.S.-Russia: Duma Plans Treaty Discussions Next Week, (Global Security Newswire, Thursday, December 12, 2002)
Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) will turn 43 tomorrow. SRF Commander-in-Chief Nikolai Solovtsov speaks about their present day and prospects : "Satan" To Stay On Duty Till 2016, - in Russian, (by Nikolai Poroskov, Vremya Novostey, December 16, 2002)
December 13 was one year since President Bush's official statement on US withdrawal from the 1972 ABM treaty: One Year Without ABM Treaty, - in Russian, (by Victor Litovkin, Pravda.ru, December 13, 2002). See also our special section: How Should Russia Respond to the Impending US NMD Deployment?
Experts are divided on the new US National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed a hope, that the published National Strategy of the United States will contribute to further developing and deepening such bilateral and multilateral collaboration on the basis of international law and mutual consideration of national interests.
- Russian MFA's Press Release regarding new US National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction, December 15, 2002
- New Bush WMD Strategy Marks a Significant Departure, Experts Say, (by Bryan Bender, Global Security Newswire, Friday, December 13, 2002)
- "National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction", National Security Council, 11 December 2002 (pdf)
Media reports and Institute For Science and International Security brief revealed that Iran builds secret nuclear fuel cycle facilities. American official sources and IAEA confirmed published information. Tehran denies the accusation and invites IAEA inspectors to examine the facilities. Russian Minatom considers the new campaign as another US attempt to make Moscow stop construction of nuclear power plant in Bushehr.
- US Found New Nuclear Facilities in Iran, - in Russian, (by Andrei Ivanov, Ivan Andreyev, Kommersant, December 16, 2002)
- U.S. Says Russia Helped Iran in Nuclear Arms Effort, (by David E. Sanger, The New York Times, December 16, 2002)
- Russia Says No Violations in Iranian Nuclear Plans, (by Reuters, Sunday, December 15, 2002; 7:25 AM)
- Iran halts UN visit to nuclear facilities, (by Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press, December 14, 2002)
- Nuclear Sites In Iran Worry U.S. Officials, (by Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post, Saturday, December 14, 2002; Page A18)
- US Found Nuclear Facilities in Iran, (Pravda.ru, December 13, 2002)
- Iran: Photos Show Building at Nuclear Sites, Group Says, (Global Security Newswire, Friday, December 13, 2002)
- Iran Building Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities: International Transparency Needed, (by David Albright and Corey Hinderstein, Institute for Science and International Security, December 12, 2002)
North Korea called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to remove monitoring equipment and seals from all North Korean nuclear facilities. Washington tries to resolve this particular nuclear crisis peacefully.
- North Korea Can't Wait, (The New York Times, December 15, 2002)
- North Korea's Nuclear Plans Called 'Unacceptable'; Bush Seeks a Diplomatic Solution, (The New York Times, December 14, 2002)
- North Korea arms concern activists, (by John Donnelly, Boston Globe, December 14, 2002)
- North Korea urged to retract nuclear threat, (by Suzanne Goldenberg and Jonathan Watts, The Guardian, Friday, December 13, 2002)
- Remove IAEA Seals From Nuclear Sites, Pyongyang Says, (Global Security Newswire, Thursday, December 13, 2002)
- Alexander Yakovenko, the Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Question from Russian and Foreign Media Regarding the DPRK's Decision to Unfreeze Its Nuclear Program December 12, 2002
- Time to Deal With North Korea, (by Jon Wolfsthal, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Thursday, December 12, 2002)
- Pollyanna-like on Pyongyang, (by John Tkacik, The Washington Times, December 10, 2002)
Experts of five nuclear powers continue to analyze Iraq's Report to the UN. The Bush administration dismissed Iraq's weapons declaration as short of information on WMD development programs:
- Aiming At Deadly Weapons, (by Saxby Chambliss and Jane Harman, The Washington Post, Saturday, December 14, 2002; Page A25)
- White House Rejects Iraqi Weapons Report, (by Barry Schweid, Associated Press, Friday, December 13, 2002; 6:43 PM)
- We tried to build an atom bomb, says Iraqi weapons chief, (by Kim Sengupta, The Independent, 10 December 2002)
December 11, 2002
December 7, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin submitted the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions to the State Duma for ratification:
- Alexander Yakovenko, the Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Media Question Regarding the Process of Ratification of the Russian-US Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, December 10, 2002
- Russian Presidential Press Service Report On the Submission by Russian President to the State Duma of the Treaty Between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Strategic Offensive Reductions, December 9, 2002
See also our special section Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions. Status, Comments, Expert Opinions.
Yet another grand restructuring of the Russian armed forces is being prepared -- now aerospace defense to be created in the future: Space Military Fist. Restructuring as Asymmetric Answer to the US, - in Russian, (by Nikolai Poroskov, Vremya Novostey, December 9, 2002)
December 10, 8:15AM Moscow time, Russian Space Force and Strategic Rocket Forces successfully carried out a combat-training launch of SS-19 Stiletto ICBM from a silo at Baikonur space launch site. The launched missile was kept on duty for more than 25 years:
- "Stiletto" to Serve Fatherland Longer, - in Russian, (by Andrei Garavskiy, Krasnaya Zvezda, December 11, 2002)
- Reliability of the Russian Nuclear Shield Confirmed, - in Russian, (Utro.ru, December 10, 2002)
December 11, White House released unclassified version of the national security strategy, which said that the United States will "respond with overwhelming force," including "all options," to the use of biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear weapons on the nation, its troops or its allies:
- Preemptive Strikes Part Of Strategy, Officials Say, (by Mike Allen and Barton Gellman, The Washington Post, Wednesday, December 11, 2002; Page A01)
- Bush Warns Foes Not to Use Weapons of Mass Destruction on U.S. Troops, (by David E. Sanger, The New York Times, December 11, 2002)
- U.S. Sees Nuclear Deterrence Against WMD Attack, (by Reuters, Wednesday, December 11, 2002; 1:17 AM)
- "National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction", National Security Council, 11 December 2002 (pdf)
According to Victor Mikhailov, Director of the Institute for Strategic Stability, former Minister of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation, "...Scientists work on nuclear "scalpel" that would be able to "cut out" and destroy very local objects. A low yield warhead would be surrounded by an ultra strong casing, that would let it penetrate 30-40 meters deep into rock and destroy deep buried object, e.g. a military command and control center, or nuclear weapons storage. This weapon would allow to accurately destroy objects located directly above the center of explosion and near it. Sort of mini-earthquake without radioactive contamination of the ground... Finding a solution of this very difficult scientific and technical problem will take at least 10, but no more than 20 years. No law of physics prohibits creation of such a weapon. Which means it will be created..." (If Chechens Try Nuclear Blackmail, Chechnya Will Disappear From Earth, - in Russian, by Alexandr Khokhlov, Izvestia, December 4, 2002). On the new anti-terrorist military technology see also:
- 'Sci-Fi' Weapons Going To War, (by William M. Arkin, Los Angeles Times, December 8, 2002)
- Commentary: If Washington Refuses From Utilizing Nuclear Charges, Should Moscow Do This?, (by Viktor Litovkin, RIA "Novosti", December 6, 2002)
The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency announced today that flight test of a missile interceptor for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program failed: Missile Defense Test Conducted, (Missile Defense Agency Press Release, December 11, 2002). On the eve of the test, December issue of Arms Control Today runs an article that analyzes Agency's test results manipulation technique: Debunking the Missile Defense Agency’s ‘Endgame Success’ Argument, (by George N. Lewis and Lisbeth Gronlund, Arms Control Today, December 2002)
For criticism of the US missile defense programs see:
- United States: Experts Target Missile Defense Testimony, (Global Security Newswire , Thursday, December 5, 2002)
- A Missile Coverup At MIT? (by James Carroll, Boston Globe, December 3, 2002, Pg. 21)
On the problems of missile defense programs see also:
- MDA Finds, Fixes Tracking Problem on Interceptor, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 9, 2002)
- Orbital Sciences Test-Fires Alternative Booster Rocket, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 9, 2002)
- Interceptor Developers Try for Better Aim, More Sizzle, (Global Security Newswire, Thursday, December 5, 2002)
- Defense Dept. Seeks More Patriot Missiles , (by Reuters, The New York Times, December 3, 2002)
Senator Richard Lugar outlined principal aims for further steps in implementation of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program: The Next Steps in U.S. Nonproliferation Policy, (by Richard G. Lugar, Arms Control Today, December 2002). On the problems and prospects of CTR implementation see also:
- Partners in Preventing Nuclear Proliferation? (by Rose Gottemoeller, The Moscow Times, Monday, December 09, 2002)
- Destroying Weapons of Terror, (The New York Times, December 9, 2002)
- Interview: Incoming U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 9, 2002)
- Washington, Moscow Negotiate U.S. Design for MOX Plant, (Global Security Newswire, Friday, December 6, 2002)
- U.S. Response: GAO Criticizes Cooperative Threat Reduction Report, (by Mike Nartker, Global Security Newswire, Thursday, December 5, 2002)
- Cooperative Threat Reduction Program Annual Report, (General Accounting Office, GAO-03-341R, December 2, 2002)
In the December issue of Arms Control Today:
- National Insecurity Strategy, (by Daryl G. Kimball)
- UN Weapons Inspections Begin in Iraq, (by Paul Kerr)
- Pentagon Memo Raises Possibility of Nuclear Testing, (by Christine Kucia)
- Congress Authorizes 2003 Missile Defense Funding, (by Wade Boese)
- Booster for Missile Interceptor A Disappointment, Priority, (by Wade Boese)
- Weight Jeopardizes ABL Test Schedule, (by Wade Boese)
- Congress Gives Bush Three-Year Waiver for Threat Reduction, (by Christine Kucia)
- Congress Approves Nuclear 'Bunker Buster' Research, (by Christine Kucia)
A trial on uranium traffic came to an end recently in Balashikha court (Moscow region). Several criminals and former militiamen were trying to sell more than 1 kilogram of nuclear fuel assuring buyers that they would be able to resell the merchandise to Usama Bin Laden (Uranium from A Mechanic, - in Russian, by Alexandr Shvarev, Vremya Novostey, December 6, 2002). On the problems of fissile materials safety in Russia see also:
- Security-Focused Culture Would Protect Fissile Materials, Report Says, (by Mike Nartker, Global Security Newswire, Friday, December 6, 2002)
- The Human Factor and Security Culture: Challenges to Safeguarding Fissile Materials in Russia, (Center for International Trade and Security, The University of Georgia, Preliminary Report, November, 2002)
Report submitted by Baghdad to the UN Security Council says that Iraq tried to make a "dirty radioactive bomb". Permanent representatives a the UNSC (nuclear states) will receive copies of the report, while others -- edited and significantly abridged version:
- U.N. Sharpens Search for Iraqi Weapons, (by Rajiv Chandrasekaran, The Washington Post, Wednesday, December 11, 2002; Page A01)
- U.N.'s Blix Plans Prompt Review of Iraqi Papers, (by Colum Lynch, The Washington Post, Wednesday, December 11, 2002; Page A22)
- U.N. Official Won't Reveal Iraq Suppliers to the Public, (by Julia Preston, The New York Times, December 11, 2002)
- Saddam Turned Out To Be Too Candid, - in Russian, (by Vladimir Dunayev, Izvestia, December 11, 2002)
- Revolution in Security Council, - in Russian, (by Dmitriy Suslov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, December 11, 2002)
- We Have What We Guard, - in Russian, (by Alexandr Samokhotkin, Vremya Novostey, December 11, 2002)
- Washington Distributes Copies of the Declaration, (Global Security Newswire , Tuesday, December 10, 2002)
- U.S. Says Iraqi Indicated Atom Project Is Continuing, (by David E. Sanger, The New York Times, December 10, 2002)
- Iraq Report Table of Contents (pdf)
US military asked Chinese colleagues to press North Korea to stop its nuclear program:
- U.S., N. Korea Disagree on Nuclear Talks, (by Jae-Suk Yoo, Associated Press, Tuesday, December 10, 2002; 10:59 AM)
- North Korea: Pyongyang Seeks Chinese Weapons Aid, Sources Say, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 9, 2002)
- N. Korea seeks aid from China on nukes, (by Bill Gertz, The Washington Times, December 9, 2002)
- South Korea, U.S. Discuss North's Nukes, Forces Agreement, (by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service, December 5, 2002)
- N. Korea Rejects Call for Inspections, (by Peter Slevin, The Washington Post, Thursday, December 5, 2002; Page A18)
In his interview for Indian media Russian president Vladimir Putin stressed that "...we take note of the statements made by President Musharraf that the military potential of his country is in safe hands, but, to be frank, the feeling of concern and anxiety still persists..."
- Pakistan's Nuclear Haggling, - in Russian, (by John Wolfstal, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, December 10, 2002)
- Pakistan Premier Says Nuclear Arms in Safe Hands, (by Reuters, Wednesday, December 4, 2002; 8:08 AM)
- Pakistan & North Korea: Dangerous Counter-Trades, IISS Strategic Comments, Volume 8, Issue 9, November 2002 (pdf)
- Interview of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the Indian Newspaper The Hindu and Television Channel Star TV, Kremlin, Moscow, November 28, 2002
December 3, 2002
Text of lecture on US and Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces: Nuclear Doctrines, Structure, Development Programs, by Dr. Eugene Miasnikov, Senior Research Associate with our Center, is now available on-line (in Russian). The lecture was given on November 15, 2002 at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology within Non-proliferation and Reduction of Weapons of Mass Destruction Regime and National Security course offered by our Center.Independent experts urge to broaden the joint US-Russian Cooperative Threat Reduction program: Trove Of Russian Arms At Risk, (by Sonni Efron, Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2002)
At the "Zvezdochka" dockyard in Severodvinsk, nuclear fuel is being unloaded from two nuclear reactors of a Typhoon strategic nuclear submarine: Typhoon's Nuclear Heart Amputated, in Russian, (by Vitaly Bratkov, Pravda.ru, November 30, 2002)
US Navy plans to try to fire a Tomahawk missile from USS Florida converted for non-nuclear role. If the test succeeds, the Navy intends to convert four Tridents to carry conventionally armed cruise missiles instead of strategic ballistic missiles: Navy Plans Trident Conversion Tests, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, November 25, 2002)
Pentagon officials admitted that launch detection SBIRS system will not be deployed until 2006: Lagging Satellites Jeopardize Midcourse System, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 2, 2002). On the prospects of the US NMD system see also:
- Out-of-the-Box Thinking at Pentagon. Missile Defense Agency Seeks Public's Ideas, and a Few May Fly, (by Bradley Graham, The Washington Post, Monday, December 2, 2002; Page A19)
- Alliance Considers National Missile Defenses, (by David Ruppe, Global Security Newswire, Tuesday, November 26, 2002)
After nearly a year reviewing allegations of scientific fraud at MIT, a senior professor called for a full investigation into whether MIT scientists knowingly gave their seal of approval to a major component of the fledgling national missile defense program that did not work:
- MIT Professor Said to Call for Probe, (by The Associated Press, Friday, November 29, 2002; 8:23 AM)
- MIT faces criticism on missile test study, (by David Abel, Boston Globe, November 29, 2002)
"...Old missiles were destroyed either according to the arms reduction treaties, or because of expiration of their service life, while the new ones were not produced in sufficient numbers yet because there was no rush to make them in time. The negligible number of single-warhead Topol-M missiles that is unhurriedly produced at the Votkinsk plant will not be sufficient to protect us. Moreover, extremely vulnerable and not combat-ready Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers, and two-three submarines -- all that will be left by... [the year 2010 -E.M.] from once mighty Navy -- won't be sufficient either. Does this mean that 2010 is the most likely date for the US attack against Russia? What scenario does America prepare -- Yugoslavia-type or something totally different?...", (America Prepares a Strike... Against Russia?, by Vladimir Krasilnikov, in Russian)
On the eve of president Bush's signing of 2003 defense authorization bill, critics believe that their efforts slowed down Pentagon's dangerous course:
- Defense Bill Addresses Controversial Nuclear Weapons Posture, (by David Ruppe, Global Security Newswire, Wednesday, November 27, 2002)
- In an age of biowarfare, US sees new role for nukes, (by Brad Knickerbocker, The Christian Science Monitor, November 26, 2002)
In their joint declaration signed in Beijing on December 2, 2002, Russia and China underline the "...importance of normalization of relations between USA and DPRK based on consistent adherence to previously reached agreements, including 1994 Framework Agreement...":
- Putin and Chinese Leader Pledge Friendship and Caution North Korea on Nuclear Arms, (by Erik Eckholm, The New York Times, December 3, 2002)
- Joint Declaration of Russian Federation and People's Republic of China, December 2, 2002, (in Russian)
- U.S. Urged to Reconnect With North Korea, (by Audra Ang, Associated Press, Monday, December 2, 2002; 8:06 AM)
- Nuclear Fears, (by Serge Schmemann, The New York Times, November 30, 2002)
- Statement by Alexander Yakovenko, The Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Regarding the IAEA Board of Governors' Resolution Concerning the Report on the Implementation of the Agreement Between IAEA and DPRK for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, November 29, 2002
- North Korea Is No Iraq: Pyongyang's Negotiating Strategy, (by Leon V. Sigal, Arms Control Today, December 2002)
According to Indian sources, president Putin, expressed concerns over Islamabad's nuclear security:
- Putin Questions Islamabad’s Nuclear Security, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 2, 2002)
- Nuclear Duplicity From Pakistan, (The New York Times, December 2, 2002)
- Powell Says Pakistan Warned on N. Korean Ties, (by Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post, Tuesday, November 26, 2002; Page A21)
Indian press reported that India and Russia were to finalize an arms package that includes the three-year lease of the Akula II class nuclear submarine. However, India's naval chief declined to confirm or deny this report:
- Report: India to Lease Nuclear Sub, (by Rajesh Mahapatra, The Moscow Times, December 3, 2002)
- Russia Agrees to Lease Nuclear Submarine, (Global Security Newswire, Monday, December 2, 2002)
Moscow declared that Russian Federation has acceded to the International Code of Conduct on the understanding that the Code is only the first step along the road to elaborating a legally binding multilateral agreement on a global missile nonproliferation regime:
- Statement by Alexander Yakovenko, The Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the International Launching Conference for the International Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, November 27, 2002
- Code of Conduct Members Hold First Meeting, (by Mike Nartker, Global Security Newswire, Wednesday, November 27, 2002)
- Missile Code of Conduct Launches in The Hague, (by Mike Nartker, Global Security Newswire, Tuesday, November 26, 2002)
Uranium held by Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology became yet another apple of discord between the US and Ukraine: Nuclear Terrorism Focus Shifting to Research Facilities, (by Joby Warrick, The Washington Post, Thursday, November 28, 2002; Page A01), see also: Nonessential Nukes, (by Edwin S. Lyman and Paul L. Leventhal, The Washington Post, Tuesday, November 26, 2002; Page A29)
The US Defense Department has licensed to a few select nongovernmental organizations previously unavailable software that can model the effects of releases of nuclear, chemical, biological or radiological weapons and materials: Pentagon Distributes Modeling Software for WMD Attacks, (by Bryan Bender, Global Security Newswire, Wednesday, November 27, 2002)
Minister of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation speaks on the prospects of this industry:
- Man of the Day: Alexandr Rumyantsev, Minister of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation, - in Russian, (Vremya MN, November 30, 2002)
- Russian Atomic Energy in Market Economy, - in Russian, transcript of press-conference with Minister of Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev, November 28, 2002
- Minatom Wants to Become a Joint-Stock Company, - in Russian, (RBC.Ru, November 27, 2002)
A former head of German foreign intelligence said that Germany warned the United States that Moscow planned to install nuclear missiles in Cuba months before the Cuban missile crisis threatened to spark nuclear war: Germany 'Warned U.S. Before Cuban Missile Crisis', (by Adam Tanner, Reuters, Friday, November 29, 2002; 11:00 AM)
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