December 29, 2003
Libya in Early Nuclear Stages
The U.N. nuclear chief, Mohammed ElBaradei, said Monday that his visits to four once-secret nuclear sites proved that Libya had been in the early stages of a weapons program before it dismantled its efforts. Mohammed ElBaradei said the equipment and technology had come from a number of countries.
Libya had also agreed to sign the Additional Protocol to the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, allowing more intrusive snap inspections. [via BBC]
The U.N. nuclear chief, Mohammed ElBaradei, said Monday that his visits to four once-secret nuclear sites proved that Libya had been in the early stages of a weapons program before it dismantled its efforts. Mohammed ElBaradei said the equipment and technology had come from a number of countries.
Libya had also agreed to sign the Additional Protocol to the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, allowing more intrusive snap inspections. [via BBC]
December 23, 2003
Russia Deploys Nuclear Missiles
The new set of Topol-M missiles at the Tatishchevo missile base in the central Saratov region Sunday. U.S. military analysts equate the missile, known as the SS-27 in the West, with the American Minuteman III, the older of the two land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles in the U.S. inventory. The missiles, capable of hitting targets more than 6,000 miles away, have so far been deployed in silos. Its mobile version, mounted on a heavy off-road vehicle, is set to become operational next year, the Strategic Missile Forces chief, Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, said in televised remarks.
Next year, design work will start on a next-generation heavy nuclear missile, which will enter service after 2009, an officer told Interfax. The new missile will be capable of carrying 10 nuclear warheads with a total weight of up to 4.4 tons, compared with Topol-M's combat payload of 1.32 tons. [via Russian Information Agency Novosti]
The new set of Topol-M missiles at the Tatishchevo missile base in the central Saratov region Sunday. U.S. military analysts equate the missile, known as the SS-27 in the West, with the American Minuteman III, the older of the two land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles in the U.S. inventory. The missiles, capable of hitting targets more than 6,000 miles away, have so far been deployed in silos. Its mobile version, mounted on a heavy off-road vehicle, is set to become operational next year, the Strategic Missile Forces chief, Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov, said in televised remarks.
Next year, design work will start on a next-generation heavy nuclear missile, which will enter service after 2009, an officer told Interfax. The new missile will be capable of carrying 10 nuclear warheads with a total weight of up to 4.4 tons, compared with Topol-M's combat payload of 1.32 tons. [via Russian Information Agency Novosti]
Pakistan Denies Authorizing Transfer of Nuclear Technology to Iran
Pakistan says initial investigations show that some of its nuclear scientists may have been motivated by "personal ambition and greed" to share sensitive nuclear technology with Iran. But officials insist the Pakistan government never authorized the transfer of such information. [via MSNBC.com]
Pakistan says initial investigations show that some of its nuclear scientists may have been motivated by "personal ambition and greed" to share sensitive nuclear technology with Iran. But officials insist the Pakistan government never authorized the transfer of such information. [via MSNBC.com]
December 19, 2003
More on Libya's Nuclear Program
Libya's nuclear weapons program was "much further advanced" than U.S. and British intelligence agencies had thought, and included centrifuges and a uranium-enrichment program, all necessary components in making a nuclear bomb, a senior Bush administration official said Friday.
"Libya admitted to nuclear fuel-cycle projects that were intended to support a nuclear weapons program, weapons development, including uranium enrichment," this official said. [via CNN]
Libya's nuclear weapons program was "much further advanced" than U.S. and British intelligence agencies had thought, and included centrifuges and a uranium-enrichment program, all necessary components in making a nuclear bomb, a senior Bush administration official said Friday.
"Libya admitted to nuclear fuel-cycle projects that were intended to support a nuclear weapons program, weapons development, including uranium enrichment," this official said. [via CNN]
Libya will give up weapons program
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has admitted trying to develop weapons of mass destruction but now plans to dismantle all such programs, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Friday.
U.S. intelligence agencies, in unclassified publications, say Libya has developed a nuclear infrastructure, but officials stop short of saying the country is definitely trying to develop a nuclear weapon. [via MSNBC.com]
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has admitted trying to develop weapons of mass destruction but now plans to dismantle all such programs, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Friday.
U.S. intelligence agencies, in unclassified publications, say Libya has developed a nuclear infrastructure, but officials stop short of saying the country is definitely trying to develop a nuclear weapon. [via MSNBC.com]
December 18, 2003
Iran Signs Protocol on Snap UN Nuclear Inspections
Iran signed an agreement on Thursday allowing the U.N. nuclear watchdog to conduct snap inspections across its territory, which Tehran said should prove it is not secretly developing atomic weapons. [via BBC]
Iran signed an agreement on Thursday allowing the U.N. nuclear watchdog to conduct snap inspections across its territory, which Tehran said should prove it is not secretly developing atomic weapons. [via BBC]
December 17, 2003
Iran to Sign Snap Nuclear Check Protocol
Iran will almost certainly sign a binding international protocol that permits intrusive snap inspections of its nuclear facilities on Thursday, cabinet ministers said on Wednesday. [via BBC]
Iran will almost certainly sign a binding international protocol that permits intrusive snap inspections of its nuclear facilities on Thursday, cabinet ministers said on Wednesday. [via BBC]
December 16, 2003
Workers Removing Peacekeeper ICBMs From Silos
Workers at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming are removing Cold War-era Peacekeeper ICBMs from their silos at the rate of one per month. After being removed from their silos, the 50 Peacekeeper missiles are set to be dismantled. [ via 9News.com (Denver)]
Workers at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming are removing Cold War-era Peacekeeper ICBMs from their silos at the rate of one per month. After being removed from their silos, the 50 Peacekeeper missiles are set to be dismantled. [ via 9News.com (Denver)]
December 15, 2003
North Korea Rejects U.S. Nuclear Crisis Remedy
North Korea on Monday rejected a U.S.-backed proposal on ending a crisis over its nuclear weapons program, and warned that Washington's "strategy of delaying talks" would only prompt the communist government to step up its nuclear activities. [via BBC]
North Korea on Monday rejected a U.S.-backed proposal on ending a crisis over its nuclear weapons program, and warned that Washington's "strategy of delaying talks" would only prompt the communist government to step up its nuclear activities. [via BBC]
December 10, 2003
Los Alamos Discloses Another Security Lapse
Los Alamos National Laboratory announced yesterday that the nuclear weapons facility has suffered a security lapse after officials discovered they were missing 10 computer disks containing classified information.
The loss of the disks at Los Alamos' new Nonproliferation and International Security Center is "unacceptable," according to senior laboratory officials.
Los Alamos officials played down the possibility of a leak in national security information, saying that the disks were probably improperly destroyed. [via NTI.org]
Los Alamos National Laboratory announced yesterday that the nuclear weapons facility has suffered a security lapse after officials discovered they were missing 10 computer disks containing classified information.
The loss of the disks at Los Alamos' new Nonproliferation and International Security Center is "unacceptable," according to senior laboratory officials.
Los Alamos officials played down the possibility of a leak in national security information, saying that the disks were probably improperly destroyed. [via NTI.org]
Iran Authorizes Signing Nuclear Protocol
The Iranian government has authorized the signing of the additional protocol of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, a further step toward fulfilling its commitment to allowing unrestricted inspection of its nuclear facilities. [via Yahoo]
The Iranian government has authorized the signing of the additional protocol of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, a further step toward fulfilling its commitment to allowing unrestricted inspection of its nuclear facilities. [via Yahoo]
December 09, 2003
US rejects North Korea's nuclear "freeze" offer
US President George W. Bush rejected a North Korean offer to freeze its nuclear program, insisting the communist state's suspected weapons of mass destruction must be dismantled. [via Yahoo]
US President George W. Bush rejected a North Korean offer to freeze its nuclear program, insisting the communist state's suspected weapons of mass destruction must be dismantled. [via Yahoo]
North Korea Offers Plan to End Nuclear Standoff
North Korea announced Tuesday it would freeze its nuclear weapons projects in return for energy aid and being removed from Washington's list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The White House reacted coolly, but did not reject the offer outright. [via CBS News]
North Korea announced Tuesday it would freeze its nuclear weapons projects in return for energy aid and being removed from Washington's list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The White House reacted coolly, but did not reject the offer outright. [via CBS News]
December 08, 2003
Dirty Bombs Missing Near Russia?
Dozens of rockets outfitted with so-called dirty bombs -- warheads designed to scatter deadly radioactive material -- appear to be missing in a breakaway region of Moldova, an expert said Monday. [via CBS News]
Dozens of rockets outfitted with so-called dirty bombs -- warheads designed to scatter deadly radioactive material -- appear to be missing in a breakaway region of Moldova, an expert said Monday. [via CBS News]
Nuclear weapons went to Falklands in 1982
British warships during the 1982 Falklands war carried nuclear depth charges into an exclusion zone around the Falklands, but not into the island's territorial area, the Ministry of Defence said. "They were the WE177 nuclear depth charges." [via Yahoo]
British warships during the 1982 Falklands war carried nuclear depth charges into an exclusion zone around the Falklands, but not into the island's territorial area, the Ministry of Defence said. "They were the WE177 nuclear depth charges." [via Yahoo]
Iran Says It Will Sign Nuclear Protocol
Iran insists that it remained committed to an agreement allowing unfettered inspection of its nuclear facilities but gave no date for when it will sign the deal, despite mounting Western pressure. [via Yahoo]
Iran insists that it remained committed to an agreement allowing unfettered inspection of its nuclear facilities but gave no date for when it will sign the deal, despite mounting Western pressure. [via Yahoo]
December 03, 2003
Australia to Join US Missile Defense Program
The Australian government has decided to take part in the controversial U.S. missile shield system. "We believe that taking part in the U.S. program will serve our strategic interest, help us defend Australia and allow us to make an important contribution to global and regional security," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement. [Full Statement]
The Australian government has decided to take part in the controversial U.S. missile shield system. "We believe that taking part in the U.S. program will serve our strategic interest, help us defend Australia and allow us to make an important contribution to global and regional security," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement. [Full Statement]
North Korean Talks Might Be Delayed
Six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis - tentatively planned for this month - might be delayed until next year, U.S. and Asian officials said. [via Yahoo]
Six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis - tentatively planned for this month - might be delayed until next year, U.S. and Asian officials said. [via Yahoo]
December 01, 2003
Iraq Scientists Say They Lied Over Weapons
Iraqi scientists never revived their long-dead nuclear bomb program, and in fact lied to Saddam Hussein about how much progress they were making before U.S.-led attacks shut the operation down for good in 1991, Iraqi physicists say in his new book Iraq's Nuclear Mirage: Memoirs and Delusions.
Iraqi scientists never revived their long-dead nuclear bomb program, and in fact lied to Saddam Hussein about how much progress they were making before U.S.-led attacks shut the operation down for good in 1991, Iraqi physicists say in his new book Iraq's Nuclear Mirage: Memoirs and Delusions.
