[GANA] / Nuclear_Weapons_Future - Oct., Nov., Dec. 2005 - archive

Documents and articles on Proliferation, Non-Proliferation and Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

Sat, 1 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Documents and articles on Proliferation, Non-Proliferation and Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

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Are Nuclear Weapons Illegal?

Sat, 1 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Judge Weeramantry "I regret that the Court has not held directly and categorically that the use or threat of use of the weapon is unlawful in all circumstances without exception. The Court should have so stated in a vigorous and forthright manner which would have settled this legal question now and forever."

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How to Become a Nuclear Superpower - The dangerous World of Nuclear Proliferation.

Sat, 1 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Kelly Whalen "How to Become a Nuclear Superpower - The dangerous World of Nuclear Proliferation"

From signing official treaties to secretly buying plutonium on the black market, this interactive feature shows the steps counties can take to develope nuclear weapons. - javascript needed

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Can a Nuclear Weapons Free Future be reached or will it be impossible?

Sat, 1 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

John P. Holdren "Aiming for Zero: The Trajectory Toward a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World"

Keynote Presentation in Honor of Sir Joseph Rotblat at the 55th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs, Hiroshima, Japan, 22-27 July 2005. - PDF-document format

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IAEA on Iran (From Disarmament Diplomacy)

Wed, 5 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

IAEA on Iran (From Disarmament Diplomacy) Note Ak Malten:

This post contains 2 documents, which are so closely linked I have posted them as one.

Disarmament Documentation

Document 1: IAEA Resolution on Iran's 'non compliance' with NPT safeguards, September 24, 2005

Document 2: Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Report by the IAEA Director-General, September 2, 2005

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U.N. Nuclear Agency and Its Chief Win Nobel Prize for Peace

Sat, 8 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

CRAIG S. SMITH "OSLO, Oct. 7 - The International Atomic Energy Agency and its chief Mohamed ElBaradei today won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2005 for their work in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons." - (cookies should be enabled for this article-link to work)

I amongst others have mixed feeling about this! Comments will follow, Ak Malten

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MI5's document names 300 organisations seeking Nuclear and WMD technology

Sun, 9 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Ian Cobain and Ewen MacAskill "The Guardian , Oct. 8 - MI5 unmasks covert arms programmes - Document names 300 organisations seeking nuclear and WMD technology"

The determination of countries across the Middle East and Asia to develop nuclear arsenals and other weapons of mass destruction is laid bare by a secret British intelligence document which has been seen by the Guardian.

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IPPNW Germany criticises Nobel Peace Prize Award to IAEA

Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

IPPNW Germany "criticises Nobel Peace Prize Award to IAEA and values the work of El-Baradei nevertheless"

The German version of this document and other interesting articles in German can be found on the IPPNW Germany Website. The direct link to the article is: http://www.ippnw.de/index.php?/s,1/o,article,1231/

The IPPNW Germany website can be found at: http://www.ippnw.de/index.php?/s,1/

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Oct 7th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Failures in Multilateral Security Mechanisms

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "Failures In Multilateral Security Mechanisms Raise Nuclear Proliferation Risks, Diminish Prospects For Nuclear Disarmament"

NPT Regime Weaknesses, Threat from Clandestine Nuclear Weapon Programmes, Pre-emptive Nuclear Doctrine among Issues Raised.

Recent failures in multilateral security mechanisms, which had raised the risk of nuclear proliferation and diminished prospects for nuclear disarmament, were highlighted today by a wide range of speakers, as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) concluded its general debate.

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Diplomats See Possible Iran Compromise

Wed, 12 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press Writer "Iran has signaled it may grant access to sites linked to possible work on nuclear weapons and other demands from the U.N. atomic watchdog agency to avoid referral to the Security Council, diplomats said Tuesday."

Besides seeking access to two military sites, the agency also wants to interview military officials thought to be associated with what Iran says is a purely civilian nuclear program. The agency is also asking for documents linked to the country's uranium enrichment program.

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Oct 10th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Thematic Debate Statements Summary - incl. a discussion of nuclear weapons.

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this afternoon to begin its thematic debate, starting today with a discussion of nuclear weapons."

Note: The Committee was also expected to hear a statement by the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). So, the title of the press release points in that direction, but the discussion of nuclear weapons starts at the paragraph: Statements.

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Oct 12th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Thematic Debate and Introduction of Drafts - incl. a draf resolution entitled "Nuclear Disarmament".

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 10:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "Outer Space Arms Race Now Credible Threat, New Legal Agreement Needed To Block Any Possible Weapon Deployment"

Seven Draft Texts Introduced; Chemical and Biological Weapons, Ban on New Types of Weapons, Nuclear Disarmament among Issues Addressed

U NYUNT MAUNG SHEIN ( Myanmar) introduced the draft resolution entitled "Nuclear Disarmament" on behalf of 41 sponsors (not yet issued).

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Canada drops UN disarmament resolution

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Shawn Mccarthy, globeandmail.com, "Canada drops UN disarmament resolution"

Peace activists yesterday accused the Liberal government of buckling under U.S. pressure by dropping its sponsorship of a resolution on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation at the United Nations. Canada had been working with five other countries to have the United Nations General Assembly establish working groups that would pick up where the non-proliferation conference left off last spring.

The title of the draft resolution is: Draft Elements of an UNGA60 First Committee Resolution - "Initiating work on priority disarmament and non-proliferation issues"

A photocopy of the draft resolution can be found at the Reaching Critical Will Website:

http://reachingcriticalwill.org/political/1com/1com05/docs/draftelementsinitiating.pdf

The text of the draft resolution can be found on GANA's Website. I placed it there to serve as _a model_ for the hour this initiative will have his second go. And I believe it should! (Ak Malten) The URL is:

http://www.cornnet.nl/~akmalten/Draft_Elements_UNGA60_FC_Res.html

Oct 17th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Security Threats To Information Technologies, Disarmament Agreement Compliance Addressed In First Committee Debate

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) continued its thematic debate today, with a focus on regional and other disarmament measures, and heard the introduction of four draft resolutions on a broad range of issues, including security threats to information technologies and a new text on compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements."

As part of its new practice of inviting the heads of relevant groups to speak, the Committee heard from the Chairman of the Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, Vincente Berasategui. He said that, in two sessions this year, the Board, a group of eminent persons in the field of disarmament, had expressed deep concern at the lack of any progress on several critical disarmament and security issues. Many members had deplored the failure of the 2005 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to reach consensus on the important issues before it, and several had deemed "astonishing" the omission of a section on disarmament and non-proliferation issues from the Outcome Document of the 2005 World Summit.

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Oct 20th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Security For Non-Nuclear-Weapon States , Ballistic Missile Proliferation Texts Addressed In Disarmament Committee

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons were essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, the General Assembly would reaffirm the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, according to one of three draft texts introduced today in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security)."

Introducing the draft, Pakistan's representative said there had been a general expectation that at the end of the cold war it would become easier for nuclear-weapon States to extend nuclear security assurances to the non-nuclear-weapon States. Unfortunately, the situation, instead of easing, had become more complex. He cited several reasons for that growing complexity, among them, that most nuclear-weapon States had presumed the permanent right to retain nuclear weapons, and the geographical scope for the use of those weapons had expanded with the expansion of nuclear alliances and the operationalization of provisions for sharing nuclear weapons and command and control among alliance members.

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Text of the US sponsored resolution introduced at the UNGA First Committee meeting 17 Oct 2005 entitled "Compliance with nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament agreements."

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by Paula A. DeSutter "Mr. Chairman, the United States this year is sponsoring a resolution entitled "Compliance with nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament agreements." This is not the first time that we have introduced such a resolution. We hope, however, that delegations will view our resolution as an opportunity for the international community to reflect upon the changing face of the global arms control and nonproliferation challenge we all face. The resolution is intended not only to bring the issue of compliance to the attention of the international community, but also to emphasize that compliance with international treaties and obligations is critical to international peace and security, and to exhort governments to seek common cause in pursuit of diplomatic means to bring intentional violators back into compliance."

For those interested in the official document, here is a copy in PDF- document format: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/1com/1com05/statements/us17oct.pdf

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Iran hands over sensitive files

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

TaipeiTimes "Iran has handed over sensitive documents to UN nuclear inspectors and allowed them to question a senior official about activities that could fuel atomic weapons -- concessions that may thwart US efforts to bring Tehran before the Security Council, diplomats and officials say. At issue is how much centrifuge-related technology Iran received from the nuclear black market starting in the 1980s and where that equipment is."

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Oct 24th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Nuclear-weapon-free Zones, Bolstering Global Non-proliferation Regime, Among Issues Addressed, As First Committee Approves 21 Draft Texts vote details included in Annex

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "Importance of Test-Ban Treaty, Risk of Middle East Nuclear Proliferation, Assurances for Non-Nuclear-Weapon States Also Highlighted

Heading into the final phase of its substantive work for 2005, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today approved 21 draft texts aimed at shoring up regional disarmament measures and reducing the global threat of the use of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

Among other things, the draft resolutions highlighted the need for States to work towards the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, assure non-nuclear weapons States against the threat of use of nuclear weapons, and bolster the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. The Committee also considered the role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament. The texts will be forwarded to the General Assembly for adoption."

(For details of the votes, see Annex.)

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Oct 25th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Prevention Of Outer Space Arms Race, Mediterranean Security Among Issues, As Disarmament Committee Approves Seven More Texts vote details included in Annex

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "Drafts Also Address Conventional Weapons, Confidence-Building, Transparency, Research Institute, Asia and Pacific Regional Centre

The General Assembly, recognizing that prevention of an outer space arms race would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, would call on all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the peaceful use of outer space and to the prevention of an outer space arms race, under the terms of one of seven texts approved today by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

The Assembly would reaffirm its recognition that the legal regime applicable to outer space did not in and of itself guarantee the prevention of an arms race, and that there was a need to reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness. The draft was approved by a recorded vote of 160 in favour to 1 against ( United States), with 1 abstention ( Israel). (For details of the vote, see Annex.)"

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Oct 26th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Total Elimination Of Nuclear Weapons, Tracing Small Arms Among Issues Addressed As Disarmament Committee Adopts 10 Draft Texts

Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "On nuclear disarmament, a draft resolution submitted by the New Agenda Coalition, by which the Assembly, noting the growing concern at the lack of implementation of binding obligations and agreed steps towards nuclear disarmament, would call on all States to comply fully with commitments made regarding nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation and not to act in any way that may be detrimental to either cause, or that may lead to a new nuclear arms race, was approved by a recorded vote of 144 in favour to 5 against (France, India, Israel, United Kingdom, United States), with 19 abstentions (Annex II). (The New Agenda Coalition includes Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden.)

Prior to approval of the draft as a whole, a separate recorded vote was taken on operative paragraph 4, which calls on States parties to spare no efforts to achieve the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and urges India, Israel and Pakistan to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without conditions. The Committee voted to retain that provision by 148 in favour to 3 against (India, Israel, Pakistan), with 9 abstentions (Australia, Bhutan, Cameroon, Federated States of Micronesia, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mauritius, United Kingdom, United States) (Annex I).

An updated draft resolution, on the total elimination of nuclear weapons, submitted by Japan was approved today by a recorded vote of 166 in favour to 2 against (India, United States), with 7 abstentions (Bhutan, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Israel, Myanmar, Pakistan) (Annex III).

By its terms, the Assembly, convinced that every effort should be made to avoid nuclear war and nuclear terrorism, would stress the need for a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that those weapons would ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination in a way that promoted international stability, based on the principle of undiminished security for all."

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Oct 28th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Strengthened Steps To Address Threat From "Radiological Terrorism" Called For In Disarmament Committee Draft Resolution

Thu, 03 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "Deeply concerned by the threat of terrorism and the risk that terrorists may acquire, traffic or use radioactive materials or sources in radiological dispersion devices, the General Assembly would call on Member States to support global efforts to prevent and, if necessary, suppress the acquisition and the use by terrorists of radioactive materials, according to a new draft resolution by France, one of 13 draft resolutions approved today in the Disarmament Committee.

The Committee approved the new draft text, as orally amended by France, by a recorded vote of 162 in favour to none against, with no abstentions. A further term would have the Assembly urge Member States to take and strengthen national measures to prevent the acquisition and use by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources, as well as terrorist attacks on nuclear plants and facilities which would result in radioactive releases, and, if necessary, suppress such acts by taking effective measures to account for, secure and physically protect such high-risk materials. (For details of the vote, see Annex X.)

Concerned about the increasing regional and global security challenges caused by, among other things, the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, the Assembly would welcome the adoption of The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, under the terms of a draft resolution approved by a recorded vote of 151 in favour to 1 against (Iran), with 11 abstentions. (See Annex IV.)"

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Nov 1th UNGA First Committee Press Release - Transparency In Arms, Preserving Antarctica , Disarmament Commission Work Programme Addressed In First Committee Texts, As Session Concludes

Thu, 03 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

UNGA First Committee "Warning that the potential catastrophes of the twenty-first century, including environmental degradation and nuclear proliferation, could not be averted through the pure pursuit of national interests, Committee Chairman, Y.J. Choi ( Republic of Korea), said that narrow self-interest and parochial national concerns threatened our very existence and required collective action. Escaping that trap was the "burning question" of the twenty-first century, along with how to rally the troops to overcome the self-defeating dynamics of our time, which had paralyzed the cause of disarmament and non-proliferation."

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Congress approves new warhead program, directs NNSA toward pit production at LANL

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Greg Mello, Los Alamos Study Group "There is more to say on this, but on Monday congressional conferees approved a nuclear weapons budget for U.S. fiscal year (FY) 2006 that includes a new weapons development program, the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) program, the purpose of which is to eventually replace all the nuclear warheads in a future ( ~ 6,000 weapon) U.S. arsenal with newly-designed and newly-built warheads, which are supposed to be more easily built and maintained than the existing weapons and more reliable to boot. The idea is to do this without nuclear testing."

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LANL weapons program draws split positions

Sat, 12 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

ANDY LENDERMAN | The New Mexican "Congressional committees have more than doubled funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead program, money that will go to Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories.

But proponents and a nuclear-watchdog group are already arguing about what the program means.

Supporters say the program is just a concept for now, but one that could create more reliable parts for an aging nuclear-weapons stockpile. Critics say it's the backdoor to a totally new weapons program."

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Iran rejects US claim on atomic weapons work

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Alireza Ronaghi | Reuters "Iran on Sunday dismissed fresh U.S. allegations about its atomic ambitions as a bid to blight a crucial meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog later this month.

U.S. officials said new evidence suggested Iran had made significant progress in what they call its secret pursuit of nuclear weapons, and that this strengthened the case for more international pressure on Tehran to end the program."

More on this issue: US says new evidence of Iran nuclear arms ambition (Reuters):

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Iran 'resumes uranium processing'

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

BBC News "Iran has begun to process a new batch of uranium to convert it to a gas that can be enriched into the material for nuclear bombs, diplomats say."

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Scientists Work on New Nuclear Weapons - Reliable Replacement Warhead on U.S. National Public Radio

Sat, 19 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

David Kestenbaum, National Public Radio: "All Things Considered, November 17, 2005 - For the first time in nearly 20 years, U.S. nuclear weapons labs are drawing up plans for new atomic bombs. They would replace the ageing warheads in today's missiles with more robust ones that would be easier to maintain. The work would completely transform the country's nuclear arsenal."

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Iran received black market nuclear designs

Sun, 20 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

George Jahn, Associated Press Writer: "The IAEA said Iran received the detailed designs from the network run by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear program. His network supplied Libya with information for its now-dismantled nuclear weapons program that included an engineer's drawing of an atomic bomb.

The document given to Iran in 1987 showed how to cast "enriched, natural and depleted uranium metal into hemispherical forms," said a confidential IAEA report. IAEA officials refused to comment on the implications of the finding."

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Parliament approves bill to block IAEA inspections if Iran referred to Security Council

Sun, 20 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Associated Press, TEHRAN, Iran: "Iran's parliament approved a bill Sunday requiring the government to block international inspections of its nuclear facilities if the nation is referred to the Security Council for possible sanctions."

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Great Balls of ... Uranium

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Dr Jeffrey Lewis, ArmsControlWonk.com: "Arms Control Wonk.com has the full text of the latest "Report by the IAEA Director General on the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran (GOV/2005/87)."

Press coverage focuses on the revelation that the AQ Khan network provided Iran with a number of documents in 1987, including one "related to the ... casting and machining of enriched, natural and depleted uranium metal into hemispherical forms."

That would be the shape for a bomb."

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Reprieve for Iran on UN referral

Tue, 22 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

The Associated Press: "VIENNA The United States and its European allies will not push to have Iran referred to the United Nations Security Council this week to give Russia extra time to try to persuade Tehran to compromise on its nuclear activities, diplomats and officials said Monday."

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Russian warhead alters course midflight in test

Tue, 22 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Bill Gertz, The Washington Times: "Russia recently conducted a flight test of a new warhead that can change course in midflight, which U.S. and Russian officials are calling part of Moscow's efforts to defeat U.S. missile defenses.

An analysis of the flight test by U.S. intelligence agencies revealed that it was a further test of a maneuverable warhead that Moscow has been developing for several years in response to U.S. missile defenses."

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U.S., Partners End N. Korea Nuke Project

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Peter James Spielmann, Associated Press Writer: "NEW YORK (AP) -- The United States and its partners on Tuesday dealt the death blow to a project to build two light-water atomic reactors for North Korea to entice it into dismantling its nuclear weapons program, officials said."

"The decision comes at a particularly delicate moment in the fitful series of six-nation talks aimed at disarming North Korea. The fifth round of talks among the two Koreas, the United States, Russian, China and Japan ended Nov. 11 without signs of major progress."

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Iran Confirms Likely Resumption of Talks

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 18:00:00 GMT

Nasser Karimi, Associated Press Writer: "TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran said Wednesday it expects to hold a new round of negotiations with European officials over its nuclear program in the coming weeks, but it stuck by its rejection of a compromise proposal that Europe hopes to salvage in the talks."

"The return to negotiations eases off the mounting confrontation between Iran and the West over its nuclear ambitions. It comes after Europe and the United States backed off threats to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions over its nuclear program at a meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency on Thursday."

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EU Accuses Iran of Having Nuke Documents

Thu, 24 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

George Jahn, Associated Press Writer: "VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- The European Union accused Iran on Thursday of having documents that serve no other purpose than showing how to produce nuclear warheads. It and the United States warned of U.N. Security Council action, even while Iran suggested it was considering a compromise meant to reduce tensions."

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Statement by the United Kingdom on behalf of the European Union to the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting 24 and 25 November 2005 (24/11/05)

Sat, 26 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Statement by the United Kingdom on behalf of the European Union: "The following statement was delivered on 24 November at the IAEA Board of Governors by Mr Peter Jenkins, UK Ambassador to the IAEA and United Nations Organisations in Vienna."

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UK STATEMENT to IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 24 and 25 NOVEMBER (24/11/05)

Sat, 26 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Statement by the United Kingdom: "The following statement on behalf of the United Kingdom was delivered on 24 November by Mr Peter Jenkins, UK Ambassador the IAEA and UN Organisations, Vienna."

"The United Kingdom subscribes fully to the statement I had the honour to make on behalf of the European Union earlier today. ....."

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CNDP Convention: LUCKNOW DECLARATION

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 12:00:00 GMT

CNDP Convention: "LUCKNOW DECLARATION"

"[This LUCKNOW DECLARATION was drafted during the two-days CNDP Convention being held in Lucknow, UP from November 26-27, 2005-Moderator]"

"1. The CNDP (UP Chapter) categorically opposes the US attempt to victimize Iran for exercising it's sovereign right to have full control over it's civilian nuclear fuel cycle. ...."

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ONSITE REPORT: Day I of CNDP Convention

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 12:00:00 GMT

CNDP Convention: "The first UP State Convention of Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace was inaugurated today in Lucknow. The Inaugural session discussed the dangers of emergence of a hegemonic military power."

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The Real Reason for Nuking Iran. Why a nuclear attack is on the neocon agenda

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:00:00 GMT

Jorge Hirsch: "The strategic decision by the United States to nuke Iran was probably made long ago. Tactics adjust to unpredictable events as they unfold."

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Fun With Nuclear Targeting

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:00:00 GMT

Jeffrey Lewis: "My wing o' the blogosphere is all worked up over an article -- in Pat Buchanan's The American Spectator, of all places -- that claims the OVP wants to nuke Iran in the event of another 9/11 attack ... whether Tehran was involved or not:"

"The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States.

The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic targets, including numerous suspected nuclear-weapons-program development sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option. As in the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States."

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What Is the Plan If There's Another 9/11?

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:00:00 GMT

www.justinlogan.com: "According to Philip Giraldi, writing in the new issue (not online) of the American Conservative, it's to nuke Iran:"

"The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic targets, including numerous suspected nuclear-weapons-program development sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option. As in the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States. Several senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are reportedly appalled at the implications of what they are doing--that Iran is being set up for an unprovoked nuclear attack--but no one is prepared to damage his career by posing any objections."

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The Iran War Buildup

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:00:00 GMT

Michael T. Klare: "There is no evidence that President Bush has already made the decision to attack Iran if Tehran proceeds with uranium-enrichment activities viewed in Washington as precursors to the manufacture of nuclear munitions. Top Administration officials are known to have argued in favor of military action if Tehran goes ahead with these plans--a step considered more likely with the recent election of arch-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's president--but Bush, so far as is known, has not yet made up his mind in the matter. One thing does appear certain, however: Bush has given the Defense Department approval to develop scenarios for such an attack and to undertake various preliminary actions. As was the case in 2002 regarding Iraq, the building blocks for an attack in Iran are beginning to be put into place."

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Not Just A Last Resort? -- A Global Strike Plan, With a Nuclear Option

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:00:00 GMT

William Arkin: "Early last summer, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld approved a top secret "Interim Global Strike Alert Order" directing the military to assume and maintain readiness to attack hostile countries that are developing weapons of mass destruction, specifically Iran and North Korea.

Two months later, Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of the 8th Air Force, told a reporter that his fleet of B-2 and B-52 bombers had changed its way of operating so that it could be ready to carry out such missions. "We're now at the point where we are essentially on alert," Carlson said in an interview with the Shreveport (La.) Times. "We have the capacity to plan and execute global strikes." Carlson said his forces were the U.S. Strategic Command's "focal point for global strike" and could execute an attack "in half a day or less."

In the secret world of military planning, global strike has become the term of art to describe a specific preemptive attack. When military officials refer to global strike, they stress its conventional elements. Surprisingly, however, global strike also includes a nuclear option, which runs counter to traditional U.S. notions about the defensive role of nuclear weapons."

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Nuking Iran Without the Dachshund -- The meaning of the Philip Giraldi story

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 20:00:00 GMT

Jorge Hirsch: "How do you convince military planners to prepare detailed plans for a nuclear attack against a non-nuclear nation, without having them think you are a madman?"

"Use the dachshund principle, as illustrated by this old story: ..."

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Decision Doubles Plutonium, Increases Nuclear Weapons Programs at Livermore Lab - press release

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 20:00:00 GMT

Marylia Kelley, Tri-Valley CAREs: "ENERGY DEPARTMENT DISREGARDS COMMUNITY, CONGRESS WITH DECISION TO DOUBLE PLUTONIUM, DRAMATICALLY INCREASE NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAMS AT LIVERMORE LAB

Community Members, Policy Analysts, Scientists Oppose Increased Health And Proliferation Dangers, Charge Federal Agency Disregarded Public Comments, Congressional Direction And National Environmental Laws

LIVERMORE - Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Record of Decision (ROD) dramatically expanding nuclear weapons material and activities at Livermore Lab, located 40 miles east of San Francisco. The DOE decision doubles Livermore Lab's plutonium limits, doubles a highly enriched uranium storage limit, increases tritium (radioactive hydrogen) storage, boosts the tritium "at risk" limit nearly 10-fold, green lights prototyping plutonium bomb cores on-site, alters the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to include plutonium and other new weapons experiments, and names Livermore Lab as the location to manufacture NIF's fusion as well as new plutonium fission targets."

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Sharon opposes Iran as nuke state

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 13:00:00 GMT

Joshua Mitnick, The Washington Times: "TEL AVIV -- Israel yesterday warned that it cannot accept Iran as a nuclear power and that the international community only has a few months before the diplomatic offensive to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon becomes futile.

"Israel, and not only Israel, can't accept a situation in which Tehran will have a nuclear weapon," said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at a press conference yesterday. "We are making the necessary preparations to be ready for such an eventuality."..."

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Atomic hypocrisy -- Neither Bush nor Blair is in a position to take a high moral line on Iran's nuclear programme

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Tony Benn, The Guardian: "Britain has played a leading role in the negotiations with Iran about its nuclear programme and the risk that it might lead to the development of an atomic bomb, and may well seek to take the matter to the UN security council."

Tony Benn was the secretary of state for energy from 1975-79 -- Tony Benn tony@tbenn.fsnet.co.uk

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Iran buying, developing missile defence system

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 14:00:00 GMT

Official (AFP): "TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran, under pressure over its disputed nuclear programme, has been developing a missile defence system and has bought such technology from Russia, the Islamic republic's top national security official told AFP.

"Is this a problem? Do we need permission?" said Ali Larijani, when asked to confirm reports that his country has bought 29 mobile air defence systems from Moscow in a contract worth more than 700 million dollars (600 million euros)."

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Israel voices worry over Iran-Russia missile deal

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 18:00:00 GMT

AFP: "JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel has lambasted Russia over the sale of anti-missile systems to arch-enemy Iran, the latest round of what the local press has dubbed the Iranian-Israeli arms race.

Iran, already under intense international pressure over its nuclear activities, has reportedly bought 29 mobile air defence systems from Moscow in a deal worth more than 700 million dollars.

"When a country sells arms to Iran, it strengthens the military strength of the state and serves only the interests of the most negative elements in the region," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Marc Regev told AFP Sunday."

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Israeli backs strike at Iran reactors

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 23:00:00 GMT

The Associated Press: "JERUSALEM Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in remarks published Monday that he would support a pre-emptive strike against Tehran's nuclear program, the first time an Israeli leader has openly called for military action against Iran. "

"Israeli leaders have repeatedly identified Iran as the biggest threat to Israel and dismissed Tehran's claim that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes."

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Iran, Israel and nukes

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 23:00:00 GMT

Today's Editorial, The Washington Times: "As it becomes increasingly clear that diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear-weapons plans are going nowhere, Israel has been taking steps to deter a nuclear attack aimed at wiping it off the map. On Wednesday, outgoing Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeevi Farkash said that, after March, Israel must be prepared to use means other than diplomacy to halt Iran's atomic-weapons program. "If by the end of March 2006 the international community will have failed to halt Iran's nuclear-weapons program, diplomatic efforts will be pointless," Farkash said. "Iran has the upper hand in negotiations with the international community."

Although other Israeli officials subsequently tried to downplay Gen. Farkash's warning and reiterated Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's call for the international community to do something about the problem, there is no question that Israeli worries about the Iranian nuclear program have been mounting for years."

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UN chief urges West and Iran to cool brinkmanship over nuclear programme

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Anne Penketh, The Independent: "The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, has appealed to both Iran and the West to refrain from escalating their dangerous game of brinkmanship, which has entered an unpredictable phase after the election of a hardline Iranian president. "

"Although IAEA officials have said it would take at least two years for Natanz to become fully operational, Mr ElBaradei believes that once the facility is up and running, the Iranians could be "a few months" away from a nuclear weapon. "That's why there is the concern of the international community about Iran," he said, "because lots of people feel it could be a dual purpose programme"."

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International Peace Bureau welcomes Nobel Award to IAEA + El-Baradei; Urges campaigns for nuclear-free world

Fri, 09 Dec 2005 14:00:00 GMT

The International Peace Bureau: "The International Peace Bureau congratulates the IAEA and Mr El-Baradei on joining the ranks of the Nobel prizewinners. Nevertheless we hope this Prize will not been seen as giving a green light to the development of nuclear energy as a solution to the challenge of global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels."

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Israel Won't Rule Out Strike Against Iran

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 14:00:00 GMT

Laurie Copans, Associated Press Writer: "JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel has not ruled out a military strike against Iran if the country advances further in its efforts to develop nuclear weapons, a senior Defense Ministry official said Sunday.

Amos Gilad denied a Sunday Times article that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon already had a plan to attack Iran in March, saying Israel was working with the rest of the world to solve the matter with diplomatic means.

"Right now the situation requires the focus on the international issue of protecting the peace of world," Gilad told Israel Radio. "But it isn't correct to say that a country that is threatened should deny that it will ever consider a different option."...."

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ElBaradei: World Losing Patience With Iran

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 14:00:00 GMT

Doug Mellgren, Associated Press Writer: "OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohamed ElBaradei said Friday that the international community is losing patience with Iran over its nuclear program. ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he hopes the outstanding nuclear issues with Iran will be clarified next year.

He said he hopes outstanding nuclear issues with Tehran will be clarified by the time he presents his next report on Iran in March, because "the international community is losing patience with the nature of that program."

"The ball is in Iran's court. It is up to Iran to show the kind of transparency they need to show," ElBaradei told reporters."

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Iran Invites U.S. to Bid on Power Plant

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 14:00:00 GMT

Nasser Karimi, Associated Press Writer: "TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran on Sunday offered the United States a share in building a new nuclear power plant in an apparent effort to curb U.S. opposition to its atomic program."

"America can take part in international bidding for the construction of Iran's nuclear power plant if they observe the basic standards and quality," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said at a news conference."

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Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei: The Nobel Lecture

Wed, 14 Dec 2005 21:00:00 GMT

Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei: "I believe it is because our security strategies have not yet caught up with the risks we are facing. The globalization that has swept away the barriers to the movement of goods, ideas and people has also swept with it barriers that confined and localized security threats.

A recent United Nations High-Level Panel identified five categories of threats that we face:

1. Poverty, Infectious Disease, and Environmental Degradation;

2. Armed Conflict - both within and among States;

3. Organized Crime;

4. Terrorism; and

5. Weapons of Mass Destruction.

These are all "threats without borders" - where traditional notions of national security have become obsolete. We cannot respond to these threats by building more walls, developing bigger weapons, or dispatching more troops. Quite to the contrary. By their very nature, these security threats require primarily multinational cooperation."

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A war and its fearsome consequences: How the world has changed post-Iraq

Wed, 14 Dec 2005 21:00:00 GMT

Anne Penketh, The Independent: "President Bush said yesterday that 'the year 2005 will be a turning point in the history of freedom'. But since the start of the war the days have been littered with unintended consequences."

"Weapons

George Bush and Tony Blair said before the war that they wanted to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. Not only have none been found inside Iraq, but the war could have actually triggered the spread of such weapons. The overthrow of Saddam Hussein may well have been the factor that pushed the Iranian government into taking a strategic decision to develop a nuclear weapon, even though the Iranians insist that their nuclear programme is peaceful. It had been clear to all that North Korea had been spared attack because of its possession of the bomb while Saddam was known not to have succeeded in building one. So countries may have decided to take out their own insurance policy. Israel is beefing up its own security after the perceived Iranian threat. The Iraq war may have set off a new nuclear arms race."

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Europe increasingly uneasy with U.S. nukes on its soil

Sun, 18 Dec 2005 06:00:00 GMT

TOD ROBBERSON, The Dallas Morning News: "Continent still home to about 480 bombs, 15 years after Cold War"

LONDON -The Cold War may have ended 15 years ago, but some of its most destructive relics - hundreds of American nuclear bombs - are still deployed around Europe despite growing opposition by European lawmakers.

Conservative and liberal members of parliaments in Germany, Norway, Britain and Belgium are pressing their governments to explain the presence of nuclear weapons in Europe when, they argue, there is no apparent threat on the horizon to justify a nuclear attack.

Their calls for the removal of an estimated 480 American air-launched nuclear gravity bombs adds yet another element of division to the already fractured U.S.-European military alliance. Largely as a result of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, Europeans have pressed their governments to adopt tougher positions to keep American military power in check.

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WSJ On Reliable Replacement Warhead

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 10:00:00 GMT

Dr Jeffrey Lewis, Arms Control Wonk.com: "Carla Anne Robbins, writing in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) has a long article summarizing the Reliable Replacement Warhead program (A blog has posted the full text of Robbins' article).

Unfortunately, the article suffers from the shallow "he said, she said" style of journalism that simply presents unsupported assertions in matched pairs (The RRW is awesome! Critics doubt awesomeness.)

Bob Peurifoy sent a note to Ms. Robbins, asking a series of uncomfortable questions about some of these unsupported assertions. I reprint it here:..."

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Gulf states show concern at Iran's nuclear plans

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 11:00:00 GMT

Brian Whitaker and agencies, The Guardian: "Gulf Arab leaders yesterday discussed turning the Middle East into a nuclear-free zone amid growing unease over Iran's nuclear intentions."

This month Mr Attiya warned that GCC states could become caught between nuclear arsenals in Israel and Iran, and urged Nato to help eliminate them "without exception" - an apparent reference to Israel. "We do not want our region to be sandwiched by arms here and arms there," he said.

Although Israel does not publicly discuss its nuclear capabilities, it is widely reported to have around 200 warheads. Amid the controversy over Iran's nuclear activities, Israeli weaponry tends to be ignored by the US, though many Arabs regard it as a key factor in regional proliferation and argue that it would have to be included in any eventual solution.

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Use of Trident 'would be illegal'

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 19:00:00 GMT

Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian: "The use of a Trident nuclear missile, or its successor, would breach international law, the government is warned today. Even the threat to use nuclear weapons is unlawful, ministers are warned in a legal opinion by leading human rights lawyers."

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Use of Trident 'would be illegal' - revisited

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 21:00:00 GMT

Rabinder Singh QC and Prof. Christine Chinkin: "THE MAINTENANCE AND POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRIDENT NUCLEAR MISSILE SYSTEM"

"We are asked to advise Peacerights on the legality under international law of the United Kingdom's actions with respect to the Trident nuclear missile system. The question on which our advice is sought is whether the UK is in breach of international law through maintenance of the Trident system or the replacement of that system by one with a similar yield. More specifically advice is sought on (i) whether Trident or a likely replacement to Trident breaches customary international law and (ii) whether the replacement of Trident would breach the Non-Proliferation Treaty 1967 (NPT), article VI.

In our opinion, for the reasons which are set out below:

The use of the Trident system would breach customary international law, in particular because it would infringe the "intransgressible" requirement that a distinction must be drawn between combatants and non-combatants.

The replacement of Trident is likely to constitute a breach of article VI of the NPT.

Such a breach would be a material breach of that treaty."

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New treaty on ultracentrifuge technology in Dutch parliament for ratification

Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:00:00 GMT

Laka foundation: "We want to draw your attention to a treaty currently before the Netherlands parliament. (see extra link below). In essence it makes the advanced ultracentrifuge technology developed by the old Urenco firm (now Enrichment Technology Company) available for the French nuclear industry. This involves changing the terms of the original Almelo treaty which covered enrichment activities by the UK, Germany and Netherlands. It was Urenco which provided Mr Khan with the ultracentrifuge technology and a network of specialised firms that enabled him to lay the basis for the Pakistani nuclear infrastructure that ultimately allowed that country to develop a nuclear device.

This is politically important because as you know the present EU negotiating position with Iran is that that country should give up its (legally justified art 4 NPT) claim to the enrichment part of the nuclear cycle. This position is based on he assumption that Iran will use this infrastructure to develop a nuclear weapon. There is a clear contradiction between creating the legal condition for transferring ultracentrifuge technology to France on the one hand, and the blocking of such transfer to Iran on the other. The fact that France is a nuclear weapons state make this contrast especially ironical....."

URL of this new treaty or Cardiff Treaty on UC-technology: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/318178_CM6680.pdf

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India defends nuclear deal with U.S.

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 06:00:00 GMT

Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent, Reuters: "WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - India on Wednesday defended a controversial new civilian nuclear cooperation deal with the United States and rejected demands by American critics that New Delhi accept curbs on its atomic weapons program.

Ahead of talks with senior U.S. officials, Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said he was bringing "ideas" to address a centerpoint of the July 18 deal -- India's commitment to place nuclear facilities associated with its civilian energy program under international inspection.

But he declined to give details, including how India would treat its Canadian-supplied Cirus nuclear plant, which experts say was intended for peaceful use but was diverted for military purposes."

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"Even if the nuclear deal were to be deferred, US-India relations will flourish"

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 06:00:00 GMT

The Rediff Interview/Nuclear proliferation expert Leonard Spector: "Leonard 'Sandy' Spector is one among a small group of top nuclear nonproliferation experts who have been briefing United States Congressional staffers, including those on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on the merits and demerits of the proposed US-India civilian nuclear cooperation agreement."

"Last fortnight he convened along with other leading nonproliferation experts convened a special briefing to talk about India's alleged transfer of plutonium from the Canadian-supplied CIRUS research reactor to its nuclear weapons programme to powerful lawmakers including Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Richard Lugar of the dangers inherent in the US-India nuclear deal."

".."No one can look at the overall situation and not identify CIRUS as a question" that has to be resolved before Congress considers approving the agreement between Washington and New Delhi, Spector said."

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Nuking Iran With the UN's Blessing

Thu, 29 Dec 2005 14:00:00 GMT

Jorge Hirsch "Nuking Iran With the UN's Blessing

Only the American people can stop it"

Ak Malten, Global Anti-Nuclear Alliance, comments: "Jorge Hirsch article also highlights the enormous consequences for the US, Israel and the rest of the World, if the US would break the taboo and would use Nuclear Weapons again, after 60 years"

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Nuclear Clouds Gather Over Asia

Thu, 29 Dec 2005 18:00:00 GMT

Praful Bidwai: "NEW DELHI - The Asia-Pacific region has not only emerged as one of the main engines of the world economy, it has also taken the global center stage in developments pertaining to nuclear weapons and efforts to acquire a capability to make them.

From Iran and Israel in West Asia, through India and Pakistan in South Asia, to North Korea and Japan in the East, the region exhibited, in 2005, unprecedented activity in the nuclear field that can only intensify in the coming years.

In each of these countries, the United States plays a major role. Its policies of selectively favoring or opposing their nuclear activities will alter the strategic balance in some of the world's most volatile regions.

"This is a marked shift from the Cold War period, where the global nuclear center of gravity lay in the all-out confrontation between the Eastern and Western blocs, which was most intense in Europe," says Achin Vanaik, professor of international relations and global politics at Delhi University. He is also a member of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace and an independent nuclear expert. "Regrettably, Asia's nuclear developments are dominated by a superpower that has set its face firmly against nuclear disarmament."..."

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Israel's War Deadline - Iran in the Crosshairs

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 09:00:00 GMT

James Petras, CounterPunch: "Never has an imminent war been so loudly and publicly advertised as Israel's forthcoming military attack against Iran. When the Israeli Military Chief of Staff, Daniel Halutz, was asked how far Israel was ready to go to stop Iran's nuclear energy program, he said "Two thousand kilometers" the distance of an air assault."

More specifically Israeli military sources reveal that Israel's current and probably next Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered Israel's armed forces to prepare for air strikes on uranium enrichment sites in Iran According to the London Times the order to prepare for attack went through the Israeli defense ministry to the Chief of Staff. During the first week in December, "sources inside the special forces command confirmed that 'G' readiness the highest state for an operation was announced" (Times, December 11, 2005).

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Let's Stop a US/Israeli War on Iran

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 09:00:00 GMT

BILL and KATHLEEN CHRISTISON, Former CIA analysts, CounterPunch: "It's More Important Than Halting Nuclear Proliferation"

"The peace movements of the entire world should be in crisis mode right now, working non-stop to prevent the U.S. and Israel from starting a war against Iran. (See the James Petras article in CounterPunch on December 24, 2005 titled Iran in the Crosshairs for the best summary of the present situation.) The reckless and unnecessary dangers arising from such a war are so obvious that one wonders why normal political forces in the two aggressor countries -- both of whom love to glorify themselves as democracies -- would not prevent such a war from happening.

But the "normal political forces" in both the U.S. and Israel have become badly distorted. Democracy has been seriously undermined in both. The cowboy-like personalities and aggressive tendencies of both countries' leaders tend to feed on each other. Domestic political difficulties and coming elections in both countries probably add to the macho inclination of the ruling elites to use force to remove any problems facing them. The glue binding these tendencies together is the ever-strengthening institutional link between defense establishments and military-industrial complexes in both countries, as well as, in the U.S, the growing power and influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) over both major political parties. The entire mix increases the probability, against all common sense, that this absurd war will actually happen."

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BMD Focus: Israel-Iran nuclear balance

Sat, 31 Dec 2005 07:00:00 GMT

MARTIN SIEFF, United Press International Senior News Analyst: "WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The most dangerous strategic nuclear arms race in the world today is the one between Israel and Iran -- far more complex than almost anyone realizes and vastly more dangerous.

Ironically, the number of weapons involved on both sides are miniscule, not only by the standards of the U.S-Soviet/Russian Cold War nuclear balance, but also even compared with the much more limited strategic nuclear stand-offs centering around North Korea or India and Pakistan today.

But that does not really matter: Far more important is the fact that the margin for error or miscalculation on either side is vastly smaller than in any other potential nuclear conflict in the world. And the danger that either party may react catastrophically to the fear that the other will attempt a devastating preemptive first strike is consequently far greater."

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German media: U.S. prepares Iran strike

Sat, 31 Dec 2005 22:00:00 GMT

MARTIN WALKER, United Press International Editor: "WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The Bush administration is preparing its NATO allies for a possible military strike against suspected nuclear sites in Iran in the New Year, according to German media reports, reinforcing similar earlier suggestions in the Turkish media."

"The German news agency DDP cited "Western security sources" to claim that CIA Director Porter Goss asked Turkey's premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan to provide political and logistic support for air strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets. Goss, who visited Ankara and met Erdogan on Dec. 12, was also reported to have to have asked for special cooperation from Turkish intelligence to help prepare and monitor the operation."

More _Nuclear_Weapon_ related news and documents selected by

The Global Anti-Nuclear Alliance, can be found at GANA's News-index:

http://www.cornnet.nl/~akmalten/news.html