International Nuclear Watch & Discussion
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
Doomsday detectives battle nuclear terrorism
New book outlines U.S. strategy for determining source of a possible attack
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28301954/
Yeah, everybody knows that uncle has this capability. So, when a BUM goes off, the signatures will lead to TSP and then PRC which supplied it. What is uncle going to do?
New book outlines U.S. strategy for determining source of a possible attack
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28301954/
Yeah, everybody knows that uncle has this capability. So, when a BUM goes off, the signatures will lead to TSP and then PRC which supplied it. What is uncle going to do?
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Chinmayanand
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Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
After that Unkil will fight India's war on terror . Indian politicians won't have to worry about surgical strikes . Let us hope and pray, it happens to Uncle sooner...wasu wrote:Doomsday detectives battle nuclear terrorism
New book outlines U.S. strategy for determining source of a possible attack
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28301954/
Yeah, everybody knows that uncle has this capability. So, when a BUM goes off, the signatures will lead to TSP and then PRC which supplied it. What is uncle going to do?
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
Interesting article about a canadian startup which hopes to do fusion using a combination of magnetic and inertial confinement. Their approach (with pretty pictures) can be found here
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
Russian military gets new nuclear missiles
Russian news agencies quote a statement from the Strategic Missile Forces as saying the Topol-M missiles were put on duty Wednesday in Teikovo. The news agencies say the missiles are mounted on heavy off-road vehicles, but do not say how many were deployed.
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
America’s passage of nuclear power
On Jan. 20, an unobtrusive military officer carrying a small leather-bound metal briefcase will follow President George W. Bush up to Capitol Hill. After the inauguration ceremony, he will accompany President Barack Obama back to the White House.
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
Obama on lab exchanges
President-elect Barack Obama plans to resume scientist exchanges between U.S. nuclear-weapons laboratories and Chinese facilities, a program halted in the late 1990s after the loss of U.S. nuclear-warhead secrets to China.
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
Scientists plan to ignite tiny man-made star
They are spinning this weapon design aid as some boon to mankindScientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Livermore, nestled among the wine-producing vineyards of central California, will use a laser that concentrates 1,000 times the electric generating power of the United States into a billionth of a second.
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
More evidence of budding nuke renaissance
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/munger/20 ... aissa.html
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/munger/20 ... aissa.html
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
Bush signs nuclear inspection pact with U.N. watchdog
Additional protocol for a NWS is like a marriage certificate for a whore
Additional protocol for a NWS is like a marriage certificate for a whore
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
Recommend link below (from Physics World, September 2008) as a good read:
The gas centrifuge and nuclear weapons proliferation
The gas centrifuge and nuclear weapons proliferation
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
U.S. Navy sub commander fired
A U.S. Navy ballistic-missile submarine skipper has been relieved of his duties over a loss of confidence in his ability to command, a Navy spokeswoman said. ...
The Ohio-class submarine is armed with 24 Trident II nuclear missiles.
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
First N-bomb was built under Benazir govt: ex-US official
WASHINGTON, Jan 2: Pakistan built its first functioning nuclear weapon when the late prime minister Benazir Bhutto was in power, says former US Air Force secretary Thomas Reed.
Mr Reed, a trained weapons designer, made this claim in a book — The Nuclear Express: A Political History of the Bomb and Its Proliferation — which he co-authored with Danny Stillman, a former director of the technical intelligence division at America’s Los Alamos National Laboratory.
In an interview to the US News and World Report, published on Friday, Mr Reed argues that China’s assistance to Pakistan was ‘shocking’ but not ‘short-sighted’ as it helped protect China’s interests in the region. Mr Reed does not explain whether Pakistan’s first functioning nuclear weapons was made during Ms Bhutto’s first or the second tenure.
“We believe that during Benazir Bhutto’s term in office, the People’s Republic of China tested Pakistan’s first bomb for her in 1990,” he says “There are numerous reasons why we believe this to be true, including the design of the weapon and information gathered from discussions with Chinese nuclear experts.”
Mr Reed claims that the Pakistanis were so quick to respond to the Indian nuclear tests in 1998 because the Chinese had already prepared them for a response.
“It only took them two weeks and three days,” he notes. “When the Soviet Union took the United States by surprise with a test in 1961, it took the US seventeen days to prepare and test, a device that had been on hand for years.”
According to Mr Reed, the Pakistani response makes it clear that the gadget tested in May 1998 was a carefully engineered device in which they had great confidence.
The Chinese assistance to Pakistan, says Mr Reed, “can be explained by a balance of power: India was China’s enemy and Pakistan was India’s enemy.”
Mr Reed claims that the Chinese did a massive training of Pakistani scientists, (just like the Russians had done for them) brought them to China for lectures, even gave them the design of the CHIC-4 device, which was a weapon that was easy to build a model for export.
“There is evidence that Dr. A. Q. Khan used Chinese designs in his nuclear designs,” he writes. “Notes from those lectures later turned up in Libya, for instance. And the Chinese did similar things for the Saudis, North Koreans, and the Algerians.”
The author also argues that sharing nuclear knowhow is not unique to China.
“The United States conducted nuclear tests in Nevada openly and with full disclosure in the 1990s on behalf of our UK allies. We speculate on Israeli access to the US test results … the South Africans also apparently worked with the Israelis on a nuclear test in the South Pacific in 1979.”
In the wake of the Suez crisis in 1956, the French and the Israelis initiated a joint nuclear weapons programme that resulted in a test in the Algerian desert. At that test in 1960, the two countries went nuclear with one shot, the author notes.
US experts say that China played a major role in the development of Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure, especially when increasingly stringent export controls in western countries made it difficult for Pakistan to acquire materials and technology elsewhere.
According to a 2001 US Department of Defence report, China has supplied Pakistan with nuclear materials and expertise and has provided critical assistance in the construction of Pakistan’s nuclear facilities.
In the 1990s, China designed and supplied the heavy water Khushab reactor, which plays a key role in Pakistan’s production of plutonium. A subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation also contributed to Pakistan’s efforts to expand its uranium enrichment capabilities by providing 5,000 custom made ring magnets, which are a key component of the bearings that facilitate the high-speed rotation of centrifuges.
According to Anthony Cordesman of the Centre for Strategic International Studies, Washington, China is also reported to have provided Pakistan with the design of one of its warheads, which is relatively sophisticated in design and lighter than the US and Soviet designed first generation warheads.
China also provided technical and material support in the completion of the Chashma nuclear power reactor and plutonium reprocessing facility, which was built in the mid-1990s. The project had been initiated as a cooperative programme with France, but Pakistan’s failure to sign the NPT and unwillingness to accept IAEA safeguards on its entire nuclear programme caused France to terminate assistance.
WASHINGTON, Jan 2: Pakistan built its first functioning nuclear weapon when the late prime minister Benazir Bhutto was in power, says former US Air Force secretary Thomas Reed.
Mr Reed, a trained weapons designer, made this claim in a book — The Nuclear Express: A Political History of the Bomb and Its Proliferation — which he co-authored with Danny Stillman, a former director of the technical intelligence division at America’s Los Alamos National Laboratory.
In an interview to the US News and World Report, published on Friday, Mr Reed argues that China’s assistance to Pakistan was ‘shocking’ but not ‘short-sighted’ as it helped protect China’s interests in the region. Mr Reed does not explain whether Pakistan’s first functioning nuclear weapons was made during Ms Bhutto’s first or the second tenure.
“We believe that during Benazir Bhutto’s term in office, the People’s Republic of China tested Pakistan’s first bomb for her in 1990,” he says “There are numerous reasons why we believe this to be true, including the design of the weapon and information gathered from discussions with Chinese nuclear experts.”
Mr Reed claims that the Pakistanis were so quick to respond to the Indian nuclear tests in 1998 because the Chinese had already prepared them for a response.
“It only took them two weeks and three days,” he notes. “When the Soviet Union took the United States by surprise with a test in 1961, it took the US seventeen days to prepare and test, a device that had been on hand for years.”
According to Mr Reed, the Pakistani response makes it clear that the gadget tested in May 1998 was a carefully engineered device in which they had great confidence.
The Chinese assistance to Pakistan, says Mr Reed, “can be explained by a balance of power: India was China’s enemy and Pakistan was India’s enemy.”
Mr Reed claims that the Chinese did a massive training of Pakistani scientists, (just like the Russians had done for them) brought them to China for lectures, even gave them the design of the CHIC-4 device, which was a weapon that was easy to build a model for export.
“There is evidence that Dr. A. Q. Khan used Chinese designs in his nuclear designs,” he writes. “Notes from those lectures later turned up in Libya, for instance. And the Chinese did similar things for the Saudis, North Koreans, and the Algerians.”
The author also argues that sharing nuclear knowhow is not unique to China.
“The United States conducted nuclear tests in Nevada openly and with full disclosure in the 1990s on behalf of our UK allies. We speculate on Israeli access to the US test results … the South Africans also apparently worked with the Israelis on a nuclear test in the South Pacific in 1979.”
In the wake of the Suez crisis in 1956, the French and the Israelis initiated a joint nuclear weapons programme that resulted in a test in the Algerian desert. At that test in 1960, the two countries went nuclear with one shot, the author notes.
US experts say that China played a major role in the development of Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure, especially when increasingly stringent export controls in western countries made it difficult for Pakistan to acquire materials and technology elsewhere.
According to a 2001 US Department of Defence report, China has supplied Pakistan with nuclear materials and expertise and has provided critical assistance in the construction of Pakistan’s nuclear facilities.
In the 1990s, China designed and supplied the heavy water Khushab reactor, which plays a key role in Pakistan’s production of plutonium. A subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation also contributed to Pakistan’s efforts to expand its uranium enrichment capabilities by providing 5,000 custom made ring magnets, which are a key component of the bearings that facilitate the high-speed rotation of centrifuges.
According to Anthony Cordesman of the Centre for Strategic International Studies, Washington, China is also reported to have provided Pakistan with the design of one of its warheads, which is relatively sophisticated in design and lighter than the US and Soviet designed first generation warheads.
China also provided technical and material support in the completion of the Chashma nuclear power reactor and plutonium reprocessing facility, which was built in the mid-1990s. The project had been initiated as a cooperative programme with France, but Pakistan’s failure to sign the NPT and unwillingness to accept IAEA safeguards on its entire nuclear programme caused France to terminate assistance.
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
Silly me I thought the US sanctioned Kiyani and TSPA.
Even more stupider me for earlier believing that AQK network was already dismantled and destroyed. I wonder how this vistage of love survived, to require yet another Fatwa by USA?
US sanctions on AQ Khan 'allies'
Even more stupider me for earlier believing that AQK network was already dismantled and destroyed. I wonder how this vistage of love survived, to require yet another Fatwa by USA?
US sanctions on AQ Khan 'allies'
The US has imposed sanctions on people and companies linked to the former head of Pakistan's nuclear programme, the disgraced scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.
The state department said 13 people and three companies would be targeted for their alleged involvement in Mr Khan's illicit trading of nuclear technology.
US officials said they hoped the sanctions would "help prevent future proliferation-related activities".
Mr Khan admitted transferring nuclear secrets to other countries in 2004.
He was later pardoned by former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and has been under virtual house arrest in Islamabad ever since.
In July, Mr Khan told the media that Pakistan had transported uranium enrichment equipment to North Korea in 2000 with the full knowledge of the country's army, then headed by Gen Musharraf.
The former leader has repeatedly stated that no-one apart from Mr Khan had any knowledge of the transportation of nuclear technology.
'No longer operating'
In a statement, the US state department said that sanctions would be imposed on 13 individuals and three private companies "for their involvement in the AQ Khan nuclear proliferation network".
Countries should remain vigilant to ensure that Khan network associates... will not become a future source for sensitive nuclear information or equipment
US Department of State
"We believe these sanctions will help prevent future proliferation-related activities by these private entities, provide a warning to other would-be proliferators," it said.
"While we believe the AQ Khan network is no longer operating, countries should remain vigilant to ensure that Khan network associates, or others seeking to pursue similar proliferation activities, will not become a future source for sensitive nuclear information or equipment."
The sanctions followed a US government review of information about the network, the state department added.
The individuals targeted include British, German, Turkish, Swiss and Sri Lankan nationals.
One of them, German engineer Gotthard Lerch, was sentenced last year to five-and-a-half years in prison for breaking export and weapons laws by sending uranium-enrichment equipment to Libya.
Last year, a UN nuclear watchdog said the AQ Khan network had smuggled nuclear weapon technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea and had been active in 12 countries.
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
About the above - IOL's take
To make up for their declining oil reserves the United Arab Emirates is to issue a call for bids next year for the construction of several nuclear power plants - The project is both a major trade opportunity and geopolitical headache for Western leaders. France’s Areva and its U.S.-Japanese rival Westinghouse are geared up to bid for the huge contract. But the proximity between Iran and the UAE casts a cloud over the program because a nuclear energy project in the Emirates could indirectly benefit Tehran.
Paris and Washington Strategic Partners. As both have military bases in the Emirates, France and the United States appear to be best placed at present to build nuclear power stations there, even if Japan and the United Kingdom are also in the running. In conjunction with Total and Suez, Areva already submitted an unsolicited bid last January during French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Abu Dhabi. Arriving too soon, the proposal fell flat. Sarkozy contented himself with penning a vague nuclear cooperation agreement with the UAE. For its part, the Bush administration has been negotiating a similar partnership since the summer and would like to sign it before Barack Obama enters the White House. The new Democrat president hasn’t yet officially declared his position on nuclear cooperation with Abu Dhabi.
Fighting for Influence. In advance of issuing the call for bids, the UAE has set up a public company, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp (ENEC) and a supervisory body, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). In their bid to land contracts, Paris and Washington are jostling to become the prime partner of the two entities. Since September, FANR has been advised by William Travers who was operations director at the U.S. Nuclear Regulation Commission. Two American firms, CH2M Hill and Thorium Power, are working on ENEC’s behalf.
On the French side, the Agence France Nuclear International, a wing of the Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (CEA), is assisting the Emirates in drafting legislation on nuclear safety that is slated to be adopted next year. Last month Areva, which didn’t have a local representative in the UAE, opened a bureau in Abu Dhabi under the authority of Charles Hufnagel, former number two man in the group’s communications department. Areva’s international affairs division, headed since June by former Spanish foreign minister Ana Palacio, has also just recruited a former diplomat, Jean-Notel Poirier, who was in charge of the Near East on the staff of ex French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine between 1997-2000.
Spectre of Proliferation. Still, the commercial and diplomatic dance has gone down badly with the U.S. Congress. On Dec. 12, the Republican representative from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, tabled a draft bill with a highly explicit name: “Limitation on Nuclear Cooperation with the United Arab Emirates Act of 2008” (R.H. 7316). If adopted the bill would put paid to any nuclear cooperation between the U.S. and the Emirates as long as the White House cannot certify that no sensitive American component is being re-exported to Iran via Dubai.
Under pressure from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry & Security (IOL 545), the Emirates last year adopted a law on export controls that would supposedly prevent the transfer of classified American technology to Iran. However, the bill, Federal Act 13, has failed by far to put a halt to trade between Dubai and Tehran. As a result, the U.S. Congress is in no mood to hand a blank check to the Emirates. Its hostility constitutes a problem not only for Westinghouse but equally for Areva: The French group is in the running for major contracts in the United States and can’t afford to alienate American law-makers. While continuing to fight it out in the UAE, Washington and Areva will need to conduct strong lobbying campaigns in Washington. It could be a stroke of luck for Areva that its interests in the U.S. are defended by the firm Covington & Burling. Obama’s new justice minister, Eric Holder, happened to worked for that company.
Re: International nuclear watch & discussion
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02268.html
Clinton said the incoming administration wants to end the Cold War practice of keeping intercontinental ballistic missiles ready for launch "at a moment's notice," though she added the proviso that it must be done "in a mutual and credible manner." Calls for previous administrations to take weapons off the "hair trigger" alert have failed because the Air Force thought its missile launch officers would lose their edge if they no longer did alert duty.
While the Bush administration unsuccessfully sought approval for a new warhead, under the Reliable Replacement Warhead program, Clinton said the new administration would "set a new direction in nuclear weapons . . . one that reflects the changed security conditions of the 21st century." But she said that "new direction" would await the upcoming Nuclear Posture Review, which will not be completed before December.
Clinton and Obama were "committed" to Senate approval of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and would encourage India to join it.
Clinton said the Obama administration would seek to negotiate "deep, verifiable reductions in all U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons, whether deployed or non-deployed, strategic or non-strategic."
Clinton said the new foreign policy team would work to negotiate a treaty banning production of fissile material for nuclear weapons use and end the Bush administration's position that such a treaty should not contain international verification provisions. She said the United States would seek to double the budget of the International Atomic Energy Agency over the next four years and also support a $50 million U.S. contribution for an international nuclear fuel bank so nations with nuclear power plants did not need to have their own reprocessing facilities.