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Guard the Nukes! Rate of Nuclear Thefts Disturbingly High

LibertySugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:00:45 -0700

Almost 250 thefts of nuclear or radioactive material were reported last year. The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency explained this week: “The possibility of terrorists obtaining nuclear or other radioactive material remains a grave threat. Equally troubling is the fact that much of this material is not subsequently recovered.”

Experts say health consequences of a dirty bomb are minimal compared to the panic that it would cause. But, there's no need to panic quite yet —all the material stolen last year combined would not be enough to build a device.

Last week, a new commission created by Australia and Japan to bring together officials from nuclear powers and other interested parties, met to discuss the spread of nuclear weapons since the Cold War. In 2009, the commission will meet again in Washington, DC to push for the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a treaty that still awaits US ratification.

Hopefully, other crises like the financial or climate crises don't cause world leaders to take their eyes off this dangerous issue.

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North Korea No Longer State Sponsor of Terror

LibertySugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:00:12 -0700

North Korea just got cut from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. By presenting the isolated regime with the carrot of taking it off the bad-guy list, some in the Bush Administration hope Pyongyang will honor its promise to end its nuke program.

A few days ago North Korea banned inspectors, raising concerns that the deal, only a few months old, would collapse. But after he determined the country had cooperated with verification requirements of the agreement, Bush made the decision to take North Korea off the list.

Before Sarah Palin called Bush's move "wise," John McCain indicated that it was a mistake to take North Korea off the list, unless it clearly showed its commitment to stop pursuing nuclear weapons. If the US wants countries to start acting friendly, must the US treat them like friends first; or, is removal from the terror list something that must be earned unequivocally?

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White House Disappointed with North Korea Move

CitizenSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:40:19 -0700

White House Disappointed With North Korea Move The Bush administration warned Wednesday that North Korea would isolate itself from the world community if it backtracks and reactivates the plant that once provided plutonium for an atomic test explosion. North Korea barred UN nuclear inspectors from its main nuclear plant on Wednesday, and within a week, it plans to reactivate the plant that once provided the plutonium for the explosive test two years ago. The North ordered the removal of the UN seals and surveillance equipment from the Yongbyon reactor, a sign it is making good on threats to restart its nuclear program.

CIA Director Hayden Says Biggest Threat is a Nuclear Al-Qaeda

CitizenSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:00:24 -0700

Sometimes a news story doesn't allow for any ducking and covering, and this is one of those: the possibility of al-Qaeda acquiring nuclear weapons. While nuclear weapons in countries like Iran and North Korea are worrisome, CIA Director Michael Hayden said yesterday that the agency's top nuclear threat is al-Qaeda.

Hayden said, "There is no greater national security threat facing the United States than al-Qaida and its associates." The concern of course, is that al-Qaeda is more likely to use them. Talking about North Korea's off-again on-again nuclear relationship and Iran's complicated situation, Hayden said with them, "The question is not of capability, but intent."

The intent of course is clear with al-Qaeda. Hayden says, "Bin Laden has said repeatedly that he considers acquisition of nuclear weapons a religious duty. And we know that al-Qaida remains determined to attack our country in ways that inflict maximum death and destruction." It's believed that Osama bin Laden is no longer overseeing the day-to-day operations of al-Qaeda. Hayden added that the best thing the next president could do to help the CIA wrestle with these problems is to step aside and allow the agency to work.

To see the complicated state of Iran's program,

Front Page: US to Send $1 Billion to Georgia, New Orleans Residents to Return, North Korea Reassembling Nukes

CitizenSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:01:11 -0700

US to Send $1 Billion to Georgia:
The Bush administration is set to announce $1 billion in aid to help Georgia rebuild after its conflict with Russia last month. The package reflects an increase of support from the administration. In addition, Vice President Cheney has visited the region, and the aid and visit will probably increase tension with Russia.

New Orleans Residents to Return:
Mayor Ray Nagin has given New Orleans residents the go-ahead to return to their homes tomorrow — at their own risk. A curfew will still be in effect, and many homes are without electricity or working toilets. Nagin said, "It's my humble opinion that the city is still in a very, very vulnerable state." 800,000 people are still without power in the state.

North Korea Reassembling Nukes:
North Korea has begun to reassemble its main nuclear facility saying the US has delayed its removal from the list of terror sponsors. In response, Washington has reiterated its condition that North Korea commit to a plan verifying the accounting of the nuclear program submitted in June. The US is talking to North Korean officials to "look for solutions."

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Hiroshima Mayor Asks US To Back Nuclear Ban On 63rd Anniversary of Atomic Bomb

CitizenSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:07:22 -0700

Hiroshima Mayor Asks US to Back Nuclear Ban on 63rd Anniversary of Atomic Bomb Hiroshima's mayor on Wednesday urged the next US president to support a proposed ban on nuclear weapons, as Japan marked the 63rd anniversary of the atomic blast that obliterated this city and killed 140,000 people. In a ceremony, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba also announced the launch of a two-year study to gauge the psychological toll of the Aug. 6, 1945, attack in the closing days of World War II.

Report: Iran Now Has 6,000 Centrifuges for Uranium

CitizenSugar — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:45:39 -0700

Report: Iran Now Has 6,000 Centrifuges for Uranium President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that Iran now possesses 6,000 centrifuges, a significant increase in the number of uranium-enriching machines in its nuclear program. The new figure is double the 3,000 centrifuges Iran had previously said it was operating. Ahmadinejad made the announcement a week after the US reversed course by sending a top American diplomat to participate in negotiations with Iran, prompting hopes for a compromise.

Front Page: Hurricane Dolly Hits Texas, China to Allow Protests, Iran Says No Concessions

CitizenSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:56:59 -0700

Hurricane Dolly Hits Texas:
Hurricane Dolly arrived on the Gulf Coast early Wednesday with heavy rain and winds ramping up before the center of the storm hits towns on the Texas-Mexico border later today. The hurricane will bring up to 15 inches of rain, threatening local levees that gave way 41 years ago in Hurricane Beulah. The National Hurricane Center said Dolly could approach Category 2 strength when it makes landfall today.

China to Allow Protests:
China has announced that protests will be allowed in three specific city parks during the upcoming Olympics. To protest, one has to apply for permission from the city government and police, and stay within the parks. The director of the Beijing committee said the parks are "close to the city proper and the Olympic venues," but didn't know how the application process would work "at this time."
Iran Says No Concessions:
The president of Iran says the country will not back down in its nuclear activities. The US, UN, and EU have instructed Iran to give an answer on the issue within two weeks or face sanctions. President Ahmadinejad responded in a televised speech, "the Iranian people are steadfast [they] will not retreat one iota in the face of oppressing powers."

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Obama Warns Against 'Fighting the Last War'

CitizenSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:10:49 -0700

Obama Warns Against 'Fighting the Last War' Democrat Barack Obama warned Wednesday about the danger of "fighting the last war" as he pledged to focus on emerging nuclear, biological and cyber threats if elected president. "As long as nuclear weapons exist, we'll retain a strong deterrent. But we will make the goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons a central element in our nuclear policy," Obama said. He added, "The danger ... is that we are constantly fighting the last war, responding to the threats that have come to fruition, instead of staying one step ahead of the threats of the 21st century."

Front Page: Rice Warns Iran, China Foils Olympic Terrorists, Six Die at US Consulate in Turkey

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:03:01 -0700

Rice Warns Iran:
The tension between Iran and the US elevated today as Iran tested missiles for the second day in a row. The action prompted Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to assert that the US will defend its allies and interests against an attack. At a press conference Rice said, “we will defend our interests and defend our allies. We take very, very strongly our obligations to defend our allies and no one should be confused of that." An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander was quoted as saying, "our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch." Meanwhile, the subject of Iran's nuclear program has led President Bush to count heavily on diplomacy hoping to assuage the mounting situation in Iran that newscasters can't stop describing as "sabre-rattling."

China Foils Olympic Terrorists:
China has foiled plans by five "terrorism" groups aiming to target the Beijing Olympics, as reported by the state media. So far this year, police have detained 82 people in the country's unsettled Xinjiang region who had allegedly been planning to sabotage the Beijing Olympics.

Six Die at US Consulate in Turkey:
Shots were fired outside of the US Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday, killing at least three police officers, with three assailants killed in a brief gun battle that followed. Officials report a fourth assailant escaped. The attack was the first on a diplomatic outpost in the city since 2003, when attacks on the British Consulate killed 62 people. Turkish and American officials consider yesterday's attack one of terrorism.

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