US nuclear upgrade may violate test ban

[truthpusher]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=608874

US nuclear upgrade may violate test ban
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
08 February 2005

As it accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, America is preparing to upgrade and renew parts of its own ageing nuclear arsenal. Critics believe the upgrades could lead the US to breach the treaty banning the testing of nuclear weapons.

Since the project will probably involve replacing technology that originated in the Sixties, watchdogs are concerned the US might be inclined to test the newer systems and, therefore, breach the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Of more concern to watchdogs is President George Bush's dedication to developing a new breed of "bunker-buster" nuclear weapon, designed to penetrate toughened underground defences. Critics say the plan reveals the administration's hypocrisy and undermines international efforts to persuade other countries not to develop weapons.

Last week, it was revealed that the Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, had sent the Department of Energy a memo requesting that it set aside funds to resume a study to examine the development of a bunker-buster bomb. The study had been halted last year after Congress removed its funding.

Story here:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=608874

[tabasco]

1. "Hahahahaha - international law?"

"I guess I better get a lawyer."

GW Bush

[struggle4progress]

2. Today in History - Feb. 8. One year ago: President Bush denied ...

... marching America into war under false pretenses and said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" the U.S.-led invasion was necessary because Saddam Hussein could have developed a nuclear weapon.
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/10840783.htm

[hopein08]

3. Would the Test Ban Treaty...

be consider allowing the rest of the world to dictate how America protects itself? You remember the whole watchdog type thing that W swore up, down, and sideways on during the campaign? I don't remember his exact words but it came up at the debates.

Anyway, it seems like the whole test ban treaty could just be defined as "quaint" and business will carry on as normal.

[tabasco]

4. Sure. Let's scrap ALL treaties so the US can "protect itself."

That nuclear arsenal of ours really helped on 9-11, didn't it? But a few more unnecessary multi-billion dollar projects would be good for some war-profiteering corporations.

The net result of the US acting in disregard to the world community will be the destruction of the United States.

We already have enough serviceable nukes to destroy the planet a few times. The Russians and Chinese have enough to turn our country into a wasteland.

But we need to scrap the treaty to "protect ourselves" and start another arms race. Conservatives really want America to end up on the scrap heap of history.

This type of moronic thinking leads only to war and destruction.