US military using Britain's atomic weapons factory to carry out research denied them here at home

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Monday 9 February 2009

The US military has been using Britain's atomic weapons factory to carry out research into its own nuclear warhead programme, according to evidence seen by the Guardian.

US defence officials said that "very valuable" warhead research has taken place at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire as part of an ongoing and secretive deal between the British and American governments.

The Ministry of Defence admitted it is working with the US on the UK's "existing nuclear warhead stockpile and the range of replacement options that might be available" but declined to give any further information.

Last night, opposition MPs called for a full parliamentary inquiry into the extent of the collaboration at Aldermaston and campaign groups warned any such deal was in breach of international law. They added that it also undermined Britain's claim to have an independent nuclear weapons programme and meant British taxpayers were effectively subsidising America's nuclear programme.

The US president, Barack Obama, while on the campaign trail said he wanted to eliminate nuclear weapons and that one of his first actions on taking office would be to "stop the development of new nuclear weapons". But the Pentagon is at odds with the president. The defence secretary, Robert Gates, and other senior officials argue that the US's existing arsenal needs to be upgraded and that would not constitute "new" weapons.

Kate Hudson, of CND, said: "Any work preparing the way for new warheads cuts right across the UK's commitment to disarm, which it signed up to in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. That this work may be contributing to both future US and British warheads is nothing short of scandalous."

read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/09/us-uk-atomic-weapons-nuclear-power


The Pentagon under Bush was a rogue government operating outside the boundaries set by our Legislature. The holdovers in the Pentagon have been pressing ahead with these Bush-era constructions as if the administration-reversing election hadn't just taken place.

"That this work may be contributing to both future US and British warheads is nothing short of scandalous."

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. "any such deal was in breach of international law" - YEAH, like the USA respects International Law

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Iraq attacked the USA - so the USA invaded and occupied Iraq

(did I miss something?)

President Obama has to walk softly or he'll end up like JFK

Great country that USA

THUGS

THEY KILL THEIR BEST LEADERS

Watch and learn

I was in grade 8 when they killed John Kennedy

USA is run by thugs

USA is the "Hole in the Wall" of the World - more weapons and evil than the rest of the World combined

BASES in over 100 other countries!

USA nomba one - yeah

we'll see . . .

say China and Russia

dey's a'watchin'

you betcha!

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2. the December 2009 expiration date of the current strategic arms (START) treaty with Russia

. . . and the requirement by Congress that Obama conduct a Nuclear Posture Review by the end of the year . . .

In addition, Sec. of State Clinton said during her confirmation, the administration intends to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and submit the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty to the Senate for ratification.

I expect all of that will require a focus and commitment to 'international law'.

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3. .

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4. .

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5. morning

:shrug: