Posted by alexandra_k on October 9, 2006, at 4:04:46
Who gets to claim defence and who gets to claim pre-emption? I forget...
US carries out subcritical nuclear test
The United States says it has carried out a subcritical nuclear experiment successfully at an underground test site in Nevada - the 23rd such test since 1997. The test came amid intensifying US-led international efforts to press North Korea and Iran to abandon their nuclear programs. It was the 10th test under the administration of President George W Bush, despite persistent criticism by anti-nuclear groups. The previous test was conducted on February 23.
Many activists and experts argue that the tests undermine the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on nuclear weapons and that the Bush administration is carrying them out to use them to boost its efforts to develop new nuclear arms. The US Government maintains the subcritical tests do not violate the treaty because they do not involve a nuclear chain reaction and are necessary to ensure the safety of nuclear stockpiles. It also insists they are fully consistent with nuclear test moratorium it has maintained since 1992.
"The Los Alamos National Laboratory conducted the experiment to gather scientific data that provides crucial information to maintain the safety and reliability of the nation's nuclear weapons without having to conduct underground nuclear tests," the department's National Nuclear Security Administration said in a statement. The administration said the subcritical tests do not involve nuclear explosion because they are designed to "examine the behaviour of plutonium as it is strongly shocked by forces produced by chemical high explosives". "No critical mass is formed and no self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction can occur," it said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200608/s1728616.htm
Next up:
N Korea nuclear test destabilises region, Howard says
Prime Minister John Howard has strongly condemned North Korea's actions in carrying out a nuclear test. Mr Howard says Australia will call on the United Nations Security Council to take swift action against the rogue state. He has told Parliament that the Federal Government will also push for the implementation of a range of trade, financial, travel and aviation sanctions against North Korea. "North Korea is very gravely mistaken if she thinks that a nuclear test will improve that country's bargaining position," he said.
"The test has destabilised the region, it's eroded North Korea's own security a strong international response is called for and Australia will give full support to that response. "We are both disturbed and outraged at this action by North Korea which should be condemned in the strongest possible terms." Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley also says the test threatens peace and security in the region. "It's an action that we deeply regret and deplore," he said.
Mr Beazley has urged the Prime Minister to convene an emergency meeting of regional foreign ministers to coordinate a diplomatic response to the nuclear test.
Tremor detected
The United States Geological Survey says it detected a seismic tremor measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale that appears to confirm the underground blast. A US official said North Korea gave China a 20-minute warning of its test. China then immediately alerted United States, Japan and South Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says North Korea's nuclear weapons test is unpardonable. "North Korea's nuclear weapons test can never be pardonable," he said. "But we should collect and analyse more intelligence on the matter in a cool-headed manner. "Whatever provocation by North Korea should be dealt with with a cool head. "Maintenance of bilateral relations (between Japan and South Korea) is important."
Threat overstated
But Michael Harrold, who worked as a translator for the North Korean Government for seven years, says the threat is being overstated. "I do not think the rest of the world should be too afraid of North Korea and Kim Jong Il and I think it is quite clear what they're doing with this test," he said."They really want to have a bargaining chip."They really want to talk to the us in particular and I think this is why they're doing it. "I don't see them having any intention of dropping a nuclear bomb on anybody."
Mr Harrold believes Kim Jong Il just wants to open up his country."I think that when he does a nuclear test, one of the factors behind it is to create a trump card in negotiations," he said. "He particularly wants to push the Americans into negotiation about a peace treaty which will then allow him to reduce his military budget which will then allow him to increase the standard of living of his people, divert some of the military money towards economic goals in his own country."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1758963.htm
And round and round it goes...
Except that... The uranium in Iran turned out to be refined to power grade not weapons grade after all... Didn't it?
poster:alexandra_k
thread:693246
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20061009/msgs/693246.html