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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
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?
Posted by Declan on October 9, 2006, at 14:05:06
In reply to Nuclear testing, posted by alexandra_k on October 9, 2006, at 4:04:46
Howard last night said that this was a test for the UN and if it failed etc etc. This probably only impressed those who hate the UN sufficiently to wish to see it saddled with this miscalculation. But still, I was impressed, he's no slouch, and maybe he'll try to beat Menzies' 16 years, which means I'll be dead while he's still PM.
Iran is the interesting one. If I lived there I don't know what I'd think. But they are on notice to get their bomb as quickly as possible?
Posted by alexandra_k on October 10, 2006, at 8:05:40
In reply to Re: Nuclear testing » alexandra_k, posted by Declan on October 9, 2006, at 14:05:06
> Howard last night said that this was a test for the UN and if it failed etc etc.
Failed in what? The US is going to have to take North Korea seriously now, which is precisely what they wanted from this.
The US wants to be the superpower and wants to back that up with nukes. It is in their interests for other countries not to have nukes.
But the trouble with 'okay for us not okay for you' is that it is next to impossible for other countries to take that seriously...
Model 'nukes make you powerful' and what is going to happen? I get the impression that North Korea is fairly chuffed.
Disarmament is the answer IMHO.
But that means EVERYONE.
One has to lead by example, not by 'do as we say not as we do'. I think it is funny how Bush (and others) are appealing to an 'international affront' and going on about how the UN's will is xxx after the UN made their will clear when it came to the invasion of Iraq but the UN's (and international) will didn't seem to count for enough to halt the invasion of Iraq.
> Iran is the interesting one. If I lived there I don't know what I'd think. But they are on notice to get their bomb as quickly as possible?
Regarding Iran's nuclear desires:
They said it was about POWER.
And the US (and others) didn't believe them.
It was said they were refining plutoniom and the ONLY reason to refine plutonium to that extent was weapons as that degree of refinement WAS NOT required for power.But then:
http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10401511
Seems that wasn't right...
Posted by Declan on October 10, 2006, at 14:29:54
In reply to Re: Nuclear testing, posted by alexandra_k on October 10, 2006, at 8:05:40
It's a bit like south Asia. There Pakistan gets the bomb to balance India which thinks in terms of China which thinks in terms of the US. North Korea's bomb(?) will activate Japan which will alarm China and there's South Korea.
Howard predicted irrelevance for the UN when he has done plenty to weaken it, by the $300 million paid by the Australian Wheat Board to Saddam in violation of the oil for food program, and by supporting the invasion.
This is the end of the thread.
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