Pressure mounts for nuclear tests
Does Britain want to join underground testing in Nevada?
The British American Security Information Council (BASIC) is calling on Parliament and Congress to look more closely at a proposed 10-year extension of an agreement to share nuclear data for "mutual defense purposes."
Nigel Chamberlain, BASIC's nuclear analyst, said renewing it without close questioning and outlining of goals may suggest to the world that Britain and America are working on new and better nuclear weapons while they are trying to prevent other countries from developing any at all.
"It is probably not the most effective for them to tell others they ought not to acquire nuclear weapons, but we are going on for another 10 years (of study on new weapons) no matter what you are doing," he told the Deseret Morning News.
In short, he worries it could lead to more nuclear arms competition and would work against the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty designed to stop that. His group and allies even plan legal challenges to the Mutual Defense Agreement on those grounds.
Steve Erickson, spokesman for the Utah-based Citizens Education Project anti-testing group, notes that the Nevada Test Site was home to 24 joint British-U.S. underground nuclear tests between 1962 and 1991. Before that, Britain conducted 21 open-air nuclear tests, primarily in Australia and the Pacific.
Erickson notes that Britain and America jointly developed and deployed warheads for Trident missiles launched from their submarines. BASIC issued a report this month outlining numerous signs from British leaders that they are considering updating their Trident warheads, and may push for permission after the next national elections.
"I haven't seen anything about America wanting to update its Tridents. We have talked more about developing mini-nukes and bunker-busters," Erickson said. "But if the British want to update the Trident, I would assume it would be a joint effort since it was developed jointly."
He added that the British agenda "would be another pressure to resume testing. The United States and Britain have never deployed a new system without testing it first. And that does not mean just one test. Historically, it means a series of several tests."
Chamberlain's group is concerned that with the Trident nearing the end of its intended life span, British scientists if the Mutual Defense Agreement is extended may tap into the development of smaller more usable weapons such as the mininukes and bunker-busters receiving early study now by the Bush administration.
Comments
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz in back of line for free agents 1:19 a.m.
- Okur signs two-year extension 1:18 a.m.
- Marion to Mavs, Stackhouse to Griz 1:16 a.m.
- Price for redistricting plan challenged 1:04 a.m.
- Basketball campers learn service 1:02 a.m.
- Parra fills in as speedskating coach 12:57 a.m.
- Center of Excellence aims to help 12:54 a.m.
- Royals rally past Red Sox 12:49 a.m.
- Phillies' offense bails out Moyer again 12:48 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Okur signs two-year extension
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- 'The Story of R.C. Willey'
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
138 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
122 - Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
82 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
73 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70 - Letters: Time for a revolution
69
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Blazers get the unbalanced trade they seek while not signing Millsap away...
Ricky Bobby - THE JAZZ DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BACK EQUAL SALARIES. They want to...
Despite the fact that logging has all but stopped in the pacific northwest...
My understanding of what FAIR is trying to do, is to provide well thought out...
Jazz will resign Milsap. If they don't it will be ahuge mistake. First off,...
I was waiting for it to be burned on the big metal structure right by the...
Hey Ute fan... the Utes had a good season. And keep throwing that BCS bowl...
Tyrus Thomas is in the last year of his contract too so what is the point for...
CougarKeith, people don't know how to properly retire the flag, what they did...
It is just talk but since it was brought up: IF we can get Prizbilla &...


You can be the first to comment on this story.