Nukes of Hazard Moving

The stalling economy has even hit the blogosphere causing Nukes of Hazard to downsize.

Ok, not exactly.

In reality, we’re simply moving to a wonderful new blog by the same name, available here (http://nukesofhazardblog.com).

Coverage will include not only the trademark issue of congressional action on nuclear weapons and nonproliferation issues, but also biological and chemical weapons, homeland security, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, military policy, and national security spending.

Make sure to sign up for the RSS feed at http://nukesofhazardblog.com/rss/index.rdf.

A tremendous thank you to everyone who read and supported this blog.

Jeff Lindemyer
Founder, Editor, Proofreader, Blogger
Nukes of Hazard
August 2006 to March 2009

Proliferation Concerns and Implications of GNEP

The March issue of The Nonproliferation Review includes an article that I wrote on the proliferation concerns and implications of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). The journal and its publisher have graciously made the full article available online here.

Cutting to the chase, I argue:

In sharp contrast to its stated goals, GNEP will not solve the problems associated with nuclear waste disposal and may actually increase the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation. The initiative has already sparked a newfound interest in a number of countries to acquire sensitive nuclear technologies, while doing little to restrict the spread of such technologies from partner countries that already possess them. And despite the “proliferation-resistant” label, all of the reprocessing technologies proposed under GNEP would actually make a proliferator's task comparatively easier.

The resumption of reprocessing domestically under GNEP would also likely have a long-lasting and detrimental impact on the nonproliferation regime. Breaking with its thirty-year position that has successfully limited the spread of reprocessing technologies around the globe would significantly hinder the ability of the United States to challenge the claim by other countries of the necessity of reprocessing. Combined with the softening of rules governing nuclear trade, this reversal threatens to further weaken the nuclear nonproliferation regime, with potentially disastrous consequences.

More than five decades ago, the United States launched an ambitious program to spread nuclear technology and knowledge for peaceful purposes throughout the world. Despite its best intentions, the program did not adequately weigh the various possibilities for misuse and consequently contributed to the nuclear weapons programs of several countries. As the United States today considers pursuing a program of comparable vigor, it must remember the lessons learned from the Atoms for Peace experience and realize that greater risk does not necessarily always yield greater reward.

You can find the full article here.

National Security Legislative Wrap-up

Last week, the Senate approved the omnibus package of the nine remaining Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bills, including those for the Department of Energy and foreign assistance. The bill has been signed by the President.

KEY CALENDAR 2009 NATIONAL SECURITY BILLS

FISCAL YEAR 2009 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL: ENERGY AND WATER PORTION

During the week of March 3, the Senate attempted to complete action on the $410 billion bill, but couldn't achieve the 60 votes necessary to stop a filibuster. However, on March 10, the Senate voted 62 - 35 to end debate on the bill and then completed final passage by voice vote. All attempts to amend the bill were rejected, so no conference committee with the House was required. An amendment by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to bar use of funds in the bill to contract with any company that does business with Iran's energy sector failed with a vote of 41 - 53.

FISCAL YEAR 2009 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL: STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS PORTION

During the week of March 3, the Senate attempted to complete action on the $410 billion bill, but couldn't achieve the 60 votes necessary to stop a filibuster. However, on March 10, the Senate voted 62 - 35 to end debate on the bill and then completed final passage by voice vote. All attempts to amend the bill were rejected, so no conference committee with the House was required.

SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL TO PAY FOR THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS

The bill may be considered in the House Appropriations Committee by the end of March, with floor action completed in both the House and Senate before the May recess. House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee chairman John Murtha (D-PA) is talking about adding more than $10 billion to the bill for new weapons.

FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET

The House and Senate Budget Committees may consider the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Resolution the week of March 23. The measure establishes ceilings on large categories of spending, including defense. The House and Senate hope to complete action on the budget resolutions before the spring recess that begins on April 4.

National Security Legislative Wrap-up

Last week, the Senate was bogged down with the omnibus package of the nine remaining Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bills, including those for the Department of Energy and foreign assistance. It will continue work this week.


KEY CALENDAR 2009 NATIONAL SECURITY BILLS

FISCAL YEAR 2009 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL: ENERGY AND WATER PORTION

The Senate attempted to complete action on the bill, but couldn't achieve 60 votes to stop a filibuster. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes to complete the bill by Tuesday, March 10. Thus far, all attempts to amend the bill have been rejected. An amendment by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to bar use of funds in the bill to contract with any company does business with Iran's energy sector failed with a vote of 41 - 53.

FISCAL YEAR 2009 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL: STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS PORTION

The Senate attempted to complete action on the bill, but couldn't achieve 60 votes to stop a filibuster. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes to complete the bill by Tuesday, March 10. Thus far, all attempts to amend the bill have been rejected.

National Security Legislative Wrap-up

Last week, the House approved in one omnibus package the nine remaining Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bills, including those for the Department of Energy and foreign assistance. The Senate is expected to consider the same bill this week. In addition, the Administration released an outline of the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, but the detailed program will not follow until April.

KEY CALENDAR 2009 NATIONAL SECURITY BILLS

FISCAL YEAR 2009 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL: ENERGY AND WATER PORTION

The Omnibus appropriations bill, a collection of nine appropriations bills, included $33.3 billion for the Fiscal Year 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Congress once again refused to provide any funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead. It provided $1.5 billion for nuclear non-proliferation programs, $146 million above 2008 and $395 million for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative, double 2008, to recover nuclear and radioactive materials from sites around the world that could be used as weapons and to secure sites in the U.S. and Russia. The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) was zeroed out, although $145 million was approved for the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative, the research portion of GNEP.

On February 25, the House approved the $410 Omnibus appropriations measure by a vote of 245 - 178. The Senate is expected to consider the measure the week of March 2.

FISCAL YEAR 2009 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL: STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS PORTION

The Omnibus appropriations bill, a collection of nine appropriations bills, included $38.2 billion for the Fiscal Year 2009 International Affairs Budget. The largest component – $36.6 billion or 96% of the International Affairs Budget – is the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill. The $38.2 billion base total represents and 11.4%or $3.9 billion increase above Fiscal Year 2008 base funding levels and a 4% or $1.6 billion decrease below the Bush Administration’s Fiscal Year 2009 request.

SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL TO PAY FOR THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS

On February 26, the Administration requested $75.5 billion in war funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2009, which, when combined with the $68.5 billion already approved in 2008, brings the total war funding for 2009 to $144 billion. The Administration also requested $130 billion in war funding for Fiscal Year 2010.

FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET

On February 26, the Obama Administration released a preliminary outline of the Fiscal Year 2010 defense budget, although the detailed budget request will not be released until April. The topline request provides $534 billion in Fiscal Year 2010 funding for the Department of Defense’s “base” budget, which excludes funding for Iraq, Afghanistan, and nuclear weapons activities. The request also includes $130 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thus the total request is $664 billion. This figure does not include funding for nuclear weapons or miscellaneous non-DOD defense costs, which were approximately $23 billion in FY 2009. Without adjusting for inflation, the $534 billion topline request is $21 billion, or 4.1 percent, greater than the $513 billion appropriated by Congress in FY 2009 for DOD’s base budget. For a more thorough analysis, see the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation’s analysis.

The President requested $51.7 billion for the Fiscal Year 2010 International Affairs Budget, an estimated $4.5 billion or 9.5% above the comparable amount for Fiscal Year 2009. The details of the request will be presented later. This total includes the money included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus appropriations bill and two supplemental bills.