former Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy, Defense Department
Former Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy (1989-1993); Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center in Washington, DC; author of Best of Intentions: America's Campaign against Strategic Weapons Proliferation and editor of Pakistan's Nuclear Future: Worries Beyond War
Nuclear Non-Proliferation and America's Deal with Vietnam The Obama Administration has set what's called the "gold standard" for helping other countries develop nuclear energy. The United Arab Emirates agreed not to enrich uranium on its own soil, a path to producing nuclear weapons. But Vietnam will be under no such restrictions. Vietnam says it won't build atom bombs, but nonproliferation advocates are outraged. They call it a risky giveaway to America's nuclear industry. Nuclear advocates say enrichment is no big secret, and that US squeamishness poses another risk: falling behind in a multi-billion dollar international business. What does it all have to do with China?
A New Thrust against Nuclear Weapons George W. Bush took a dim view of treaties designed to ban the testing of nuclear bombs and limit proliferation of materials and technology. Today, Barack Obama made history as the first American president to chair a meeting of the UN Security Council and in persuading all 15 members — represented by their heads of state — to approve a resolution including steps toward what the President calls "a world without nuclear weapons." But critics say he's "overselling" provisions that can't be verified and which won't make the world any safer from rogue states or international terrorists. What will it mean for Iran and North Korea? Will it help persuade the US Senate to ratify the comprehensive test ban treaty it rejected in 1999?
Violence Greets Bhutto's Return to Nuclear-Armed Pakistan Benazir Bhutto's return to Pakistan yesterday was made possible by a deal with Pervez Musharraf, who offered her amnesty from charges of stealing millions of dollars during her two terms as Prime Minister in exchange for Bhutto's party allowing Musharraf to be reelected President by the parliament, even though he is still the head of the Army. Last night's bombing turned a festival into a tragedy, killing almost 150 people and wounding hundreds more. Now, recriminations are fueling uncertainties about the deals between Musharraf and Bhutto, deals which are already being challenged in court. If that were not enough, it is being reported that the US and Britain ignored Pakistan's illegal nuclear weapons trade for 30 years, all the way back to the Presidency of Democrat Jimmy Carter. Did concern for the alliance allow Pakistan to become a nuclear power and illegally spread the technology to Libya, North Korea and Iran? What can the US do now?
The Future of Non-Proliferation Although the US has no intention of attacking North Korea, President Bush reiterated today that the US won't tolerate that country's nuclear weapon. The President emphasized diplomacy in the aftermath of Korea's nuclear test this weekend, adding that Japan, South Korea, China and Russia all have agreed that multi-national diplomacy is the way to go. With Iran allegedly on its way to building a bomb, what's happened to the international non-proliferation regime? Why have some countries turned away from nuclear weapons while others go full-speed ahead? Is aid with nuclear power an invitation to building a bomb?
One Year Later: Rebuilding from the Thomas Fire This week marks one year since the Thomas Fire descended on the city of Ventura. It burned more than 500 homes within city limits. Since then, roughly half of those properties have received the green-light to start construction, but only a handful have actually broken ground. We visit one neighborhood where some of the first homes are getting rebuilt.
A call to prepare for the next natural disaster A local environmentalist says we should spend more time and money preparing for natural disasters than responding to them. A Ventura resident who lost his home in the Thomas Fire says rebuilding is taking longer than he’d hoped. Local animal shelters are becoming critical evacuation centers. And California counties must now hold public meetings on their relationship with federal immigration agents.
Repainting the Sheriff's department, tan and green Barring any unforeseen changes, there will be a new L.A. County Sheriff at the start of next week. Alex Villanueva defeated sitting Sheriff, Jim McDonnell, in this month’s midterms after running a partisan campaign that lead to the first ouster of a sitting Sheriff in more than a century. Villanueva told KCRW this week that his goal is to rid the department of officials that, he said, contributed to a corrupt culture under previous leadership. But there is a lot of concern about what that will look like and if recent reforms could be rolled back.