Mini-nukes

[Dan]

U.S. asks Congress to scrap ban on 'mini' nukes

 

WASHINGTON — The administration of U.S. President George Bush has asked Congress to repeal its 1993 ban on developing low-yield nuclear arms, according to congressional sources.

 

The Bush administration is seeking to include in the fiscal 2004 defense authorization bill the abandonment of the ban and substantial funds for research on such "mini nukes," the sources said.

 

At stake is a 1993 law provision introduced by two Democrats in the House of Representatives — Elizabeth Furse and John Spratt.

 

The Furse-Spratt provision prohibits research and development that could lead to the production of nuclear weapons with an explosive yield of less than 5 kilotons.

 

In a document presented to Congress in February with a draft of the fiscal 2004 defense authorization bill, the Bush administration argued the 1993 ban needed to be repealed.

 

The provision "has negatively affected U.S. government efforts to support the national strategy to counter weapons of mass destruction and undercuts efforts that could strengthen our ability to deter, or respond to, new or emerging threats," said the document made available for Kyodo News.

 

One possible use for such nuclear weapons is to destroy other weapons of mass destruction buried at great depths.

 

The Defense Department submitted the document to the armed services committees of both chambers to explain the administration's rationale for wanting to scrap the 1993 ban.

 

The document said a revitalized nuclear arms development effort is essential to "train the next generation of nuclear weapons scientists and engineers" and to "restore a nuclear arms enterprise able to respond rapidly and decisively to changes in the international security environment."

 

The 1993 ban also runs counter to the congressionally mandated Nuclear Posture Review report in 2002, which called for the exploration of nuclear weapons with greater capabilities for precision and earth penetration with reduced collateral damage, the document said.

 

In February, the House Policy Committee of the Republican Party compiled a report urging Congress to consider repealing the 1993 ban to pave the way for developing low-yield nuclear weapons.

 

But Democrats strongly oppose abandoning the ban.

 

Developing low-yield nuclear weapons would lower the boundary between conventional and nuclear weapons. It might also open the way for the United States to resume nuclear tests.