@@ Why the UN is silent? Britain participated in the U.S. underground nuclear explosion in violation of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) @@
Arash
February 23, 2006
Britain to Participate in U.S. 'Sub-Critical' Nuclear Explosion
The United Kingdom will participate today in a sub-critical nuclear explosions
conducted by the United States at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site. Dr. Ian Davis,
Executive Director of BASIC, said: "this test could be the latest in a series of
developments designed to secure Britain's new generation of nuclear weapons before
Parliament and the public has had a chance to debate the issue".
British involvement in the U.S. testing programme comes at a time when Washington's
actions are putting pressure on the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. The Bush
administration refuses to re-submit the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) to
Congress for ratification, and boycotted international conferences on the treaty's
entry into force in November 2001 and again in September 2005.
In addition, Washington is seeking to reduce the amount of time required to prepare a
site for a full nuclear weapon test from its current level of two to three years.
The nuclear test (explosion) is said to be part of the U.S. Stockpile Stewardship
Programme designed to maintain the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons
stockpile, but the data could also be used to develop new warhead designs.
The Bush administration's funding to modify two existing high-yield nuclear warheads
for earth penetration (Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator or "Bunker Buster") was
blocked by Congress in 2005 and 2006. However, funding was approved for the Reliable
Replacement Warhead (RRW) program, and some U.S. lawmakers are concerned that this is
a 'cover' for new warhead development.
The participation of UK personnel indicates Britain's increased interest in nuclear
tests relevant to its own existing and future nuclear arsenals.
The British Government would also argue that this collaborative effort, combined with
the investment of about £1 billion ($1.75 billion) at the Atomic Weapons
Establishment, AWE (http://www.awe.co.uk) at Aldermaston and Burghfield, is to ensure
the safety and reliability of the existing Trident nuclear warhead stockpile
throughout its intended in-service life
(http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/beyondtrident).
But given the government's stated intention to take a decision about a replacement
for the UK Trident nuclear system before the end of this Parliament, it may also be
looking at possible new warhead designs. Indeed, AWE scientists are clear that the
current investment is 'dual-use' and provides the design capability for new warheads
if that political decision is taken.
Dr. Ian Davis (http://www.basicint.org/about.htm), BASIC's Executive Director, said,
"Britain has turned a blind eye to the Bush administration's efforts to undermine the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and is failing to live up to its own
disarmament commitments by indefinitely retaining its nuclear weapons".
He added: "There is an urgent need for more information on the purpose of these
sub-critical nuclear tests (explosions). The lack of transparency and accountability
on such an important issue is an affront to participatory democracy".
Notes for Editors
--------------------------
The British Government receives briefings on the scope and outcome of U.S.
sub-critical nuclear explosions, but this is only the second time the Nevada
authorities have openly acknowledged the participation of UK personnel in the nuclear
tests. The first was for a US-UK sub-critical nuclear explosion carried out on
February 14, 2002.
Nuclear tests are "sub-critical", involving less fissile material than that required
for a critical mass so no self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction occurs.
There is also disagreement among 'experts' as to whether such explosions are
permitted within the CTBT, which has been signed by 176 countries, including the
United Kingdom and the United States, but has not yet entered into force.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Operations Office
http://www.nv.doe.gov/
Background on US-UK nuclear weapons collaboration under the Mutual Defence Agreement
http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/MDAReport.pdf
Background on the CTBT, a resource page from BASIC
http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/CTBT/main.htm
“Does the U.S. Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship Program Pose a Proliferation
Threat?”, in-depth article by the Natural Resources Defense Council, 1998.
http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/athreat.asp
Ballistic Submarines (SSBN)
http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server.php?show=nav.2420
Trident D-5 Ballistic Missile
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/slbm/d-5.htm
British nuclear policy
http://www.basicint.org/nuclear/UK_Policy/main.htm
The Current British Arsenal
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Uk/UKArsenalRecent.html
The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
http://www.ctbto.org
The Text of the Treaty (CTBT)
http://www.ctbto.org/treaty/treatytext.tt.html
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty / Test Moratorium
http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/ctbt/
Photos: Krakatau nuclear test
http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/photos/subcritical.aspx
Video: Krakatau nuclear test
http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/films/other.aspx?ID=152
Gallery of U.S. Nuclear Tests
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/
Nevada Nuclear Test Site
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/nts.htm
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (UK)
http://www.cnduk.org
U.S. nuclear forces, 2006
http://www.thebulletin.org/article_nn.php?art_ofn=jf06norris
British nuclear forces, 2005
http://www.thebulletin.org/article_nn.php?art_ofn=nd05norris
http://www.basicint.org/pubs/Press/060223.htm