Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


2005 United States Special Weapons News

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

December

November

  • Maintainers keep Minuteman IIIs ready AFPN 30 Nov 2005 -- Nearly five decades after the Minuteman entered the United States' nuclear arsenal as President John F. Kennedy's "Ace in the Hole," technicians here are working to ensure it continues on active duty for the foreseeable future.
  • New Antibody Shows Promise as Anthrax Cure Washington File 30 Nov 2005 -- Scientists funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases have engineered a new anthrax antibody that protects and defends against inhalation anthrax without the use of antibiotics and other more expensive antibodies.
  • For all B-52 flyers, all roads lead to the 11th BS AFPN 29 Nov 2005 -- For B-52 Stratofortress aircrew members, all roads lead to Barksdale, more specifically the 11th Bomb Squadron.
  • U.S., China To Cooperate on Detecting Illicit Nuclear Material Washington File 23 Nov 2005 -- The United States and China have agreed to cooperate on installing special equipment at Chinese ports to detect smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials, according to a Department of Energy agency.
  • Deputy Energy Secretary Recommends More Use of Nuclear Power Washington File 22 Nov 2005 -- Greater use of nuclear energy could help meet the world's increasing need for power to fuel economic growth, U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Clay Sell says.
  • Minot completes Minuteman emergency communications upgrade AFPN 18 Nov 2005 -- The 91st Space Wing completed the last modifications to its Minuteman minimum essential emergency communication network at the Oscar-01 missile alert facility in the Minuteman missile complex.
  • U.S. Urges Nations To Make Chemical Weapons Treaty Universal Washington File 10 Nov 2005 -- The head of the U.S. delegation to the 10th conference on the Chemical Weapons Convention says it has been a good year for the treaty because the number of signatories renouncing these weapons has grown to 175.
  • State Department Official Touts Nonproliferation Policy Washington File 10 Nov 2005 -- The current U.S. administration has undertaken more effective multilateral initiatives and more multilateral diplomatic efforts to block and roll back nuclear proliferation than any previous administration, a senior State Department official says.
  • Nuclear Proliferation Cited as Top Security Concern Washington File 10 Nov 2005 -- Threat of nuclear proliferation should be the top security concern for the international community, says Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
  • U.S. To Remove 200 Tons of Enriched Uranium from Weapons Washington File 08 Nov 2005 -- Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman announced November 7 that the United States will remove 200 metric tons of highly enriched uranium, also known as HEU, from the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
  • USS Alabama Offloads Last of C4 Trident Missiles Navy NewsStand 05 Nov 2005 -- Distinguished visitors and the crew of USS Alabama (SSBN 731) came together to witness the decommissioning of the C4 Trident I Weapons System at the Explosive Handling Wharf on Naval Base Kitsap in late October.
  • Sensitive Nuclear Material Moved Out of Los Alamos Facility Washington File 03 Nov 2005 -- The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) says it has removed the most sensitive types of nuclear weapons-usable materials from a Los Alamos National Laboratory site to more secure locations.
  • Senator Lugar Proposes Expanding Cooperative Threat Reduction Washington File 01 Nov 2005 -- The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is proposing legislation to add the destruction of conventional arms stockpiles to existing U.S. programs for working with foreign countries to destroy unsecured weapons of mass destruction.

October

  • Progress Detailed in Countering World's Most Dangerous Weapons Washington File 27 Oct 2005 -- The United States sees good progress being made in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to counter the full range of major weapons threats, according to the State Department's chief security and arms control official.
  • Congressional Conferees Drop Funding for Bunker-Buster Nuke Washington File 26 Oct 2005 -- U.S. Senate and House budget conferees have canceled funding for an Energy Department study to design a new generation nuclear "bunker-busting" bomb, says Senate Subcommittee Chairman Pete V. Domenici.

September

  • U.S. Advocates Global Network To Head Off Nuclear Terrorism Washington File 26 Sep 2005 -- Given the current threat of global terrorism, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert Bonner says it is impossible to overstate the importance of intercepting dangerous weapons, production materials and delivery systems.
  • Peacekeeper missile mission ends during ceremony AFPN 20 Sep 2005 -- The Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile mission came to an end Sept. 19 during a ceremony here.
  • Air Force says farewell to most powerful ICBM AFPN 16 Sep 2005 -- The era of the Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile, often credited with helping end the Cold War, is coming to its own close Sept. 19 with the final phase of the deactivation process.

August

July

  • U.S., Australian Scientists Make Key Bioterror Defense Finding Washington File 29 Jul 2005 -- An international collaboration among researchers from the U.S. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), the Australian Animal Health Laboratory and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute have made a breakthrough in efforts to fight two deadly viruses that could be engineered for use as bioweapons.
  • Cyprus, U.S. Sign Counterproliferation Ship-boarding Pact Washington File 25 Jul 2005 -- The United States and Cyprus concluded a ship-boarding agreement July 25 as part of the ongoing two-year-old Proliferation Security Initiative to create cooperative partnerships to prevent weapons of mass destruction, WMD delivery systems and related materials from reaching states and nonstate actors of proliferation concern.
  • United States, Russia Enhance Nuclear Security Collaboration Washington File 22 Jul 2005 -- A fact sheet reviewing ongoing cooperative efforts by the United States and Russia to upgrade the security of Russia's nuclear facilities is available from the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
  • Nuclear Weapons Still Key to U.S. Security, Energy's Brooks Says Washington File 15 Jul 2005 -- Nuclear weapons continue to be relevant to American and international security, though their emphasis has been reduced, according to a senior Energy Department official.
  • Energy Department Opens Office in Beijing Washington File 01 Jul 2005 -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is establishing an office in Beijing, China to support cooperation on bilateral energy and nuclear issues, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman says.

June

  • Bush Orders Sanctions Against Weapons Proliferators Washington File 29 Jun 2005 -- President Bush issued an executive order June 29 to freeze the assets of individuals or companies in the United States that are doing business with entities in Iran, North Korea and Syria believed to be involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
  • US Senate Passes Energy Bill VOA 28 Jun 2005 -- The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved (by an 85 to 12 vote) a sweeping energy bill that aims to curb the United States' reliance on imported oil.
  • Bush Wants More Nuclear Power VOA 22 Jun 2005 -- President Bush wants to build more nuclear power plants in the United States.
  • U.S. Welcomes New International Atomic Energy Agency Committee Washington File 17 Jun 2005 -- Following is a brief statement from the U.S. State Department June 17 on the International Atomic Energy Agency's creation of a Committee on Safeguards and Verification
  • Air Force releases findings of Wassaw Sound survey AFPN 17 Jun 2005 -- Air Force officials completed their evaluation of radiation levels in the Wassaw Sound where an incomplete nuclear weapon was lost off the coast of Georgia in 1958.
  • White House Pleased with Progress on Nonproliferation Proposals Washington File 17 Jun 2005 -- Following is a June 17 statement from the White House on the Bush administration's nonproliferation proposals and the International Atomic Energy Agency's creation of a Committee on Safeguards and Verification
  • U.S. Commission Urges Immediate Steps on Darfur VOA 15 Jun 2005 -- A special U.S. commission is recommending immediate steps by the international community to deal with the situation in Sudan's western Darfur region.
  • Success of Proliferation Security Initiative Lauded in Congress Washington File 09 Jun 2005 -- A leading member of Congress pointed to the success of the two-year-old Proliferation Security Initiative during a June 9 hearing to assess the status of the initiative to stop trafficking in weapons of mass destruction, associated delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and nonstate actors of proliferation concern.
  • Spain Hosts Counterproliferation Exercise over Mediterranean Washington File 06 Jun 2005 -- Spain will host its first air exercise designed to practice procedures that might be required of Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) partners if they ever need to intercept unconventional weapons in the western Mediterranean.
  • U.S. Working with Partners To Broaden PSI Participation Washington File 06 Jun 2005 -- The United States is working with nations around the world to broaden participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative in order to interrupt the transfer of illegal weapons of mass destruction, WMD delivery systems and related materials.
  • Rumsfeld Labels Proliferation as World's Greatest Threat AFPS 04 Jun 2005 -- The greatest threat facing nations in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world is the combination of weapons proliferation and terrorism, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today.
  • Croatia Signs Mutual Shipboarding Pact with United States Washington File 01 Jun 2005 -- A mutual shipboarding agreement signed June 1 by Croatia and the United States adds another tool to the toolbox available to both countries under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), according to the State Department.

May

  • Bush Urges Endorsement of PSI Interdiction Principles Washington File 31 May 2005 -- President Bush marked the second anniversary of the Proliferation Security Initiative May 31 by urging all responsible nations to endorse the counter-proliferation program's statement of interdiction principles.
  • Rice Says Proliferation Security Initiative Is Yielding Results Washington File 30 May 2005 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is yielding results, and points to 11 examples of successful efforts conducted in the past nine months by the United States and 10 other PSI partners.
  • Rice Claims Quiet Gains for Anti-Proliferation Initiative VOA 31 May 2005 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the Proliferation Security Initiative has scored a number of unpublicized successes against the trafficking of items related to weapons of mass destruction. She spoke at a State Department event marking the second anniversary of the U.S.-led international effort.
  • Proliferation Security Initiative Marks Second Anniversary AFPS 31 May 2005 -- Two years after its launch, the Proliferation Security Initiative is bringing the international community together to help stem trafficking in weapons of mass destruction and the materials used to make them, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here today.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Ends Without Consensus Washington File 27 May 2005 -- At the conclusion of the Seventh Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) May 27, the head of the U.S. delegation said participants examined new ground on the subject of treaty noncompliance.
  • Nuclear Technology Access Should Be Reduced for Treaty Violators Washington File 23 May 2005 -- A U.S. delegate to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference says treaty implementation and enforcement, as well as adherence to a sound nonproliferation policy, "can and should entail reducing violators' access to nuclear technology."
  • U.S. Adhering to Nonproliferation Pact, Ambassador Sanders Says Washington File 23 May 2005 -- The United States is in full compliance with its nuclear disarmament obligations, Ambassador Jackie Sanders says.
  • Strong Weapon Controls Will Not Impede Peaceful Nuclear Programs Washington File 19 May 2005 -- The United States urged other nations to keep the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) effective by accepting and enforcing comprehensive checks on nuclear activities for the combined security of all, and by acknowledging that such controls do not impede the development of peaceful nuclear energy programs.
  • Research part of bioterrorism initiative funded by National Institutes of Health Washington File 18 May 2005 -- Researchers have developed a new vaccine against plague, a bacterium that ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages and that today is a potential bioterrorism agent, according to a May 17 press release from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina.
  • U.S.: Nonproliferation Advocate Urges Bush, Putin To Secure Nuclear Arsenals RFE/RL 06 May 2005 -- The leading private champion of nuclear nonproliferation in the United States is again urging U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin to act decisively to safeguard nuclear material amassed by Washington and Moscow during the Cold War. At a Washington news conference yesterday, retired U.S. Senator Sam Nunn presented a report by a Harvard University study group in an effort to persuade the two nations to work harder to keep nuclear material out of the wrong hands.
  • White House, State Discuss Nonproliferation Efforts AFPS 02 May 2005 -- U.S. officials stressed today that North Korea should end its isolation and come back to the Six Party Talks as soon as possible.
  • U.S. Strategic Command Transforming, Decentralizing AFPS 02 May 2005 -- Along with the rest of the military, the U.S. Strategic Command has been transforming. The transformation has incorporated old missions, added new ones and worked to make the command more flexible and agile for the 21st century.
  • Proliferation Security Initiative Logs Varied Activities in Two Years Washington File 02 May 2005 -- The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) will mark its second anniversary on May 31.
  • U.S. Recaps Strategy To Stop Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction Washington File 02 May 2005 -- The United States has identified the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by rogue states and terrorist organizations as one of the greatest threats to international security and is actively promoting a number of steps to prevent it.

April

  • Experts Worried About US Strategy at Nonproliferation Conference VOA 28 Apr 2005 -- Experts have told Congress the United States must be prepared to take a strong, leading role at the upcoming (May 2-27) conference to review the 35-year-old Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, warning serious damage to nonproliferation efforts could result if the conference does not end with a consensus.
  • Rumsfeld Endorses Research on Earth Penetrating Weapon VOA 27 Apr 2005 -- .S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called on Congress Wednesday to approve funding to study the development of both nuclear and conventional weapons that could penetrate underground facilities.
  • U.S., Latvia Sign Nonproliferation, Threat-Reduction Pact Washington File 26 Apr 2005 -- U.S., Latvia Sign Nonproliferation, Threat-Reduction Pact
  • START Signatories Announce Strategic Offensive Arms Totals Washington File 25 Apr 2005 -- The State Department released a fact sheet April 18 on the aggregate numbers of strategic offensive weapons for signatories to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
  • Gorbachev Criticizes US Over Nuclear Arms VOA News 21 Apr 2005 -- Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says the United States and Russia should cooperate to further reduce their nuclear weapons stockpiles.
  • New Plague Vaccine Agreement Signed 15 Apr 2005 -- A joint, multi-nation project arrangement between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of National Defence of Canada, and the Secretary of State for Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was announced today for the cooperative development of a vaccine to protect against plague.
  • Expand Nuclear Power, Block Proliferation, Energy Secretary Says Washington File 07 Apr 2005 -- The United States supports making nuclear energy available to all countries in a way that does not undermine efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to terror groups or additional states, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman says.
  • U.S. Official Outlines Future for IAEA Nuclear Security Program Washington File 06 Apr 2005 -- Nations must improve the quality and scope of security for nuclear materials if nuclear terrorism is to be prevented, a U.S. State Department official believes.
  • NUCLEAR FUEL / TERRORISM VOA 06 Apr 2005 -- A panel of experts has recommended that U.S. government nuclear power plant regulators take measures to better secure spent nuclear fuel from terrorists.
  • QDR to Address Transformation of U.S. Nuclear Arsenal AFPS 05 Apr 2005 -- Today's U.S. nuclear arsenal is too outdated and costly to maintain for use in deterring threats in the post-Cold War era, a senior officer told a Senate subcommittee April 4.
  • How To Strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Washington File 04 Apr 2005 -- The following article was written for the March edition of the electronic journal "Foreign Policy Agenda: Today's Nuclear Equation" by Ambassador Jackie W. Sanders, U.S. representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
  • Taking Legislative Aim at Weapons of Mass Destruction Washington File 04 Apr 2005 -- The following article was written for the March edition of the electronic journal "Foreign Policy Agenda: Today's Nuclear Equation" by Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  • Controlling the World's Most Dangerous Weapon Washington File 04 Apr 2005 -- The following article was written for the electronic journal "Foreign Policy Agenda: Today's Nuclear Equation," by acting Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation Stephen G. Rademaker.

March

  • U.S. Scientists Study Anthrax Spores Washington File 31 Mar 2005 -- U.S. scientists are setting out to find what activates the spores in the deadly bacterial infection anthrax, according to a March 30 press release from the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina.
  • U.S., Canada Cooperate to End Russian Nuclear Proliferation Risk Washington File 31 Mar 2005 -- A cooperative agreement to permanently shut down one of Russia's last remaining reactors that produce weapons-grade plutonium was signed by Canada and the United States March 30, according to a Department of Energy press release.
  • United States Tightens Export Controls for Chemicals, Biologics Washington File 30 Mar 2005 -- New requirements to help prevent sensitive chemical or biological items from being diverted to weapons use were adopted by the U.S. Department of Commerce March 30.
  • U.S., U.K., Russia Reaffirm Support for Biological Weapons Pact Washington File 28 Mar 2005 -- To mark the 30th anniversary on March 26 of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation have issued a joint statement reaffirming their strong support for the pact and their determination to press "for full implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention by all its States Parties."
  • Experts Meet in Omaha to Consider Ways to Disrupt WMD Transfers Washington File 21 Mar 2005 -- The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff says a "committed international partnership" is the key to success in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
  • Preventing Nuclear Terrorism a Responsibility of Each Nation Washington File 18 Mar 2005 -- Keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists begins with every nation accepting its responsibilities as a sovereign state to exercise trade and border controls or regulation of nuclear materials and facilities in line with international nonproliferation regimes, Ambassador Linton Brooks said March 16.
  • U.S.: Bush Signals New Interpretation Of Nonproliferation Treaty RFE/RL 16 Mar 2005 -- Kyrgyz Interior Ministry police broke through the window of an administration building in the Jalal-Abad region today to release a district administration official who was being held hostage by antigovernment protesters inside.
  • Bush Urges Strong Action To Confront Nuclear Proliferation Washington File 08 Mar 2005 -- President Bush called on parties to the 35-year-old Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to take "strong action" to confront noncompliance and enhance common security.
  • IRAN CRITICIZES U.S. FOR FAILING TO OBSERVE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2005 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has criticized the U.S. for failing to observe the provisions of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

February

January

  • Energy's Abraham Discusses Security Changes at Nuclear Facilities Washington File 19 Jan 2005 -- The outgoing U.S. energy secretary says he takes personal pride in the enhancement of security programs and improvements in the overall performance of the security personnel and programs protecting nuclear assets vital to U.S. national defense.
  • Strengthening Nonproliferation Regime Essential, Says Abraham Washington File 13 Jan 2005 -- Outgoing Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham says strengthening both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is essential so each may be more effective against 21st century threats.
  • United States, Bahamas Sign Pact to Fight Nuclear Terrorism Washington File 12 Jan 2005 -- The United States and the Bahamas have signed a new agreement under which the Caribbean nation will install at a Bahamian seaport special U.S. equipment that detects hidden shipments of nuclear and other radioactive material, U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham has announced.
  • Last mustard agent removed from Aberdeen yard Army News 09 Feb 2005 -- The Army removed the last container of mustard agent from Aberdeen's Chemical Agent Storage Yard Feb. 2, ending 61 years of the agent's bulk storage at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
  • Army safely destroys one third of nation's chemical agent Army News 03 Jan 2005 -- The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency announced that by the end of the year it had safely destroyed one third of the nation's stored chemical agent.
 

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