International Nuclear Security Summit Set to Begin in Washington
Michael Bowman | Washington 11 April 2010
U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with the prime ministers of India and Pakistan before the Monday start of a nuclear security summit in Washington. During the two-day event, nearly four dozen nations will discuss ways to secure nuclear material from terrorists and other threats, in what is the largest gathering of world leaders hosted by a U.S. president in more than 60 years.
Entire sections of Washington have been on virtual lock-down in advance of the summit, with roads barricaded and a heavy police presence in and around the Washington Convention Center where leaders and officials will gather.
Days after signing a deal to cut U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, President Obama hopes to strengthen global resolve to safeguard nuclear stockpiles and keep radioactive materials out of the hands of terrorist groups and rogue states. "Nuclear weapons are not just an issue for the United States and Russia. They threaten the common security of all nations. A nuclear weapon in the hands of terrorists is a danger to people everywhere, from Moscow to New York to South Asia," he said.
Today's nuclear threat differs from that of the Cold War, according to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who spoke on ABC's "This Week" program. "The threat of nuclear war, nuclear attack that we grew up with in the Cold War has diminished. The threat of nuclear terrorism has increased. And we want to get the world's attention focused where we think it needs to be, with these continuing efforts by al Qaida and others to get just enough nuclear material to cause terrible havoc, destruction and loss of life," she said.
Iran, Syria, and North Korea are not taking part in the summit. Pyongyang says its nuclear arsenal is justified, given what it calls a U.S. "strategy for world domination".
State-run North Korean television says, as long as the U.S. nuclear threat persists, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will increase and update nuclear weapons as a deterrent as needed in the future. It adds the DPRK is fully capable of doing so.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to attend the summit, sending his deputy prime minister instead. Israel is believed to have a nuclear arsenal, but has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is not subject to international inspections. Israel vociferously objects to Iran's nuclear program, prompting charges of hypocrisy by Tehran.
President Obama has restricted the conditions under which the United States would consider using nuclear weapons, but stipulated that the limitations do not apply to any potential confrontation with Iran or North Korea.
The speaker of Iran's parliament, Ali Larijani, said it is evident that the US president is pursuing the arrogant and dominating approach of the past but under the cover of public-deceiving gestures. He added that these policies are no different from the war-seeking policies of [former President George W.] Bush.
While denying any intention to build atomic weapons, Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear program and upgrading its missile technology.
Experts say terrorist groups are seeking materials for a crude nuclear device - a so-called "dirty bomb" - that would have limited blast potential but could spread radiation in a major urban area.
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