Strategic Command Chief Has Confidence in
Russian Nuke Security
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON -- The man in charge of America's nuclear arsenal is
satisfied with Russia's nuclear security program.
Air Force Gen. Eugene Habiger, commander in chief of U.S.
Strategic Command, said a tour of Russian nuclear facilities showed
him the Russians have a very conservative policy regarding nuclear
weapons. He also said reports of Russia "losing" suitcase size nuclear
weapons are false.
Habiger spoke to the press in mid-June following a six-day trip
to five Russian nuclear sites. He said the Russians have a program
similar to the U.S. Personnel Reliability Program. Those working
around or guarding nuclear weapons must pass through rigorous
screening.
Habiger said the Russians are changing their command and control
of nuclear forces to mirror that of the United States. Nuclear
security will come under the control of the 12th Main Directorate of
the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense, he said. This includes
warheads from the Strategic Rocket Forces and naval nuclear weapons.
General-lieutenant Igor Kalynkin, Habiger's host for much of the trip,
commands this directorate.
Habiger said Russian site security is manpower-intensive. "In the
United States, we perform security at silos through high-tech means,"
Habiger said. "In Russia there are two guards at each silo. The
security was excellent."
Habiger said he witnessed an exercise at a nuclear storage site
based on terrorists attacking the site. He said Russian forces
responded promptly with helicopter gunships and armored personnel
carriers. "Was it scripted?" he asked. "Of course it was, but it
showed their capability is very good."
Habiger said all members of the Russian military who work
directly with nuclear weapons are officers; the United States uses
both officers and enlisted personnel. Another difference is the people
operating the silo missile systems below ground. U.S. teams are
composed of two officers; Russian teams have three.
Habiger said morale among the Russian service members appeared
good. "The Russian military generally is in poor shape, but the
Russians seem to be concentrating on their nuclear forces and their
airborne," he said. Russian commanders recently got permission to pay
those working with nuclear weapons a 50 percent bonus.
Russian officers generally remain in their assignments longer
than their American counterparts. Habiger told of two Russian colonels
who had been at the same nuclear storage site for 27 and 25 years.
But this works against morale, especially in light of the past 10
years of Russian pullbacks from former Soviet republics. "One problem
is housing," Habiger said. When Russia brought back personnel involved
with nuclear weapons from Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, there was
little housing. Russian military officials told Habiger they are still
about 15,000 to 17,000 units short.
Habiger said he saw evidence of the workings of the Nunn-Lugar
program, through which DoD assists former Soviet states in reducing
and securing their weapons of mass destruction. "I saw new fencing,
cameras and other security devices being used," he said.
Habiger also brought up Year 2000 problems. This refers to a
computer problem where computer systems see the "00" in a date group
and translate it to "1900" and not "2000." He said Russian military
officials said they expect no problems with their command and control
apparatus due to Year 2000 problems.
All in all, Habiger expressed more confidence in Russian security
measures than U.S. military intelligence estimates. "I have a bit of
confidence because I have been exposed to a great deal," he said. "Do
I have the total 100 percent truth? No, but I am probably a hell of a
lot closer than [military analysts] are."
Habiger said he wants the cooperation between the United States
and Russia to continue. Plans for further visits are moving forward,
he said.
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