DATE = DECEMBER 14, 1997
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07565
TITLE= EDITORIAL: TRANSNATIONAL PROLIFERATION THREAT
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
DECEMBER 14, 1997.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
THE POTENTIAL USE OF NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, OR CHEMICAL
WEAPONS BY TERRORIST OR INSURGENT GROUPS IS A SERIOUS
INTERNATIONAL THREAT.
AS THE U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAID IN A RECENT REPORT, "MANY OF
THE TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR,
BIOLOGICAL, AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS, ESPECIALLY CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS, HAVE LEGITIMATE CIVIL APPLICATIONS . . . . THE
INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES, COUPLED WITH THE
RELATIVE EASE OF PRODUCING CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL AGENTS, HAS
INCREASED CONCERN THAT USE OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS MAY
BECOME MORE ATTRACTIVE TO TERRORIST GROUPS INTENT ON CAUSING
PANIC OR INFLICTING LARGE NUMBERS OF CASUALTIES."
THE 1995 POISON GAS ATTACK ON THE TOKYO SUBWAY BY THE
RELIGIOUS CULT AUM SHINRIKYO WAS A TERRIFYING EXAMPLE. THE CULT
CONTROLLED AS MUCH AS TWO-BILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS. IT
DEVELOPED AND TESTED A NUMBER OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
FOR USE IN A TERRORIST CAMPAIGN. ON MARCH 20TH, 1995, CULT
MEMBERS PLACED CONTAINERS OF THE DEADLY NERVE GAS SARIN ABOARD
FIVE TOKYO SUBWAY TRAINS DURING THE MORNING RUSH HOUR. THE
ATTACK KILLED TWELVE PEOPLE AND INJURED MORE THAN FIVE-THOUSAND.
THE POTENTIAL USE OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS BY TERRORISTS IS
ALSO OF GROWING CONCERN. IN NOVEMBER 1995, CHECHEN REBELS PLACED
HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE CESIUM-137 IN A LARGE PUBLIC PARK IN MOSCOW.
CHECHEN LEADER SHAMIR BASAYEV THEN DISCLOSED TO RUSSIAN
AUTHORITIES THE LOCATION OF THE MATERIALS. THOUGH NO ONE WAS
HARMED, THE INCIDENT DEMONSTRATED THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR
TERRORISM. ENSURING THE SECURITY OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS,
PARTICULARLY IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, IS
ESSENTIAL.
KEEPING NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS OUT OF THE
HANDS OF TERRORIST GROUPS IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE U.S. THE
U.S. URGES ALL NATIONS TO COOPERATE IN EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD OF THESE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE,
PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C,
20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.
YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
12-Dec-97 11:19 AM EST (1619 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
