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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


March 1998 United States Special Weapons News



  • Interview with Defense Writer's Group General Eugene E. Habiger Commander in Chief, US Strategic Command, Washington DC - 31 March 1998 - Habiger: "I am the most optimistic person in America. I think you are going to see a ratification very quickly of START II. I did two things in the past couple of months. First of all I was getting tired of having Frank Gafney taking cheap shots at us selling the farm, and I was getting tired of Bruce Blair taking cheap shots as why we needed a farm. The glide path we're on now for de-alerting is stable, its verifiable, and it's well thought out."
  • CONGRESS-MISSILE DEFENSE VOA 3/30/98: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SAYS THE PENTAGON SHOULD GET MORE MONEY TO BUILD UP AMERICA'S MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS.
  • B-2 successfully drops improved bunker buster bomb Released: Mar 26, 1998 -- A B-2 Spirit bomber dropped two B61-11 bomb shells to test their improved ground penetration capability March 17 at the Stuart Creek Impact Area, 35 miles southeast of Fairbanks.
  • Billions more for space station? By Seth Borenstein The Orlando Sentinel, March 24, 1998 -- Building the international space station will take two years longer and cost nearly $3 billion more than NASA said just 12 days ago, an independent team of experts will report this week.
  • Station cost overrun now pegged at $6 billion By Larry Wheeler FLORIDA TODAY March 24, 1998 - Just two weeks after NASA acknowledged its International Space Station was nearly $4 billion over budget, a new report says the outpost could cost $6 billion more than agency officials thought.... On March 12, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin acknowledged publicly for the first time the station would likely cost $21.3 billion to construct and would not be fully assembled until December 2003. Chabrow's report pegs the cost at closer to $24 billion with the possibility the outpost will not be ready to house a full six-person crew until 2006.
  • Air power panel recommends B-2 improvements Released: Mar 24, 1998 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A group of former Air Force leaders, a senator and industry representatives recommend that funds for the B-2 bomber program be spent to improve bombers already flying, not to buy new aircraft.
  • 'Star Wars' Anniversary -- All Things Considered host Noah Adams talks with John Pike, the director of space policy at the Federation of American Scientists. Pike talks about the "Star Wars" speech President Reagan made 15 years ago today. (4:30)
  • [EXCERPTS] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing , MARCH 23, 1998 -- RUSSIA Cabinet Dismissed; US View / Gallucci Talks on Missile Technology Sales to Iran / Export Controls Missile Sale to Armenia / Gen. Lebed's Comments About Unaccounted For Weapons KOREA Update on Four-Party Talks / Subject of US Troops in South DEPARTMENT GAO Report on Computer Hackers IRAQ UNSCOM Inspections of Presidential Sites / Lifting of Sanctions
  • TEXT: COHEN ADVISES RENO THAT DOD OPPOSES MAJOR INDUSTRY MERGER 23 March 1998 (Says "No" to Northrop Grumman/Lockheed Martin merger)
  • DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COMPLETES REVIEW AND SAYS IT OPPOSES PROPOSED MERGER OF LOCKHEED MARTIN-NORTHROP GRUMMAN March 23, 1998
  • Giant Pace tests ICBM launch capability Released: Mar 23, 1998 F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (AFNS) -- The Air Force tested the capability of launch control centers from the 400th Missile Squadron and the Airborne Launch Control Center aircraft to execute their warfighting mission with Giant Pace 98-1P, a Simulated Electronic Launch-Peacekeeper, or SELP.
  • DEFENSE MERGER Voice of America 3/23/98 -- THE U-S JUSTICE AND DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS ARE ASKING A COURT TO STOP A PLAN BY TWO OF THE BIGGEST WEAPONS BUILDERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO COMBINE FORCES.
  • OLD NUKES/NEW INDUSTRY 3/20/98 Voice of America THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS LAUNCHED A PROGRAM TO "RECYCLE" THE SITE K-25 URANIUM PLANT AT OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE.
  • LONG RANGE AIR POWER REVIEW PANEL CONCLUDES REVIEW March 20, 1998
  • WHO HAS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION? 3/19/98 Voice of America AN ESTIMATED TEN OTHER NATIONS HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AND MAY HAVE THEM AVAILABLE.
  • Cohen Unveils Program to Combat Domestic Terrorism By Paul Stone American Forces Press Service 3-18-98 --- Saying the "front lines are no longer overseas," Defense Secretary William S. Cohen announced a new DoD program March 17 to respond to domestic attacks with weapons of mass destruction.
  • Guard, Reserve To Take On New Role By Paul Stone American Forces Press Service 3-18-98 -- Army Brig. Gen. Roger Schultz is both clear and direct when he talks about the potential for attacks with weapons of mass destruction: "We don't know when and we don't know the place, but we will be attacked."
  • TRANSCRIPT: DOD ON COUNTERING TERRORIST USE OF WMD IN U.S. 18 March 1998 -- The Department of Defense (DOD) has introduced a new intiative using National Guard and Reserve forces to bolster the nation's ability to respond to possible use by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction on U.S. soil.
  • B-2 bombers deploying to Guam Released: Mar 17, 1998
  • COHEN-WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION Voice of America 3-17-98 - THE UNITED STATES IS STRENGTHENING DEFENSES AGAINST CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ATTACKS ON AMERICAN CITIES. THE NEW MEASURES WILL MAKE THOUSANDS MORE SPECIALLY TRAINED PERSONNEL AVAILABLE TO COPE WITH SUCH SITUATIONS.
  • THE FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF "STAR WARS" - Union of Concerned Scientists - Tuesday, March 17, 1998
  • [EXCERPT] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- 13 March 1998 -- IRAQ/UN Ryan Crocker and David Newton named to observer group for inspecting presidential sites CHINA/NON-PROLIFERATION Reports of nuclear deal with Iran inaccurate "Sea-change" in Chinese non-proliferation policies, practices Uses of chemical, AHF, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride 1-2-3 agreement could begin soon No connection to President's travel plans IRAN U.S. efforts to curtail nuclear capability efforts IRAQ Senate resolution/ U.S. supports assembling war crimes data for record GOI has still not provided UNSCOM with information it needs
  • [EXCERPT] DoD News Briefing -- 12 March 1998 - Is there a role for the US military in terms of nudging rogue asteroids?
  • TOP MILITARY SPACE OFFICER URGES CONGRESS TO HELP FULFILL "PROMISE OF SPACE"11 MARCH 98 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gen. Howell M. Estes III, commander in chief of U.S. Space Command, today urged Congress (in prepared testimony) to continue funding space programs critical to fulfilling the "promise of space," and to promote public awareness of space's vital importance to Americans' security, economic prosperity and quality of life.
  • PENA, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS LAUD NON-PROLIFERATION EFFORTS By Jacquelyn S. Porth USIA 11 March 1998 -- An exhibition on Capitol Hill entitled, "Technology for Nonproliferation: Making the World a Safer Place" was organized by the Senate Proliferation Prevention Technology Working Group, the House Bipartisan Nonproliferation Task Force and the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office on Nonproliferation and National Security.
  • [EXCERPT] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- 11 March 1998 -- IRAQ Structure of UNSCOM relationship with new diplomatic observer group led by Amb. Dhanapala Initial judicial finding that 6 Iraqis are ineligible for immigration relief in the U.S./Evacuation of Iraqi Kurds and opposition members in 1996/USG relationship with the Iraqi opposition Iraqi complaints of U.S. blocking contracts under the "oil-for-food" program RUSSIA Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission meeting/Press conference at conclusion of meeting U.S. reaction upon Russian ratification of START II treaty
  • Space capabilities vastly improved since Gulf War Released: Mar 11, 1998 by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Hoffman Air Force Space Command Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- Improved space-based systems allow the U.S. military to be more informed, precise and deadly than it was during the 1991 Gulf War, says the commander in chief of U.S. Space Command.
  • [EXCERPT] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- 10 March 1998 -- RUSSIA Investigation into the use of Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission of ratification of the START II treaty
  • [EXCERPT] DoD News Briefing -- 10 March 1998 - The Defense Department has major reservations, major problems about the Lockheed/Northrop merger in the area of competition. There are still many unanswered questions because Iraq has made a number of declarations and has been unable to satisfy the U.N. Special Commission that it has in fact lived up to these declarations.
  • MEMORANDUM FOR CORRESPONDENTS No. 041-M March 9, 1998 "We have been reviewing carefully Lockheed Martin's proposed acquisition of Northrop Grumman. We have serious concerns about the competitive effects of the transaction."
  • Space systems support joint forces near Iraq Released: Mar 6, 1998
  • [EXCERPT] DoD News Briefing -- 05 March 1998 - US to maintain forces in the Gulf for the foreseeable future; Disposition of Iraqi forces since the agreement was reached with the UN. The Washington Times reported that a lieutenant colonel on the Joint Staff suggested withholding information from Congressman Weldon about missile defense.
  • Air Force approves renaming of Falcon Air Force Base Released: Mar 4, 1998 PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- The Air Force has approved renaming Falcon Air Force Base, Colo. It will be named Schriever Air Force Base in honor of Gen. Bernard A. Schriever. Schriever pioneered the development of the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile programs and is recognized as "the father of the U.S. Air Force's space and missile program."
  • [EXCERPT] LTG Ronald R. Blanck, Army Surgeon General DoD News Briefing -- 03 March 1998 - Secretary Cohen's force protection decision to start vaccinating soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines in the Gulf with anthrax vaccine.
  • ACCELERATED ANTHRAX VACCINATION PROGRAM TO ENHANCE FORCE PROTECTION ANNOUNCED March 3, 1998
  • National Guard told to re-emphasize mission of quick response by Master Sgt. Bob Haskell ARLINGTON, Va., (Army News Service, March 2, 1998) -- Reacting to the impact of a chemical, biological or nuclear weapon of mass destruction on two hours notice anywhere in the country is the new mission of the Army National Guard.
  • National Guard general helps country prepare for any catastrophe by Master Sgt. Bob Haskell AUGUSTA, Maine (Army News Service, March 2, 1998) Weapons of mass destruction are getting a lot of attention. Congress has tasked the Defense Department with providing firefighters, emergency medical personnel and other first responders in 120 cities with expert advise about proper procedures.
  • Lonely At The Top By RONALD STEEL The New York Times March 1, 1998 - The more the United States, because it is so powerful, arrogates the right to act alone without regard to the wishes of other nations, or even in defiance of them, the more it loses the legitimacy to act in their name.



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