New Age Nukes Set To Bust The Bunker of MAD

NUKEWARS

If only I had the 'big one'

London - Feb 27, 2003
What are the risks to civilians if the US military ever uses the "bunker-busting" nuclear weapon that the Bush administration is developing? That's the question scientists are set to investigate as a condition of further funding for the project.

In the March 1, issue of New Scientist details on the controversial Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) programme are reported including the awarding of $15 million development contract this year.

The same amount is also expected to be allocated next year, while a new clause attached to the funding calls for the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to investigate what effect any use of the weapon would have.

According to New Scientist, "the clause was added by moderates when the Senate and House of Representatives met to finalise the Defense Authorization Act, published last week."

The demand comes on top of a requirement that the military assess conventional alternatives.

Designed to plunge 30 metres or more into the ground before detonating a nuclear warhead, the RNEP device would be far more effective against buried targets and produce less fallout than airburst nuclear weapons.

However, it is physically impossible for the weapon to bury itself deep enough to fully contain a nuclear explosion, and radioactive fallout would still contaminate the surrounding area.

While the NAS has yet to begin work on its RNEP study, it is promising a rigorous report.

"The NAS will not be influenced by political pressure from the government or the military," a spokesman told New Scientist, adding "we are independent."

Critically, the NAS report will examine if using the weapon against a bunker full of biological or chemical agents would release the agents in to the atmosphere rather than destroy them. Military scientist have argued that high temperatures combined with a strong radiation burst will neutralise such agents.

"The NAS study is certainly a step in the right direction," Jim Bridgman, director of a pressure group called the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability based in Washington DC told New Scientist.

Warning that a negative assessment is likely to be contested by the Pentagon, and merely delaying rather than halting RNEP's development.

New Scientist

NUKEWARS

Pakistan, India In Tit-For-Tat Missile Tests

Islamabad (AFP) Oct 04, 2002
Nuclear neighbours Pakistan and India launched apparent tit-for-tat missile tests Friday, following a resurgence of high-stake tensions over Kashmir and less than a week before elections in Pakistan.

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