DATE=7/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235525
TITLE=U-S / NUKES (L-O)
BYLINE=RICK NUNEZ
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A NEW REPORT WARNS THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF NUCLEAR RESEARCH
UNDERWAY IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES COULD LEAD TO 
ANOTHER  GENERATION OF ATOMIC WEAPONS.  THE SURVEY ALSO SAYS 
PARTS OF A U-S PROGRAM TO MANAGE THE COUNTRY'S EXISTING NUCLEAR 
STOCKPILE MAY BE VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL TREATIES.  V-O-A'S RICK 
NUNEZ HAS THE STORY:

TEXT:  THE STUDY SAYS AMBITIOUS PROGRAMS BY SCIENTISTS IN THE 
UNITED STATES, FRANCE AND RUSSIA COULD POSE NEW PROLIFERATION 
DANGERS.  THE REPORT WAS RELEASED IN WASHINGTON (TODAY / 
WEDNESDAY) BY THE INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
RESEARCH.

THE STUDY FOCUSES ON THE POSSIBLE ADVENT OF SO-CALLED PURE FUSION
WEAPONS.  UNLIKE CURRENT NUCLEAR ARMS, PURE FUSION WEAPONS COULD 
BE DETONATED WITHOUT PLUTONIUM OR HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM -- 
WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO ACQUIRE.  INSTEAD, TWO TYPES OF HYDROGEN 
-- KNOWN AS DEUTERIUM AND TRITIUM, -- WOULD SERVE AS THE NUCLEAR 
TRIGGER.  BOTH SUBSTANCES ARE READILY AVAILABLE.

THE AUTHOR OF THE  REPORT, PHYSICIST ARJUN MAKHIJANI, SAYS THE 
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IS AT A CRITICAL STAGE IN THE CREATION OF 
PURE FUSION ARMS:

                      // MAKHIJANI ACT  //

         "WE MUST PREVENT THESE NEW HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND 
         DESTRUCTIVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS FROM BEING DEVELOPED.  THE 
         TIME TO DO SO IS NOW, BEFORE THEIR FEASIBILITY IS 
         ESTABLISHED.  ONCE FEASIBILITY IS DEMONSTRATED, THE 
         PRESSURES FROM NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABORATORIES AND THE 
         MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT TO DESIGN AND BUILD THEM WILL BE 
         IMMENSE. "

                          // END ACT //

MR. MAKHIJANI SAYS EXTENSIVE PURE FUSION RESEARCH IS ALREADY 
UNDERWAY AT THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S NATIONAL IGNITION 
FACILITY -- A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INSTALLATION BEING BUILT IN 
CALIFORNIA.

HE POINTS OUT THAT SUCH WORK COULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE 
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY, WHICH THE UNITED STATES SIGNED IN 
1996.  THE SENATE HAS YET TO RATIFY THE DOCUMENT.  THE TREATY 
PROHIBITS ALL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS, BUT DOES  NOT  ACTUALLY DEFINE 
WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ILLEGAL ATOMIC BLAST.  MR. MAKHIJANI SAYS HE 
UNITED STATES IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS LOOPHOLE BY CONDUCTING 
EXPLOSIVE NUCLEAR TESTS IN LABORATORIES LIKE THE NATIONAL 
IGNITION FACILITY.

CRITICS SAY THE NEW REPORT IS SPECULATIVE AT BEST.  SPURGEON 
KEENY IS PRESIDENT OF THE ARMS CONTROL ASSOCIATION -- A 
WASHINGTON-BASED RESEARCH GROUP.  HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS DEPUTY 
DIRECTOR OF THE U-S ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT AGENCY:

                        // KEENY ACT  //

         "I SEE NO REASON TO DEVELOP A NEW GENERATION OF SO 
         CALLED 'PURE FUSION' WEAPONS WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE A 
         LARGE SPECTRUM OF PROVEN NUCLEAR WEAPONS. "

                          // END ACT //

MR. KEENY ADDS THAT SUCH POTENTIAL WEAPONS WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY
EXPENSIVE.

THE  U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DENIES HAVING ANY PROGRAM TO 
DEVELOP PURE FUSION WEAPONS.  DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY 
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY IS 
TO KEEP THE EXISTING U-S NUCLEAR ARSENAL IN WORKING CONDITION.  
(SIGNED)



NEB/RAN/PT

15-Jul-98 6:10 PM EDT (2210 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.