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Our  Latest Watchdog is Now Online!

SLASHING THE STOCKPILE, SHRINKING THE COMPLEX

Explaining CMRR-NF, ARRA, WIPP and much more...

Download the Watchdog [1 MB] - April 2009

• Insert: Transforming the Complex [844KB]

“…as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act... So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.” President Barack Obama, April 5, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic.

Nuclear Watch New Mexico and the Nuclear Weapons Complex Consolidation Policy Network are releasing a major report outlining how the President’s vision of a nuclear weapons-free world can begin to be concretely realized in the near-term. First, the United States must declare that its strategic stockpile exists for only one purpose — to deter the use of nuclear weapons by others until the world is free of nuclear weapons. For that interim deterrence, a total stockpile of 500 warheads is more than sufficient, and the nuclear weapons complex can be downsized from eight sites to three.

Download the Network report’s executive summary, full report fact sheet and map.

Watchdogs Force NNSA to Post Strategic Plans for its Nuclear Weapons Sites

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the semi-autonomous nuclear weapons agency within the Department of Energy, has quietly posted “Ten Year Site Plans” (TYSPs) for all of its eight active nuclear weapons research, production and testing sites. This unprecedented electronic access to NNSA’s strategic planning for each of its sites is the result of a successful three-year Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by Nuclear Watch New Mexico. These Plans are authoritative references for detailed site descriptions, employment levels, budgets, future missions, and proposed new or upgraded facilities. Access to these Plans should help inform public debate over future nuclear weapons policies, which Congress has required the Obama Administration to address through a new “Nuclear Posture Review.”

Nuclear Watch Press Release   [196KB] -January 22, 2009

Frank Munger's Atomic City Underground - "Nuclear Watch: credit where credit's due" -January 23, 2009

Global Security Newswire - "U.S. Releases Nuclear Complex Modernization Details" -January 23, 2009

The Case for Stockpile Curatorship

• Presentation by Jay Coghlan at the Peace and Security Legislative Strategy Retreat [168KB] -January 15, 2009

Highlights of Recommendations:

President Obama has pledged to work toward a nuclear weapons free world, but has also promised to adequately maintain the U.S. stockpile as long as other countries possess nuclear weapons. This is not necessarily a contradiction - -  both could be implemented through a “Curatorship Program” that is built upon and augments already existing programs.

The “Enhanced Surveillance Program” and replacement-as-needed of limited life components can reliably maintain the U.S. stockpile while global nonproliferation objectives are being progressively worked toward.

While continuing to reject RRW, Congress should legislate a requirement for independent expert risk/benefit analyses of proposed changes to existing nuclear weapons that could erode confidence by straying from original, tested designs.

Congress should bar any new and/or replacement designs and modifications or changes made through Life Extension Programs that introduce new military characteristics.

Congratulations to the New Members of New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation!

Let’s put them to work for us...to deny funding for the unneeded CMRR Nuclear Facility and to redirect that money for today’s urgent needs: nuclear nonproliferation, global threat reduction, energy efficiency, and environmental research and cleanup.

Tell them what you think!  Here is a sample letter to use or modify.

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Rep. Tauscher on a New Nuclear Posture for the 21st Century

Constructing a 21st Century Nuclear Posture, Rep. Ellen Tausher remarks at the Center for American Progress [92KB] –November 17, 2008

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Incoming Administration Unveils Its Strategy for Global Nuclear Security

November 6, 2008- Barack Obama and Joe Biden have declared strong positions in their Fact Sheet on Defense and have stated goals for preventing nuclear terrorism and nuclear weapons proliferation. The incoming Administration states that it will prevent terrorists from acquiring a nuclear bomb by securing nuclear weapons materials at all vulnerable sites around the world within four years. The “Proliferation Security Initiative” will be institutionalized to strengthen international policing and interdiction efforts aimed at stopping shipments of WMDs, their delivery systems and production materials. Obama proposes to strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency with more authority, personnel and technologies. A verifiable treaty will be negotiated to end the production of fissile nuclear weapons materials. Real incentives and pressure will back up tough diplomacy to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and verify full dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Additionally, Obama intends to work with Russia to bi-laterally take nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert and to deeply and verifiably reduce nuclear arsenals globally. He further seeks to show the world that this country believes in the 1970 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty’s mandate to ultimately eliminate all nuclear weapons, while disavowing unilateral disarmament. Finally, he states that he will end the development of new nuclear weapons.

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