Adam's Apple
Senior Member
- Apr 25, 2004
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Congress Can't Afford to Delay Action on Real Nuclear Option
By Tim Roemer, Former Congressman
May 10, 2005
The U.S. Senate has been debating a "nuclear option," a proposal related to the confirmation process of judicial nominations. While this is an explosive issue and certainly has consequences for the Supreme Court, there is a more critical nuclear option we should be focusing on: the chilling reality that terrorists are constantly working to acquire nuclear weapons.
The United States has the tools to stop a potential nuclear 9/11, but Congress is not taking the steps needed to protect us from what Osama bin Laden has promised, a "Hiroshima-type event" on American soil.
There is motive and opportunity for this nightmare to occur. In February 1998, bin Laden issued a religious order that called the murder of any American "the individual duty for every Muslim who can do it." Three months later, he added, "We do not differentiate between military and civilian. As far as we are concerned, they (Americans) are all targets."
Disturbingly, the opportunity for al-Qaida to acquire the materials for construction of a crude nuclear weapon is just as great as the motive. Today, some 20 tons of highly enriched uranium exist at 130 civilian research facilities in 40 countries, many of which have no more security than a chain-link fence and a night watchman. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that there have been 16 thefts involving highly enriched uranium and plutonium. This loose nuclear material represents the source of a potential al-Qaida bomb.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=20050510/opinion01/505100364&...
If you can't get url to work, go to www.indystar.com. Search for Letters to the Editor, then do a search within that category for "Nuclear Option". Roemer's article should be first one listed.
By Tim Roemer, Former Congressman
May 10, 2005
The U.S. Senate has been debating a "nuclear option," a proposal related to the confirmation process of judicial nominations. While this is an explosive issue and certainly has consequences for the Supreme Court, there is a more critical nuclear option we should be focusing on: the chilling reality that terrorists are constantly working to acquire nuclear weapons.
The United States has the tools to stop a potential nuclear 9/11, but Congress is not taking the steps needed to protect us from what Osama bin Laden has promised, a "Hiroshima-type event" on American soil.
There is motive and opportunity for this nightmare to occur. In February 1998, bin Laden issued a religious order that called the murder of any American "the individual duty for every Muslim who can do it." Three months later, he added, "We do not differentiate between military and civilian. As far as we are concerned, they (Americans) are all targets."
Disturbingly, the opportunity for al-Qaida to acquire the materials for construction of a crude nuclear weapon is just as great as the motive. Today, some 20 tons of highly enriched uranium exist at 130 civilian research facilities in 40 countries, many of which have no more security than a chain-link fence and a night watchman. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that there have been 16 thefts involving highly enriched uranium and plutonium. This loose nuclear material represents the source of a potential al-Qaida bomb.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=20050510/opinion01/505100364&...
If you can't get url to work, go to www.indystar.com. Search for Letters to the Editor, then do a search within that category for "Nuclear Option". Roemer's article should be first one listed.
