Mr. Putin’s Gift to Terrorists
There will be plenty of losers from Russia’s recent decision to end two decades of cooperation with Washington on cleaning up nuclear and chemical weapons sites left over from the cold war. Russia will now have to pay for such efforts on its own. The United States will lose the most cost-effective way yet found for reducing nuclear dangers. And the world must watch as Russia’s unsecured weapons and materials remain a temptation for terrorists of all varieties to buy or steal for use in future attacks.
The cooperative threat reduction program Russia wants to walk away from next spring is the heart of the so-called Nunn-Lugar initiative, which was passed by Congress in 1991. This range of programs provides American money and expertise to countries of the former Soviet Union to help them eliminate or secure vulnerable nuclear and chemical weapons, materials and sites.
Over the past two decades, they have helped deactivate more then 7,600 nuclear warheads, destroy more than 2,000 nuclear capable missiles, convert more than 400 metric tons of highly enriched uranium bomb fuel into low-enriched reactor fuel and destroyed large stockpiles of chemical weapons. This has cost the American taxpayer less than $15 billion over the 20-year life of the program, far less than the Pentagon spends each year for defense and deterrence against nuclear attack.
But the job remains barely half-done. Cutting off this successful program now is perverse and reckless — and all too typical of President Vladimir Putin’s sour, xenophobic and self-isolating worldview. Last month, he expelled the United States Agency for International Development, which has sponsored human rights, civil society and public health programs since the fall of communism. Perhaps those civil society programs proved too successful — and too threatening to Mr. Putin — for their own survival. But the nuclear cleanup program affects everyone’s survival.
The official explanation for ending them is based on national pride — the wish to proclaim that Russia can take care of these issues by itself, without American help. Another may be Moscow’s reflexive desire to be shielded from foreign eyes that might see things President Putin and his military commanders do not want them to see. Paranoia and xenophobia in the Kremlin predates communism and has now outlasted it by more than two decades.
If Moscow lets the cooperative program lapse, it needs to replace it with adequately financed Russian programs. The continuing cleanup must be transparent enough to earn the world’s trust. Currently, that confidence comes from the participation of American contractors in the cleanup work. Maintaining it without them will not be easy. But Mr. Putin, having created that problem, must now solve it.
*
Vladimir Putin’s Gift to Terrorists
www.nytimes.com
Russia is putting the world at risk by refusing American aid to clean up its nuclear weapon sites.
Mike Nova's starred items
Mike Nova's starred items
via RUSSIA and THE WEST - РОССИЯ и ЗАПАД by Mike Nova on 11/9/12
October 17, 2012
Mr. Putin’s Gift to Terrorists
There will be plenty of losers from Russia’s recent decision to end two decades of cooperation with Washington on cleaning up nuclear and chemical weapons sites left over from the cold war. Russia will now have to pay for such efforts on its own. The United States will lose the most cost-effective way yet found for reducing nuclear dangers. And the world must watch as Russia’s unsecured weapons and materials remain a temptation for terrorists of all varieties to buy or steal for use in future attacks.
via A List's Facebook Wall by A List on 11/9/12
Vladimir Putin’s Gift to Terrorists
www.nytimes.com
Russia is putting the world at risk by refusing American aid to clean up its nuclear weapon sites.
via putin's health - Google News on 10/10/12
'Pussy Riot' member freed on appeal
Eyewitness News When a cloudy day refuses to end. On World Mental Health Day, Matshidiso Madia looks at Bipolar Mood Disorder. Shack living goes green · A monkey's freedom · Heritage Day- SA's diverse ... Relatives and lawyers for the trio complained of political ... and more » |
via putin's health - Google News on 10/7/12
Russia celebrates Putin's 60th birthday in fanfare
KTVL Organizers said the slogan symbolizes their gratitude for Putin's efforts to boost the popularity of sports by personally indulging in a healthy lifestyle. The black-belt judoka has over the years been shown horse riding, swimming, scuba-diving ... |
via putin's health - Google News on 10/5/12
 The Voice of Russia |
Putin's approval rating at all-time high
The Voice of Russia ... of Putin's 60th birthday on Sunday. Analysts say people praise Putin for turning to Europe, Asia-Pacific and the BRICS countries rather than the US and expect him to eradicate corruption and improve the situation in the economy, education and ... |
via здоровье путина - Google News on 10/16/12
 Regions.ru |
Путин уволил генерал-майора МВД, подозреваемого в избиении двух спецназовцев
Regions.ru Месяц назад в отношении Иванина было возбуждено уголовное дело по статьям "Умышленное причинение легкого вреда здоровью из хулиганских побуждений" и "Умышленное причинение средней тяжести вреда здоровью из хулиганских побуждений". По версии следствия, 24 апреля ... Путин уволил генерала-драчунаПодробности Путин уволил генерала-спецназовца, избившего подчиненныхЭксперт Online Генерала МВД уволили после избиения спецназовцев. Путин подписал соответствующий приказИД Алтапресс NEWSru.com -НТВ.ru -KM.RU all 132 news articles » |
via putin's health - Google News on 10/16/12
 RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |
Putin Protester Faces Compulsory Psychiatric Treatment
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty Russia's Investigative Committee on October 15 announced it had completed its probe into Kosenko and asked the Prosecutor-General's Office to refer him to a mental health institution for compulsory treatment. Kosenko and 16 other Russians are accused ... |
via здоровье путина - Google News on 10/16/12
 Независимая газета |
Путин выдал Колокольцеву карт-бланш
Независимая газета Во-первых, президент Владимир Путин, как и ожидалось, уволил генерал-майора полиции, начальника Центра специального назначения сил оперативного реагирования и авиации МВД РФ Александра Иванина, избившего командиров двух отрядов спецназа. Напомним, сейчас в отношении Иванина расследуется ... and more » |
via putin's health - Google News on 10/17/12
Russia moves to prosecute anti-Putin protest leader
Reuters "Those who think they can with impunity organize riots, plan and prepare terrorist attacks and other acts that threaten the lives and health of Russians, you underestimate the Russian special services' professionalism," the statement said. The Kremlin ... |
No comments:
Post a Comment