Administration Urges Full Warhead Funding-Old Weapons May Need Testing, It Warns

[babylonsister]

Another distraction? What's the hurry?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/25/AR2007072502093.html

Administration Urges Full Warhead Funding
Old Weapons May Need Testing, It Warns

By Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 26, 2007; Page A09

The Bush administration has told Congress that delays in funding for a new generation of nuclear weapons may require a return to underground testing to ensure that older warheads remain reliable.

The administration included the warning in a four-page statement on nuclear weapons signed by the secretaries of energy, defense and state and sent to Congress this week. The document defended the so-called Reliable Replacement Warhead program, the funding for which is contained in fiscal 2008 authorization and appropriations bills still before Congress.

In their statement, the secretaries said, "Delays on RRW . . . raise the prospect of having to return to underground nuclear testing to certify existing weapons."

The White House had sought $82 million for the program and hoped to have Congress vote next year on proceeding with production of new warheads that could be deployed by 2012.

However, House and Senate committees have reduced the $82 million to prevent a congressional vote next year on the production phase. The committees have also included proposals in the bills for year-long studies that would lay out a detailed strategic nuclear weapons policy before Congress moves ahead with the warhead program.

snip//

Stephen Young, a senior analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the secretaries' statement as "an almost desperate plea for support for the program, which provides nothing that would justify Congress funding it."

[NMDemDist2]

1. you are aware there is a nuclear weapons decommissioning plant

in West Texas (Midland I think) that has had some VERY close calls the last couple years?

just an FYI since I think I'm closer to Midland than you are, although prevailing winds are in my favor

[Parche]

2. Nucular

Are they talking about the Minuteman 3 missiles that I used to guard when I was in the Air Force,
or the Submarine missiles?

[populistdriven]

3. Title is misspelled "Oil Weapons May Need Testing"

This is not a distraction It is a politically defensive move - its already happening.

What do you think the deepest oil well (Chevron) drilled in the Gulf of
Mexico (28,000 + feet)(10 kilometers) and an earthquake have in common?
Chevron Jack #2 Oil Well. Surprisingly, Chevron announced (big
announcement not quiet) info on the well on September 8, 2006 like it
was big news even though the well was completed in 2004.

September 10, 2006 - Gulf of Mexico earthquake. Can you say "bunker
busting nuke test". I have not been able to gather specific info and/or
exact location of Jack #2 oil well, but it is very close to the
epicenter of quake. The USGS puts epicenter at 270 miles southwest of
Apalachicola, FL, which is also about 270 miles southeast of Louisiana.
Articles I have read indicate Jack #2 oil well from 175 miles to 275
miles somewhere south of Louisiana. This is way out there in 7,000 feet
of water.

Estimates of costs based on economic articles I have read would put oil
at $20,000 to $30,000 per barrel and indicate an increase of American
reserves by 50 percent.?????!!! It is not financially responsible, unless...
Crazy claims like "dredging sea floor for manganese nodules". Glomar
Explorer all over again.

Maybe they are using nuke to frac the formation for better recoveries?

Follow the money

BTW...

The real distraction is this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1439134">DEA raids LA medical marijuana clinics