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Democrats Lambaste White House For Alleged Lapses In Reducing WMD
Opposition Democrats in Congress blasted the George W. Bush administration Wednesday for what they said was a failure to fully protect Americans from the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Democrats unveiled a critical report, "Worst Weapons in Worst Hands: US Inaction on the Nuclear Terror Threat Since 9/11, and A Path Of Action," detailing alleged shortcomings by the administration to contain the illicit weapons and materials. "The most important threat we face is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, yet this Administration's missteps in Iraq have made tackling that threat so much harder," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. "This report shows we must keep our eye on the ball," said Reid, at a press conference flanked by leading Democrats and former security officials. "The report concludes that the US is fighting a global war on terrorism, but not a global war on weapons of mass destruction," added top House Democrat, Nancy Pelosi. "The Administration has failed policies on weapons programs in North Korea and Iran, on securing loose nuclear material in Russia and elsewhere, and on strengthening the world's nuclear nonproliferation system," she said. "The lack of leadership by the Bush Administration in these areas has made the American people less safe than they should be." The document was drafted by a former security officials working under the name the National Security Advisory Group, including former US Defense Secretary William Perry, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and others. The group issued several recommendations, including renewed diplomacy in negotiations with North Korea; offering "a bundle of carrots and an arsenal of sticks" to induce Iran to relinquish its nuclear program; and strengthening US-Russia cooperation. All rights reserved. © 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse. Related Links SpaceWar Search SpaceWar Subscribe To SpaceWar Express 
South Africa To Convert Nuclear Research Reactor
Johannesburg (AFP) Jul 18, 2005South Africa is to convert its nuclear research reactor to use low enriched uranium instead of the highly enriched version utilised until now -- the type which could be used in the making of a nuclear bomb. |
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