Viewpoint: The Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction: A U.S. Response

• NCJ Number: 189498
• Journal: Nonproliferation Review Dated: Spring/Summer 1999 Pages: 51-56
• Author(s): Richard G. Lugar
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded July 24, 2001

Annotation

This document examined the threat to the United States by Russian nuclear, chemical, and biological arsenals and ways to counteract this threat such as the Nunn-Lugar Threat Reduction program.

Abstract

Russia’s threat to the United States today is generated by its weakness: the military has deteriorated; budget requests are not honored; valuable military equipment is left unguarded; and its arsenals and infrastructures are insecure and leaking. Dismal conditions exist in the nuclear cities and biological institutes across the country. There are three main lines of defense against the emerging threats posed by the potential spread of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. The first is preventing proliferation at its potential sources abroad. The second is deterring and interdicting the flow of illicit trade in these weapons and materials. The third involves the response if an attack does occur. The United States needs to do more in all of these areas. The Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program has facilitated in the destruction of ballistic missiles, missile launchers, bombers, submarine missile launchers, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. It has also sealed nuclear test tunnels; and warheads that were on strategic systems aimed at the United States have been deactivated. The key to the program’s success is its flexibility to adjust to different threats. It is now addressing the threat of chemical weapons, which are stockpiled in seven sites across Russia. The program will remove and dismantle those pieces of machinery capable of weapons production to ensure the factory never produces weapons of mass destruction again. The Nunn-Lugar program is also addressing the biological weapons threat ensuring that biological weapons research is halted and preventing proliferation and reducing the loss of trained biological scientists to rogue nations. Plans to increase funding for Nunn-Lugar and its companion programs over the next 5 years is a testament to the program’s value and its contributions to national security.