2001 United States Special Weapons
Nuclear and Missile Proliferation News
- 12 December 2001:Expanded Tests Expected After Withdrawal From Missile Treaty- President Bush
could notify Russia within the next few days that the United
States is withdrawing from the 1972 anti-ballistic missile
treaty. President Bush says the treaty is outdated and does
not allow for tests on a new missile defense system planned by
the Pentagon.
- 10 December 2001:Powell, Putin Discuss Nuclear Weapons Cuts- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell wrapped up a visit Monday to Russia, where he discussed U.S. plans to build a missile defense shield as well as new cuts in nuclear weapons.
- 10 December 2001: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters during a joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov in Moscow December 10 that the two sides are close to agreement on "getting the strategic offensive numbers [of missiles] in line with each other."
- 13 November 2001: The United States will sharply cut its nuclear arsenal over the next ten years, President Bush announced November 13 at a joint news conference at the White House with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
- Armed Services panel head blasts Pentagon on missile defense plan, Stars and Stripes, 13 July 2001 -- Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the powerful Armed Services Committee, teetered on calling Pentagon officials deceptive when he lambasted them and the Bush administration Thursday for keeping Congress in the dark about the national missile defense program and whether testing will violate an international arms treaty.
- Rumsfeld Says U.S. Will Not Violate 1972 ABM Treaty, USIS Washington File, 13 July 2001 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the United States will not intentionally violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty while engaging in research, development or testing of a proposed ballistic missile defense system.
- Pentagon Missile Defense, Voice of America, 12 July 2001 -- The Pentagon is planning to move ahead with new missile-defense construction that senior officials acknowledge could soon breach the terms of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
- Wolfowitz Says U.S. Will Move Beyond ABM Treaty, U.S. Department of Defense, 12 July 2001 -- Prepared Testimony on Ballistic Missile Defense To the Senate Armed Services Committee By Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz
- Pentagon missiles, Voice of America, 10 July 2001 -- The Pentagon has confirmed its latest budget request to Congress includes funds to expand its missile defense test facilities.
- Rumsfeld / Missile Defense, Voice of America, 09 July 2001 -- U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is warning against any oversimplified reactions to the missile defense test set for later this week.
- DoD News Briefing, U.S. Department of Defense, 18 June 2001 -- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld interviewed by Jamie McIntyre, CNN
- U.S. To Develop, Deploy Ballistic Missile Defense System , American Forces Press Service, 07 June 2001 -- The United States will build and deploy a ballistic missile defense system, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said June 7 to defense ministers gathered NATO headquarters here.
- Missile Defense, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 15 May 2001 -- Speaking of the recent trips to European and Asian capitals by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and officials from the State Department and National Security Council (NSC) for consultations on missile defense, Pentagon spokesman Admiral Craig Quigley said reaction to the proposed missile defense system "was mixed."
- Pentagon Spokesman's Briefing - Missile Defense Consultations, U.S. Department of Defense, 15 May 2001 -- Q: The American briefing team's in Europe, on missile defense. A pretty hostile, critical reaction in Paris and Berlin, in Moscow. I saw it range from "this stuff won't work" or doesn't make sense. Has Wolfowitz briefed Rumsfeld on this reaction, and how will this affect the decision on the missile defense policy?
- Air Force analyzes new challenges in taking the lead in space management, By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes, 12 May 2001 -- Defending the nation won't be the only concern for the Air Force as it takes the lead in the Pentagon's restructured space program. Offensive tactics too will have to be developed.
- State Department Noon Briefing - Missile Defense Consultations, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 11 May 2001 -- Q: Your wandering minstrels of NMD seem to be getting some mixed messages in their travels, from somewhat vague support from India, to outright rejection in Moscow, and serious questions from the Germans. I'm just wondering what your initial reaction is to these things.
- Pentagon Spokesman's Briefing - Nuclear Policy Review, U.S. Department of Defense, 10 May 2001 -- Q: Craig, on the nuclear policy review, isn't that just about complete? The secretary was indicating he was well along in that. And this is not going to depend on treaties or other countries; I mean, this is going to be a unilateral thing involving the United States, and it will save money, so it's not a budget issue so much, right?
- Defense Dept.'s Wolfowitz Briefing in Berlin on Missile Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, 10 May 2001 -- "The primary subject of our consultations or discussions have been the ideas that President Bush expressed in his address of May 1: what we believe is an entirely new way of looking at the concept of deterrence in the post-Cold War world. "
- DOD's Wolfowitz Has Consultations in Paris on Missile Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, 09 May 2001 -- "The main theme of our talks has been to discuss U.S. ideas about a new concept of deterrence, ideas that were outlined in President Bush's speech on May 1st."
- White House Daily Briefing - Space-Based Weapons, The White House, Office of the Secretary, 09 May 2001 -- Q: How does the President feel about space-based offensive weapons?
- Rumsfeld / Missile Defense, Voice of America, 08 May 2001 -- U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the United States is examining a variety of possible approaches to missile defense.
- Euro / U-S missile shield, Voice of America, 08 May 2001 -- Two senior U-S officials have briefed NATO ambassadors on President Bush's plans for a missile-defense system.
- Rumsfeld Gives Air Force Lead Role in Space Defense, USIS Washington File, 08 May 2001 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced a sweeping effort to transform the Department of Defense (DOD) and reform its structure, processes and organization to "help the United States to focus on meeting the national security space needs of the 21st century."
- Missile Defense: Reaction To Bush Speech, Foreign Media Reaction Reports, 08 May 2001 -- President Bush's May 1st speech outlining his intention to pursue a U.S. missile defense (MD) system put the issue back in headlines overseas. Skepticism about the plan's feasibility and its effect on arms control--and especially the ABM Treaty--continued to run high in segments of the European/Canadian press, conservative commentators excepted. European papers joined Russian media, however, in welcoming U.S. consultations. While China stood increasingly isolated in its categorical denunciations, elsewhere in East/South Asia reaction was mixed
- Rumsfeld on U.S. National Security Space Management, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 08 May 2001 -- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld provided to Congress today his assessment of the report of the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization. The Commission's report, published on Jan. 11, 2001, addressed the importance of outer space and space activities.
- Rumsfeld, Rice Say U.S. Will Cooperate with Others on Missile Defense, USIS Washington File, 06 May 2001 -- The United States will consult with Russia, with China and with its allies in planning its missile defense system, say U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.
- OTL - Bush's Missile Defense Strategy, Voice of America, 05 May 2001 -- A conversation with Keith Payne, president of the National Institute for Public Policy, Michael Krepon, founding president of the Henry Stimson Center, and Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control.
- Deputy Defense Secretary on Reducing Missile Threats, U.S. Department of Defense, 04 May 2001 -- Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, Capitol Hilton, Washington, DC, Friday, May 4, 2001.
- House Members Debate Bush Missile Defense Plan, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 03 May 2001 -- America is "totally vulnerable" to a missile attack, according to Representative Curt Weldon (Republican of Pennsylvania).
- Helms, Gephardt React to Missile Defense Plan, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 02 May 2001 -- Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jesse Helms issued a statement strongly supporting President Bush's commitment to building a missile defense system, while Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives Richard Gephardt said he is concerned that such a system may undermine U.S. security rather than enhance it.
- Rep. Weldon Outlines Rationale for Missile Defense, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 02 May 2001 -- "Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to focus on an issue that is dominating the front page of every newspaper in America today and that is the defense of America's homeland. President Bush gave a major speech yesterday where he outlined a commitment to pursuit of a national missile defense and provide a protection for this Nation...."
- Cold War Deterrents 'No Longer Enough,' Bush Says , American Forces Press Service, 02 May 2001 -- President George W. Bush laid out his intention to field a national missile defense system in a speech May 1 at the National Defense University here.
- State Department Noon Briefing - Missile Defense, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 02 May 2001 -- Q: Can you say a little bit more about the US delegations that are being - going off to Asia and Europe and other parts of the world to talk about the ABM Treaty and missile defense?
- Secretary-General Says New US Defence Policy, Including Plans For Missile Defences, Impacts On Global Security And Strategic Stability, UN Press Release, 01 May 2001 -- The Secretary-General has noted the proposals of the President of the United States of America for a new defence policy, including the establishment of missile defences. These plans inevitably impact upon global security and strategic stability, and the Secretary-General welcomes the readiness of the United States Administration to consult with other members of the international community.
- Bush missile o'nite, Voice of America, 01 May 2001 -- President Bush is sending high-ranking envoys to Europe and Asia next week to consult U-S friends and allies on his controversial missile-defense program.
- State Department Noon Briefing - Missile Defense, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 01 May 2001 -- Q: If the Secretary sees these people like the Macedonians and the Hungarians, does he offer them the anti-missile shield? Is this coming into the conversation?
- Bush / Missiles, Voice of America, 01 May 2001 -- President Bush has outlined his vision for deploying a national missile defense system - arguing that it is time to replace the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia with a new defense framework.
- Defense Secretary May 1 Remarks on Missile Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, 01 May 2001 -- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld told reporters at a May 1 media availability at the Pentagon with Australian Defense Minister Peter Reith that any U.S. missile defense system "need not be 100 percent perfect, in my opinion."
- Security expert says others' resentment, jealousy will pose threat to U.S., By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes, 28 April 2001 -- Resentment and jealousy on the part of other nations will be the United States' biggest national security concern for the coming decades, said a security expert.
- Bush-Missile Defense, Voice of America, 27 April 2001 -- President Bush is preparing for what aides say will be a major address next week on his controversial plan for a national missile defense system.
- Bush Foreign Policy Team, Voice of America, 19 April 2001 -- President Bush's foreign policy team has received generally high marks for its handling of the recent standoff with China over a U-S reconnaissance plane.
- U.S. Studies Developing New Nuclear Bomb, by Walter Pincus, Washington Post , 15 April 2001 -- The Defense Department is studying whether to develop a new, low-yield nuclear weapon with an earth-penetrating nose cone that could knock out hardened or deeply buried targets such as leadership bunkers and command centers, according to administration and congressional sources
- Portrait of Bush Foreign Policy: Unilateralist And Adversarial, Foreign Media Reaction Reports, 10 April 2001 -- Foreign media commentary on the nature of the Bush Administration's foreign policy.
- Key U.S. Official Discusses Arms Verification, Compliance, USIS Washington File, 29 March 2001 -- A key State Department arms control official says the Bush administration's multiple reviews of arms control and nonproliferation positions will be completed in the coming year on the biological weapons, nuclear testing, and strategic nuclear agreements.
- U.S. Missile Defense: Shifting Foreign Media Perspectives, Foreign Media Reaction Reports, 16 March 2001 -- Foreign media commentary on the Bush Administration's missile defense policy.
- It's Not 'National' or 'Theater,' It's Just Missile Defense , American Forces Press Service, 09 March 2001 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has stopped differentiating between National Missile Defense and Theater Missile Defense.
- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell Joint Press Availability with NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 01 March 2001 -- Q: Mr. Secretary, do you now know more about the details of the Russian proposal, if it's a proposal, for missile defense? Do you see it as a serious one? Is it an attempt simply to throw the U.S. off track? Is it an attempt to generate discord with the Alliance? And are the Allies a little more adjusted now to this program?
- White House Press Briefing - NMD Costs, The White House, Office of the Secretary, 28 February 2001 -- Q: Missile defense not factored in here...
- U.S. Foreign Policy: 'Will There be More Unilaterlism'?, Foreign Media Reaction Reports, 23 February 2001 -- Foreign media reports speculating on the future course of U.S. foreign policy.
- Bush, Blair Joint Press Conference at Camp David Feb. 23, The White House, Office of the Secretary, 23 February 2001 -- "Ours will be a strong and good personal relationship and an alliance that will stand the test of time," President Bush said following his first meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair February 23.
- Acting Pentagon Spokesman's Tuesday Briefing - Missile Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, 20 February 2001 -- Q: Curt Weldon was in Moscow today and met with the Russians on missile defense. He said that he delivered a message to them from Secretary Rumsfeld and also from Ronald Kadish, that the U.S. wants to cooperate with the Russians on missile defense, and they're waiting for a positive Russian response. And also, at the same time, Robertson received a plan from the Russians on cooperating - Russian- NATO cooperation on missile defense, European missile defense.
- Missile Defense / Protest, Voice of America, 14 February 2001 -- Anti-nuclear groups and several Congressional leaders have rallied in Washington to protest the Bush administration's plans to develop an anti-missile defense system.
- Interview of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell by Wolf Blitzer of CNN'S Late Edition, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 13 February 2001 -- MR. BLITZER: Let's talk a little bit about another controversial position of the Bush Administration, the National Missile Defense shield. The Russians clearly are not happy with it. The Chinese aren't happy. The Russian security adviser, Sergei Ivanov, said this only the other day: ``It will result in the annihilation of the whole structure of strategic stability and create prerequisites for a new arms race.''
- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Interview by Cokie Roberts and Sam Donaldson on ABC-TV This Week, U.S. Department of Defense, 12 February 2001 -- Donaldson: Mr. Secretary, you've made the case to our allies why this country should build a missile defense system. Not a full one, but one capable of stopping some threats. But which threats? Who do you have in mind?
- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Interview by Tony Snow of Fox Sunday News, U.S. Department of Defense, 12 February 2001 -- Snow: Well, if we don't have to worry about nuclear exchanges, why is missile defense important?
- State Department Noon Briefing - Missile Defense, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 12 February 2001 -- QUESTION: Mr. Fischer, the German Foreign Minister thinks that the Russians might after all be willing to go along with a US National Missile Defense. Has the US detected any flexibility on Russia's part on it?
- Secretary of State Powell Briefing - NMD, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 09 February 2001 -- Q: So far as the Administration coming down with a policy on missile defense. Could you give us some indication of how the Administration is going to proceed, and also especially in talking to the Russians, and how long might this take?
- White House Daily Briefing - NMD and ABM, The White House, Office of the Secretary, 09 February 2001 -- Q: Ari, you said that the President is considering reducing unilaterally America's nuclear arsenal. If so, is that an attempt to ease the opposition from the NATO countries to the national missile defense, and is it also to try and convince Russia to allow - or not to oppose, if you will, the modification of scrapping the ABM Treaty?
- Joint Press Availability With British Foreign Minister Robin Cook And Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 07 February 2001 -- Q: Secretary Powell...could you say whether you want British participation in National Missile Defense, whether you think that it will be necessary to upgrade the radar station in Britain as part of that defense?
- Interview of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell by Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts of ABC'S "This Week", U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 06 February 2001 -- MR. DONALDSON: All right. Let's go to the ABM Treaty, and let's go to Europe. Secretary Rumsfeld has just been there. He has called the ABM Treaty "ancient history." He has told the European allies that the United States will continue to develop it....Will you scrap the ABM Treaty, if necessary?
- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Interview by Jim Lehrer on PBS Newshour, U.S. Department of Defense, 10 February 2001 -- Lehrer: Also you are going to go ahead with the missile defense system, are you not?
- Rumsfeld Makes Case for National Missile Defense , American Forces Press Service, 05 February 2001 -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the United States would consult with its allies and friends as it makes decisions about National Missile Defense.
- Rumsfeld Speaks on Missile Defense, Cooperation , American Forces Press Service, 05 February 2001 -- The United States has allies, and allies consult with each other. That was the bottom line of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's Feb. 3 speech to the Munich (Germany) Conference on Security Policy.
- U.S. must build missile defense system, Rumsfeld tells conference delegates, By Gregory Piatt, Stars and Stripes, 04 February 2001 --Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Saturday the United States will go ahead with building a national missile defense system despite objections by Europe, Russia and China.
- DoD News Briefing, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld - Missile Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, 03 February 2001 -- Q: Are you going to give the allies-- you know they are quite concerned about NMD [national missile defense] - we realize, of course, that the defense ministers understand a lot more than the ordinary person. Are you going to give people some assurances that you are not going to move, hastily or precipitously on NMD without close consultation or cooperation from the allies?
- NMD Again 'Hogging Headlines' As World 'Faces Up to U.S. Missile Plan', Foreign Media Reaction Reports, 02 February 2001 -- Foreign media commentary on U.S. plans for deployment of NMD.
- Bush/Nuclear Arms, Voice of America, 26 January 2001 -- President Bush in his first remarks on the issue since taking office - says he intends to fulfill campaign promises to move ahead on both a national missile defense program and efforts to further reduce offensive nuclear weapons.
- Rumsfeld Forecasts DoD's Path Ahead , American Forces Press Service, 26 January 2001 -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told reporters he would work toward fielding a national missile defense system and to ensure the services continue to attract and retain the best people.
- Panel warns of vulnerability, says space defense should be a priority, Stars and Stripes, 18 January 2001 -- Wars could move from Earth to the Final Frontier in less than a decade, yet the government is not making space defense a priority, the space commission warned a congressional committee.
- Rumsfeld Details DoD Goals, Objectives in Testimony , American Forces Press Service, 12 January 2001 -- "Weakness is provocative," Donald H. Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Service Committee Jan. 11 during his confirmation hearing to be the next defense secretary.
- Cohen Cites Major Defense Challenges , American Forces Press Service, 11 January 2001 -- Russia, China, asymmetric warfare, and weapons of mass destruction are issues likely to confront incoming Bush administration national security officials, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said Jan. 10 at the National Press Club here.
- Cohen/Defense, Voice of America, 10 January 2001 -- U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen says the incoming administration of President-elect George W. Bush faces an array of serious security threats.
- Militarized U-S, Voice of America, 04 January 2001 -- Many observers say that since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been struggling to find a foreign policy appropriate to the new era.
- Bush/ Cheney influence, Voice of America, 03 January 2001 -- Vice President-elect Richard Cheney is expected to play a prominent role in the incoming Bush Administration in shaping both domestic and foreign policy.
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