STOP THE NUCLEAR BUNKER BUSTER
URGENT ACTION ALERT
The Feinstein-Kennedy amendment is being debated on the Senate floor now. The earliest they may vote is next Monday evening, probably Tuesday. Please forward the alert below and call your Senate offices. PLEASE NOTE that this is a straight funding cut, rather than a reallocation of funds to other weapons systems, unlike the recent House version, which lost. The full text of the amendment appears at the end of this message.
Jackie Cabasso
URGENT ACTION ALERT
* Support the Feinstein-Kennedy amendment to stop funding for nuclear bunker busters and other advanced nuclear weapons
o Call your Senators and Representatives at 202-224-3121 (Congressional switchboard)
o Write your Senators using email at
http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html
Timing: Act Now! The Senate will vote on amendments to the defense authorization bill (S. 2400) as early as Monday evening, June 7th.
Background: The Senate will vote on key nuclear weapons programs when it takes up the amendment by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) to cut $27.5 million in funding for research into a new nuclear bunker buster and $9 million for other advanced nuclear weapons concepts. Senators should oppose funding for the "Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator" to modify two existing types of nuclear weapons with explosive powers fifty times that of the bomb used over Hiroshima for destroying deep underground bunkers. Even these large nuclear weapons would be ineffective to the depths that modern bunkers can be built and the collateral damage from such an explosion would kill millions if the bunker was located beneath a major city. The "Advanced Concepts Initiative" gives U.S. nuclear weapons labs money to design new mini-nuclear weapons and other new concepts. Even the smallest yield nuclear earth penetrator would create heavy collateral damage. Their small size could lead the President to more readily consider their use in future conflicts. Their research, development and potential use encourages other nations to consider them a desirable weapon to own.
The President has requested the highest budget for nuclear weapons activities since the all-time record set under President Reagan during the Cold War. At a time of war and record deficits, Congress needs your support to cut the nuclear weapons budget and curb the pursuit of new nuclear weapons programs. These programs send a clear "do as I say, not as I do" message to the rest of the world and threaten to undermine the nation's attempts to stem the world's appetite for weapons of mass destruction.
Suggested message to Senators: Please support the Feinstein-Kennedy amendment to cut funding for nuclear bunker busters and other advanced nuclear weapons.
FULL TEXT OF AMENDMENT:
SEC. 3122. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT UNDER STOCKPILE SERVICES ADVANCED CONCEPTS INITIATIVE OR FOR ROBUST NUCLEAR EARTH PENETRATOR.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by section 3101(a)(1) for the National Nuclear Security Administration for weapons activities may be obligated or expended for the following:
(1) The Stockpile Services Advanced Concepts Initiative for the support of new nuclear weapons development.
(2) The Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP).
http://newswire.indymedia.org/de/newswire/2004/06/804036.shtml
The Feinstein-Kennedy amendment is being debated on the Senate floor now. The earliest they may vote is next Monday evening, probably Tuesday. Please forward the alert below and call your Senate offices. PLEASE NOTE that this is a straight funding cut, rather than a reallocation of funds to other weapons systems, unlike the recent House version, which lost. The full text of the amendment appears at the end of this message.
Jackie Cabasso
URGENT ACTION ALERT
* Support the Feinstein-Kennedy amendment to stop funding for nuclear bunker busters and other advanced nuclear weapons
o Call your Senators and Representatives at 202-224-3121 (Congressional switchboard)
o Write your Senators using email at
http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html
Timing: Act Now! The Senate will vote on amendments to the defense authorization bill (S. 2400) as early as Monday evening, June 7th.
Background: The Senate will vote on key nuclear weapons programs when it takes up the amendment by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) to cut $27.5 million in funding for research into a new nuclear bunker buster and $9 million for other advanced nuclear weapons concepts. Senators should oppose funding for the "Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator" to modify two existing types of nuclear weapons with explosive powers fifty times that of the bomb used over Hiroshima for destroying deep underground bunkers. Even these large nuclear weapons would be ineffective to the depths that modern bunkers can be built and the collateral damage from such an explosion would kill millions if the bunker was located beneath a major city. The "Advanced Concepts Initiative" gives U.S. nuclear weapons labs money to design new mini-nuclear weapons and other new concepts. Even the smallest yield nuclear earth penetrator would create heavy collateral damage. Their small size could lead the President to more readily consider their use in future conflicts. Their research, development and potential use encourages other nations to consider them a desirable weapon to own.
The President has requested the highest budget for nuclear weapons activities since the all-time record set under President Reagan during the Cold War. At a time of war and record deficits, Congress needs your support to cut the nuclear weapons budget and curb the pursuit of new nuclear weapons programs. These programs send a clear "do as I say, not as I do" message to the rest of the world and threaten to undermine the nation's attempts to stem the world's appetite for weapons of mass destruction.
Suggested message to Senators: Please support the Feinstein-Kennedy amendment to cut funding for nuclear bunker busters and other advanced nuclear weapons.
FULL TEXT OF AMENDMENT:
SEC. 3122. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT UNDER STOCKPILE SERVICES ADVANCED CONCEPTS INITIATIVE OR FOR ROBUST NUCLEAR EARTH PENETRATOR.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by section 3101(a)(1) for the National Nuclear Security Administration for weapons activities may be obligated or expended for the following:
(1) The Stockpile Services Advanced Concepts Initiative for the support of new nuclear weapons development.
(2) The Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP).
http://newswire.indymedia.org/de/newswire/2004/06/804036.shtml
Starmail - 4. Jun, 23:38
