Lugar Proposes a Dozen Daunting Weapons of Mass Destruction Nonproliferation Deeds

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, vulnerability to the use of weapons of mass destruction has been the number one national security dilemma confronting the United States. After many years, the events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent public discovery of al-Qaeda's methods, capabilities and intentions finally brought our vulnerability to the forefront.

The War on Terrorism proceeds in a world awash with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and materials. Most of these weapons and materials are stored in the United States and Russia, but they also exist in India, Pakistan, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Israel, Great Britain, France, China, and perhaps other nations.

We must anticipate that terrorists will use weapons of mass destruction if allowed the opportunity. The minimum standard for victory in this war is the prevention of any terrorist cell from obtaining weapons or materials of mass destruction. We must make certain that all sources of WMD are identified and systematically guarded or destroyed.

To combat the WMD threat in the former Soviet Union, our country has implemented the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. Since enactment in late 1991, Nunn-Lugar has devoted American technical expertise and money for joint efforts to safeguard and destroy materials and weapons of mass destruction.

In my view, the winning presidential candidate must bring the full weight of U.S. diplomatic and economic power to bear on pursuing at least the following twelve breakthroughs. Admittedly, this is a daunting list. No President will achieve every objective enumerated here. He will have influence over all of them, but he will have absolute power over none of them. The list illustrates that the uncertain work of non-proliferation requires flexibility, persistence, creativity, and allied cooperation. It also illustrates how many different areas present grave risk to our national security.

1. Achieve the Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible Dismantlement of North Korea’s Nuclear Program
2. Establish International Will to End Iran’s Nuclear Program
3. Bring Russian Tactical Nuclear Weapons into the Nunn-Lugar Program
4. Control Nuclear Materials Worldwide
5. Win India and Pakistan Nuclear Agreements
6. Open Russia’s Biological Weapons Facilities
7. Secure Full Russian Disclosure of its Chemical Weapons Stockpile
8. Transform the Russian Bureaucracy to End Roadblocks to Non-proliferation Cooperation
9. Win Focused Commitment from U.S. and European Companies to Engage Weapons Scientists
10. Secure Russian Ratification of the Nunn-Lugar Umbrella Agreement
11. Finalize a Plutonium Disposition Agreement
12. Ensure the Fulfillment of Global Partnership Pledges

I am confident that whoever is elected in November would find substantial public support for this set of initiatives. The American public wants the President to engage in foreign affairs to improve the security of the United States. A June 2004 New York Times/CBS poll found that 38 percent of Americans surveyed said that foreign policy was “the issue they most wanted to hear the candidates discuss during the campaign.” This compared to corresponding polls by the same polling organization that found only 1 percent of Americans in 1996 and 3 percent in 2000 viewed foreign policy as the most important problem facing the country.

The American people expect their government to be working day and night to find and eliminate weapons of mass destruction. So do I. Our political leadership and non-proliferation experts must engage Russia to unlock the last doors to the dismantlement of its weapons programs. Further, they should scour the globe to identify and create opportunities to dismantle dangerous weapons programs outside the former Soviet Union. Persistent diplomacy at the highest levels of our government is needed each day if we are to succeed.

Lugar meets with Hoosier troops in Bosnia

In August, I had the special privilege to be in Bosnia and to personally thank the men and women of the Indiana National Guard for their service in one of the most successful military operations in this nation’s history.

Indiana National Guard soldiers in Bosnia have served with distinction. Brig. Gen. Timothy Wright and the members of the 38th Infantry Division are part of a multi-national force enforcing the Dayton Peace Accords. Since 1995, this vital mission has proved successful and Hoosiers have helped all along the way.

Prior to visiting the Hoosier troops, my Washington, D.C. and Indiana staffs contributed small items, such as cards, games and books to the soldiers. These items were taken to Bosnia and distributed to the troops.

I admire the Hoosier troops’ remarkable service to the people in Bosnia and hope for the preservation of peace in the region.

Lugar Stresses Importance of Crane Naval Center

On Wednesday, August 18, I had the opportunity to address the assembly at the Change of Command Ceremony at the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. This time-honored service was a tribute to the hardworking and dedicated leadership of our nation’s third largest navy installation.

The Pentagon is expected to review another round military of installations nationwide to decide what bases could be relocated or closed in the next year. I am working along with other members of the Crane Congressional Caucus to keep the state of Indiana’s only naval base open.

The Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center is virtually irreplaceable to our military. Missions are going to expand in the Navy and places where that can occur are very limited. That is not a limit with Crane. The Crane site covers 100 square miles and can easily be expanded to fit the military’s future needs.

In addition to its great national contributions to security, Crane also is a stronghold for Indiana employment. It is the state’s 12th largest employer, paying $256 million in direct wages.

A full case will be made not only once, twice, but consistently at each juncture of the road as the Base Relocation and Closure Act situation continues. We will be successful because we have a great case to argue and furthermore we believe that the nation will be better informed about Crane at the end of the procedure.

Veterans History Project High School Challenge

From August 15, 2004, to January 1, 2005, I am sponsoring the Veterans History Project High School Challenge for high schools to compete against each other while recording the important stories of Hoosier veterans.

To participate in this program, please review the Challenge details and return the enrollment sheet to my Indianapolis Office.

Additional information about the Veterans History Project and past issues of the Veterans History Project newsletter can be found on my Veterans History Project page.

If you have any questions, please contact Emmy Huffman, my Veterans History Project Coordinator, at (317) 226-5555 or emmy_huffman@lugar.senate.gov.

August Highlights

Lugar awards Boy Scouts with Veterans History Patch

On Monday, August 16, Senator Lugar visited with the Buffalo Trace Council Boy Scouts in Evansville to praise their involvement in the Veterans History Project and to present them with special patches, designed by the Council, for their work.

Since 2002, Lugar has partnered with the Library of Congress to record and preserve the stories and experiences of Hoosier veterans for future generations to use and experience. Currently, 20 percent of the tape-recorded veteran testimonies stored at the Library of Congress are from Indiana.

Several Boy Scout troops across the state have partnered with Lugar, an Eagle Scout himself, to help interview Hoosier veterans.

Lugar Addresses Institution for Global Enterprise at University of Evansville

On Tuesday, August 17, Senator Lugar addressed the University of Evansville as their inaugural speaker in the school’s 2004-05 Institute for Global Enterprise in the Indiana International Speaker Series.

Lugar addressed the world environment in which today’s students must adapt to a changing business world and the fear of weapons of mass destruction, Al-Qaeda and homeland security.

Lugar Addresses Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis

On Thursday, August 19, Senator Lugar participated in a press conference at the Celebration Plaza on the campus of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI).

At the event, Lugar, along with other members of the Indiana delegation, was thanked for his support in securing an $845,000 federal grant for “Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities,” an innovative social service program to be operated by the JFGI.

Tirana, Albania
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar met with Prime Minister Fatos Nano, Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami and Defense Minister Pandeli Majko.

On May 12, 2003, the U.S. Government concluded the “Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Albania Concerning Cooperation in the Area of the Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Promotion of Defense and Military Relations.” Senator Lugar’s visit to Albania was intended to strengthen the agreement between the two nations. He discussed mutual security, threat reduction and the war on terror.

Tbilisi, Georgia
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar broke ground for a new Nunn-Lugar funded biological pathogens storage facility. He toured a radioactive material storage facility that is receiving security upgrades and reviewed Nunn-Lugar security upgrades at the Institute of Radiobiology and at the National Center for Disease Control.

Lugar also met with President Mikheil Shakaashvilli, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, and other security and legislative leaders involved in the Nunn-Lugar program.

Kiev, Ukraine
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar visited two facilities that store and work with dangerous pathogens such as anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, polio, listeriosis, diptheria, cholera, typhoid and others. The Science and Technology Center is the vehicle through which the Nunn-Lugar program engages former Soviet biological and chemical weapons scientists in peaceful and private sector research and production. At the Central Sanitary and Epidemiological Station, Lugar encouraged the government to sign a bio-threat reduction agreement with the United States that will permit direct Nunn-Lugar assistance to Ukraine for biological weapons security and remediation work and permit the exchange of pathogen samples between the two countries.

Lugar also met with Foreign Minister Kostyantin Hryshchenko, former Prime Minister and Presidential Candidate Viktor Yushchenko, and other national security leaders.