Senate rejects ban on nuclear tests, "bunker-busters"

AFP ^ | 09-16-03

[Brian S]

WASHINGTON (AFP) Sep 17, 2003

The US Senate on Tuesday rejected a measure that would have halted the development of "bunker buster" bombs -- small nuclear weapons created for battefield use -- while also allowing the resumption of underground nuclear tests.

By a 53-41 vote, the Republican-controlled Senate rejected legislation sponsored by Democrats Dianne Feinstein of California and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts.

"At the very time when we are urging other nations to halt their own nuclear weapons programs, the administration is rushing forward to develop our own new nuclear weapons," said Kennedy, who warned that a new "nuclear arms race" could result.

A moratorium on nuclear tests has been in place in the United States since 1992, but the White House has said a resumption of testing is needed to ascertain the reliability of existing weapons.

[Peach]

At last, the Republicans got something right.

[Brian S]

I too, I'm shocked!!!

[FlyVet]

By a 53-41 vote, the Republican-controlled Senate rejected legislation sponsored by Democrats Dianne Feinstein of California and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts.

Well surprise, surprise, the usual suspects. Let's send a message to the world that we don't mean business. Teddy Kennedy, what a totally useless, demented slug.

[votelife]

"At the very time when we are urging other nations to halt their own nuclear weapons programs, the administration is rushing forward to develop our own new nuclear weapons," said Kennedy, who warned that a new "nuclear arms race" could result.

Kennedy sees moral equivalency between us and say Iran or North Korea.

[TheBigB]

So we got 53...who voted with the Pubs? Zell Miller and Ben Nelson, probably.

[Servant of the 9]

"At the very time when we are urging other nations to halt their own nuclear weapons programs, the administration is rushing forward to develop our own new nuclear weapons," said Kennedy, who warned that a new "nuclear arms race" could result.

Exactly the point, numbnuts.
We are sending the message that they can't catch up. That if they try, we will test and develop faster than they will, and pull even further ahead.

So9

[prophetic]

oh, and I thought that the Republican had more than a 52 majority in the Senate.

[ScuzzyTerminator]

At the very time when we are urging other nations to halt their own nuclear weapons programs,...

The Bunker-Busters are a way to halt their nuclear weapons programs.

[July 4th]

We should have tacked a few things on to that bill. Like ANWR and 150 judges.

[pierrem15]

I think thsi story si inaccurate:

a)the administration only requested money to study the feasability of bunker busters, not actually do any development or testing;

b)the administration has asked for month to prepare the nuclear test site so as to shorten the time needed to perform a test from several months to a few weeks. Any actual testing would require (I think) a new appropriation lifting the ban on such tests (unless the President declared an emergency).

[Terridan]

Senate rejects ban on nuclear tests, "bunker-busters"


Why, because they are effective and just so "marvelous?"

[Terridan]

OOPs...
I meant, the usual suspects want to ban "bunker busters" because they are sooooo effective....
sorry...