Free Republic

The situation at the quake-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in northeastern Japan ''has worsened considerably,'' the Institute for Science and International Security said in a statement released Tuesday. Referring to fresh explosions that occurred earlier in the day at the site and problems in a pool storing spent nuclear fuel rods, the Washington-based think tank said, ''This accident can no longer be viewed as a level 4 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Events scale that ranks events from 1 to 7.'' Noting that a level 4 incident involves ''only local radiological consequences,'' it said the ongoing crisis is...

The United States is working with both Egypt and Russia to rid Israel of its nuclear weapons, as part of a comprehensive plan to neutralize Iran’s nuclear power. Reports of this nature are being reported in various news media. The Guardian (London) reports that the US and Russia have drafted an initiative to ban nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, while the Wall Street Journal says the Obama Administration is considering support for a “nuclear-free Middle East.”

NY TIMES CLAIMS EXCLUSIVE NEW DETAILS OF EVENTS SURROUNDING CIA LEAK, SOURCES TELL DRUDGE... DEVELOPING LATE OUT OF WASHINGTON... MORE...

The House International Relations Committee by unanimous voice vote recently approved a resolution aimed at halting Iran's nuclear program. Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) and Ranking Member Tom Lantos (D-CA) cosponsored the resolution, which "expresses the concern of Congress over Iran's development of the means to produce nuclear weapons." This resolution also urges President Bush and the international community "to use all appropriate measures" to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Reps. Hyde and Lantos are joined by six of their colleagues as original co-sponsors: Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Steve Chabot...