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Next Generation Nuclear Security Summit - April 12-13, 2010
Right-Sizing the "Loose Nukes" Security Budget: Part 1, Kenneth Luongo

Partnership for Global Security President Kenneth Luongo examines budget trends of U.S. international weapons of mass destruction security programs and recommends how their funding should be augmented to better support the international effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within for years in "Right-Sizing the 'Loose Nukes' Security Budget: Part 1."  

"Highlighting the danger posed by nuclear terrorism and the need for an effective response, President Barack Obama came to office promising to "secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world within four years." The necessity of this goal is unquestioned. In fact, since 2004, at least four published official government reports have criticized the adequacy of the U.S. government's response to the threat of nuclear terrorism. The ability to achieve this objective, however, has been questioned. The Obama administration is in the process of losing a year in its pursuit -- its first proposed budget for this initiative fell far short, and Congress did not respond as if securing nuclear materials was an overriding national security priority. In order to meet the accelerated time frame to secure loose nukes around the globe, the president will need to maintain his leadership of the effort in the international community. Equally, if not more important, significant additional funding will be needed from both the United States and multilateral sources..."

Full article available at: http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/ri...