Kyl and Schumer move to monitor uranium exports
Decision Brief No. 05-D 30 2005-06-20
(Washington, D.C.): Tomorrow, Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will offer an amendment to the Energy bill that would prevent the weakening of export controls on nuclear-weapons grade, highly enriched uranium. In order to ensure such material does not inadvertently fall into the hands of our enemies, it is imperative that this amendment be adopted.
It Ain’t Broke
Current law is aimed at phasing out U.S. exports of highly enriched uranium (HEU) precisely to reduce the risk of the material being stolen or diverted by proliferating states for nuclear weapons production. Thus, it reasonably bars the export of HEU for use as reactor fuel or as targets to produce medical isotopes except on an interim basis to recipients who provide assurances that an alternative nuclear fuel or target will be used in their facilities whenever possible.
If enacted in its current form, Section 621 of this year’s Energy bill, by contrast, would allow foreign companies to receive U.S. HEU for use in medical isotope production without having to move toward a low-enriched uranium (LEU) target, even if it is technically feasible for them to do so.
Supporters of the new language contend that weakening current law is needed to ensure the continued supply of medical isotopes to the United States. As explained by Alan Kuperman in a June 20 article distributed by National Review Online, however, there is no evidence of an impending shortage. It is worth noting, moreover, that no company has ever been denied an export license for HEU to be used in medical isotope production under current law which has, moreover, created incentives for countries to begin to convert to LEU.
The Bottom Line
In an age in which terrorists are fervently pursuing nuclear material to use in an attack on the United States, it is entirely irresponsible – and potentially lethal – to dilute anti-proliferation measures. The bipartisan Schumer-Kyl amendment, therefore, offers the most prudent path forward. While striking Section 621 from the bill, it would also require a study to examine, among other things, the likely consequences with respect to nonproliferation and antiterrorism initiatives of removing current restrictions.
It would be a tremendous disservice to this country if Senators were to put at risk the lives of millions of Americans to enrich a few manufacturers. The Kyl-Schumer amendment places proper emphasis on shoring up the Nation’s counter-proliferation policies and protecting its vital interests.
Mr. Gaffney is the host of Secure Freedom Radio, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard weeknights throughout the country. He is an associate author of highly acclaimed Shariah: The Threat to America and the publisher of over a dozen other books and monographs from the Center for Security Policy Press.
In April 1987, Mr. Gaffney was nominated by President Reagan to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving U.S.-USSR relations, nuclear forces, arms control, missile defense policy and U.S.-European defense ties. He acted in that capacity for seven months during which time, he was the Chairman of the prestigious High Level Group, NATO’s senior politico-military committee. He also represented the Secretary of Defense in key U.S.-Soviet negotiations and ministerial meetings.
From August 1983 until November 1987, Mr. Gaffney was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.
From February 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Gaffney was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-Texas). And, in the latter 1970’s, Mr. Gaffney served as an aide to the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (D-Washington) in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Mr. Gaffney holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Mr. Gaffney’s leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations including: the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League of the United States’ Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award (1999), and the Zionist Organization of America’s “Louis Brandeis Award” (2003), the Western Conservative Summit’s Stephen H. Long Award (2015), the Council for National Policy’s George Washington Military Leadership Award (2016) and the IMPACT Award from Ginni Thomas and United in Purpose (2017).
Mr. Gaffney was born in 1953 and resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
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