April 25, 2003
U.S. Restarts Its Nuclear Machine
"The United States has restarted production of plutonium parts for nuclear bombs at its Los Alamos National Laboratory for the first time in 14 years.
"Under the headline "After 'Decline,' U.S. Again Capable of Making Nuclear Arms," the Los Angeles Times, which broke the story Wednesday, called the move "an important symbolic and operational milestone in rebuilding the nation's nuclear weapons complex."
"Specifically, American scientists working for the National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, have started producing the plutonium "pits" that are at the core of nuclear weaponry. (Conventional explosives encase a hollow plutonium sphere, or pit, and trigger a chain reaction when detonated.) Under a program put forward by the White House, the United States is also working on a new factory to supply components for hundreds of weapons each year, according to the report." Moscow Times quotes L.A. Times
[Cartoon courtesy of Bartcop]
