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USAF Counterproliferation Center (CPC) Outreach Journal #1098

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USAF Counterproliferation Center (CPC) Outreach Journal #1098 USAF Counterproliferation Center (CPC) Outreach Journal Issue No. 1098, 17 January 2014 Welcome to the CPC Outreach Journal! As part of the CPC’s mission to develop Air Force, DoD, and other USG leaders to advance the state of knowledge, policy, and practices within strategic defense issues involving nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, we offer the government and civilian community a source of contemporary discussions on unconventional weapons. These discussions include news articles, papers, and other information sources that address issues pertinent to the U.S. national security community. It is our hope that this information resources will help enhance the overall awareness of these important national security issues and lead to the further discussion of options for dealing with the potential use of unconventional weapons. The CPC is seeking submissions for its annual General Charles A. Horner award, which honors the best original writing on issues relating to Air Force counter-WMD and nuclear enterprise operations. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2014. For more information, please visit our web-site. The following news articles, papers, and other information sources do not necessarily reflect official endorsement of the Air University, U.S. Air Force, or Department of Defense. Reproduction for private use or commercial gain is subject to original copyright restrictions. All rights are reserved. FEATURED ITEM: “Considering a Nuclear Gulf - Thinking about Nuclear Weapons in Saudi Arabia” By Dr. Norman Cigar, USAF Counterproliferation Center, November 2013, 183 Pages. http://cpc.au.af.mil/pdfs/books/nucleargulf.pdf Saudi Arabia's concern that Iran may obtain a nuclear weapon has driven that country to examine its need for a nuclear option. Dr. Cigar explores Saudi Arabia's decision calculus as that country struggles with balancing promises of U.S. extended deterrence with the desire to seek its own nuclear weapons that would offer a direct deterrent to an Iranian nuclear capability. Outreach Journal Feedback or sign-up request: [email protected] U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS 1. Sandia Conducts First Impact Test in Years of Nonnuclear B61 Components 2. 34 Nuclear Launch Officers Involved in Air Force Cheating Scandal HOMELAND SECURITY/THE AMERICAS 1. Progress Made in Safeguarding Nuclear Materials 2. Kansas Biodefense Facility Set for Huge Funding Surge 3. Pentagon Advisers Press for Nuclear-Monitoring Revamp ASIA/PACIFIC 1. Premier Stresses Innovation at Top Science Awards 2. China Conducts First Test of New Ultra-High Speed Missile Vehicle 3. S. Korea, U.S. to Discuss Deterrence Plan against N. Korean Nuke 4. China Hails First Test of Hypersonic Nuclear Missile Carrier 5. Call to Revise Plans for Defense against Nuclear Rockets 6. ‘No Targets’ for Missiles 7. NK Proposes Halting all Cross-Border Slander EUROPE/RUSSIA 1. Ministers Ignore Vote, JSF Jet Fighter Could Carry Nuclear Weapons 2. Gates: British Cuts Limiting Military Partnership with US Issue No.1098, 17 January 2014 United States Air Force Counterproliferation Center| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CPC Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 USAF Counterproliferation Center CPC Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama MIDDLE EAST 1. Iranian Nuclear Chief: Nuclear Bill Would Have Consequences 2. Deal Reached on Implementing Iranian Nuclear Agreement 3. Iran Nuke Deal Doesn't End Debate over Sanctions 4. New Iran Agreement Includes Secret Side Deal, Tehran Official Says 5. President Rouhani: East, West Bow to Iran’s Power, Resistance 6. Deputy FM: Iran, IAEA to Continue Talks on February 8 7. Iran, IAEA Talks Postponed amid Nuclear Deal Preparations 8. Hard-liners in Iran Oppose ‘Poisoned’ Nuclear Deal 9. Obama Administration Releases to Lawmakers Iran Nuclear Deal Text INDIA/PAKISTAN 1. Change At Pakistan's Nuclear Strategic Plans Division: Cause For Concern? COMMENTARY 1. US Nukes: Now It’s Our Turn to Catch Up to the Russians 2. Op-Ed: Morale Is High in Nuclear Force 3. The Nuclear Nightmare 4. The Smart Choice on the B61 5. With Cold War Long Over, it’s Time to Show some Fiscal and Nuclear Courage 6. Will China's New Supersonic Warhead Bust US Missile Shield? 7. Some Bombs Can Be Tossed Business Journals.com Sandia Conducts First Impact Test in Years of Nonnuclear B61 Components By Dan Mayfield, Reporter, Albuquerque Business First January 14, 2014 For the first time in seven years, Sandia National Laboratories has tested the nonnuclear components of its B61 nuclear bombs. The U.S. is forbidden to test the nuclear components, but “one of the main purposes of the stockpile is deterrence, so one important way to assure deterrence is to have a successful surveillance test that shows our systems work,” senior manager Patrick Sena said in a news release. Data from the test will be used to update the annual assessment of the nation’s stockpile for President Barack Obama. Sena said the preliminary data showed the test met the requirements of the worst-case conditions the B61 is expected to meet with high reliability. The lab’s surveillance tests study the nonnuclear components under different conditions. Sandia researchers hoisted a B61-11 earth-penetrating weapon by hoisting it above a target and attaching it to a rocket sled. http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2014/01/14/sandia-first-impact-test-nonnuclear-B61.html Return to Top Stars and Stripes.com 34 Nuclear Launch Officers Involved in Air Force Cheating Scandal Issue No.1098, 17 January 2014 United States Air Force Counterproliferation Center| Maxwell AFB, Alabama http://cpc.au.af.mil \ https://twitter.com/USAF_CPC Phone: 334.953.7538 | Fax: 334.953.7226 2 USAF Counterproliferation Center CPC Outreach Journal Maxwell AFB, Alabama By Jon Harper, Stars and Stripes January 15, 2014 WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the Air Force’s top civilian and military leaders revealed that 34 nuclear missile launch officers were involved in a cheating scandal surrounding proficiency tests conducted last year at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The 34 personnel constitute about 18 percent of the missile officers stationed there. “There was cheating that took place with respect to this particular test. Some officers did it. Others apparently knew about it, and it appears that they did nothing, or at least not enough to stop it or to report it. Now this is absolutely unacceptable behavior and it is completely contrary to our core values in the Air Force,” new Air Force Secretary Deborah James told reporters at the Pentagon. “Cheating or tolerating others who cheat runs counter to everything we believe in as a service. People at every level will be held accountable if and where appropriate,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said. Over the weekend, the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigation found evidence that a missile launch officer from the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom texted answers to monthly missile launch officer proficiency tests to 16 other officers. “We subsequently approached the entire missile crew force at Malmstrom and 17 other officers who self-admitted to at least being aware of material that had been shared. We don’t yet know how or if each of those officers used that material, but we do know that none of them reported the incident to their leadership,” Welsh said. Welsh said he is not aware of a cheating scandal this large in the entire history of the missile force. All 34 involved have been decertified as launch officers. They are restricted from missile crew duty and their security clearances have been suspended. The OSI investigation into their individual involvement and the overall cheating scandal will continue, Welsh said. The officers vary in rank from second lieutenant to captain. The Malmstrom wing failed a nuclear security inspection last August due to “a problem in a security scenario,” but the failure was not related to carrying out operational procedures, Welsh said. On Wednesday, the commander of Global Strike Command, which oversees the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise, ordered a proficiency test be administered to all missile crewmembers in all three of the nation’s nuclear missile wings in the wake of the cheating at Malmstrom. As of Wednesday afternoon, about 20 percent of the entire missile crew force had taken the test, and 97 percent of them passed. There were three failures. The 97 percent pass rate matches historical averages, according to Welsh. James said the testing of the entire force will be completed by the end of the day Thursday. When asked about the motivation behind the cheating, Welsh said, “It’s hard to cover up incompetence cheating one time on a test. When you’re going to have a monthly simulator with two instructors watching you actually conduct the practical application of this knowledge in a simulator, you can’t hide that. And so whether it’s to get a better score on a test or — I just — I’d be speculating as to what it is, but I don’t believe it’s incompetence.” The cheating took place in August and September, according to officials. “We have no indications or evidence that it has occurred since then; the investigation has just started,” Welsh said. James and Welsh will now travel ahead of schedule to all of the ICBM bases next week. The other two are located at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming and Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. “Secretary James and I will personally visit all of our missile bases … next week to ensure that our airmen have no question about our expectations of those who perform this vital mission,” Welsh said. Last week, Defense Secretary Hagel visited F.E. Warren to talk to ICBM launch officers following reports of low morale and poor performance among the nation’s missile crews.
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