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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Dribbling aid to Russia

Journal Article · · Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (United States)

As a result of efforts by Senators Sam Nunn of Georgia and Richard Lugar of Indiana, Congress appropriated $400 million for fiscal year 1992 to help the former Soviet Union demilitarize and to establish safeguards against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. An additional $400 million was appropriated for FY 1993 for the storage and dismantling of weapons. There is a consensus on Capitol Hill and in the Clinton administration that it is in the US interest to help the former Soviet Union downsize its arsenal of weapons and demilitarize is economy. This article focuses on reasons for the delay in obligating and spending the allocations for this purpose. The red tape and other obstacles that have delayed implementation of the Nunn-Lugar legislation are described. Problems include conditions and restrictions of the Nunn-Lugar legislation, reprogramming of funds from existing accounts, competitive bidding for proposals for disarmament, international cooperation problems, and physical differences between US and Russian equipment and infrastructure. Means of accelerating efforts to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction in the Soviet Union are described.

OSTI ID:
6274749
Journal Information:
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (United States), Journal Name: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (United States) Vol. 49:6; ISSN BASIAP; ISSN 0096-5243
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English