Senior Policy Director Alexandra Bell spoke with The Santa Fe New Mexican about a potential resumption of U.S. explosive nuclear testing.
“This is really troubling to even be discussing explosive nuclear testing,” said Alexandra Bell, senior policy director at the nonprofit Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “We absolutely don’t need to conduct explosive nuclear tests in order to maintain the safety, security and effectiveness of our arsenal.”
In fact, the purpose isn’t to test a bomb’s performance, but to prod Russia and China to the negotiating table for a trilateral agreement, Bell said, calling it an unnecessary political ploy, especially with China.
China is well aware the U.S. did about 1,000 nuclear tests between 1945 and 1992 and that it has a far superior nuclear capability, said Bell, who was a senior adviser for the State Department’s undersecretary for arms control and international security.
Bell and other opponents of nuclear testing say it also would give license to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and rogue nations to freely launch their own explosive tests.
…
Bell said the best way to stop countries like China and Russia from doing any tests is to give the full teeth to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Read more
