Preventing the prevention of nuclear proliferation
Who knows exactly why the Israeli Air Force blew up that building in Syria? Not even all of Congress has been briefed the details, although a few journalists have received tips from the administration–about which Congress is hopping mad:
If the Israeli airstrike last month is related to covert nuclear collaboration involving Syria and either North Korea, Iran or other rogue states, this may or may not be an issue that can be easily addressed by negotiations alone. It is certain, however, that such a serious international security issue will not stay secret forever.
Congress, therefore, needs to be fully briefed, not just on the details of the airstrike, but on how to address this matter and how, if press reports are true, rogue states will be held accountable for what could amount to a very serious case of WMD proliferation.
We regret that the administration has ignored numerous letters from Congress asking that all members be briefed on the Israeli airstrike. Failing to disclose the details of this incident to the legislative branch, preventing due diligence and oversight — but talking to the press about it — is not the way to win support for complex and difficult diplomatic efforts to combat proliferation by rogue nations.
Well, it’s in the papers, right? So can’t they just buy a copy like everyone else?
Seriously, though, that was a major event, and we’re still coming to grips with the implications of what looks like collaboration between Syria and North Korea on a nuclear weapons program.
Here’s some good news about that: we have a program in place to stop these kinds of transfers. It’s called the Proliferation Security Initiative. John Bolton is usually recognized as its chief architect, and it’s basically an informal agreement between countries who don’t like nuclear weapons and missile programs being trafficked to and by rogue states. We’re not really even supposed to know which countries are members, but we do know they share information about nuclear smuggling and the like, and occasionally board ships suspected of hauling nuclear materials or missile parts. They’ve had some success with this: Iran and other bad guys are short a few loads of equipment because of the PSI.
The PSI is especially important because North Korea ships nasty stuff out in its maritime fleet. The PSI got its start after our Navy intercepted a load of North Korean SCUD missiles bound for Yemen during the run-up to the Iraq invasion, and we had to let it go. Later in 2003, there was the seizure of a North Korean boat full of heroin, the Pong Su, off the coast of Australia.
North Korean merchant ships may have played a part in this late unlamented Syrian construction project as well. A Nork freighter called the Al-Hamad, traveling both under North Korean and South Korean flags, appears to have arrived in Syria with a mysterious cargo a few days before the airstrikes. There’s another North Korean freighter called the MV Sea Prince that went missing this summer, ostensibly the victim of Somali pirates….although I found another source saying the MV Sea Prince just changed its name and registry in order to sneak around, and I strongly suspect it may have payed a call to a Syrian port in its new guise.
Needless to say, tracking down and stopping these sorts of dodgy North Korean freighters that sail around the Middle East changing their names and flags is exactly the sort of cooperative effort that the PSI is supposed to enable.
Now here’s the bad news: There’s a treaty under consideration by the Senate that may cripple the PSI. It’s called the Law of the Sea Treaty, a version of which was vetoed by President Reagan way back in 1982 but it keeps coming back like a transnational zombie. LOST has long been a bugaboo among conservatives because it empowers a new collectivist U.N. bureaucracy to control two-thirds of the earth’s surface. But it’s actually even worse than that. Senator James Inhofe, on his blog, says the Law of the Sea Treaty may interfere with WMD interceptions under the PSI:
LOST could also infringe on the War on Terror, specifically the President’s Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) which combats the transfer of WMD’s. LOST only identifies four circumstances under which ships may be stopped on the high seas. Those are human trafficking, drug trafficking, piracy, and illegal broadcasting. So, if the U.S. were to become a formal party to LOST, we may face challenges to our PSI program.
LOST is a boring treaty and not at all a sexy topic to blog on. But North Korean freighters full of heroin, plutonium, and missiles ought to get your attention. Along with our PSI allies, we really need to continue our very productive policy of aggressive nosiness toward Kim Jong Il’s worldwide fleet. (And Iran’s, too.) If LOST interferes with our ability to do so, well, that’s just one more reason for the Senate to throw LOST back on the scrap heap where Reagan left it a quarter-century ago.
UPDATE: Commenter Jim M. posts a real stemwinder on the sovereignty and constitutional implications of LOST, noting it will take powers the Constitution gave the courts and transfer them to UN bureaucrats:
Granting a dysfunctional and inherently corrupt organization such as the United Nations any power or control over the future of this Country and its citizens is beyond the realm of reason or responsibility. And the motives behind any attempt to steer the US in that direction are not only highly suspect, they are downright seditious.
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Drudge has story linked to ABC this morning saying that Israel had a mole inside the Syrian facility and were able to get pics of the inside that basically left no doubt of what it could be.
I wonder how many of our congressmen have considered that if they are successful in their efforts to lose the war on terrorism, there won’t be a US Congress anymore. Interdiction of materials bound for the enemy has a long history in warfare. And the stakes of nuclear proliferation are too high to be getting squeamish about it now.
“We regret that the administration has ignored numerous letters from Congress asking that all members be briefed on the Israeli airstrike”
ROFL. Yes, lets let people like Rep. Pelosi, Sen. Reid and Rep Stark have access to Intelligence reports.
I am sure there would be no leak of the information.
But I thought the Press was the 4th branch of government …
Letting
Oceans
Ships
Transport Weapons
LOST (what an appropriate acronym) is by far the largest surrender of United States sovereignty tis nation has ever seen. Most developed countries, iincluding the US, Britain and most of Europe, have a well laws and protocols under their respective admiralty laws. This treaty will transfer control of international and in some cases coastal waters from each natiuon to an international tribunal of sorts.
In our country, the federal courts have the original jurisdiction to hear all admiralty cases. That means they serve as the trial court for such cases. What this treaty will do to that power granted to the federal courts is not crystal clear, but it sure looks like our judicial branch of government will be lose a measure of their current powers.
If you recall, the recent flap over the Bush Administration’s intervention in a death penalty case in Texas was based on another, albeit sister, treaty concerning the International Court. This treaty would, too, have a negative impact over the powers of not only the federal judiciary but the state courts as well.
In my reading of the Constitution, I believe it is very clear on this point. Yes, treaties do become the supreme law of the land, but, those treaties must be created and ratified in accordance with the powers granted to the legislative branch under the Constitution, and further, must not cede, abridge of otherwise negatively impact any power, right or provision of the Constitution itself.
Granting a dysfunctional and inherently corrupt organization such as the United Nations any power or control over the future of this Country and its citizens is beyond the realm of reason or responsibility. And the motives behind any attempt to steer the US in that direction are not only highly suspect, they are downright seditious.
These recent measures are an attack on our sovereignty from within our own house. Lest our elected leaders forget, we are a sovereign nation governed by a Constitution that forms the cornerstone anchoring an the critical framework for governing this country. We might remind them that the oath of office they all take includes the words that they will “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. So help them God.
What is Congress going to do with this information? Is Nancy Pelosi then going to cast a vote condemning David for sleeping with Bathsheba and sending Uriah off to die…just to anger Israel and complicate diplomatic relations? !
It takes “intelligent” people to read Intelligence Reports.
Hence, senators being in the so called “darkness”.
So much to comment on
First, the U.S. did not carry out the mission in Syria, ergo, congress does not need to be briefed on what the IDF did, or knew.
Second, anything we give congress, the NYT will have in minutes. What kind of relationship will we have with the IDF if everything they tell us in secret does not remain secret. Can you say ‘blackout’.
Third, if a congress person has a need to know, the information is available to them. They simply have to go to the information. The problem is, they are spoiled, they want the information to come to them. This results in several other personnel with ‘no need to know’ handling the information and also allows the congress person to say ‘it wasn’t me’ when it is leaked to the NYT. Politics, blah.
Fourth, North Korea has a limited number of ships, we could track each and every one of them if congress would allow us to. Our submarines are capable of tracking and monitoring discretely from dozens of miles away, without ever being discovered.
LOST will hand the security of our nation over the UN. The UN will use LOST to disable the capabilities of US strike forces and drive our carriers from the sea. Thank God we have fast attack nuclear submarines with the ability to roam the worlds oceans undetected. The problem will arise when we elect a spineless CinC that will totatlly abide by the wishes of the UN and take away our ability to project power. From that moment on, the US will pose ‘no threat capability’ to anyone, anywhere, anytime. We will be a paper tiger. Others will attack us at will knowing they will be protected from retaliation by the anti-US UN.
OK, enough said, else I will have to send a manuscript off to charter house or something:-)
Have a great day everyone.
I’m amazed that this story has been buried so long, in a good way.
I thought that the LOST was a bad idea when it was first written. In the intervening years, I’ve learned more, and the UN has turned into a more political and anti-US place. I do not wish to turn even partial US sovereignty over to any UN body until the UN and its various sub-parts are less hostile and purely political (I am thinking of the Human Rights council as the most recent example).
And on the raid, I especially agree with SirKnob’s paragraphs 1 and 2.
SirKnob
You’re getting close. What’s really needed is for members of Congress to be required to qualify for Security Clearances. Part of that is lifetime Non-disclosure Agreements. When they disclose classified information, it’s 25 and 10.
That “need to know” is key. A person relaying information to another person is?/was required to establish the recipients ‘need to know’ thru independent resources or was subject to penalties for a security violation.
I dare say, more than a few demanding briefing on intelligence issues would never pass the full life (cradle to present) background investigation to acquire the clearnace to be in the position they occupy.
Constant vigilance is needed with the Leftist Elite or else we are LOST!
I wish MM had given sources for all the speculation. I don’t live in Washington or travel in political circles, but I hear that John Bolton has done more to damage UN anti-proliferation efforts than any other living American. That’s why he was asked to leave the State Department.
The Bush administration also struck a blow for nuclear proliferation by negotiating a nuclear deal (deal about nuclear technology) with India. This is in direct violation of our obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.
As for congressional briefing, liberal blogosphere (maybe not the most reliable source?) says that the intel that led to the Israeli raid was even less reliable than the pre invasion intel on Iraqi nukes. That’s why Congress wants a briefing.
lgm,
Congress wants a briefing because the liberal blogs say so?
Congressional democrats have a direct line to Damascus (ie Pelosi’s and Kucinich’s diplomatic missions to Bashar al-Assad)
and they also believe President Bush is a liar. So why do they need briefings? They can just confer with and believe their Syrian and nutroot associates.
lgm,
John Bolton is recognized as a chief architect of the PSI. Iran and other bad guys are short a few loads of equipment because of the PSI.
President Clinton, under the advisement of former President Jimmy Carter, is recognized as a chief architect of providing reactor parts and watching over unrestricted nuclear proliferation in North Korea during his administration.
So how can your statement be true?
BrianNYBrainNY. Thanks for beating me to the punch.To add:
Even if Michelle had cited all of her sources, lgm the troll would still find something stupid to say. Speculation? Sometimes I wish lgm was within arms reach so I could backhand some stupid out of him.
lgm, everybody:
I. That was me, not Michelle; opinions broadcast by the guest blogger do not necessarily represent yadda yadda yadda, and all errors are mine.
II. I think I’m pretty good about citing sources there; if you follow those links they’ll tell you where I got most of that information. Some of it might not be correct, but I think it’s pretty transparent about where I got it.
III. Bolton is a polarizing figure, that’s for sure. I’ve heard the criticisms you’ve offered voiced by people in think tanks and the like.
But here’s the thing: The Bush administration has been taking a less hardline and more conciliatory approach to NK arms control since they tested (or “tested”) their bomb, thinking the Bolton approach didn’t work.
Well, as we’ve done that, they’ve been shipping nuclear technology to Syria. So maybe Bolton was on to something…
To see another milestone in Bush counter proliferation, look at the effect of outing Valerie Plame.
Under Clinton, North Korea stopped manufacturing weapons grade Uranium. Under Bush, thanks largely to Bolton, they restarted this effort and tested a nuclear bomb.
#17: You should wash your hands of those violent thoughts.
Um, doesn’t our Navy still have hunter submarines? Can’t they make some of these ships quietly disappear? Hey, the sea is a dangerous place. We can deny any involvement while making the world a better place.
GaijinBob–I wondered that too–especially about whether “Somali Pirates” really did sink that NK freighter.
I don’t think we really do stuff like that, but what do I know?
Good thing it wasnt the Pittsburgh Pirates, they cant hit anything.
As you are so fond of saying:
Sources? Liberal blogs do not count.
I think it safe to say that there are others here who need to wash their hands as well concerning you. I used to use my hands to clap for you when you did not start a thought with attacking Michelle (as you did wrongly in this case). I even clapped for you when you made comments that were on topic and you made a good point. None of that here. And not once have you ever comdemned a leftist jerk who said vile things to Michelle who, by her good graces, puts up with your constant bashing.
Does washing you’re hands work for wanting to Boitch slap “Tommy” Reid?
lgm,
Whether she was “outed” by a career State Dept. official or not (Armitage was never charged with anything) why would you ever hold up Valerie Plame or the U.N. as standards of non-proliferation authority? It seems at least 3 formidable nations have gone nuclear
under their watch. Rogue nations have proven again and again that they don’t care what the U.N. or the Valerie Plames of the world say or do. John Bolton’s greatest sin against liberals of the world seems to be that he understands this clearly.
For this alone, I’d rather have one John Bolton calling them as he sees them than a thousand Valerie Plames pissing into the wind.
*Claps for BRAINny
Keep it up BrianNY and we may have to expand the Malkin 6 to Malkin 7!
This here internets that Al Gore created is a pretty neat deal. There is a “new” feature you probably haven’t heard of yet - it is called “google”. What you do is go there and put in some key words, like say “syria” nuclear” and “israel” and some magic happens and you get this long list of articles on that topic. You might want to try that rather than whining about sources. I know these new fangled features can be confusing, but if you learn to use them it will prevent you from looking like a total tool.
#19 LGM:
1. We’re not sure if NoKo’s stopped enriching uranium under Clinton. We are absolutely positive they continued to manufacture plutonium - much better for bomb making anyway.
Anyone who thinks there’s anything more the US could have done - even if Plame had remained covert - in stopping or slowing down Iran’s enrichment program doesn’t know squat. The technology and even most of the hardware they are currently using was supplied by the AQ Khan black market network during the 1990’s - taking place right under the nose of Clinton.
Their ability to manufacture centrifuges also came from the Khan network - shut down by the Bush Administration in 2002. This led to the shutdown of the Libyan program and perhaps even the efforts by al-Qaeda to build their own bomb.
The non-proliferation desk at the CIA has been a joke for 50 years. As someone else mentioned above, it hasn’t stopped or even slowed down one single nation from getting the bomb.
Best you get your facts right before making ridiculous assertions.
I did not mean to insult our hostess, though I did mean to disagree, which is what comments are about. Asking for sourcing is not an insult.
The Clinton deal with North Korea resulted in them sealing their Uranium enrichment facility. I have read that their attempts at Plutonium enrichment were not dangerous (I don’t know why.). They broke the seals and restarted Uranium enrichment soon after the Bolton insult and seem to have made enough enriched Uranium for a bomb.
I am aware of the internet (calling it “internets” is an insult to Alaska Republican Senator Stevens who coined the term).
See-Dubya (#18)
You also hear them coming from people working in government. Maybe you can ask some privately. There is a reason they came out of the woodwork to oppose Bolton’s appointment as UN ambassador.
Steve Clemons’ blog is a good source.
Sad to say, but there are to many members of congress who are not trust worthy. To many members of congress are low base little people of little intelligence. You cannot brief these sort of people. They lack the ability to understand it anyway. Very sad but there it is.
Oh and Valery Plame was a “covert cia agent?” when did that happen…she was so “covert” that no one but her and the New York Times knew…..interesting…but I can see how it could happen…I my self was a secret double 0 agent, so secret that M was never told, I my self was never fully informed……