September/October 2004
Vol. 60, No. 5, pp. 70-71
U.S. nuclear reductions
On June 1, National Nuclear Security Administration chief Linton F. Brooks submitted a classified report to Congress detailing the plans that have been agreed to by the Energy and Defense Departments regarding reductions in the nuclear stockpile. Brooks said the stockpile would be reduced by "almost half" but declined to provide details about its new size or composition, citing classification reasons.
Such regrettable secrecy stems from ingrained practices developed during the Cold War. Greater stockpile transparency could help advance certain arms control and disarmament agreements and encourage measures to secure fissile material and warheads in Russia and elsewhere. http://www.thebulletin.org/issues/nukenotes/so04nukenote.html