BETTER PLAN Radiation monitors at U.S. ports are insufficient for preventing terrorists from amassing highly enriched uranium for a nuclear bomb. We maintain that the country should therefore enhance protective actions, some now under way. Chief among them:
Identify and round up nuclear smugglers. Secure known sources of poorly guarded HEU and ship it back to its country of origin for elimination. Blend down excess Russian stocks of HEU into low-enriched uranium. Replace HEU fuel in research reactors with low-enriched fuel. Seek a global ban on the commercial uses of HEU, such as medical applications, most of which can be pursued with low-enriched uranium
Radiation monitors at U.S. ports are insufficient for preventing terrorists from amassing highly enriched uranium for a nuclear bomb. We maintain that the country should therefore enhance protective actions, some now under way. Chief among them:
- Identify and round up nuclear smugglers.
- Secure known sources of poorly guarded HEU and ship it back to its country of origin for elimination.
- Blend down excess Russian stocks of HEU into low-enriched uranium.
- Replace HEU fuel in research reactors with low-enriched fuel.
- Seek a global ban on the commercial uses of HEU, such as medical applications, most of which can be pursued with low-enriched uranium
