.S.: Russia capable of chemical war
WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence warned lawmakers that Russia may be skirting its commitment to eliminate its chemical and biological weapons arsenal and doing little to prevent the export of weapons
technology.
The CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency told lawmakers in newly released written responses to questions that the basic building blocks of the former Soviet Union's chemical and biological weapons
capability are being maintained by Moscow.
In addition, the intelligence agencies said certain elements of the Russian government may be seeking to circumvent arms control agreements that limit development of new chemical and biological weapons.
"Key components of the former Soviet biological warfare program remain largely intact and may support a possible future mobilization capability for the production of biological agents and delivery systems," the DIA reported in its written responses to questions posed by the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Moreover, work outside the scope of legitimate biological defense activity may be occurring now at
selected facilities within Russia."
If that activity is geared toward developing offensive biological weapons, the DIA said, Russia would be violating the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
The CIA cited evidence from Russian "whistleblowers" who have "alleged that Moscow is hiding a program designed to ensure a continuing offensive chemical weapons capability despite arms control
commitments," including the Chemical Weapons Convention, which took effect in 1995. Some of these allegations have long been publicly aired, but the CIA cited other unspecified evidence corroborating the
charges.
"These allegations, when combined with other information, give rise to concerns that at least some factions within the Russian government desire to circumvent the Chemical Weapons Convention," the CIA concluded.
The CIA said some biological weapons facilities have been deactivated in recent years but that other facilities remain able to produce biological weapons.
"We cannot establish that Russia has given up this capability and remain concerned that some of the individuals involved in the old Soviet program may be trying to protect elements of it," the CIA said.
Both the chemical and biological treaties require signatory countries to eliminate biological and chemical weapons stockpiles and production capabilities. The export of biological or chemical weapons technology is also forbidden by the pacts.
The limits on biological capability leave some wiggle room, according to Spurgeon Keeny, director of the Arms Control Association, an arms control advocacy group based in Washington. The treaty allows
research and development of vaccines used in protecting people from biological weapons attacks, and some of these treatments involve diluted versions of the same lethal substances banned by the treaty.
As a result, Keeny said, it can be difficult to be sure that a vaccine production lab is not being used for weapons development.
"There has been considerable suspicion over the years that their biological program, which was a separate activity, was moving slowly to be brought in compliance," Keeny said. For both the chemical
and biological programs, a major problem facing cash-strapped Russia is the high cost - in the tens of billions of dollars - of dismantling huge weapons stockpiles. "The Russians don't have a ghost of an idea
where they're going to get the money to do all this," Keeny said.
The CIA also reported that private or quasi-governmental organizations in Russia are assisting other countries in weapons development with little oversight by law enforcement agencies seeking to prevent illegal arms technology exports.
"The financial position of defense industries in the countries of the former Soviet Union continues to be shaky, prompting many entities to seek foreign contracts to keep operating," according to the CIA.
"Government oversight of the activity of these firms appears to be spotty." Law enforcement "remains a major problem, given high levels of corruption, limited expertise and resource shortages."
In addition, the CIA said, "Increasingly, scientists from the former Soviet Union appear to be providing their expertise and know-how to solving weapons development problems for foreign countries."
By The Associated Press |
