Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control

Last updated
Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control
Founded1986
Focus Non-proliferation
Location
  • Washington, D.C.
Area served
Global
Method Research, Advocacy
Website www.wisconsinproject.org

The Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control is a private non-profit, non-partisan organization, which, according to its website, "carries out research and public education designed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, chemical/biological weapons and long-range missiles. It is a private, non-profit, non-partisan foundation that operates in Washington, D.C. under the auspices of the University of Wisconsin." [1]

Contents

The organization was founded by Emeritus Professor Gary Milhollin, who led the Wisconsin Project for twenty-five years. Valerie Lincy now serves as executive director. [2]

The Wisconsin Project receives financing through grants from the U.S. government and from several private foundations, the identities of which are undisclosed.

Products

In 1995, the Wisconsin Project began publication of The Risk Report, which is now a subscription database used by governments and private companies to screen business transactions and verify the legitimacy of foreign buyers. [1] Drawing from unclassified sources, The Risk Report contains up-to-date information on sensitive products and technologies, export regulations, and organizations and individuals linked to WMD proliferation. [3] Matthew Godsey is editor of the Risk Report. [1]

The Wisconsin Project also tracks WMD proliferation through its two watchdog web sites, Iraq Watch and Iran Watch. Created in 2002, Iraq Watch detailed key Iraqi entities involved in weapons proliferation, listed their foreign suppliers, and provided access to documents describing Iraq's past WMD-related activities. [4] The site was last updated in August 2006. [4] Iran Watch, launched in September 2004, follows the format of its successful predecessor, listing suspect Iranian organizations and sites and their foreign suppliers. [5] The site also provides original analyses and external resources relating to Iran's WMD capabilities. Valerie Lincy is the editor and principal investigator for Iran Watch. [5]

History

In 1986, the Wisconsin Project revealed that Norway, because of a secret export of heavy water to Israel, had the right to inspect Israel's nuclear program. [6] [7] The revelation forced Israel to return half of the nuclear material to Norway and forced Norway to abandon its dangerous nuclear export business. [6]

The Project's activism in the early 1990s drew attention to the proliferation threat posed by Iraq. In a series of publications, the Project argued that nuclear inspections in Iraq would fail unless they became more aggressive. [6] The Project also argued for better export controls by exposing past sales of sensitive equipment by western firms to Iraqi builders of nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, and long-range missiles. [8]

In 1998, the U.S. government used data from the Wisconsin Project to restrict U.S. trade with 63 organizations involved in the nuclear and missile programs of India and Pakistan, following those countries’ nuclear tests. [9]

In 2000, the Wisconsin Project launched a public-private initiative to improve export controls in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. [9] [10] The program was expanded in 2002 in cooperation with the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the Customs Service. [9] [10] To date, nearly 800 export control officials have been trained in some 30 countries around the world. [9]

In 2005, Professor Milhollin testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission that weaknesses in U.S. sanctions law were allowing companies helping to spread weapons of mass destruction to go unpunished. [11] The Project's research was the basis for a November 2005 Senate bill that would have eliminated these loopholes and increased the severity of sanctions against companies that continued to proliferate to Iran. [9]

In 2007, the Project supplied information on Iranian organizations linked to nuclear and missile work that contributed to decisions by the United Nations, the United States and the European Union to freeze the assets of several of these organizations. [12] The Project also exposed the inadequacies of U.S. sanctions enforcement against Iran at the time. [12]

In 2008, the Project published a report revealing that the U.S. Commerce Department was cutting controls on the sale of militarily useful American products to China. [13] After the report was published, the Commerce Department suspended and then reduced its effort to cut the controls.

In 2009, the Project helped the New York County District Attorney's Office investigate sales from China to Iran of nuclear- and missile-usable technology that passed through New York banks. The Project testified on the commodities and firms involved before a grand jury in New York City that subsequently indicted the Chinese company that was making the sales. [14] [15] [16]

In 2010, the Project published a report [17] featured in the Wall Street Journal [18] that described how Iran's national shipping company, blacklisted by the United States along with 123 of its vessels, was evading U.S. sanctions by giving its ships new names, new managers, and new “owners.” Following the Project's report, the U.S. Treasury Department blacklisted many of the ships' new names, along with their new owners and managers. [19] [20]

In 2011, the Project expanded the impact of its Risk Report database, with support from the U.S. State Department, by providing training to hundreds of export control officials in eleven countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mexico, Slovenia, and Ukraine. [21]

Related Research Articles

Nuclear proliferation Spread of nuclear weapons without treaty

Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons, fissionable material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information to nations not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT. Proliferation has been opposed by many nations with and without nuclear weapons, as governments fear that more countries with nuclear weapons will increase the possibility of nuclear warfare, de-stabilize international or regional relations, or infringe upon the national sovereignty of nation states.

Weapon of mass destruction Weapon that can kill numerous humans or cause great damage

A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to numerous humans or cause great damage to human-made structures, natural structures, or the biosphere. The scope and usage of the term has evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. Originally coined in reference to aerial bombing with chemical explosives during World War II, it has later come to refer to large-scale weaponry of other technologies, such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear warfare.

Iraq and weapons of mass destruction Research and development of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq

Iraq actively researched and later employed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from 1962 to 1991, when it destroyed its chemical weapons stockpile and halted its biological and nuclear weapon programs as required by the United Nations Security Council. The fifth President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was internationally condemned for his use of chemical weapons during the 1980s campaign against Iranian and Kurdish civilians during and after the Iran–Iraq War. In the 1980s, Saddam pursued an extensive biological weapons program and a nuclear weapons program, though no nuclear bomb was built. After the Persian Gulf War (1990–1991), the United Nations located and destroyed large quantities of Iraqi chemical weapons and related equipment and materials; Iraq ceased its chemical, biological and nuclear programs.

Iraq Survey Group

The Iraq Survey Group (ISG) was a fact-finding mission sent by the multinational force in Iraq after the 2003 invasion of Iraq to find the weapons of mass destruction alleged to be possessed by Iraq that had been the main ostensible reason for the invasion. Its final report, Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to the Director of Central Intelligence on Iraq WMD, was submitted to Congress and the president in 2004. It consisted of a 1,400-member international team organized by the Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency to hunt for the alleged stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological agents, and any supporting research programs and infrastructure that could be used to develop WMD. The report acknowledged that only small stockpiles of chemical WMDs were found, the numbers being inadequate to pose a militarily significant threat.

Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction

As the collapse of the Soviet Union appeared imminent, the United States and their NATO allies grew concerned of the risk of nuclear weapons held in the Soviet republics falling into enemy hands. The Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program was an initiative housed within the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The CTR program is better known as the Nunn–Lugar Act which was authored and cosponsored by Sens. Sam Nunn (D-GA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN). This Act was created in 1986 in a congressional meeting. According to the CTR website, "the purpose of the CTR Program is to secure and dismantle weapons of mass destruction and their associated infrastructure in former Soviet Union states." An alternative explanation of the program is "to secure and dismantle weapons of mass destruction in states of the former Soviet Union and beyond".

Missile Technology Control Regime

The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is a multilateral export control regime. It is an informal political understanding among 35 member states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. The regime was formed in 1987 by the G-7 industrialized countries. The MTCR seeks to limit the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by controlling exports of goods and technologies that could make a contribution to delivery systems for such weapons. In this context, the MTCR places particular focus on rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kg (1,100 lb) to a range of at least 300 km and on equipment, software, and technology for such systems.

Brazil and weapons of mass destruction

In the 1970s and 1980s, during the military regime, Brazil had a secret program intended to develop nuclear weapons. The program was dismantled in 1990, five years after the military regime ended, and Brazil is considered free of weapons of mass destruction.

Iran and weapons of mass destruction

Iran is not known to currently possess weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and has signed treaties repudiating the possession of WMDs including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran has first-hand knowledge of WMD effects—over 100,000 Iranian troops and civilians were victims of chemical weapons during the 1980s Iran–Iraq War.

Proliferation Security Initiative Global initiative to stop trafficking of weapons of mass destruction

The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is a global effort that aims to stop trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. Launched by United States President, George W. Bush in May 2003 at a meeting in Kraków, Poland, the PSI has now grown to include the endorsement of 105 nations around the world, including Russia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Argentina, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and Norway. Despite the support of over half of the Members of the United Nations, a number of countries have expressed opposition to the initiative, including India, China and Indonesia.

Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation U.S. State Department division

The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) is a bureau within the United States Department of State responsible for managing a broad range of nonproliferation and counterproliferation functions. The bureau leads U.S. efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

United States sanctions against Iran Trade restrictions levied by the United States government

The United States has since 1979 applied various economic, trade, scientific and military sanctions against Iran. U.S. economic sanctions are administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an agency of the US Treasury Department. Currently, US sanctions against Iran include an embargo on dealings with the country by the U.S., and a ban on selling aircraft and repair parts to Iranian aviation companies.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747 was a United Nations Security Council resolution, written with reference to some IAEA reports, that tightened the sanctions imposed on Iran in connection with the Iranian nuclear program. It was adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on 24 March 2007.

Gary Milhollin is the founder of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, a non-profit organization dedicated to stemming the spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. He served as executive director of the Wisconsin Project for twenty-five years. Milhollin and the Wisconsin Project are best known for digging up the details of dangerous nuclear deals and publishing them in the media. Their purpose has been to discourage such deals through public embarrassment.

This article deals with activities of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, specifically dealing with arms control, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and weapons proliferation. It attempts to look at the process of tasking and analyzing, rather than the problem itself, other than whether the CIA's efforts match its legal mandate or assists in treaty compliance. In some cases, the details of a country's programs are introduced because they present a problem in analysis. For example, if Country X's policymakers truly believe in certain history that may not actually be factual, an analyst trying to understand Country X's policymakers needs to be able to understand their approach to an issue.

In the United Kingdom there were direct sales to both sides in the Iran–Iraq War. With an embargo in effect various companies also supplied Iraq and Iran by shipping materials through third-party countries and from those countries to the belligerents. While some of this exporting was legal, permitted or tolerated by parliament, Iraqi clandestine procurement operations were especially active in Britain.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540

United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 was adopted unanimously on 28 April 2004 regarding the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The resolution establishes the obligations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter for all Member States to develop and enforce appropriate legal and regulatory measures against the proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, in particular, to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors.

There have been a number of sanctions against Iran imposed by a number of countries, especially the United States, and international entities. The first sanctions were imposed by the United States in November 1979 after a group of radical students seized the American Embassy in Tehran and took hostages. These sanctions were lifted in January 1981 after the hostages were released.

The Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), better known by its French name Centre D'Etudes et de Recherches Scientifiques (CERS), is a Syrian government agency that has the goal of advancing and coordinating scientific activities in the country. It works on research and development for the economic and social development of Syria, especially the computerization of government agencies. It is considered to have better technical capacity and equipment than the Syrian universities. Jane's Information Group Intelligence Services and other analysts believe it is responsible for research and development of nuclear, biological, chemical and missile technology and weapons, including ballistic missiles, as well as advanced conventional arms.

Project Alpha is an academic research project working to counter nuclear proliferation-related trade. It was founded in 2011 with funding from the British Government and is housed in the Centre for Science and Security Studies at King's College London. Its primary mission is to publish independent research findings on illicit trade activities and to support the private and the public sectors with the implementation of international trade controls in order to deter the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

A number of countries and international bodies have imposed sanctions against North Korea. Currently, many sanctions are concerned with North Korea's nuclear weapons program and were imposed after its first nuclear test in 2006.

References

  1. 1 2 3 “About Us," Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. 1 October 2008.
  2. ↑ "Staff". Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. Retrieved May 4, 2012.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  3. ↑ “The Risk Report.” Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. 1 October 2008.
  4. 1 2 Iraq Watch. 1 October 2008.
  5. 1 2 Doughty, Megan. “Keep Watch on Iran Nukes.” The Capital Times 9 August 2005: 3A. 1 October 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 “Israel’s A-Bombs and Norway’s Heavy Water: The Steps to Revelation," Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. April 1990.
  7. ↑ Gordon, Michael R. (1988-06-11). "Norway Reaches Pact with Israel to Inspect Nuclear Chemical". New York Times. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  8. ↑ Jehl, Douglas, "The World; Who Armed Iraq? Answers the West Didn’t Want to Hear." The New York Times Week in Review 18 July 1993.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 “Achievements.” Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. 1 October 2008.
  10. 1 2 House Armed Services Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Authorization Bill. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services. 13 May 2004. 1 October 2008.
  11. ↑ Testimony of Gary Milhollin before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. 10 March 2005. 1 October 2008.
  12. 1 2 Weisman, Steven. "Lack of ID Data Impedes U.N. Sanctions Against Iran.” The New York Times, 17 September 2007; see also Lincy, Valerie. “U.S. Failure to Follow Through on Iran Sanctions is Baffling,” World Politics Review 31 May 2007.
  13. ↑ "In China We Trust? Lowering U.S. Controls on Militarily Useful Exports to China," Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, January 2008.
  14. ↑ "Chinese Exports to Iran," Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, April 7, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Press Release: Indictment of a Chinese citizen and his company," New York County District Attorney's Office, News Release, April 7, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Indictment of Li Fang Wei and LIMMT Economic and Trade Company," Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, April 7, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Smooth Sailing for Iran's Blacklisted Fleet," Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, April 9, 2010.
  18. ↑ Stecklow, Steve "Iran Shipper Evades U.S. Blacklist," The Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Fact Sheet: U.S. Treasury Department Targets Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Programs," U.S. Department of Treasury, June 16, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Treasury Exposes Continued Efforts by Iran to Avoid Sanctions Against its Shipping Line," U.S. Department of Treasury, October 27, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Our Achievements". Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. Retrieved May 4, 2012.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
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