FCNL sent a similar letter to Sens. Domenici and Bingaman of New Mexico.
August 23, 2006
Sen. Richard G. Lugar
Sen. Evan Bayh
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Sens. Lugar and Bayh,
The Defense Department is considering conducting a large test, called “Divine Strake” for its nuclear weapons program outside Bedford, Indiana, next year.
As you know, the military appropriations bill, H.R. 5631, will be on the Senate floor Tuesday, September 5. We ask that you offer a floor amendment to the bill to block the test.
The Defense Department wants to collect data on very large explosions in rock to calibrate the effects of using a nuclear “bunker buster” in Iran or North Korea. The Pentagon’s purpose is to "develop a planning tool that will improve the warfighter's confidence in selecting the smallest proper nuclear yield necessary to destroy underground facilities while minimizing collateral damage."
This effort to “improve” the U.S. nuclear weapons program comes while the administration is asking Iran and North Korea to freeze their nuclear programs. The U.S. government is sending the wrong message to those two countries and the world about nuclear weapons: “do as the U.S. says, not as it does.”
Again, we ask you to offer an amendment to block the “Divine Strake” test. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers)
