President-elect Barack Obama should take quick steps to improve U.S. efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism, a nonproliferation group urged last week (see GSN, Nov. 18).
By taking domestic action, Obama can help to spur international measures as well, according to the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation.
The organization's recommendations include establishing an executive branch coordinator for government-wide WMD nonproliferation and counterterrorism programs and creating a new agency, possibly in the State Department, to focus on arms control and nonproliferation issues. In addition, the United States should move to reduce its nuclear arsenal as an example to other nations, the report says.
The Obama administration should also work cooperatively with other countries to set new standards for nuclear material security and to prevent nuclear smuggling, the report adds (Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation release, Nov. 14).