U.S. to remove plutonium from 1,000 old atom bombs

[Up2Late]

Source: Reuters

U.S. to remove plutonium from 1,000 old atom bombs

Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:18pm ET146

VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States will remove from military stockpiles nine tonnes of plutonium, enough for more than 1,000 atom bombs, to demonstrate its commitment to non-proliferation, the U.S. energy secretary said on Monday.

The excess plutonium will be taken out of retired nuclear weapons in coming decades and turned into mixed-oxide fuel burnable in commercial nuclear reactors providing electricity, Samuel Bodman said during a U.N. nuclear watchdog meeting.

"As the United States continues to reduce the size of its nuclear weapons stockpile, we will be able to dispose of even more nuclear material while increasing energy and national security," he told a press briefing.

The step reflected an accord between the United States and Russia in 2000 under which each was to make 34 tonnes of excess plutonium unusable for nuclear weapons, with the possibility of converting it into a proliferation-proof civilian energy source....

Read more: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2007-09-17T181821Z_01_L17911721_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-PLUTONIUM.xml

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I wonder if anyone told *Bush about this?

[thereismore]

1. Well that should be enough for a Grand Daddy Bomb, no? nt

[soothsayer]

4. yup, that's what I'm thinking

[slackmaster]

13. That's just plain silly

You only need ONE critical mass of fissionable material to build a FUSION bomb of unlimited size.

[valerief]

2. Making the bomb to end all bombs. nt

[Zenlitened]

3. Important to note: "The step reflected an accord between the United States and Russia in 2000"

They didn't exactly volunteer. From the Reuters article:

...The step reflected an accord between the United States and Russia in 2000 under which each was to make 34 tonnes of excess plutonium unusable for nuclear weapons, with the possibility of converting it into a proliferation-proof civilian energy source.

On the other hand, this time they really can say "Clinton Did it!" :eyes:

[TrogL]

5. They're going to send it to Iran

[truthisfreedom]

6. Good.

It's about time.

[tomreedtoon]

7. No, they're selling it to China for use in toothpaste.

Nothing like plutonium to make your teeth gleam! Whoops, did I mention a brand name in there?

[Kolesar]

11. You just glow, honey!

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Radium was the preferred additive

http://www.orau.org.nyud.net:8080/ptp/collection/quackcures/toothpaste.jpg

The years following World War I witnessed growing interest in the use of radium treatment, but also extravagant claims for the supposed health benefits of radium. These advertisements are typical of the time. Radium toothpaste, radium hair tonic and even radium drinking water were readily available.

Medical History Musuem

[slackmaster]

14. I'll bet that tube is worth some money

:nuke:

[Javaman]

8. And to put them into 1000 new bombs. nt

[Kolesar]

10. No.The excess plutonium will be turned into mixed-oxide fuel burnable in commercial nuclear reactors

The excess plutonium will be taken out of retired nuclear weapons in coming decades and turned into mixed-oxide fuel burnable in commercial nuclear reactors providing electricity,

[Javaman]

15. Hope so. nt

[soothsayer]

9. How much material is accidentally going to go missing?

[KansDem]

16. Let's see...1,000 bombs / 6 = 166.67 B-52s

Wow! That's a lot of a-bombs!