Divine Strake Test Delayed

Divine Strake weapons test postponed for further study
Nevada site may be out for the blast test–
Delayed again: Director of Pentagon agency to assess other locations
Divine Strake postponed until 2007
Divine Strake explosion delayed, possibly moved

….and from HEAL Utah:

The ditch has already been dug. The 700 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil to fill it have already been purchased. But thankfully, the concerned voices of downwinders have delayed again the Pentagon’s intent to resurrect 10,000-foot mushroom clouds on our horizon.

The Department of Defense announced yesterday that the Divine Strake test would be delayed until at least “several months into 2007,” but that it would proceed at that point if it is determined that the blast can comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and there is a favorable ruling in the lawsuit brought by the Western Shoshone and Downwinders.

The Pentagon has maintained all along the safety of this test, but when the public called its bluff, it turned out the Pentagon had no data to back its claims. This is eerily reminiscent of assurances of safety given to the public during the open-air nuclear blasts of the 50s and 60s.

It’s nice that the Pentagon wants to try to placate those citizens concerned that a 10,000-foot mushroom cloud could stir up radioactive debris at the Nevada Test Site leftover from decades of nuclear testing.

However, regardless of what they determine about the safety of the test, Divine Strake needs to be cancelled. This test leads us down the path towards the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons and renewed nuclear weapons testing, which would put us downwind once again. The Pentagon’s own documents describe Divine Strake as a way for war planners to model small nuclear weapons (although they later said the reference to a nuclear weapon was a “mistake”).

Thankfully, Rep. Matheson is demanding accountability from the agencies conducting this test.

Sen. Hatch, on the other hand, is completely missing the boat, saying he is “very pleased” that Divine Strake may be moved to New Mexico. I doubt Utah’s downwinders would wish their affliction on anyone else, nor do Utahns want to see the cause of that affliction to reappear.

If you’d like to send a message to Sen. Hatch, please sign our petition urging him to stop Divine Strake and any future nuclear tests: http://www.healutah.org/what-we-do/downwinders-opposed-to-nuclear-testing/take-action.

Divine Strake has so far been a test of wills. The continued delays show the power of the public to hold government accountable. We now have to keep up the pressure until 2007 to realize the ultimate goal of the cancellation of this test and a move away from renewed nuclear weapons testing.

John Urgo
Outreach Director
HEAL Utah
68 S Main St, Suite 400
SLC, UT 84101
(801) 355-5055
john@healutah.org

CANCEL THE DIVINE STRAKE! STOP WEAPONS TESTING ON ANY LAND! END NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION!