US-Russia Effort to Contain Nuclear Experts Fades

Terrorists in search of weapons of mass destruction could turn to nuclear scientists for advice. The US and Russia established a joint program in 1998 providing opportunities for former Soviet scientists with nuclear secrets, and the program is set to expire. Ten Russian cities – once major Soviet sites for nuclear research and still home for 35,000 underemployed scientists – remain closed and under strict surveillance. In recent years, authorities have detained Russian scientists seeking work in Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea. The joint program became less of a priority for both the US and Russia, largely because of a booming Russian economy and wariness about sharing nuclear secrets or bearing legal liability. Despite shifting priorities, the program’s demise would be a loss for nuclear non-proliferation efforts, according to analysts. With an average income of about $110 per month, the scientists are desperate for income and have skills in high demand. – YaleGlobal