WHAT are the risks to civilians if the US military ever uses the “bunker-busting” nuclear weapon that the Bush administration is developing? That’s the question scientists are set to investigate as a condition of further funding for the project.
While the controversial Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) programme has been awarded $15 million development funding this year, with the same amount likely next year, a new clause attached to the funding calls for the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to investigate what effect any use of the weapon would have. The clause was added by moderates when the Senate…
