In response to a specific question, John Kerry said that if elected president, his first priority would be preventing nuke proliferation. George Bush then opined that preventing the proliferation of "weapons of mass destruction" was high on his priorty list, too.
Now, as you and Kerry know, the only real WMD is a nuke. But the neo-crazies have deliberately tried to bamboozle you, lumping ballistic missiles, radio-controlled drones, WWI mustard gas, WWII nerve agents, naturally occurring anthrax and wheat smut spores all together and calling them "weapons of mass destruction."
As proof that preventing the proliferation of WMD was high on his priority list, Bush cited his Proliferation Security Initiative of 2003:
"The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is a response to the growing challenge posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials worldwide.
"The PSI builds on efforts by the international community to prevent proliferation of such items, including existing treaties and regimes.
"It is consistent with and a step in the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement of January 1992, which states that the proliferation of all WMD constitutes a threat to international peace and security, and underlines the need for member states of the UN to prevent proliferation."
Now, we all know – more than a thousand dead U.S. servicemen later – how Bush "implemented" UN Security Council Resolution 1441. So, how does Bush intend to "implement" the UNSC Presidential Statement of January 1992?
Well, among other things he intends to
"Undertake effective measures, either alone or in concert with other states, for interdicting the transfer or transport of WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. ‘States or non-state actors of proliferation concern’ generally refers to those countries or entities that the PSI participants involved establish should be subject to interdiction activities because they are engaged in proliferation through: (1) efforts to develop or acquire chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons and associated delivery systems; or (2) transfers (either selling, receiving, or facilitating) of WMD, their delivery systems, or related materials."
Great Zot! Not only would wheat smut be subject to interdiction, but the crock it comes in and the vat it was brewed in.
And on his own initiative – or at the request and good cause shown by another state – Bush intends to
"[Ta]ke action to board and search any vessel flying their flag in their internal waters or territorial seas, or areas beyond the territorial seas of any other state, that is reasonably suspected of transporting such cargoes to or from states or non-state actors of proliferation concerns, and to seize such cargoes that are identified. . . .
"[T]ake appropriate actions to (1) stop and/or search in their internal waters, territorial seas, or contiguous zones (when declared) vessels that are reasonably suspected of carrying such cargoes to or from states or non-state actors of proliferation concern and to seize such cargoes that are identified; and (2) enforce conditions on vessels entering or leaving their ports, internal waters, or territorial seas that are reasonably suspected of carrying such cargoes, such as requiring that such vessels be subject to boarding, search, and seizure of such cargoes prior to entry. . . .
"[R]equire aircraft that are reasonably suspected of carrying such cargoes to or from states or non-state actors of proliferation concern and that are transiting their airspace to land for inspection and seize any such cargoes that are identified; and/or (b) deny aircraft reasonably suspected of carrying such cargoes transit rights through their airspace in advance of such flights. . . .
"[I]nspect vessels, aircraft, or other modes of transport reasonably suspected of carrying such cargoes, and to seize such cargoes that are identified."
Last year the United States reached an agreement with Japan, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and Spain to intercept North Korean ships suspected of carrying narcotics or weapons materials.
Also, last year, Taiwanese government officials detained the North Korean cargo vessel Be Gaehung, boarded it and confiscated 158 barrels of phosphorus pentasulfide. It seems U.S. intelligence suspected the chemicals were to be used to make rocket fuel.
You can probably rest easy at night knowing you have a president whose first priority is preventing terrorists from nuking you in you jammies. But how easy can you rest knowing you have a president prepared to start World War III over a "suspected" crock of wheat smut, opium or phosphorous pentasulfide?
