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BASIC IN THE MEDIA, 1998

BASIC By-Lines | BASIC Quotes | BASIC Interviews

BASIC BY-LINES

DECEMBER 1998

• Letter to the Editor, by Michael Kraig, The Times of London, 10 December 1998. Argues that insufficient attention has been paid to the failures of the Pentagon's Y2K repair program.
  
  

• "Senseless Policy", by Dan Plesch and Stephen Young, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Nov-Dec. A full page op-ed criticizing the new US nuclear doctrine for targeting non-state Third World actors that possess weapons of mass destruction.

NOVEMBER 1998

• "Guns in Mexico", by Kate Joseph, Dallas Morning News, 8 November 1998. This full page op-ed argues for a national US limit on gun purchases of one per month to stem the flow of illegal arms from the US to Mexico.

JULY 1998

• Letter to the Editor, by Kate Joseph and Loretta Bondi, Interational Herald Tribune, 21 July 1998, and the New York Times, 22 July 1998. Sent on behalf of the Light Weapons Working Group in response to the coverage of the Oslo meeting, this letter argues for tougher controls on the legal trade in small arms.

JUNE 1998

• Letter to the Editor, by Lucy Amis and Nino Lorenzini, The Independent, 12 June 1998. The authors argue that NATO members must stop escalating the arms race between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean.
  
  

• "Arde Kosovo; Grecia y Turquia se arman", by Lucy Amis and Nino Lorenzini, El Mundo, 7 June 1998. This article analyzes the hostilities between Greece and Turkey over the developments in Cyprus.

MAY 1998

• Letter to the Editor, by Alistair Millar and Tasos Kokkinides, The Washington Post, 8 May 1998. This letter discusses the ramifications of recent ex-Nazi marches in Riga on Latvia's position as a potential NATO and EU candidate.
  
  

• "NATO Enlargement: Risks and Consequences", by Jason Mott, Peacework, May 1998. Discusses the expansion of NATO and its impact on American-Russian and European-Russian relations.

APRIL 1998

• Letter to the Editor, by Alistair Millar, Transitions, April 1998. Argues that NATO's three newest members have signed a blank check in accepting membership without debating the ramifications of NATO enlargement.
  
  

• "Time for a tougher stand on gun ownership", by Kate Joseph, Chicago Tribune, 3 April 1998. Written two weeks after the shooting of four school children and their teacher in Jonesboro, Arkansas, this article cites US gun violence statistics and calls for more comprehensive gun legislation.

MARCH 1998

• "NATO's Shaky New Triad", by Alistair Millar, with Tomas Caspody and Col. Jiri Matousek, The Nation, 16 March 1998. The authors highlight the lack of discussion on the alternatives to, and consequences of, the expansion of NATO in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
  
  

• Letter to the Editor, by Alistair Millar, The New York Times, 4 March 1998. This letter is concerned with cost estimates of NATO expansion and the inadequate explanation of what American taxpayers will be expected to pay.

FEBRUARY 1998

• Letter to the Editor, by Daniel Plesch, Mike Aaronson, Barry Coates, Paul Eavis, Julian Filochowski, Martin Honeywell, Ian Linden, Diana Melrose and Jane Winder, The Independent, 18 February 1998. This letter outlines standards that the EU Code of Conduct must meet if it is to achieve its objectives of promoting restraint and transparency over arms transfers.
  
  

• Letter to the Editor, by Gen Sir Hugh Beach, Adml Sir James Eberle, and Gen Sir Michael Rose, The Daily Telegraph, 16 February 1998. This letter is concerned with Britain and France's proposals for an EU Code of Conduct, urging a tightening of guidelines to limit weapons transfers and the arms trade.

BASIC QUOTES

DECEMBER 1998

• "Year 2000", by Simon Davies, Sunday Telegraph, 31 December 1998. Cites BASIC report "The Bug in the Bomb: The Impact of the Year 2000 on Nuclear Weapons" at length in an article concerning the Y2K readiness of the Department of Defence.
  
  

• "Nuclear Commanders Evaluate Y2K Impact", by John Donnelly, Defense Week, 14 December 1998. Michael Kraig is quoted on the dangers of keeping nuclear weapons on hair trigger alert at the turn of the millennium.
  
  

• "U.S. Military Builds Alliances Across Europe", by Dana Priest, The Washington Post, 14 December 1998. Daniel Plesch is quoted as saying that military programs divert attention from economic and societal development in Central and Eastern European states.
  
  

• "Arms Control Group Calls for New NATO Policies to Reduce Nuclear Risk", by Keith J. Costa, Inside the Pentagon, 10 December 1998. This article summarizes and quotes BASIC's research report Nuclear Futures: Western European Options for Nuclear Risk Reduction.
  
  

• "NATO Nuclear Rift Widens", by Mark Matthews, Baltimore Sun, 9 December 1998. BASIC report Nuclear Futures: Western European Options for Nuclear Risk Reduction is quoted on this article detailing the German government's critique of NATO nuclear no-first use.
  
  

• "Fears mount over millennium bombs", by Kari Huus, MS-NBC Online, 6 December 1998. BASIC research report The Bug in the Bomb is used as the primary source document. Michael Kraig is quoted on measures that must be taken by US decision-makers should the Pentagon fail.

NOVEMBER 1998

• "Alle Raketen stillegen" [De-alert all rockets], by Peter Gruber, Focus, 23 November 1998. This article quotes Michael Kraig on the millennium bug and nuclear weapons.
  
  

• "Nuclear systems could crash in 2000", Government Computer News, 23 November 1998.
  
  

• "Group Warns Y2K Problems threaten Safety of Nuclear Arsenals", Inside the Pentagon, 19 November 1998. BASIC's research report The Bug in the Bomb is featured in this article, discussing steps should be taken immediately to prepare for the possibility of failure in the nuclear arsenals operated by nations with atomic weapons.
  
  

• "Kärnvapensystem hotar bryta samman år 2000" [Nuclear Weapon Systems Could Crash in the Year 2000], by Rolf Lunneborg, Metro, 13 November 1998. BASIC's research report The Bug in the Bomb is discussed in this article.
  
  

• "Millennium bug could wreak havoc with nuclear weapons: report", Agence France Press (AFP), 13 November 1998. This wire story quotes Michael Kraig at a National Press Club conference on the Department of Defense's lack of a coherent plan should defense systems fail at the year 2000.
  
  

• "U.S. reaches out to avert Y2K-induced nuclear war", by M. J. Zuckerman, USA Today, 13 November 1998. This article cites BASIC questioning the Pentagon's ability to secure its nuclear systems from Y2K distress.
  
  

• "China Pulls Out of UN Arms Register Over Taiwan", by Thalif Deen, Terraviva (Inter-Press Service Daily Journal), 13 November 1998. Christine Kucia is quoted.
  
  

• "Systemen kan bryta samman", by Jan Hederen, Ostgota Correspondenten, 12 November 1998. In this Swedish regional neswpaper, a front page article details the findings of BASIC research report The Bug in the Bomb and quotes author Michael Kraig.
  
  

• "Y2Kaboom?", by Declan McCullagh, Wired News (Online Journal), 12 November 1998. Michael Kraig is quoted on the combination of hair-trigger force postures and Y2K failures.
  
  

• "Millennium time bomb a real threat", Computing, 12 November 1998. BASIC report The Bug in the Bomb is cited as the most detailed research yet into the defence millennium problem.
  
  

• "Nuclear fears over 2000 bug", by Rupert Cornwell, The Independent, 12 November 1998. This article highlights the BASIC report The Bug in the Bomb describing severe and recurring problems in the Pentagon's Y2K readiness.
  
  

• "A Bug in the bomb", by John Eason, The Guardian, 12 November 1998. Thomas Neve and Michael Kraig are quoted on the dangers of system blackout or false images in NORAD's early warning radar network.
  
  

• "Proliferation Dealer", Time, 2 November 1998. Geraldine O'Callaghan is quoted as saying that most developing countries lack the infrastructure and budget to deal with OAS rules on transfers.
  
  

• "Small Arms, Many Hands", UNESCO Courier, November 1998. Geraldine O'Callaghan is quoted in this article.

SEPTEMBER 1998

• "Actor Douglas Urges Small Arms Control Drive", Reuters, 25 September 1998. Actor Michael Douglas speaks at a UN event co-sponsored by BASIC on limiting the proliferation of small arms.
  
  

• "Terrorists using WMD could face US nuclear attack", by Bryan Bender, Jane's Defence Weekly, 2 September 1998. Daniel Plesch is quoted on the publication by BASIC of a Joint Chiefs of Staff report outlining the US consideration of using weapons of mass destruction against non-state actors.

AUGUST 1998

• "US military doctrine allows use of nuclear weapons against terrorists", DPA [Germany], 27 August 1998. This article mentions BASIC's work in nuclear non-proliferation.
  
  

• "US threats terrorists with nukes", Stuttgarter Nachrichten, 25 August 1998. This article cites a BASIC/BITS press release revealing the 1996 Joint Chiefs of Staff publication entitled Doctrine for Joint Theater Nuclear Operations.
  
  

• "US doctrine allows use of nukes against terrorists", Kolner Stadt Anzeiger, 25 August 1998. BASIC/BITS' press release on US considerations to use nuclear weapons against non-state actors is cited in this article.
  
  

• "US ready to hit with nukes?", Hamburg Abend Blatt, 25 August 1998. This article cites a BASIC/BITS press release on the Joint Chiefs of Staff publication.
  
  

• "Was Bin Laden informed by the US?", Junge Welt, Rudiger Gobel, 25 August 1998. This article cites the BASIC/BITS press release on the Joint Chiefs of Staff publication.
  
  

• "US seems ready to use nuclear weapons to fight terror", German AP, 24 August 1998. Mentions the BASIC/BITS press release on the Joint Chiefs of Staff publication.
  
  

• Suddeutsche Zeitung, 24 August 1998. BASIC/BITS press release is cited in a story on new US policies for use of nuclear weapons against terrorists. Other German news sources quoted this article.
  
  

• "Anti-nuclear groups complain about US terrorist policy", MS-NBC Online/AP, 22 August 1998. Daniel Plesch is quoted on the negative aspects of US nuclear doctrine and the subsequent weakening of the global norm against proliferation.
  
  

• "Athens 'seeks political benefit from military clash with Ankara'", by Chris Morris, The Guardian, 14 August 1998. BASIC is quoted in this front page article criticizing the selling of advanced F-15s to both countries.

JULY 1998

• "US-China 'Strategic Partnership' Continues to Rankle India", by Geeta Toteja, Express India, 24 July 1998. Stephen Young is quoted on the need to build a more constructive relationship between the US, India and Pakistan.
  
  

• "The murky life of an international gun dealer", by Raymond Bonner, New York Times, 14 July 1998. This article quotes Geraldine O'Callaghan on the intricate web of the arms market and the legal looopholes involved.
  
  

• "The defence review: arms and the men", by Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian, 10 July 1998. In this analytical piece, BASIC's Nuclear Futures report calling for the adoption of nculear no-fist-use is cited.
  
  

• Bloomberg Business Newswire, 6 July 1998. Stephen Young is quoted on the possible cancellation of the Trident missile purchase by the UK as a result of the Strategic Defense Review.
  
  

• "Small Arms Large Problems", by Karen Charman, The Progressive, July 1998. Kate Joseph is quoted on the vast presence of small arms in present day violence and conflicts.

JUNE 1998

• "Trident warheads likely to be reduced", by Alexander Nicoll, Financial Times, 19 June 1998. Stephen Young is quoted on the reduction of nuclear warheads.
  
  

• "Pakistan freezes nuclear testing", by Ian Black, The Guardian, 12 June 1998. This article quotes Daniel Plesch's reaction to the G-8 meeting concerning Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests.
  
  

• "For U.S., Gun Sales Are Good Business", by Raymond Bonner, New York Times, 6 June 1998. BASIC is cited in its work to control the legal trade of small arms.
  
  

• "EU code on arms transfers agreed", by Pamela Pohling-Brown, Jane's Defence Weekly, 3 June 1998. Geraldine O'Callaghan is quoted on the nature of the EU Code of Conduct.
  
  

• "India plans no more tests - for now", by Ian Black and M. R. Narayan, The Guardian, 1 June 1998. This article quotes Stephen Young on the Indian attempt to reassure the world after its recent nuclear tests.

MAY 1998

• "That fearful symmetry", by Stephen Fidler and Mark Nicholson, Financial Times, 30-31 May 1998. Daniel Plesch is quoted on the US response to the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests.
  
  

• "Tiny Arab Emirates Building Air Force with US Planes", by Michael Towle, The Arizona Republic, 25 May 1998. Alistair Millar is quoted on weapon sales to UAE.
  
  

• "Sound strategy or political spoils? Analysts debate wisdom of US sale of F-16s to Emirates", The Fort Worth-Star Telegram, 15 May 1998. This article quotes Alistair Millar arguing that the sale of F-16s is driven by US arms industry marketing techniques which use the pretense of helping US allies against rogue states in the region.
  
  

• "Coalition pushes global crackdown on arms trafficking", Jane's Defence Weekly, 13 May 1998. BASIC's coalition with UNICEF and HRW and their attempt to influence the G8 summit on light weapons issues is discussed.
  
  

• "Illicit arms traffickers in top nations' sights", by Alexander Nicoll, Financial Times, 11 May 1998. BASIC's research report Combating Illicit Light Weapons Trafficking is quoted on the ease with which military arms fall into civilian hands.
  
  

• "Revealed: nuclear horror scenario", by Andrew Higgins and Arnold Kemp, The Observer, 10 May 1998. Daniel Plesch is quoted as saying that the British people have been deceived by successive governments about the risks faced from nuclear attack.

APRIL 1998

• United States Senate Floor, 30 April 1998. Senator Harkin (D-Iowa) quoted Stephen Young and BASIC, stating that NATO's continued dependence on nuclear weapons can result in non-nuclear weapon states acquiring nuclear weapons for protection.
  
  

• "Non-aligned Object to Nuclear Sharing Arrangements", by Gustavo Capdevila, Inter Press Service (IPS Tercer Mundo S.A.), 28 April 1998. This article includes comments by Daniel Plesch on NATO's nuclear sharing agreements and their inherent violation of the NPT.
  
  

• "US bans gun sales to UK", by Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian, 24 April 1998. Daniel Plesch and BASIC are cited as showing evidence of a rising tide of opposition to the trade in small arms.
  
  

• "US revoking licenses to export firearms to Britain", The New York Times, 23 April 1998. Geraldine O'Callaghan is quoted on the importance of a light weapons control regime.
  
  

• "Attacking Resale to 'Bad Guys,' U.S. Halts Firearms Exports to U.K.", by Raymond Bonner, International Herald Tribune, 23 April 1998. This article quotes Geraldine O'Callaghan on the political commitment required to support a light weapons control regime.
  
  

• "Europe Loophole is undermining U.S. on resale of guns", by Raymond Bonner, The New York Times, 19 April 1998. Geraldine O'Callaghan is quoted on the lack of transparency in the arms export licensing by the British Department of Trade and Industry, making it impossible to know the volume of arms sales.
  
  

• "Nuclear Policy Battle Looms as NATO Expansion Nears", by Lisa Burgess, Defense News, 30 March - 5 April 1998. Based on a BASIC press release, this article quotes Stephen Young on NATO-NPT discrepancies in nuclear sharing.
  
  

• "Curbing the EU arms traffic", by Michael Crowley, Amnesty, March/April 1998. Cites BASIC and partners campaign for a tough code of conduct on military, security and police arms transfers.

MARCH 1998

• FEED Magazine, 9 March 1998. This online magazine cites BASIC's website and its analysis of NATO and disarmament.
  
  

• "Study: Go Ballistic", by Brian Friel, GovExec.Com, 5 March 1998. This online service of the Government Executive Magazine quotes BASIC report and author Hans Kristensen, arguing that American efforts to create a global nuclear capability undermine the disarmament process.
  
  

• "Study urges U.S. nuclear threat", Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "Military: Act nuts about nukes", Philadelphia Daily News, 3 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "Be unpredictable in nuke policy, study urges", The Detroit News, 2 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "Irrationality suggested to intimidate US enemies", The Boston Globe, 2 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "Nuclear Persona: Irrationality Can Be a Good Deterrent, Says US Military", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "Sounds Crazy, but U.S. Should Act Like Saddam - Nuke Memo", New York Post, by Karen Foerstel, 2 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "US Image: A Mad Dog with Nukes", The Washington Times, 2 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "Report Advises Nuclear Bravado", Oakland Tribune, 2 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "Pentagon study: 'Irrational' nuclear policy a deterrent", CNN Interactive, 1 March 1998. Based on the 1 March Associated Press wire story.
  
  

• "U.S. nuclear threat should be vindictive, military study says", Associated Press, 1 March 1998. This wire report covers the release of BASIC's Nuclear Futures: Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and US Nuclear Strategy. The AP story highlights a document in BASIC's report by US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) which advocates an irrational and vindictive behavior towards rogue nations to ensure dterrence. The wire story cites BASIC's report condemining the STRATCOM document as an example of the Pentagon's push to maintain a mission for its nuclear arsenal long after the Soviet threat disappeared.
  
  

• "U.K., France Push Arms Pact", by Brooks Tigner, Defense News, 23 February to 1 March 1998. This article discusses the proposed EU export code legislation that imposes restrictions on member states selling military equipment to developing countries. It quotes Daniel Plesch on the plan's loophole which gives no time frame for prior notification of the sale.

FEBRUARY 1998

• "The smart solution", by Philip Stephens, The Financial Times, 20 February 1998. This article cites BASIC's opinion that the new EU Code of Conduct is riddled with loopholes and puts economics before ethics.
  
  

• "For sale (credit available for Iraqis)", by Richard Norton-Taylor and David Leigh, The Guardian, 17 February 1998. This article cites Gen. Rose, Gen. Sir Hugh Beach and Adm. Sir James Eberle warning on the need for a Code of Conduct with explicit and restrictive criteria governing arms exports.
  
  

• "EU arms code", Financial Times, 17 February 1998. Reports on the EU foreign ministers' meeting on arms Code of Conduct and the dissent of Oxfam, Amnesty International, BASIC and Saferworld.
  
  

• "Controlling the sale of arms", The Evening Standard, 17 February 1998. Mentions the joint statement made by BASIC and its partners in support of tougher arms controls.
  
  

• "General hits out at Labour", Financial Times, 16 February 1998. Cites Gen. Rose's letter to the Daily Telegraph.
  
  

• "Arming Friend or Foe", The Telegraph, 16 February 1998. This article outlines Gen. Rose, Oxfam, Amnesty, and BASIC's criticisms of the EU arms code of conduct.
  
  

• "Euro Arms Trade Code Full of Loopholes", by Tim Butcher, Daily Telegraph, 16 February 1998. Cites BASIC joint criticism of EU code of conduct for arms sales.
  
  

• "EU-Arms Trade Proposal 'Will Not Block Exports to Repressive Regimes", The Telegraph, 16 February 1998. Cites BASIC and its partners on the EU arms code disclosure.
  
  

• "UK defence exports 'out of control'", by Tim Butcher, Daily Telegraph, 16 February 1998. Cites Gen. Rose's letter to the Daily Telegraph.
  
  

• "General criticises defence exports", BBC News, 16 February 1998. This story extensively covers Gen. Rose's letter to the Daily Telegraph.
  
  

• "Aid agencies say Cook arms code is sham", by Michael Binyon, The Times (UK), 16 Feburary 1998. This article refers to the joint disclosure of the EU arms trade code.
  
  

• "Charities see flaws in ethical arms sale code", by Fran Abrams, The Independent, 13 February 1998. Discusses joint statement made by BASIC, Oxfam, Amnesty International and Saferworld about their dissatisfaction with the EU's new arms sales code, which was leaked to the press by these same groups. They argue that guidelines are not tough enough to guard against human rights abuses because exports to repressive Third World regimes are allowed.
  
  

• "Arms Trade Guidelines Slammed by Agencies", Yahoo Top Stories, 13 February 1998. Discloses joint protest to Britain's proposals for EU arms trade guidelines based on leaked document stated above.
  
  

• "EU plan to curb arms trade seen as 'inadequate'", by John Kampfner, Financial Times, 13 February 1998. This article mentions BASIC's joint statement on the leaked EU arms sales code.
  
  

• "EU arms-trade proposal will not block exports to repressive regimes", by Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian, 13 February 1998. This article mentions BASIC's joint statement on the leaked EU arms sales code.
  
  

• "Clinton Sends Congress Plan to Expand NATO", by Tyler Marshall, Los Angeles Times, 12 February 1998. This article quotes Alistair Millar proposing the Clinton administration consider delaying a review of the implications of an enlarged Alliance, given the current lack of a specific threat.

NOVEMBER 1998

OCTOBER 1998

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