Nevada congressmen wary of arms race

Mark D. Preston

Thursday, May 14, 1998 | 9:45 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Members of Nevada's congressional delegation Wednesday joined a chorus of world leaders condemning India for starting what might be the beginning of a 21st century nuclear arms race.

Earlier this week, India conducted five underground blasts 330 miles southwest of New Delhi to test its nuclear capabilities. The South Asian country, which did not inform any nation prior to the tests, had previously conducted only one nuclear blast 24 years ago in 1974.

"I think it is an alarming development that could prove to be destabilizing in the subcontinent," Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., said. "India has acted very irresponsibly. To have won the Cold War only to see new proliferation of new weapons is very frightening."

Bryan, a member of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, is expected attend a closed-door committee meeting today with U.S. intelligence officials to learn why they did not know about the nuclear tests until after the blasts.

"We are going to ask the intelligence agency how it occurred, and how we got caught flat-footed," Bryan said.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., a member of the House National Security Committee, said he found the tests to be "very, very disturbing," because India has not expressed why it conducted them.

"We do not know India's intent for the use of this," Gibbons said, "because they are new weapons in its arsenal."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he was "extremely disappointed" in India's decision to conduct the nuclear tests and hopes India "stands by its statement today (Wednesday) to agree to end further testing."

Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., went one step further, saying the United States must trump its own nuclear weapon capabilities to persuade other countries to stay out of a potential arms race.

"Deter through strength," Ensign, who is leaving the House this year to challenge Reid for his Senate seat, said. "We carry a big stick so that we don't have to use it.

"Let's make sure the international community knows that our nuclear weapons are reliable."

Gibbons said he was surprised by the frequency of the tests and is worried that it is only the beginning.

"I think what surprised (me) is that they would detonate five mechanisms in such a short period of time," Gibbons said. "It shows me that (India's nuclear weapons program) is nearly complete. It is not in a test phase, it is in a confidence phase."

Reid said he is concerned that neighboring Pakistan, an archenemy of India, might begin testing of nuclear weapons.

"My concern is that Pakistan cool its jets," Reid said, adding that he has talked to many Senate colleagues who have expressed similar concerns. "We hope they do not have to flex their muscles."