tritium production

[VANDERMEYT@detroitedison.com]

Just a thought regarding our relexive disdain for any potential protesters 
against the production of tritium for nuclear weapons.  I've no doubt that
we 
need to keep our warheads in top shape, so any such protesters would
obviously 
be misguided, shortsighted, and ignorant. 
 
But I'm wondering whether any of us tend to extend this attitude to any type 
of activism or concern about other nuclear weapons issues.  Certainly there 
are things to worry about here.  For example, as noted in articles in the 
March 15 and 16 Washington Post, the U.S. and Russia still maintain a
"launch 
on warning" posture despite the end of the Cold War and despite President 
Clinton's assurances that Russia's ICBMs are no longer targeted at us (they 
can be retargeted in seconds).  Last year a Russian defense minister charged 
that the nuclear command and control system was, in effect, out of control.  
Also, since the end of the Cold War it is suspected that a lot of weapons 
grade material etc. may been smuggled out of Russia and sold to whomever
could 
pay the price. 
 
Allright I know this isn't about Radiation Protection (or is it?) and maybe
I 
shouldn't be bringing it up in this forum.  But I'm just curious to know if 
any other radsafers think about this stuff while they're going about their 
daily business of saving a millirem here and there. 
 
Tom VanderMey, CHP  
vandermeyt@detroitedison.com