To: president@whitehouse.gov (Bill Clinton)
From: Matthew Belmonte <mkb4@Cornell.edu>
Subject: Nevada Test Site monitoring

The CIA this past August ended up with its foot in its mouth after accusing
Russia of conducting a nuclear weapons test detonation based on data that in
actuality arose from an earthquake in the Kara Sea.  Part of the United States'
initial mistrust of Russia's claim to innocence was based on the presence of
equipment for a non-explosive experiment at the Novaya Zemlya test site.
Today's Washington Post quotes a White House official as stating that "this
makes the case for the Comprehensive Test Ban."  I agree.

However, criticising Moscow for failing to allow international inspectors at
its test site is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.  The U.S.
Department of Energy this past summer conducted similar, non-explosive tests in
Nevada, and calls for international inspections to allay suspicions were deemed
unwarranted by your administration.

I wish that you would consider unilaterally giving permission for international
inspections of the type that would be mandated by the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty.  It would be a loss for all of us if this poisoning of the environment
and promotion of the arms race were to resume because of an arms test
misunderstanding.  Someone has to take the first step.