[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
[November 4, 1996]
[Pages 2083-2084]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders on Prevention of Importation of Weapons 
of Mass Destruction
November 4, 1996

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    I am writing pursuant to section 229 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997, to inform the Congress that the 
United States has the capability to prevent the illegal importation of 
nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons into the United States and its 
possessions.
    The United States Government has developed and maintains myriad 
international and domestic programs to prevent the illegal importation 
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) into the United States. The scope 
and nature of our approach is essential because at least 20 countries 
have or may be developing nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. 
Moreover, terrorist groups have become increasingly capable, often 
employing lethal, wide-ranging and sophisticated operating methods and 
technical expertise. This trend is exacerbated by the spread of dual-use 
technologies, many of which have legitimate civilian or military 
applications.
    Our response to this multi-dimensional threat begins far from our 
borders. The Departments of Defense and Energy, for example, have 
developed programs that have succeeded in eliminating or more fully 
safeguarding tons of fissile materials in the former Soviet Union. These 
materials--essential to nuclear weapons production--could be targeted 
for acquisition by terror-


[[Page 2084]]

ist groups or pariah nations and used against the United States. We also 
are assisting Russia in the elimination of the chemical weapons 
stockpile it inherited from the Soviet Union, and an interagency group 
is working with Kazakstan in the conversion of a former chemical weapons 
production facility to civilian use.
    Diplomacy is another instrument for combating the potential illegal 
importation of WMD. At the 1996 Moscow Nuclear Summit, the United 
States, Russia, and our G-7 partners agreed on an international program 
to combat illicit trafficking in nuclear materials. To this end, the 
Intelligence Community has expanded its liaison relationships with 
foreign intelligence services, and similar relationships have been 
expanded among law enforcement organizations. In addition, the 
indefinite extension in 1995 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty strengthens 
our efforts to control the spread of nuclear weapons. The United States 
also is working with other members of the International Community to 
help deny terrorists and rogue states access to chemical and biological 
weapons by ratifying and bringing into force the Chemical Weapons 
Convention, and by concluding a legally binding protocol to strengthen 
the Biological Weapons Convention.
    Prevention of WMD importation also receives high priority for 
intelligence collection. This is particularly important because one of 
our first lines of defense is to discover the hidden plans and 
intentions of countries and groups of concern well before we have to 
confront their weapons or efforts to smuggle these weapons into the 
United States. Because of intelligence successes and cooperation with 
foreign governments, the United States has halted the international 
transfer of a large amount of equipment that could be used in WMD 
programs. The efforts of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies 
are supported by a Department of Defense initiative to develop special 
technologies--including BW/CW sensors to counter terrorist WMD threats.
    Within the United States, the FBI has been assigned the lead law 
enforcement role in responding to threats or acts of nuclear, chemical, 
and biological terrorism. The FBI's criminal jurisdiction is based in 
Federal statutes, including title 18 and title 42 of the United States 
Code, which address planned or attempted acts of nuclear, chemical, and 
biological terrorism. Moreover, in April 1996, title 18 was amended to 
prohibit transactions involving nuclear byproduct materials, providing 
additional statutory authority over radiological threats. While the 
probability of a major terrorist or criminal-related WMD incident 
occurring in the United States cannot be realistically quantified, to 
date all of the threats investigated by the FBI have been determined to 
be noncredible. Nonetheless, the FBI is aggressively pursuing 
countermeasures and readiness programs to respond to a threat to 
develop, use, or import WMD.
    As the Nation's primary border enforcement agency, the Customs 
Service has taken the lead in working with other United States 
Government agencies to prevent any attempts to illegally import WMD into 
the United States. During the past year, the Customs Service program has 
focused on preventing illegal trafficking in prohibited materials and 
components as well as their delivery means. The Customs Service also 
initiated a major research and development effort aimed at detecting any 
nuclear devices or materials being smuggled across this Nation's 
borders. Various detection means were tested and a pilot test was 
conducted at the JFK Airport in New York in 1996. The Customs Service 
also has played a leading role in developing a Border Enhancement 
Training course for 10 countries in parts of the former Soviet Union and 
Eastern Europe.
    In conclusion, the United States Government has devoted significant 
resources to developing the capability to detect and prevent efforts to 
illegally import nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons into the 
United States or its possessions. These efforts range from international 
cooperation to domestic law enforcement. I take this threat seriously, 
and my Administration will continue to strengthen our capability to 
prevent illegal importation of such weapons. In this regard, the funding 
provided in the National Defense Authorization Act will enhance our 
existing capabilities.
        Sincerely,

                                                      William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate. This 
letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on November 6.