www.abc.net.au/news

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Bush signs bill allowing study of new generation of nukes
US President George W Bush has put his stamp of approval on a bill
allocating millions of dollars for research into new types of nuclear
weapons and for bolstering readiness at the Nevada nuclear test site.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Mr Bush had signed into law
the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2004 that
contains funds for the US Department of Energy and its nuclear
programs.

The measure includes $US7.5 million to study the possibility of
developing so-called "bunker-busting" nuclear bombs officials say
would enhance America's ability to destroy underground command and
control centres and hidden arms depots.

An additional $US6 million have been earmarked to study low-yield
nuclear weapons that some experts believe could be useful in
high-precision strikes.

Experts say a five-kilotonne or smaller nuclear explosive detonated,
for example, right on a missile silo door will vaporise both the door
and the missile inside.

The measures also contains $US24.9 million to heighten readiness at
the Nevada test site to enable it to conduct a nuclear test 24-months
after the White House decides to do so.

The Bush administration had been insisting on an 18-month readiness
window, down from the current 36 months.

But US Congress chose to tamp down the request in the face of vocal
opposition from disarmament experts, who have interpreted it as a sign
of the Bush administration's weakening determination to maintain a
moratorium on nuclear tests.

Overall, Congress allocated $US6.3 billion for nuclear weapon
activities in fiscal 2004 -- $US303 million more than last year, but
$US94 million below Mr Bush's request.