Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
     Gantz said, “Everything possible must be done to preserve and expand the regional architecture – also vis-a-vis Iran, but not only. When you communicate with each other you have the ability to get to know each other, share abilities, and reach the level of joint exercises, intelligence sharing and more.” According to recent reports, Israel has sold the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at least two Israeli Barak air defense systems to defend against a range of aerial threats launched by Iran.
    Tactical Report covers events in the Gulf States and the Middle East. They presented satellite images of the batteries and an Elta EL/M-2048 radar deployed near the al-Dhafra airbase near Abu Dhabi. The batteries are the first of what could be a substantial contract for additional systems to protect sensitive sites that have been targeted by missiles and drones launched by Houthis rebels in Yemen.
     Israel and the UAE have collaborated covertly for years against Iran’s hegemony.  According to foreign report, they have improved their intelligence-sharing and military relations in order to be prepared for Iranian threats.
     Even prior to the normalization of ties with Gulf countries, Israel had begun talking about a regional air defense system to protect it from threats like Iranian drones and missiles. Once the ties were formalized with the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, Israeli officials started talking openly about a Middle East Air Defense system.
     According to Gantz, such a system is already operational and has successfully intercepted aerial threats. The alliance has reportedly brought together Israel and Arab states in the Middle East around a shared table in order to defend their countries from Iran and its proxies who have increased their attacks in recent years.
     After two and a half years as Defense Minister, Gantz is worried not only about the threat that Iran and terrorism by Palestinians pose to Israel but also the rise of extremism in the Jewish State.
      Gantz said, “We have an excellent army and a security system with amazing operational capabilities. When you call the IDF or the Ministry of Defense – they answer. But what really bothers me is not related to security, but the extremism in Israeli society. The extremism in society and in the government is what bothers me.” Gantz is expected to be replaced by Likud Member of the Knesset Yoav Gallant or Religious Zionism Chairman Bezalel Smotrich.
     Regardless of whoever takes that office after Gantz, they will be faced with six main strategic challenges, including strengthening internal security, governance, and unity. The incoming Defense Minister will also have to continue to develop national infrastructure in the Negeve and Galilee. In addition, they will also have to maintain Israel’s legitimacy in the international community and strengthen the relationship with the Diaspora.
     The foreign ministers of Israel, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco and UAE, along with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, talked at the Negev Summit last month. A regional security axis with US backing is a realistic option.

Transition begins for $3B nuclear waste contract at federal disposal site near Carlsbad currentargus.com

GeoReN to support Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning in radwaste management neimagazine.com

CPN Tribal member leads nuclear deterrence squadron news-star.com

India’s long-term development strategy sees nuclear expansion world-nuclear-news.org

Ambient office =91 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 119 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 119 nanosieverts per hour

Honey nut squash from Central Market = 100 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 87 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 75 nanosieverts per hour

Part 1 of 2 Parts
     Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in 2015. He correctly calculated that maintaining consensus support for Israel in America did not necessitate a willingness to downplay opposition to Iran. For the past decade, Israel and Iran have traded insults and threats. Iran is committed to the destruction of Israel and Israel has repeatedly said that they would never allow Iran to have nuclear weapons. Considering their attacks on Iraq’s attempt to develop nuclear weapons back in 1981, that threat must be taken seriously by Iran. If Iran were able to develop nuclear weapons and used them in an attack on Israel, Israel has the capability to annihilate Iran with its nuclear arsenal.
     Last Friday, Likud Member of the Knesset Tzachi Hanegbi said that incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would probably order an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities if the U.S. is unable to complete a nuclear deal. Israel certainly has the ability to take action in Iran. However Prime Minister Netanyahu must consider the issue “carefully” before giving such an order. According to outgoing Defense Minister Benny Gantz, “Israel has the ability to act in Iran. We have the readiness, development capabilities, and long-term plans we are managing. We need to prepare for this possibility, and we will also need to consider this issue very carefully before carrying it out.”
      These preparations are estimated to have cost over two billion dollars. Hanegbi said that Netanyahu “will act, in my assessment, to destroy the nuclear facilities in Iran. When there is no choice, someone needs to take command — it will be Netanyahu.” According to Gantz, the options to strike Iran “should be prepared and this issue should also be considered very carefully before implementation.”
     Gantz told the press that “the last time the IDF was at the highest level of readiness, I was the Chief of Staff and as it was published – it was decided then not to do so-by the same prime minister who is expected to take office.”
     Israel has been engaged in its “war-between-wars campaign” against Iran for almost a decade and was most recently accused of striking a fuel convoy near AlBukamal on the border between Syria and Iraq. According to Gantz, “we have had significant successes in the northern arena.” Gantz also said that the competition between Israel and Iran is on every level from technology, academia, space and the transfer of weapons to terror organizations. He added, “I predict that the Iranian hostility will receive a boost as a result of the relations with Russia and the ongoing struggle between the world powers. And this will have an impact on the entire region.”
     Israel signed normalization agreements with Gulf States as part of the Abraham Accords negotiated in 2020. Since then, the defense establishment has had over two hundred meetings with representatives from Arab countries who signed the accords and who face similar threats from Iran.
Please read Part 2 next

C.I.A. Director Warns Russian Counterpart Against Using Nuclear Weapons nytimes.com

Nuclear experts weigh in on possible risk of escalation in Ukraine miamiherald.com

China praises Russia’s opposition to nuclear war at G20 summit reuters.com

Biden says China must try to prevent a North Korea nuclear test reuters.com

Ambient office = 79 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 108 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 112 nanosieverts per hour

English cucumber from Central Market = 96 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 71 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 52 nanosieverts per hour

     Bob Goldstein is the CEO of U.S. Nuclear Corporation (USNC). USNC is “a radiation, chemical detection and specialty drone holding company specializing in the development, manufacturing and sales of radiation and chemical detection instrumentation”. He was recently interviewed.
     Goldstein started the interview by discussing the potential for a detonation of a nuclear weapon in Ukraine. He talked about the dangers this could represent in terms of radioactivity.
     The interviewer asked Goldstein: “First Putin talked about Nuclear Weapons, now he is talking about Dirty Bombs, is that an improvement? In fact, explosion of a dirty bomb is far less deadly than real nuclear bombs. Dirty bombs are just conventional explosives laced with radioactive particles that are used to spread contamination over a relatively small area, thus frightening local residents and requiring decontamination in the local area. Few if any deaths would result depending on the location and the amount of explosives involved.”
      Goldstein replied: “Far worse are tactical nuclear weapons which are a serious threat because they are quite lethal, they destroy the detonation area and also contaminate a wide area. Strategic nuclear bombs are the worst since they can take out even large cities all at once. And because retaliation from other nuclear nations could lead to a big war.”
     The interviewer then asked: “Could US Nuclear drones help guard against the deployment of nuclear weapons?”
      Goldstein responded: “If a tactical nuke flies over the border on a missile, then there is nothing we can do before it hits. But if a bomb comes in on a train or truck to be delivered to a particular site for detonation, or if it comes in as freight via commercial aircraft, then our drones can detect the radioactivity within the unexploded bomb and alert authorities who may be able to capture the bomb and prevent the enemy from detonating it.”
      The interviewer asked Goldstein: “How can US Nuclear detectors protect Ukrainians and Europeans against fall-out and radiation exposure?”
      Goldstein answered: “Detonation of a nuclear weapon in addition to the deaths of the nearby population, will also result in radiation contamination for Ukraine and Europe. The results will be severe and can include damage to lungs, liver and other internal organs as well as causing many types of cancer. However, US Nuclear has vehicle, personnel, and clothing monitors that can detect radioactivity at any level, thus allowing people to clean up contaminated items, to take off any contaminated clothing, and to stay away from contaminated areas.”
      Goldstein went on to say that “We also have food monitors.” He noted that this technology is necessary in detecting and reducing ingestion of the direct radioactive fall-out, as well as radiation that has entered the food chain in various ways including animals grazing on plants growing in radioactive soil.
      Goldstein elaborated on USNC’s sales and revenues moving forward in conflict in Ukraine continues to build. He said, “People in Ukraine, as well as in other European countries, are already buying and deploying more of our equipment to prepare for further attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear power plants or the event of a nuclear weapon deployment. This is a situation where we can be a big help to the world by helping individuals stay safe from radioactive contamination.”
     At the end of the interview, Goldstein discussed the dangers of radioactivity and the importance of special equipment and especially forensic drones in prevent injury by monitoring contamination. He said, “Drones are creating a real change in the world of detecting and measuring airborne radiation contamination, toxic chemicals and biological hazards. We are very proud to be leading this new wave. Also, US Nuclear is now acting as a drone dealership offering a wide range of drones and cameras to police, fire, government and many industries. Drones are now big business and will continue to grow as an important industry for a long time. We are very excited to be a part of that.”

Germany Backs Security Zone Around Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant usnews.com

The Idaho National Laboratory’s Nuclear Legacy crapo.senate.gov

U.S. nuclear plants expect government decision on credits by year-end finance.yahoo.com

IAEA experts assess damage to Kharkiv nuclear research facility world-nuclear-news.org

Ambient office =92 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 97 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 96 nanosieverts per hour

Avocado from Central Market = 78 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 68 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 58 nanosieverts per hour

     The French Council of Ministers has just approved a draft of legislation intended to streamline the administrative and bureaucratic processes required to construct new nuclear power plants near, or within, existing sites.
     According to the official report of the cabinet meeting, the goal of the bill is to respond to the “urgency of a climate crisis which threatens our ecosystems, our societies, the future of the young generations and, on the other hand, of a crisis of sovereignty and security of energy supply in 2022 following the Ukrainian conflict”. The provision of new nuclear power is referred to as “imperative” to fight climate change and foster energy independence.
     The draft bill “aims to lay down a framework for accelerating administrative procedures related to to the realization of future projects for the construction of new nuclear power reactors in France, and thus to shorten the deadlines for carrying out these projects, when they are located in the immediate vicinity or within the perimeter of existing nuclear sites”.
     The text of the bill also adds that it is not pre-empting the place of nuclear energy in the country’s future energy mix. A consultation on that subjects was launched just two weeks ago. The bill also does not change the existing environmental or nuclear safety authorization requirements. However, it aims to “bring local planning documents into line more quickly” and will permit some processes to happen in parallel. The bill also suggests measures to ensure that the necessary land can be taken possession of for “reactor projects recognized as being of public utility”.
     The bill cites the plan to build the two EPR2s in Penly in northern French as it notes “this bill allows the construction of new nuclear reactors by the sea, provided that they are built in the immediate vicinity or inside the perimeter of an existing nuclear power reactor”.
     The draft law will be submitted to the National Assembly at the end of this year. When questioned about how much time could be saved for new nuclear projects as a result of the draft law, government spokesperson Olivier Veran said that one must think “in terms of years”.
     Nuclear power accounts for almost seventy five percent of France’s electricity generation. However, former French President Francois Hollande’s government announced in 2014 that nuclear capacity would be capped at the current level of sixty-three gigawatts. It would be limited to fifty percent of France’s total power output by 2025. The French Energy Transition for Green Growth Law was adopted in August of 2015. It did not call for the shutdown of any currently operating nuclear power reactors. However older reactors would have to be closed in order to bring any new reactors online. However, under a draft energy and climate bill presented in May of 2019, France will now delay its planned reduction in the share of nuclear power in its mix of energy sources to fifty percent from the current target of 2025 to 2035.
     Last February, French President Emmanuel Macro announced that the time was right for a nuclear renaissance in France. He said that the operation of all reactors should be extended without compromising safety and unveiling a proposed program for six new EPR2 reactors. There is an option included for a further eight EPR2 reactors.