Email from the Federation of American Scientists

Yesterday, President Barack Obama said, "so long as nuclear weapons exist, we are not truly safe." Since 1945, FAS has been working to prevent and reduce nuclear dangers, providing technical analysis to educate the public, policymakers and the media. With current threats such as the potential use of chemical and conventional weapons in Syria and the growth of nuclear-capable programs in unstable regions such as Iran and North Korea, our work is as relevant today as it was sixty-eight years ago. There are only 10 days left until the end of our fiscal year. I ask that you consider making a tax-deductible donation to FAS by June 30th to help us continue our critical work in the remaining months of 2013. In the past month, FAS experts have: Published a chapter on worldwide nuclear forces in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) 2013 yearbook on stockpile estimates of the nine countries who possess nuclear arsenals. As a result of the estimate (provided by Hans Kristensen) of China’s stockpile numbers—in which China has added 10 nuclear warheads- the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded on June 4, stating that countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should primarily be responsible for nuclear disarmament. Provided commentary and analysis to the media and public on the recent disclosures of U.S government surveillance of AP reporters phone records and gathering of phone records of Verizon customers, and the case of Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked classified information about U.S. government surveillance information. Examined the growing use of ricin as a toxin in the wake of three ricin related incidents in 2013, (including the June 7th arrest of actress Shannon Richardson for allegedly sending ricin-tainted letters to president Obama and Mayor Michael Bloomberg), and how its popularity in pop culture leads many to continue to use it as an agent of harm, despite only causing a handful of deaths. Analyzed the public disclosure by two former Dutch prime ministers that nuclear weapons are stored at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands. This is not news that the United States stores nuclear weapons at Volkel, but it is news that two former prime ministers are confirming it. This development is critical as it challenges NATO’s long-standing, outdated, and counterproductive policy of keeping nuclear weapons locations secret. But, we cannot do this without you. With every donation to FAS, you help us make a difference in sorting through the details to provide nonpartisan, technical analysis on critical threats to national security. Can we count on your support to help us continue our work in fiscal year 2014? Thank you for your continued support of FAS; we greatly appreciate it. Best regards, Charles D. Ferguson President