Iran Nuclear Deal: Letter to Rep Dan Newhouse, R-WA4

Vienna International Center, Home of the IAEA 

July 30, 2015


The Honorable Dan Newhouse
United States House of Representatives

 Dear Congressman Newhouse;

I read with interest your statement on the Iran Nuclear Deal. I realize you have not yet made a commitment, for or against. I’m writing to urge you to support the accord. I’ve read the full text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, 14 July 2015, and I believe it is the best we can do, if we want to avoid military confrontation downstream. And that is, in my view, the alternative.

The nuclear accord depends on stockpile reduction, reduction of centrifuge quantities, and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA will employ the ‘Additional Protocol,’ developed under Program 93+2, for its inspections of Iran’s nuclear compliance.

I worked on Program 93+2 during my on-site assignment to the IAEA in Vienna from 1990-1992, under a ‘Cost-Free Expert’ loan to the IAEA sponsored by the U.S. State Department. I worked on other facets of the IAEA’s ‘Safeguards’ regime from 1993-1997, as a senior staff scientist in National Security at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (I retired from PNNL in 2006). The IAEA Safeguards inspectors and analysts with whom I worked were highly intelligent and had an in-depth practical knowledge of the nuclear fuel cycle, peaceful and otherwise. They are extremely conscientious; they know the importance of their work.

PNNL has for many years provided nuclear nonproliferation technical assistance to the IAEA under the Department of Energy’s ‘Work for Others’ program. They are currently the DOE steward for combating illicit nuclear trafficking. I’m sure they would be glad to discuss with you the work they’ve done and the tools and techniques that might be brought to bear on the monitoring of Iranian compliance with the nuclear deal.

Sincerely,

/s/

Richard V. Badalamente, PhD
3302 W 42nd Pl
Kennewick, WA 99337

Good Letter by a Friend to Senator Patty Murray, WA-D

Dear Senator Murray,

I agree with you, preventing tragedies like the one in Newtown will take more than common-sense gun policies and enforcement. It will take action, and that action MUST start with you and your fellow Senators and Representatives.

There is absolutely NO reason for anyone in this country to own a semi automatic or automatic weapon. They have but one purpose – the destruction of as much life as possible in the shortest amount of time. The Military needs those weapons. No one else. Period.

Yes, they are fun to shoot, and those who want to fire them should be allowed to go to the nearest Armory where they are stored, pay an appropriate fee, and be allowed to fire them within the confines of the Armory rules and regulations. The weapons should not be allowed out of the Armory for any reason, unless ordered so, and in military hands.

It will not be easy for the laws to be written, and enforced, and it will take time, but we can do it. We have done it. We need to do it again! Writing and enforcing laws restricting the buying/selling of semi and automatic weapons, as well as the large capacity ammunition magazines in no way infringes on anyone's Second Amendment Rights.

I implore you --do the right thing and get on the bandwagon to get these tragedies stopped. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Take that step, and take it now. Please.

My letter to my state representative and senators.

Congressman/Senator _____________;

Twenty children shot to death in a Connecticut elementary school, along with the six adults who tried to defend them. How can we not react to yet another tragedy involving guns with both terrible sadness, and visceral revulsion.

America's record of gun violence is not just deplorable, it's unforgivable. And it's avoidable.

Please don't wait until one single more child, one single more adult, is shot to death to make meaningful changes to US gun laws. Ban assault rifles, close gun show loopholes, improve background checks, prohibit guns from sensitive venues, such as college campuses, parks, sports arenas, bars.

Start here, and then take on the other factors that contribute to gun violence, such as access to mental health care.

If you fail to act, and more innocent lives are lost to gun violence, write to the people whose loved ones were killed and start your letter with, "I chose to do nothing about gun violence because..."

Sincerely,

Richard Badalamente

My Representative is Doc Hastings, (R-WA4)

My Washington State senators are: Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell