MARCH 20, 2002

WASHINGTON: Indian and Chinese satellite technology has eroded America's decades old advantage in the field, CIA Director George Tenet has said.

"The unique space-borne advantage that the US has enjoyed over decades is eroding as more countries, including China and India, field increasingly sophisticated reconnaissance satellites," Tenet told the Senate Armed Services Commitee on Wednesday.

Tenet also said that Russia has emerged as a major supplier of advanced technology and training to countries seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

"We face several unique challenges in trying to detect WMD acquisition by proliferant states and non-state actors. Their use of denial and deception tactics and their access to a tremendous amount of information in open sources about WMD production, complicate our efforts," he said.

"Russia appears to be the first choice of proliferant states seeking the most advanced technology and training," Tenet said in a wide-ranging testimony on threats facing the US.

Russian entities are providing other countries with technology and expertise on missiles as well as chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, he said.

"The sales are a major source of funds for Russian commercial and defence industries and military research and development," he said.

Quelle


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