Explaining the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN)

Explaining the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN)

In the National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction, there are three pillars that are given in the government’s plan. The first is counterproliferation to combat WMD use,’ which is the ability of the military and civilian agencies to be prepared in the case of WMD deployment by hostile adversaries and the capabilities through doctrine, training, and equipment to defeat those adversaries. The second is strengthened nonproliferation to combat WMD proliferation.’ This is the basic schematic on nonproliferation, where the United States , her allies, and the international community join through diplomatic and economic means to dissuade states and terrorists from acquiring WMD and missile technology and equipment. The third is consequence management to respond to WMD use,’ which is the United States’ ability to react to a possible attack on American soil and reduce many of the dire consequences that an attack might bring.1

In supporting these pillars, the United States funds many different departments, such as the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Currently, The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation is the leading agency in the United States Government in stopping the spread of WMD, which are more specifically described as weapons of nuclear, biological, radiological, or chemical in nature and their systems of delivery, for example, missiles or bombs. The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) is the result of a merger that happened in 2005, bringing together the Bureau of Arms Control and the Bureau of Nonproliferation.

The ISN is part of the Department of State, and includes twelve offices (explained in detail later) that all work together for five major ways. These five actions are the authority that the ISN has, and the goal of the ISN is to integrate the three pillars of the strategy for safety. The first way to do this is the effort in establishing, through diplomacy, international consensus on proliferation. The second is dealing with WMD threats by terrorists and non-state bodies by improving security, sanctions, and interdiction. The third is the implementation of relevant international treaties and through each agreement’s governing body, making each applicable to modern day security situations. The fourth is working with international institutions and nongovernmental organizations to minimize WMD threats. The fifth and final is the supporting of allies through technical skills, economic aid, and physical presence in preventing and/or responding to the use of WMD by terrorists.2

The authority in which the ISN operates is the result of many treaties and agreements that the United States has had with other countries in the past with the Bureau’s predecessors, the Bureau of Arms Control and Bureau of Nonproliferation. As a way to better handle arms and nonproliferation treaties, the State Department has brought them together, to work within the current tides of domestic and international politics in regards to the WMD and terrorist threat. Some of the major treaties include the Vienna Document of 1994, which sets guidance in sharing operational security and movement measures of signing nations,3 the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I and II),4 the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties (START I & II)5, the Moscow Treaty,6 along with 5 other agreements that the United States has had with Russia in curbing the amount of nuclear warheads and delivery systems.7 The ISN is responsible for the implantation of the US-IAEA Safeguards Agreement, which does not discriminate between nuclear and non-nuclear states in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.8 The ISN was the one who developed the Proliferation Ship Boarding Agreements with 6 different nations to allow the boarding of maritime vessels by competent agencies of each nation to ensure that WMD were not being transported.9 These are just a few of the over fifty treaties and agreements that the ISN has had a part in establishing for the United States and the international community in regards to arms control and nonproliferation.10

The ISN is the part of the state department that works through the international community to ensure the safety of the United States and the world in helping to establish international laws that provide safety for the international community.

Inside the ISN, there are twelve offices, each working towards a specific aspect towards the ultimate goal of security through nonproliferation and arms control. In explaining the purpose of each office, the expertise of the directors and personnel will be understood as well. The ISN is led by Stephen G. Rademaker, who is the Acting Assistant Secretary, and has been since September 13, 2005, when the merger of the Bureau of Arms Control and the Bureau of Nonproliferation took place.11 Before that, he was the Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and head of the Bureau of Nonproliferation. He has held positions on the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives, General Council of the Peace Corps, and Deputy Legal Advisor to the National Security Council, along with other jobs from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government.12 With his current job, he serves under Robert Joseph, the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, who works for the Secretary of State in President Bush’s cabinet, Condoleezza Rice.13

The twelve offices are divided into three branches (1) Counterproliferation, overseen by Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Francis C. Record, (2) Threat Reductions, Export Controls and Negotiations, overseen by Ambassador Donald A. Mahley, and (3) Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Negotiations, overseen by Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Andrew Semmel.14

The Counterproliferation branch (ICN/C) includes the Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives, the Office of Regional Affairs, the Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism, and the Office of Strategic Planning and Outreach.

From their mission statement, the Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives (ISN/CPI) has the job of "developing, implementing, and improving counterproliferation efforts to interdict or deny shipments of WMD and their means of delivery."15 To do this, they work the National Counterproliferation Center , and the CIA’s Suppliers and Interdiction Group. They also chair the Nuclear Interdiction Action Group and work with the ISN Front Office to provide coordination in sanction and interdiction policies. They write policies in the war against the trade of nuclear smuggling and the security of nuclear facilities worldwide. They are also ready to work with any other department, bureau, or office to work on the means to the end of counterproliferation. Officers are in charge of writing policies and strategies to provide to the legislature, the White House, other federal agencies and other national and international actors in the field.16 Their current acting director is Tony Foley. 16

The Office of Regional Affairs (ISN/RA), with Bob Gromoll as Acting Director, are experts in specific regional WMD issues of the day, such as Iran , North Korea , and Syria . This office also helps to develop dialogues with states of concern that aren’t specifically given to any other office. Officers from the ISN/RA are to take the lead in coordinating WMD proliferation issues in the Middle East (from North Africa to Western Asia), Asian-Pacific region (specifically North Korea and China), South Asia (India and Pakistan), Western Hemisphere and Africa (All of the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa). These officers are also responsible in coordinating dialogues with NATO and non-NATO, former Soviet states (including Russia).17

The Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (ISN/WMDT), headed by Acting Director Thomas Lehrman, develops "policy and plans, direct initiatives, and coordinate(s) partner capacity building activities to prevent, protect against, and respond to the threat or use of WMD by terrorists."18 This Office ensures that programs and policies are appropriate and feasible in countering WMD terrorism, and continually assesses the U.S. Government’s abilities in other agencies and offices to combat WMD terrorism. Officers help bring together the U.S. Government, foreign governments, and private sector businesses in partner capacity building exercises, and analyzes foreign governments abilities to combat WMD terrorism, and aiding them with the appropriate personnel and resources to improve if necessary.19

The last office under the Counterproliferation branch is the Office of Strategic Planning and Outreach (ISN/SPO). This is a more speculative office, as they analyze current trends in security policies and emerging issues and conditions in the world of international security. Their biggest priority is to evaluate current policies, postulate future issues and developments in the world, and facilitate relationships within the government that serve the U.S. Government’s interests in the regard of future security. They are "responsible for coordinating all congressional, public diplomacy, and public affairs activities for the ISN bureau."20 This includes the appropriate congressional personnel, NGO’s, and the private sector.

The second branch of the ISN is Threat Reductions, Export Controls and Negotiations (ISN/RECN). The four offices in this group are the Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction, Office of Missile Threat Reduction, Office of Conventional Arms Threat Reduction, and the Office of Export Controls Cooperation.

The Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction (ISN/CB) is headed by Director Bob Mikulak. It was formed by merging the Bureau of Arms Control Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions Office and the Bureau of Nonproliferation Chemical, Biological, and Missile Nonproliferation Office. This office’s main goal is obvious in the title. They are to develop and implant Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Strategies. However, their main goal is not only to help scale down the amount of chemical and biological threats throughout the world, but also to dissuade states and non-state groups from "pursuing, using and/or proliferating these weapons and related equipment and technologies."21 It is this office’s responsibility to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention and Chemical Weapons Convention. To this end, they must implement and develop export control policies from these Conventions for the international community.22

Vann Van Diepen is the Director of the Office of Missile Threat Reduction (ISN/MTR), whose main goal it is to protect the U.S. and her allies from the possibility of the deployment of missiles with WMD warheads. It leads U.S. involvement in the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, and chairs the Missile Trade Analysis Group. They write policies and help set agendas in the trade and reduction of missile.23

Director Chris Kessler leads the Office of Conventional Arms Threat Reduction (ISN/ATR). The main purpose of this office is to deal with all matters within the ISN regarding conventional weapons. This includes formulating and implementing policies that give transparency to conventional weapons trades with the United States and other entities. They are to ensure sensitive items and technologies are controlled properly, strengthen multilateral conventional weapons policies, and try to make them even broader in spectrum. They will coordinate and support all conventional weapons negotiations. They work closely with the Department of Defense, Commerce Department, and notify and recommend actions when a deal is made that could trigger U.S. legal sanctions between foreign states.24

The mission statement for the last Threat Reductions, Export Controls and Negotiations branch of the ISN says that the Office of Export Controls Cooperation (ISN/ECC) must "formulate, coordinate, and strengthen U.S. nonproliferation export control assistance, including promotion of bilateral and multilateral coordination of assistance."25 They do this by chairing the Export Control Assistance Interagency Working Group, managing the Export Control and Related Border Security Program, and monitoring member nations export controls to ensure there is no proliferation of WMD.26

The third and final branch of the ISN is Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Negotiations (ISN/NNPN), led by Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Andrew Semmel. The four offices include the Office of Multilateral Nuclear and Security Affairs, the Office of Nuclear Energy, Safety, and Security, the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction, and the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund.

The first office in the ISN/NNPN is the Office of Multilateral Nuclear and Security Affairs, with Bob Luaces as Acting Director. They deal with many senior policy makers, including the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security and the Special Representative of the President for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. They are the main office in the Department of State on many issues, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), American standards and cooperation programs with the IAEA, fissile material cutoff, nuclear testing, outer-space arms control agreements, G8 and EU nonproliferation and disarmament exchanges, and nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties. They hold substantial expertise in these fields, especially in being the ones that have initiated many of the most important arms and nonproliferation dialogues and treaties. They coordinate US policies per International agreements in nuclear research and testing, and work closely with the Departments of Commerce, Defence, and Energy, along with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and all intelligence agencies.27

The Office of Nuclear Energy, Safety, and Security (ISN/NESS) has the main goal of keeping nuclear facilities and materials safe and secure, and in furtherance of the U.S. interests, works with the IAEA, Nuclear Suppliers Group, and other nations to ensure that nuclear energy does not result in nuclear proliferation around the globe. This office also works multilaterally for securing radioactive resources all over the world, and helps set policy on the safe use of nuclear energy and disposal of nuclear waste. This office is headed by Director Dick Stratford.28

Director Andrew Goodman is the head of the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR), the office that gives U.S. Government assistance to states with smuggling problems to help prevent WMD smuggling, initiate global partnerships to do the same, and works with Russia and former Soviet states in the goals of nonproliferation. They work to prevent former Russian scientists to going to the highest bidder’ and help create programs for these scientists with expertise in nuclear, biological, radiological, and chemical weapons to stay in former Soviet states. They also develop American initiatives to improve detection, prosecution, and prevention of smuggling of fissile material.29

The last office in the ISN is the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/NDF). The main purpose of this office is to "supplement U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote bilateral and multilateral nonproliferation and disarmament activities through the development, execution, and implementation worldwide of carefully selected projects."30 These projects are carefully selected in the fields of halting the possible proliferation of WMD, destroying WMD, and limiting the spread of conventional armaments. This office is headed by Director Steve Saboe.31

When it comes to financing the ISN, the itemized section of the 2007 proposed budget for the State Department estimates that $406 million will be spent in 2006 and $449 will be spent in 2007 for non-proliferation, anti-terrorism, and de-mining programs, compared to an actual of $384 million for 2005.32 Since this is a newly developed bureau brought about by two former separate bureaus, and many of the offices are combinations of other offices it is difficult to distinguish the exact amounts that each office is wanting to obtain of this roughly half billion dollar piece of pie.

One of the biggest issues facing the ISN is the result of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the intelligence issues and fundamental capabilities of the two predecessor Bureaus in nonproliferation and illegal weapons trade activities, and the end result of no WMD being found in Iraq . However, there are currently two states, Iran and North Korea , which face a large threat to the diplomacy models that the ISN actively develops and integrates into the State Department’s foreign affairs. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Andrew K. Semmel said in a speech on March 7, 2006, that "the international community has explored every diplomatic effort to persuade Iran to comply with its international treaty obligations. Iran ’s continued failure to comply will necessitate a long, hard look at the nonproliferation regime and what needs to be done to strengthen it. The stakes involved are extremely high."33

The big part of this modern issue that makes the stakes extremely high is the ability of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime to maintain its standards. It has had a bit of success with North Korea and Libya recently,34 but a big problem could occur if Iran does not do what the international community is asking it to, especially with regards to the influence that the ISN has on international committees. Since it appears that further research is being done on the part of Libya that looks like it could be for weapons35, it makes international agreements and international law seem illegitimate if there is no way to enforce the agreements that the ISN along with other governmental agencies and international organizations have come up with.

The three pillars that the National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction lists are worked on by the ISN, and in their ability to work effectively with the international community and other government agencies. They are far encompassing, working with the EPA to the Treasury Department to the IAEA. Even though the ISN is a new Bureau, its beginnings creep back to the cold war, and the treaties that helped stop the nuclear warhead race. With its newly revamped body, the ISN is still an important aspect of the Department of State, since WMD are a major concern in Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Homeland Security.

Endnotes

1. National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction, US Department of State,Washington, D.C. December 2002, pg 2.

2. "Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed

by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

3. Vienna Document 1994 of the Negotiations of Confidence-and Security Building Measures. November 20, 1996. US Bureau of

Arms Control.

4. Kennedy, Richard. Nonproliferation as a Fundamental Goal. US Department of State, Washington , D.C. 1987

5. Kennedy, Richard. Nonproliferation as a Fundamental Goal. US Department of State, Washington , D.C. 1987

6. Treaty Between the United States of America and the Russian Federation On Strategic Offensive Reductions. Bureau of Arms

Control. May 24, 2002.

7. "Treaties and Agreements (ISN)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/trty/. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed

by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

8. Kennedy, Richard. Nonproliferation as a Fundamental Goal. US Department of State, Washington , D.C. 1987

9. Proliferation Security Initiative Ship Boarding Agreement with Belize . Bureau of Nonproliferation, Washington , D.C. August 4,

2005

10. "Treaties and Agreements (ISN)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/trty/. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed

by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

11. "Rademaker, Stephen G (ISN)." http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/12813.htm. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed by the Office

of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

12. "Rademaker, Stephen G (ISN)." http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/12813.htm. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed by the Office

of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

13. "Joseph, Robert (ISN)." http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/47252.htm. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed by the Office of

Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

14. Bureau Organization Chart. http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/35031.pdf. Accessed 7 April, 2006.

15. "Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives (ISN/CPI)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58371.htm Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site

managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

16. "Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives (ISN/CPI)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58371.htm Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site

managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

17. "Office of Regional Affairs (ISN/RA)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58372.htmAccessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed by the Office

of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

18. "Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (ISN/WMDT)" http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58374.htm Accessed 7 April, 2006.

Site managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

19. "Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (ISN/WMDT)" http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58374.htm Accessed 7 April, 2006.

Site managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

20. "Office of Strategic Planning and Outreach (ISN/SPO)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58375.htm. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site

managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

21. "Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction (ISN/CB)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/16189.htm. Accessed 7

April, 2006. Site managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

22. "Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction (ISN/CB)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/16189.htm. Accessed 7

April, 2006. Site managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

23. "Office of Missile Threat Reduction (ISN/MTR)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58386.htm. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed

by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

24. "Office of Conventional Arms Threat Reduction (ISN/CATR)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/16188.htm Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site

managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

25. "Office of Export Controls Cooperation (ISN/ECC)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58369.htm. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed

by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

26. "Office of Export Controls Cooperation (ISN/ECC)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58369.htm. Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site managed

by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

27. "Office of Multilateral Nuclear and Security Affairs (ISN/MNSA)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58376.htm Accessed 7 April,

2006. Site managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

28. "Office of Nuclear Energy, Safety, and Security (ISN/NESS)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58378.htm Accessed 7 April,

2006. Site managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

29. "Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58381.htm Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site

managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

30. "Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/DNF)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58382.htm Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site

managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

31. "Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/DNF)." http://www.state.gov/t/isn/58382.htm Accessed 7 April, 2006. Site

managed by the Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs.

32. Budget: Budget of The United States Government, Fiscal Year 2007. United States Government, Washington , D.C. Page 213

33. Semmel, Andrew K. Nuclear Proliferation: Today’s Challenges and the U.S. Response. Speech to the Monterey Institute

Washington , D.C. , March 7, 2006.

34. Semmel, Andrew K. Nuclear Proliferation: Today’s Challenges and the U.S. Response. Speech to the Monterey Institute

Washington , D.C. , March 7, 2006.