Comments (5) | Add a comment
Reid appoints longtime nuclear veteran to intelligence panel
-
John Gurzinski/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Nuclear-testing veteran Troy Wade rests his arm on a training model of the retired, B-53 nuclear bunker-buster bomb during installment Jan. 13 of a new exhibit at the Atomic Testing Museum to mark the 60th anniversary of the first atomic weapons test in Nevada. Wade has been appointed by Sen. Harry Reid to a national intelligence board. » Buy this photo
Tools
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has appointed nuclear testing veteran and former Energy Department defense chief Troy Wade to a new national commission on intelligence.
"As someone who understands the important role research and development plays to keep our nation secure, Troy Wade will be an invaluable member of the commission," Reid said in a statement this week. "With his years of experience working at the Nevada Test Site, Troy is intimately familiar with the needs and challenges facing those who develop the technology for defense and intelligence gathering."
A Las Vegas resident for 53 years, Wade, 76, said he's delighted to be one of the dozen commission appointees who will help streamline the intelligence community's 17 agencies.
"I'm very glad Senator Reid had that confidence in me," he said.
Wade, who is chairman of the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation, has been associated with what is now called the Nevada National Security Site since 1958.
In 1987 and 1988, he was President Ronald Reagan's Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs in charge of U.S. nuclear weapons research, development, testing and production.
The new intelligence commission, formally called the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community, was authorized in 2003 but never formed. It was revived last year.
In discussing his appointment, Wade offered insights on nuclear proliferation worldwide in light of Monday's news that Pakistan now has more than 100 deployed nuclear weapons.
While that's "pretty scary," he said, "probably the scariest place is Iran because it's not clear we know exactly what's happening inside Iran and the people in charge don't seem to be a reliable source of information."
Wade, who played a key role in ushering the nation through the end of the Cold War, said dealing with nuclear weapons issues then was somewhat less complex than it is now.
"When we were dealing with the Soviet Union, we had a predictable enemy. We don't have that any more," he said.
"Pakistan has a bigger arsenal than India. What's India going to do? And what methods do you use to determine what's happening in other places around the world?"
Wade said he assumes his role on the new commission will be lending his expertise on nuclear weapons "but I won't know for a few months."
Comments
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The Review-Journal does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please use the Report Abuse button.
Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 24 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
viqueen 1 Who cares what you did or say you did? You are a liberal which makes you a lier. So get rid of this old guy and hire 37 other people for the wage you are going to pay him.
Bob_Realist. I doubt if you are smart enough and have enough education for THAT job! Cadusha and Joe.homeboy. I think it's time for the both of you to go back to school and get that education that you are lacking. I went to school for Nondestructive Examination and I went through two courses on radiation safely. I then got a job inspecting nuclear power plants all over the world.The only thing I can say is that I don't have enough education to run around with Mr. Wade. And you two are slammin' Mr. Wade?
Another fossil living off the droll of the American People. Priobably getting 6 figures. Great Job harry.
How can I get one of these jobs? Didn't Harry Reid use Sharron Angle's use of "It's not my job to create jobs" speech against her? I understand creating jobs but for goodness sakes, create jobs and don't make them up.
A sweetheart appointment by Dingy Harry! Who woke him up at the Ritz to appoint this guy. At 75, he should stay home and play with his grandkids. Hary, pass the oatmeal!