After the 51-48 defeat of the CTBT in the Senate, General John Schalikashvili (Former Chair, Joint Chiefs of Staff) commissioned the National Academy of Sciences to examine the following technical issues, which will be summarized*:

• US Capacity to maintain safety/reliability and design/evaluation of its nuclear stockpile without testing
• International/US capability to monitor a nuclear test ban, including evasion scenarios
• Ability of nations to increase nuclear capability with/without cheating and the potential effect on of cheating on US security

*Technical Issues Related to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, National Academy Press, 2003.  D. Hafemeister, Physics of Societal Issues, Springer and AIP Press, 2005; Physics and Society 33, 4-7, July 2004; and VERTIC Verification Yearbook 2004.