5/20/2000
The UN reviews the NPT and agrees on practical steps to implement Article VI and the CTBT; fully implement START II and conclude START III (in accordance with the ABM Treaty,

1/9/2002
The Department of Defense releases its Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), creating a new strategic triad and naming nuclear weapons as central to US defense policy, despite the end of the Cold War. The NPR intends to maintain thousands of nuclear warheads as well as to modernize its nuclear forces. NPR Foreword by Secretary of Defense Donald Rusmfeld

5/24/2002
Bush and Putin (Russia) sign the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions, promising to reduce their nuclear warheads (each 6,000) to no more than 2,200 by the end of 2012.

9/20/2002
Bush issues the National Security Strategy (NSS 2002)forming the basis for preventive war.

October 2002
Assistant Secretary of State Kelly visits North Korea and reports that the Agreed Framework is being violated.

11/25/2002
Bush subscribes to the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.

1/10/2003
North Korea withdraws from the NPT.

3/19/2003
US unilaterally invades Iraq, with Bush falsely claiming that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction. President Bush Addresses the Nation. .

5/9/2003
US Senate Armed Services Committee authorizes $15 million for research on the robust nuclear earth penetrator, or the “bunker buster.”

8/27/2003
Six Party (US, China, North Korea, Russia, and Japan) talks regarding North Korea’s nuclear program begin in Beijing.

10/14/2003
Bush renounces Iranian nuclear program.

12/19/2003
Libyan Colonel Qaddafi agrees to dismantle all weapons of mass destruction programs and allows outside inspection.

2/2/2004
Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan admits to transferring nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf pardons him amidst reports of government involvement.

2/11/2004
Bush announces new measures to fight nuclear proliferation. Bush Speech at National Defense University. The same year, the Reliable Replacement Warhead program is initiated, but receives no Congressional funding in July 2008.

A Nuclear Warhead

10/28/2004
Bush votes against the UN resolution called “Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons,” sponsored by the New Agenda Coalition. 151 countries voted for this; 2 (India and the US) against; and 16 abstained.

5/27/2005
NPT review closes without consensus;US Approach to the NPT Review.

7/25/2005
Bush and Indian Prime Minister Singh begin talks on a peaceful nuclear energy deal where the US would provide fuel to India in return for its compliance with the IAEA. The full text agreement, known as the Indo-US Nuclear Deal or 123 Deal, is released on August 3 rd, 2007, but remains to be adopted.

Bush and Singh

February 2006
The Bush Administration releases its 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) Report, outlining its vision for tailored deterrence.

10/9/2006
North Korea performs its first successful nuclear test.

10/27/2006
Bush votes against the UN resolution called "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments.” 147 voted for this; 8 against; and 12 abstained.

8/3/2007
Bush and Singh (India) agree on 123 Agreement.

November 2007
US National Intelligence Estimate finds no signs of Iran developing a nuclear bomb, reversing the Bush Administration’s thoughts since 2003. Bush continues to refer to Iran as “dangerous.”

7/12/2008
Kim Il Sung ( North Korea) ends nuclear program and opens facilities for international inspection. The US immediately announces that it will take North Korea of its list of state-sponsors of terrorists, with a 45-day minimum contingent on a verification regime.

May - July 2008
Congress gives no funds to the Reliable Replacement Warheads program.