OPINION:
It seems to me there is a missing option in the discussions on nuclear power: reactors powered by thorium rather than uranium.
According to what I have read, in the early days of nuclear power generation design, both thorium and uranium were considered as energy sources for reactors. Uranium was chosen because of its weapons potential in the days of mutually assured destruction vis-a-vis the Soviet Union. It is all but impossible to make nuclear weapons out of thorium.
The United States reportedly has enough thorium to last us for a millennium. And if we used it rather than uranium, we could put it to Iran this way: “If you want to have a nuclear program for generating power for your general public, power your reactors with thorium rather than uranium.” Their response would show clearly their true intentions.
THOMAS M. CRAWFORD
Laurel, Maryland
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