Burma nuclear program highlights the need for a standing UN technical body.

The author highlights Burma and recent events surrounding its nuclear program to present a case for the development of a UN technical body to investigate countries suspected of having weapons of mass destruction (WMD). International verification organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have no expertise in evaluating technologies outside their core missions, which, he writes, means no international organization can assess the technology of missile delivery systems. Using Burma as a backdrop, the author makes the case for an international technical body, which he outlines in structure, function, and scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]