As Non-Proliferation Treaty Takes Effect, Should Nukes Be Seen As Clean Energy Source?

This weekend, a ratified nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States went into effect, reducing and limiting each nation's allowable arsenal of nuclear weapons. The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START 2) also allows U.S. inspectors access to monitor Russian nuclear weapons technology, facilities and forces, which they were prevented from doing since the original START treaty expired in December 2009. As the nations attempt to mitigate a global nuclear arms race, questions remain: what can be done with extant, surplus and aging nukes? Can they be used as a source of clean energy? Do we have the technology?