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THE former Cold War rivals are on the warpath again. The bone of contention: nuclear programmes. When the US Congress recently caused an uproar over Russia's purchase of five American super-computers last year to be allegedly used for simulating nuclear tests, Moscow cried foul. The US government, which is investigating the deal, has blocked the shipment of two of the computers. It alleges that Russia bought the supercomputers—four from California-based Silicon Graphics and one from IBM—bypassing US export controls.

The Russian national daily, Izvestia, lashed out at Washington, accusing it of "double standards". It said the US was trying to underscore Russia's diminishing role in world affairs. "The US Commerce Department has chosen to ignore that the opportunity of simulating nuclear tests was a key element of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). When they were preparing to sign the CTBT, Russians and Americans wereworking hand in hand. Once Russia joined, the official US stance has changed."

 Since the test ban treaty was ratified at the UN last October, the world's nuclear powers have conducted only "virtual" nuclear tests, says Yuri Pinchukov, director of the Moscow-based independent Association for Non-Proliferation. Earlier, India and Russia had complained that they lacked the requisite computers to update their nuclear technology without live tests. But the US assured Russia that the technology would be supplied, he said.

Vladislav Petrov, head of the Atomic Energy Ministry's information department, agrees. Moscow signed the treaty on the understanding that it would get US technology for virtual testing, allowing it to upgrade its arsenal without exploding any warheads.

"After signing the CTBT, we thought we'd enter a new phase of cooperation and trust with the Americans," Petrov told Moscow Times. "The Indians said we would be cheated, and it has turned out that they were right". According to Izvestia, the ban on the sale of supercomputers to Russia bears echoes of the Cold War Cocom restrictions that prevented the transfer of computer technology to the Soviet Union. Though Cocom was scrapped in March 1994, it was substituted by new restrictions.

During his recent visit to Washington, Russian Premier Viktor Chernomyrdin brought up the issue. He said "restrictions on export to Russia of computers and other high-tech products" were interfering with Russian-US cooperation.

The furore over the $650,000 Silicon Graphics sale was sparked off unwittingly by Russian Atomic Energy Minister Viktor Mikhailov, who told the media that Russia continues nuclear research with mathematic modelling and 'lab methods', revealing the computer models to be used.

Russian analysts think the sharp US reaction has more to do with global nuclear issues rather than just breach of export rules. "It is a signal to Moscow, which refuses to backtrack on nuclear cooperation with the 'have nots'—exemplified by the Kundamkulam project with India—which the US opposes," Sergei Solodovnik, senior research fellow with the Moscow International Relations' Institute, told Outlook. "Russia is being reminded how fragile its positions are on the world markets, especially in the high-tech sphere. If the US investigators decide the sale was illegal, the computers will have a rather limited lifespan, since obtaining spares will turn into a tortuous process".

Moscow's nuclear cooperation with countries like Iran gives Washington additional grounds to list Russia among "proliferating countries". If this happens, the list of Russian purchases to be licensed will stretch for miles. "You will need a government permission to sell even a Coke vending machine to the Russians," a US Commerce Department official was quoted as saying by Izvestia.

The supercomputers row may push Russia into rethinking its nuclear commitments. "The US decision leaves us in an impossible situation," says Petrov. "The basis of this decision is that the Americans do not trust us. The Russians have always relied on live tests. It is unlikely at the moment but the ministry could resume live tests if they have no other choice."