[NYDave]

<<"are they implying a nuclear WMD? in the 1960's U-2 carried air sampling equipment to "sniff out" the various metals used in detonations ... even high in the atmosphere">>

Just FYI, Air America did the same thing in SE Asia. I went to college with a guy who flew for Air America and taking pod samples of air over bomb sites was one of his jobs. This was in the late 50's and early 60's. We both began our college days in '62 so his spook job preceded that time (my brother in law was a chopper pilot ferrying the South Vietanmese troops into battle back in the 50's).

[Bobby777]

yeah I don't know for sure but I imagine the U-2R's could do it today ... perhaps it's possible with a mass spectrometer from a satellite ... not sure ...

but of course, there aren't supposed to be any atmospheric tests anyway, so the point may be moot ... if someone sets one off, however ... well, there ya go ...