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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian uranium came from Pakistan |
| 2004-08-09 |
| Particles of enriched uranium detected in Iran came from equipment provided by the nuclear smuggling network headed by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, according to the tentative findings of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The interim findings were revealed to the London-based Jane's Defense Weekly by sources close to the agency, and have been seen by The Jerusalem Post. The findings, which will be published by the authoritative journal on Wednesday, appear to remove suspicions that Iran may already have manufactured its own enriched uranium. Iranian officials had argued that the particles were merely residual contamination from imported equipment, but they have been unable to prove this claim. The finding could put the Vienna-based IAEA on a collision course with the United States, which wants the matter to be referred to the UN Security Council. Sources have told Jane's that IAEA inspectors believe they can now confirm that a sample of uranium enriched to 54 percent, which was found at one Iranian site, has come from Pakistani equipment. The confirmation was possible only after Islamabad gave the IAEA data to verify the uranium source and the US provided a simulation of the Pakistani nuclear program that matched the account. A separate sample of 36 percent enriched uranium contamination derived from Russian equipment that Moscow had supplied to China. Beijing then passed it on to Pakistan as part of previous nuclear assistance, and Khan later sold it to Iran. Tensions over the Iranian program have heightened in recent weeks as Teheran prepared to start production of uranium hexafluoride gas — a key centrifuge feed material — as well as the assembly of the centrifuges themselves. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 Pres. Bush isn't known for ignoring the obvious. That said, this is still a very tight presidential race, and until the vote is taken Bush won't do anything to jeopardize things. As Mark said, just wait until the first Wednesday in November! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-08-09 23:46 |
| #5 I fear we are headed for a new cold war .... A new war yes, but there will be nothing "cold" about this one. |
| Posted by: AzCat 2004-08-09 23:09 |
| #4 Cut off emigration from the Philippines. The place is filled with Jihadi terrorists you know. Pull out US military trainers and cut off military aid. If the Filipinos want weapons, let them pay full price. If they do not have the will and power to hold onto the southern Islands, then let a Muslim state declare independence. If one day the southern islands are used to launch an attack on Americans, then let us invade and annex them. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-08-09 22:57 |
| #3 WQhat the fuck is going on in Washington. Are we in a state of denial. These assholes mean to get the bomb and the means to deliver it. Whether or not they mean to use it or not remains to be seen. But I fear we are headed for a new cold war that will see a more unstable world than the cold war that proceded it. Especially if SKerry get's in office. And I say that as a mostly lifelong dem |
| Posted by: cheaderhead 2004-08-09 22:38 |
| #2 Just hold on a few more months regarding the Iranian threat. It will be resolved with dividends! |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-08-09 22:36 |
| #1 And how, exactly, are we to have the least confidence that Pakistan or North Korea haven't just gone ahead and given Iran a heaping helping of weapon-grade fissile material? Iran really, really needs to be bombed now. If anything, send them a message by crippling the Kharg Island terminal. That would put a kink in their hose. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-08-09 22:31 |