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| Israeli Businessman Sentenced in Plot to Ship Nuclear Detonation Devices |
| 2005-08-05 |
| WASHINGTON (AP) - An Israeli businessman who conspired to ship controlled nuclear technology to Pakistan was sentenced to three years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina on Thursday imposed the sentence on Asher Karni, who pleaded guilty last year to helping ship devices that could be used to test, develop and detonate nuclear weapons. Karni, who was based in South Africa, admitted routing sophisticated oscilloscopes and high-speed electrical switches through South Africa to avoid raising authorities' suspicions. The scopes and the switches were then shipped to Pakistan. A federal indictment is pending against Humayun A. Khan, a Pakistan businessman who the government says was Karni's partner. Khan remains at large. A Pakistani with the last name of Khan involved in smuggling nuclear weapons parts? Another "Family Affair" moment, perhaps, or are all guys named Khan crooked? More later. The United States prohibits the export of the switches - also known as "triggered spark gaps," which can be used in medical and military devices - to Pakistan and some other countries to prevent nuclear proliferation. Karni was arrested on New Year's Day 2004 as he entered the U.S. at Denver International Airport. Additional: Did a Google on Humayun A. Khan and found this guy: The most elusive character in the case of the U.S. nuclear triggers shipped illegally to Pakistan is Islamabad businessman Humayun Khan. Khan has been indicted by the U.S. Justice Department but he remains free in Pakistan, where he insists he is innocent. His South African collaborator, Asher Karni, has already pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing in a Brooklyn prison. Khan is the owner of Pakland PME Corporation, which has long-standing ties to the Pakistani military. Follow the link and check out Humayun A. Khan's photo. Now open this link in another window and check out a photo of Humayun Akhtar Khan, the Pakistani Minister of Commerce. Do they look like the same guy to you, with a better haircut. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #14 Why was South African Karni flying into DIA? Denver just had a (Saudi national, I think) U of Co professor sentenced for mistreating his Asian slave/maid. Denver is also on the list of previous mentioned targets. They are a sanctuary city that seems to harbor illegal gang members from south of the border, but I didn't know about a Muslim population. Couldn't doctors access these dual-use kidney stone busters? Maybe that's how the rumor Bin Laden needed dialysis got started...I also read in Bill Gertz' book Treachery that a German company, Siemens, had sold some to Iraq, also via South Africa, I think. I hope they are doing a sting and onto something here. |
| Posted by: Danielle 2005-08-05 21:23 |
| #13 Karni was born in Hungary and has lived for 20 years in South Africa, moreorless as long as he lived in Israel (I'm not sure when he left Hungary). |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-08-05 21:00 |
| #12 Phil_b. Asher Karni is a Hebrew name. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2005-08-05 20:20 |
| #11 Israeli Businessman? Sounds to me like South African businessman, who happened to be a Jew and therefore eligible for an Israeli passport (and had obtained one, very common for south africans). If he had a british born grandparent and hence been eligible for a UK passport and obtained one, would he have been described as a British Businessman? I doubt it. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-08-05 19:31 |
| #10 Unfortunately there are Jewish traitors, just like everyone else. The description sounds like he was in it strictly for selfish financial gain, not for idealistic reasons (like imminent conversion to Islam). Convict the man, then give him a couple of years in solitary confinement without any sunlight, and let his family disown him from shame. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-08-05 19:22 |
| #9 Penquin, Jew converting to Muslim = Traitor Jew selling tech. to Muslim= Traitor |
| Posted by: Poison Reverse 2005-08-05 19:12 |
| #8 It is interesting that the Pak nuclear weapon program is reliant on medical devices - triggered spark gaps designed for lithotripters imported from abroad. |
| Posted by: john 2005-08-05 16:52 |
| #7 PR- That's the first reference to the Korah Curse I have ever seen on line. Karni is probably still arranging the payoff from both sides before he declares he converted to Islam before the transaction. It would be simpler for everyone if he just announced this. Everyone should payoff. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2005-08-05 16:28 |
| #6 Asher Karni, Quite possibly, the blood of many Jews are going to be on your hands, you stupid moron. You maybe out in 3 yrs but, you rebelled against the God of Israel by selling tech. to the Jewish enemy. Numbers 26: ..were among Korah's followers when they rebelled against the LORD. v.10 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign. |
| Posted by: Poison Reverse 2005-08-05 16:22 |
| #5 Why on earth did Karni only get 3 years? I do hope it's because he is talking just as fast as he can. Otherwise this is a travesty, and sets a dangerous precedent for others thinking of exporting dangerous toys under the table. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-08-05 15:50 |
| #4 john: They and others have been unable to do so, authorities have confirmed, in part because the departments of Commerce and Homeland Security have failed to gain adequate support from within the Bush administration to pressure Pakistan into letting them in the country Possibly because this is part of some giant sting operation, where Khan's creds are being pumped up so that jihadis will come calling. We can only speculate. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-08-05 15:30 |
| #3 The SA Tribune link is written by: By M T Butt & Syed Saleem Shahzad Boy, that one's too easy! Can hear Beavis & Butthead now! |
| Posted by: BA 2005-08-05 15:04 |
| #2 Link to LA Times article Bratt said in court Thursday that the U.S. government still did not know for whom Khan was purchasing the spark gaps or where the disabled components were. But Bratt told the judge that the buyer was either the government of Pakistan and its nuclear program, another country that Pakistan was secretly helping with its nuclear program or a Pakistani political organization that supported "jihadist elements" or other rogue groups. "The choices for the true recipient of the triggered spark gaps are not comforting," Bratt said. The agents, James Brigham and David Poole, said they could not comment on the case or on their continuing investigation, for which they have tried to travel to Pakistan to conduct interviews. They and others have been unable to do so, authorities have confirmed, in part because the departments of Commerce and Homeland Security have failed to gain adequate support from within the Bush administration to pressure Pakistan into letting them in the country |
| Posted by: john 2005-08-05 14:26 |
| #1 Khan remains at large. OK, someone's gotta say it: Khaaaaaaaaan! |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2005-08-05 14:17 |