A lengthy investigation of the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb, Abdul Qadeer Khan, by American and European intelligence agencies and international nuclear inspectors has forced Pakistani officials to question his aides and openly confront evidence that the country was the source of crucial technology to enrich uranium for Iran, North Korea and other nations.
Until the past few weeks, Pakistani officials had denied evidence that the A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories, named for the man considered a national hero, had ever been a source of weapons technology to countries aspiring to gain nuclear weapons. Now they are backing away from those denials, while insisting that there has been no transfer of nuclear technology since President Pervez Musharraf took power four years ago.
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Pakistani officials said the sales to Iran might have occurred in the 1980's during the rule of the last American-backed military ruler, Gen. Mohammad Zia ul-Haq. They acknowledge questioning three scientists: Mohammed Farooq, Yasin Chohan and a man believed to be named Sayeed Ahmad, all close aides to Dr. Khan.
So let's see, in the 80's when St. Ronnie was in charge of the asylum, we were all supposed to hate the Eye-RainEans; our Foreign Military Sales Dept. was selling Chemical Weapons to Saddam; other Arms to Iran in secret; we supported a ruthless dictator in Pakistan who was selling Nu-Q-Lar stuff to Eye-Ran while we were calling the lot of them Terrorists and still are (except the Paks, who are our other New Bestest Friends in the War on Terra™). Did I miss anything?
And the 1600 Crew is just St. Ronnie's & Tricky Dicky's bunch revisited. Damn, I feel so much better now, and safer too!
posted by Jo Fish on 12.21.03 at 11:34 PM
Comments:
Nixon's crew was evil, but at least there were signs of intelligence. They were at least good at lying, and they faced a press corps that actually investigated things.
This is what happens when you go wandering around supporting total bastards. I flew out of Spain under Franco and Greece under the Colonels, but I definitely did not fly out of Iran under the Shah and I have documents that can prove it. They were all lovely people, and I, of course, wasn't constantly grabbing crewmates who were about to get involved in incidents involving local police brutality.
posted by: Bryan on 12.22.03 at 12:47 AM [permalink]
