Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Missing keys, holes in fence and a single padlock: welcome to Congo's nuclear plant
Guardian ^ | Nov. 23, 2006 | Chris McGreal

Posted on 11/23/2006 8:48:29 AM PST by Schnucki

The IAEA is worried that lax security could lead to enriched uranium falling into the wrong hands

--

Congo’s atomic energy commission has missed every target on security and safety, but funding is coming in and its officials believe that a bright future lies ahead for the nuclear facility.

--

Amid the market stalls, hawkers and gridlocked cars on the road out of Congo's capital and into the Kinshasa hills there is nothing to mark the way to a nondescript clutch of buildings a few hundred yards down a side street.

The dilapidated concrete compound is protected by little more than a low-slung rusted barbed-wire fence and a rickety gate sealed by a single padlock. It would be easy enough to slip through a hole in the fence but there is no need, as the main entrance to what is supposed to be one of the best guarded sites in Congo is often unmanned.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: africa; congo; nuclear; nukes; proliferation; terrorism; wot

1 posted on 11/23/2006 8:48:30 AM PST by Schnucki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Schnucki

Mohamed ElBaradei: "We want these nuclear supplies taken only by
the "right" people, such as my sister's family in Iran.
Meanwhile, I hope you Americans stay stupid and keep ignoring
that my trainees control the US Patent Office's alternative energy group arts.
You Americans are such stupid dhimmis."


2 posted on 11/23/2006 8:59:34 AM PST by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Schnucki

Holy KI, Batman, we're screwed!


3 posted on 11/23/2006 9:24:58 AM PST by NonValueAdded (Prayers for our patriot brother, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub. Brian, we're all pulling for you!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Schnucki
but funding is coming in

Will it be directly deposited into numbered Swiss accounts, or will the recipients have to make some effort to embezzle the money?

4 posted on 11/23/2006 9:44:02 AM PST by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PAR35

Unfortunately, they will probably have to make the minimum effort of a phone call or two.

Sorry, but that's just the way it is. There's bureaucracy everywhere, you know.


5 posted on 11/23/2006 10:10:14 AM PST by Luke Skyfreeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Diogenesis

Excellent cartoon.

The sad and scary part is that it's completely true.


6 posted on 11/23/2006 10:11:39 AM PST by FairOpinion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: All; Cindy
"The US - which helped fund the reactor because Congo provided the uranium used in the atom bombs dropped on Japan - cut off the supply of spare parts to the reactor nearly 20 years ago due to the plant's decline. Washington has recently tried to persuade Congo to hand over the 98 bars of enriched uranium "stored in triangular rods about 60cm (2ft) long and kept submerged in a circular pool underneath a padlocked metal grate or in the reactor."
7 posted on 11/23/2006 10:15:37 AM PST by FairOpinion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
But new locks aside, there is little outward recognition of concern by the world's nuclear watchdog and among western governments at the prospect of Kinshasa's reactor catching the attention of terrorists scouring the globe for the right ingredients for a "dirty bomb".

Ah, I wouldn't worry about that, mate. I doubt they even read the Guardian.

8 posted on 11/23/2006 10:17:08 AM PST by Luke Skyfreeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Schnucki
Congo's atomic energy commission has missed every target on security and safety, but funding is coming in and its officials believe that a bright future lies ahead for the nuclear facility.

Let's hope the future isn't a little too bright.

9 posted on 11/23/2006 10:20:29 AM PST by Wilhelm Tell (True or False? This is not a tag line.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Luke Skyfreeper

Don't worry, I am sure the terrorists don't need to read The Guardian to find this out.

In fact, I would bet dollars to donuts that there are a lot of missing enriched uranium bars. Both Iran and Al Qaeda have plenty of money.


10 posted on 11/23/2006 10:26:57 AM PST by FairOpinion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

Don't worry, be happy. It's A-Freak-A, after all.


11 posted on 11/23/2006 10:30:47 AM PST by Wally_Kalbacken
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

The article didn't mention that the compound is in the middle of a pig farm. What better security could there be? :)


12 posted on 11/23/2006 10:33:14 AM PST by Gunny Gene
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Schnucki

Well now....seems to me....we might now know....where the traces of uranium and plutonium....found by the IAEA in Iran....only a few days ago....might have originated from.


13 posted on 11/23/2006 2:30:47 PM PST by Defender2 (Defending Our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution, Our Country and Our Freedom!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson