Has kind of a ring to it, doncha think? 
Posted on 06/08/2002 11:34:44 AM PDT by Colombia59
WASHINGTON — The United States has received intelligence reports that North Korea delivered 24 No-Dong intermediate-range missiles to Egypt in the last half of 2001.
U.S. intelligence sources said the CIA report was sent to both the Bush administration and Congress.
The No-Dong missiles did not contain engines but Egypt is believed to have received a separate shipment of up to 50 North Korean engines via Libya, Middle East Newsline reported.
"It's a slap in the face to all those who have been working to stop the Egyptian-North Korean missile cooperation program," an intelligence source said. "Egypt pledged that it wasn't seeking the No-Dong or its engine and then acquired both."
The sources said the No-Dong missile would provide Egypt the ability to attack targets in such countries as Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. They said the main aim of the No-Dong appears to be ensure Egyptian deterrence capability against Israel.
"Egypt appears to be in a panic to obtain capability of operational medium-range missiles that can guarantee strikes anywhere south of Beirut," another intelligence source said.
The disclosure of the No-Dong missile shipment to Egypt was first made last month by a leading analyst at a session of a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. On May 23, Frank Gaffney, head of the Center for Security Policy, told the House panel on terrorism that Egypt recently received 24 No-Dong missiles from North Korea. He did not elaborate.
In May 2001, the Bush administration won an Egyptian pledge not to purchase the No-Dong or its engine. At the time, Egypt was about to obtain 50 North Korean engines.
Within months, the intelligence sources said, Cairo arranged for the engines to be delivered to Libya, where they were transported by land to Egypt. In contrast, the No-Dong missiles were delivered directly to Egypt. The sources said Washington has failed to persuade North Korea to stop its missile sales. Instead, they said, North Korea has accelerated its missile deliveries to the Middle East since the end of last year.
"North Korea is certainly a serious problem in that respect," U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who did not confirm the Egyptian purchase, said. "They have dangerous technology in almost every category you can imagine. They seem to show willingness to sell anything to anybody who will pay them enough. So, it is a source of great concern."
The No-Dong issue was raised by the Bush administration and Egypt has denied obtaining the missile. A U.S. official said the No-Dong is not expected to be discussed during the meeting by President George Bush and visiting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The two men will meet at the presidential retreat at Camp David on Friday and Saturday.
Let me get this straight, Bush has identified North Korea as one of the terrorist axis countries that he is leading the fight against. We are giving Egypt $3 billion per year in aid. These missiles can be used to deliver atomic bombs or in chemical attacks against ourselves or our allies by any current or future Egyptian leader, and Bush is not going to discuss the matter. Where is today's Ronald Reagan?
As far as hitting the US with No-Dongs, I don't see where you perceive that danger from this article.
Their guidance system runs on eunuchs. < /ba-da-bing>
Has kind of a ring to it, doncha think?
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