Rumsfeld was on ABB board when it supplied North Korea with nuclear power plants

swissinfo ^ | February 21, 2003 | Jacob Greber

[First_Salute]

It just gets better.

[pfflier]

Well Clintoon and Carter brokered the deal authorizing western support in the development of nuclear power in NK.

They just promised to be nice guys and not make bombs.

Bottom line. The power plant sale was perfectly legal. So where's the news?

[Dog Gone]

And what are we supposed to conclude from this story? It was written for a purpose, right?

[Leisler]

"The ABB contract was to deliver equipment and services for two nuclear power stations at Kumho, on North Korea’s east coast.

WTF? What does "equipment and services" mean? That could be anything from mop sinks to reactor rods. Talk about vague. Hum, the writer and critics aren't vague because it doesn't help them with their hatchet job? Na, couldn't be. Not professional writers and editors.

[PhiKapMom]

Don't forget to add -- it was posted for a purpose as well.

I have a pet peeve on here -- people are changing their screen names and keeping their original sign on dates. That means a lot of anti-Bush Administration people now have new screen names and now I have to start a new list!

My mini gripe for the day!

[mabelkitty]

So? He was on this board, and probably several others.

[EggsAckley]

Two words: SO, WHAT?

[mabelkitty]

I agree. I've encountered the same thing over the past couple of days. The "no such thing as terrorism crowd", the "Bush Administration is evil" crowd, etc.

[dpwiener]

What does "equipment and services" mean? That could be anything from mop sinks to reactor rods.

If the article is correct about the contract being for $200 million, I'd lean towards reactor rods rather than mop sinks.

[EggsAckley]

I know what you mean. Never seen this one before today.

[I Believe It's Not Butter]

**So where's the news?**

Scroll half way to see a nasty Korean poster.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2337997.stm

[faithincowboys]

i hope old rummy didn't know about this. it is a credibility killer. if he did he should have resigned.

[cake_crumb]

The contract was for two light water, non plutonium producing plants.

Something about this article stinks.

[Shermy]

Interesting. But the "dirty bomb" focus is misleading. This was the reactor we agreed to pay for if NK gave up it's nuke weapon program and allowed monitoring of weapon facilities - they recently turned off the UN surveillance cameras.

Nuclear waste that can't be converted to weapons was not on the radar screen pre-9/11. We have the same concern to with Iran - Iran quickly agreed to ship all the waste to Russia - who wouldn't agree to that? Thus Iran provides a cover story that they have no nuke weapon intentions. But their actual weapon facilities are unrelated to these power-oriented reactor schemes.

NK already has plutonium, and nuke waste I would think is easily gotten on the black market. But watch, you'll see that Rumsfeld is tied to nuke weapons for NK - when he wasn't, but part of a deal to forbid weapons to NK. NK just outright cheated.

Anyway, Rumsfeld's connections to and active leading of the SDI lobby before 2000 is much more interesting, IMO.

[Leisler]

It looks like ABB is a big player in nuclear power and especially in Korea with eight reactors going. That evil Rumsfeld, he's behind everything.

From ABB website.

ABB to deliver systems, equipment to North Korean nuclear plants


US$ 200 million in orders awarded under multi-government framework agreement


Zurich, Switzerland, January 20, 2000 – ABB, the global technology group, said today it has signed contracts to deliver equipment and services for two nuclear power stations at Kumho, on the east coast of North Korea. The contracts, with a value of US$ 200 million, were awarded by HANJUNG (Korea Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd.) and KOPEC (Korea Power Engineering Corp.).
The two nuclear plants are being supplied to North Korea under a Supply Agreement with KEDO (Korean Energy Peninsula Development Organization), a consortium formed in 1995 by the governments of the United States, Japan, South Korea and the European Union. KEDO is to provide the stations under the Agreed Framework signed by the U.S. and North Korea in 1994.

Under the terms of the contracts, ABB will provide engineering, design and components for the two 1,000-megawatt (Mwe) light water nuclear steam supply systems. The systems are an advanced version of ABB’s System 80 design, which is being employed under license in eight reactors in South Korea. The two power stations are scheduled to begin commercial operation by 2007 and 2008, respectively.

ABB and BNFL announced in late December of 1999 that British-based BNFL will acquire ABB’s nuclear business, pending regulatory approval.

ABB is a global technology company serving customers in power transmission and distribution; automation; oil, gas, and petrochemicals; industrial products and contracting; and in financial services. Power generation customers are served by the joint venture ABB ALSTOM POWER. The ABB Group employs about 170,000 people in more than 100 countries. (End)

[W04Man]

Another user not flying a state flag. Hummmmm..... better check out this story for accuracy.

[onedoug]

Abortion Party talking points.

[Leisler]

You are right, but still at 200 million with the UN, the Federal government and required payoffs, it could be a stainless steal mop sink. Plus mops. Soap. A mirror. Oh, and you need a mop closet. There. That would put you over the top, no problem.

[snooker]

>>>The power plant sale was perfectly legal.

Proves the folly of Jimmy dum-de-dum if you ask me. He was the one who said the NKs would play nice.

... and so approving the government policy to allow the sale to go through was Rumsfelds fault? and he is somehow responsible? Wow what a stretch.

snooker