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Yellowcake Found in Rotterdam Harbor May Have Originated in Iraq
AP ^ | Jan 15 2004 | Toby Sterling

Posted on 01/15/2004 2:29:13 PM PST by Dog

Yellowcake Found in Rotterdam Harbor May Have Originated in Iraq By Toby Sterling Associated Press Writer Published: Jan 15, 2004

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - A recycling company found uranium oxide - a radioactive material also known as yellowcake - in a shipment of scrap steel it believes originally came from Iraq, the company said Thursday. Paul de Bruin, spokesman for Rotterdam-based Jewometaal, said that the shipment was passed on last month from a Jordan metal dealer who was unaware it contained any forbidden materials.

"I've dealt with this man for 15 years and he says he's sure it came from Iraq," De Bruin said. He said Jewometaal had been asked not to reveal the name of the Jordanian exporter while the find was being investigated.

Nuclear experts say that although not highly radioactive, uranium oxide can be processed into enriched uranium usable in a nuclear weapon - but highly advanced technology is needed.

The Dutch Environment Ministry confirmed Thursday that Jewometaal reported the unusual find on Dec. 16. After a preliminary investigation by a company that specializes in removing radioactive waste, the Dutch government decided to call in the International Atomic Energy Agency to investigate further.

A spokesman for the IAEA confirmed the agency had visited Rotterdam on Wednesday but had no further comment.

Environment ministry spokesman Wim van der Weegen said scrap metal companies in the Rotterdam port, which is Europe's largest, report around 200 findings of radioactive material per year, often from old hospital equipment or normal industrial uses.

But the finding of an estimated two pounds of uranium oxide is odd, Van der Weegen said.

Experts said that around 2 pounds of yellowcake, the amount found, would not be useful for either a bomb or fuel.

Dr. Alan Ketering, a researcher at the nuclear research plant at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said yellowcake contains less than 1 percent of U-235 used in nuclear weapons. He said it would need to be refined many times with sophisticated technology before it was dangerous - and the amount found in Rotterdam would not be nearly enough.

"Anybody can dig it up and purify it to make the yellow stuff," he said. "It's the separation of U-235 that people are concerned about."

However, he said there was no obvious non-nuclear industrial use for yellowcake and it would be strange to find it in random scrap metal.

The material was found in a small steel industrial container apparently used to connect pipes or electrical wires, Environment Ministry spokesman Van der Weegen said.

He said it wasn't yet known where the yellowcake originated.

"It could be from anywhere in the world," Van der Weegen said. After testing, the material was shipped to a nuclear waste plant in the Netherlands.

Jordan does not have any known nuclear power plants or weapons and is a signatory to the nuclear test ban treaty.

President Bush came under heavy criticism last year when he asserted in his State of the Union address that Iraq was shopping in Africa for uranium yellowcake - intelligence that turned out to be based on forged documents.

The original suspicions apparently came from a British dossier and Britain's Foreign Office continued to maintain Iraq was trying to buy uranium in Niger, although no evidence was offered.

Last year, the United States agreed to pay $3.4 million to install radioactivity detectors in Rotterdam to scan a fraction of the 6 million containers that pass through it annually for hidden radioactive material.

However, scrap metal companies are already outfitted with detectors, and Jewometaal found the radioactive material with its own equipment.

AP-ES-01-15-04 1719EST


TOPICS: Breaking News
KEYWORDS: iraq; iraqiwmds; netherlands; nukeprogram; nukes; rotterdam; thenetherlands; yellowcake
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To: Dog
Jewometaal...obviously a zionist conspiracy to implicate Iraq and support the U.S.
21 posted on 01/15/2004 2:47:29 PM PST by Freakazoid (Freaking zoids since 1998.)
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To: Dog

Everytime we get close to a WMD "smoking gun", hopes are dashed. I'm thinking this will be the same.

22 posted on 01/15/2004 2:48:33 PM PST by Ragirl
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To: Dog
I wonder what other ways they moved it out of Iraq?
23 posted on 01/15/2004 2:48:59 PM PST by ruoflaw
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To: Dog
Paging "Yellowcake" Joe. Stir some of this in your tea!
24 posted on 01/15/2004 2:52:19 PM PST by .cnI redruM (Dean, Clark, Deadwards, Kerry - If were an Iowan, I'd vote Opis in '04.)
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To: Pubbie
I wonder which one has a longer shelf life?
25 posted on 01/15/2004 2:52:36 PM PST by Gumption
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To: Dog
I know we can rely on the NYT and ABCCNSNBCNPRCNN to keep this absolutely secret but let's see if we can influence the other media outlets to keep this kind of information quiet. Look, it would only upset the neocommunist, America-hating traitors among us! The Frankengarafalos of the nation might get upset and hurt themselves concocting explanatory fabrications.
26 posted on 01/15/2004 2:53:57 PM PST by Tacis
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To: dirtboy; aculeus; dighton; hellinahandcart; general_re
Yellowcake Found in Rotterdam Harbor May Have Originated in Iraq

Perpetrated by the mistress of disguises...


27 posted on 01/15/2004 2:57:01 PM PST by Thinkin' Gal
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To: Dog
"Jewometaal reported the unusual find..."

Just wait till the tin foil hat brigade gets a hold of that one!

--Boot Hill

28 posted on 01/15/2004 3:00:03 PM PST by Boot Hill
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To: Flightdeck
Report later that day said that 4-5 tests all showed postive for blister agents. I think it was in the same thread.
29 posted on 01/15/2004 3:01:39 PM PST by FreedomPoster (this space intentionally blank)
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To: Dog
He said it wasn't yet known where the yellowcake originated.

Ummmmm, Niger, perhaps? Paging Joe and Valerie (who was last seen in "disguise" in an issue of Vanity Fair). Also paging Pincus and Corn.

30 posted on 01/15/2004 3:04:55 PM PST by Wolfstar (George W. Bush — the 1st truly great world leader of the 21st Century)
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To: Dog

31 posted on 01/15/2004 3:10:05 PM PST by KQQL (^@__*^)
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To: Dog
Can someone explain how Iraq could have would up with yellowcake uranium in any legitimate way? What legitimate (and allowed under UN sanctions) uses could they have had?

And this story from the AP? Will be interesting to see if any of the lame-stream media pick this up....doubtful.
32 posted on 01/15/2004 3:12:03 PM PST by TheBattman (OK- Do it your way - just don't come crying to me when it doesn't work!)
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To: Flightdeck
Mortar shells? What mortar shells? OH, the ones that tested positive for blister agents....the ones that were filled with liquid? Oh, the Danes decided that they were mistaken and that they were actually harmless....
33 posted on 01/15/2004 3:13:13 PM PST by TheBattman (OK- Do it your way - just don't come crying to me when it doesn't work!)
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To: kaktuskid
Jewometaal

Some kind of processing company in the Netherlands

34 posted on 01/15/2004 3:16:37 PM PST by mware
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To: Dog
Jewometaal

Is that a "hate-name"?

35 posted on 01/15/2004 3:16:38 PM PST by lepton
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To: Dog
NEVER NEVER NEVER did Bush talk about Yellowcake is the SOTU. Powell talked about it in front of the UN but BUSH NEVER MENTIONED IT IN THE SOTU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
36 posted on 01/15/2004 3:16:39 PM PST by Solson (Our work is the presentation of our capabilities. - Von Goethe)
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To: COEXERJ145
Paging, MR MAGOO !!!
37 posted on 01/15/2004 3:20:41 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Dog
I won't believe it until General Clark confirms it!!!!!
38 posted on 01/15/2004 3:36:07 PM PST by OldFriend (Always understand, even if you remain among the few)
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bookmark
39 posted on 01/15/2004 3:37:41 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: mware
John Loftus will be on Batchelor tonite.

He has been discussing the 29 trucks with bio weapons on board. Feels there is no way the truck driver would know anything.....it's all a diversion cooked up by Iran.

40 posted on 01/15/2004 3:37:43 PM PST by OldFriend (Always understand, even if you remain among the few)
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