Arrest Links Pakistan to Nuke Black Market

AP via NYT ^ | January 16, 2004 | Staff

[jigsaw]

What Karni didn't know, a federal officer said in an affadavit, was that authorities had intervened and had the manufacturer sabotage the devices so they couldn't be used.

Brigham wrote that an anonymous source in South Africa tipped off U.S. authorities...

Three cheers for the Good Guys.

[livius]

What was he doing in Denver?

And what about this "Giza" company in NJ? The name of the company's owner sounds Israeli, like Karni himself...but the New Jersey connection is interesting.

This shows really good and careful police work. I hope the judge doesn't blow it all by letting Karni out, when he will no doubt flee the country.

[scab4faa]

Agents arrested Karni Jan. 2 at Denver International Airport.

What the heck was he doing here in Denver?

[Carry_Okie]

Karni's contact in Pakistan asked Karni to try to buy 100 to 400 of the triggers,

This is no small time defense build-up; it's an effort to construct an arsenal with full intent to export. With Musharraf teetering on the brink of a radical Islamic takeover (having survived two recent assassination attempts), this is most concerning. If the President believes that he can seal off all necessary equipment and materials such as these triggers for the duration, I have have my doubts.

[aristotleman]

Just because Musharraf is our ally on paper (for his own personal gain) doesn't mean Pakistan is not as big a threat as Iraq Iran N Korea. In due time, the alliance will wither, and the true face of Pakistan will be shown, leading to a very unsavory situation.

[Redbob]

Don't you have to wonder what world this guy Karni thinks he can inhabit, where he'll be safe from nuclear-bomb-equipped terrorists?

Where does he think he can run and hide?

[Stultis]

doesn't mean Pakistan is not as big a threat as Iraq Iran N Korea

The immediate danger is Pakistan supplying Iran or North Korea. Detonator switches may be one of the key elements NK is missing in their quest to build working bombs.

[Eighth Square]

Pakistan, the only Moslem nation with nukes. If that is'nt a wake up, what is? Unstable and filled with fanatics - watch out!

[steve8714]

Giza being also the location of the Great Pyramid?

[steve8714]

ski vacation?
Nuggets game?
Trying to talk Garry Hart into that Senate run?

[InABunkerUnderSF]

But, but, but, Pakistan is our friend. The State Department says so! (Yea right.)

[Boot Hill]

(Thanks for the ping, Carry_Okie.)

While the public's focus is on Iraq, Iran and North Korea, something bigger and much more dangerous is brewing in the War on Terrror. This thread's story is but an early wakeup call about that next major crisis.

Pakistan is an acknowledged nuclear power. And President Musharraf is right now on the verge of being overthrown by the radical Islamists, essentially a mix of al Qa'ida and Taliban. If that coup is successful, it will place Pakistan's nuclear stockpile directly in the hands of these terrorists.

In December, Musharraf barely survived two assassination attempts. And the circumstances of those attempts had all the earmarks of being directed from elements within the highest echelons of the Pakistani military and intelligence service and even Musharraf's own staff.

Moreover, four months ago, Ayman al-Zawahri, al Qa'ida's second in command, issued a fatwa for Musharraf's assassination.

And as if Musharraf didn't already have enough problems, he has stated publicly that he intends to purge all radical Islamists from the officer corps and the intelligence service by than March of this new year.

Nearly as serious as this transfer of nukes to the terrorists is, this coup will leave U.S. forces presently in Afghanistan surrounded on the West by radical Islamist run Iran (pay close attention to the upcoming elections there) and on the South and East by newly radical Islamist run Pakistan. And you can be sure that the tenuous hold our forces currently enjoy in Afghanistan will quickly evaporate as the Taliban smells fresh blood. Our forces will be left with no safe or practical route left for resupply, reinforcement or retreat, while occupying a newly violent and deadly Afghanistan.

Frankly, I don't see anyway that Musharraf will escape assassination. And Musharraf himself, seems to have set the timetable for this by promising to purge the radical Islamists by early this year. Watch this one very carefully folks, because it is fraught with a very serious threat of nuclear consequences.

--Boot Hill

[beckett]

An Israeli citizen? Crimminee.

[Eighth Square]

It's just a matter of time. One of these clown outfits is going to get a hold of, and detonate, a nuke. What in the heck are we gonna' do then? 50% of the population will want instant retaliation, the other half will call for a group hug-in, sanctions and a UN mandate. The point being that it is a no win situation and the clowns know it. As I see it, the only way out is through very agressive, cooperative, international intelligence gathering combined with the use of torture and assasination by any means and instant military action when the facts have been determined.

Any thoughts on this?

[TeleStraightShooter]

Denver is a major hub for several airlines

Perhaps he was catching a connector to Area 51........

[Boot Hill]

Eighth Square laments:   "50% of the population will want instant retaliation..."

That's the real problem and it will take a very strong leader to avoid succumbing to that temptation. My blood boiled as quick as the next man's as America was subjected to a seemingly endless series of terrorist attacks over the last 25 years. But a nuclear response on a non-military or non-terrorist target would be futile and worse, would have negative blow-black for decades, if not centuries, to come.

I endorse your emphasis on preventative measures such as enhanced intelligence gathering, but would place only limited faith in any cooperative international efforts. Likewise, I also endorse the rational use of that intelligence data, i.e., the use of military strikes to eliminate a terrorist WMD threat.

--Boot Hill

[Eighth Square]

Hardly lamenting, merely pointing out the obvious.

[Boot Hill]

point taken

--Boot

[Cronos]

The Pakis are NOT our allies. Would our allies :
1. Support the Taliban until the very day of the liberationof Afghanistan?
2. Send messages to the Talibs telling them of our plans
3. SEll nukes to our enemies in Iran and Libya and most of all North Korea
4. Be the biggest funder of terrorist organisations after Saudi arabia and Iran?
5. Declare it's nuclear weaponsa s the Islamic bomb?