Musharraf Says Appears Scientists Sold Secrets

Reuters ^ | January 23 2004

[knighthawk]

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Friday it appeared Pakistani scientists had sold nuclear secrets abroad, but reiterated Islamabad's position that there had been no official involvement. Pakistan says it began questioning its nuclear scientists, including the father of its atomic bomb, Abdul Qadeer Khan, after the U.N. nuclear agency began investigating possible links between the Pakistani and Iranian nuclear programs.

Musharraf told CNN while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the investigation, launched in November, would be finished in "a few weeks."

Asked the likely outcome, he replied: "Well, I would not like to predict, but it appears that some individuals, as I said, were involved for personal financial gain."

Musharraf went further than past statements from his government that individual scientists "may" have transferred nuclear technology to neighboring Iran.

He said similar allegations had been made against European individuals and countries, "So it is not Pakistan alone."

And he stressed: "There is no such evidence that any government personality or military personality was involved in this at all."

Asked about reports that Pakistani scientists had also transferred technology to Libya and North Korea, he replied:

"I am not denying anything because we are investigating; we have sent teams to Libya, we have sent teams to Iran and we are in contact with the IAEA (the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency). We are collecting all the data..."

He vowed "stern action" against violators: "There is nothing that we want to hide, we want to be very up and clear about it that we will move against anybody who proliferated," he said.

Pakistan would move against any violator "because they are enemies of the state," he said.

The United States suspects Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb under cover of an atomic energy program Tehran insists is purely peaceful.

Nuclear programs in Iran, North Korea and Libya have all intensified Western concern that one or more of the countries could join the "nuclear club," although Libya announced late last year it would cooperate with the United States and Britain in dismantling its weapons programs. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei was asked in Davos on Thursday about reports that nuclear know-how and technology may have reached Iran or Libya from Pakistan and replied:

"I think what we know is that there have been individuals involved. I do not want to jump to conclusions and say a government is involved."

Two Dutch ministers said on Monday there were "indications" North Korea and Libya may have acquired potentially arms-related nuclear technology developed by British-Dutch-German consortium Urenco that Pakistan and Iran are known to possess.

Western diplomats have said Pakistani individuals may have helped both Tripoli and Pyongyang obtain the technology, in addition to Tehran.

Abdul Qadeer Khan worked for Urenco in the 1970s. After his return to Pakistan in the 1980s was sentenced in absentia by an Amsterdam court to four years' jail for attempted espionage, a decision later overturned on appeal.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Prodigal Son]

Wow. This is actually a very big story.

If the scientists did it for financial gain this begs the question doesn't it? Bin Laden was a very rich man.

It also leads to a lot of speculation about what is going on in Pakistan. This story with the scientists has been brewing for a few weeks now. Given that it is a backwards country, I would speculate that this is news that Musharraf has held on to until now- doling it out at his own pace and for his own device. The question is- what and why?

We hear lots of assurance from Iran lately in the news and from the UN agency responsible for looking into proliferation that Iran isn't trying to make nukes.

We hear rumors of bin Laden being captured.

There have been several attempts on Mushy's life of late.

Pakistan has, indeed, sent a team to Libya.

Libya has capitulated on its own quest to develop nukes.

There's a lot of high-stakes poker going on right now and the top story is Edwards' shampoo.

All this adds up to something. Whoever can connect the dots will have the answer.

[nuconvert]

Waiting to see the developments in this story........

[GOP_1900AD]

"Oh, I regret to inform you that some of our scientists may have done some things that were not approved. Please understand that we have this problem of rogue elements that are simply out of my control. So sorry. In order to prevent any future problems like this, please give me any and all help you can. Thank you my friend." [Fingers crossed behind back....]

[RightWhale]

Pakistan could treat such lawbreakers with utmost harshness.

[montag813]

Bush had two roads from which to choose after 9/11. The "Islam attacked us, trust no Muslim regime" one, and the "Islam is a religion of peace, work with seemingly-friendly Muslim regimes" one. Bush chose the "Religion of peace" road--a huge mistake. No Muslim regime can be trusted, no "Muslim Bomb" can be permitted. Bush made the same mistakes with Pakistan which Clinton did with North Korea. Now both rogue nations will turn loose those bombs on the black market. An American city will someday pay the price for our political correctness.

When will this nation learn that Islam is a religion of TOTAL WAR AGAINST THE INFIDEL? There is no compromise, no trust, no alliance with such an enemy. Stop the PC nonsense, stop the "moderate Islam" propaganda, drop the Wolfowitz pipe dreams about "Islamic democracy". It is all garbage. 9/11 was the Pearl Harbor in the war against Islam. But it seems that until millions die here at home, we will never act against this enemy.

[swarthyguy]

No offical involvement.

HA! That's a good one.

What's better is we will believe it.

BOOKPING.

Read Bernard -Henri Levy's great book the Who Killed Daniel Pearl. A journey into the Heart of Darkness, to the preachers of hate and their minions who, in their perverted worship, consider the sacrifice of a Jew, Christian, Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist to be the highest supplication of a blood god who demands human sacrifice.

The role of Omar, the ISI and the Military Mullah complex.

Phenom.

Too bad no American journalist had the balls to do what Mr. Levy did.

[swarthyguy]

Ping to prev post. Levy's GREAT book.

[milestogo]

Chickens coming home! —Kamran Shafi

I have no idea whether somebody sold nuclear technology to another country or not, but as someone who has seen the hush-hush wallahs quite closely it is extremely hard for me to believe that the scientists could have had any contact at all with third countries, let alone pass nuclear secrets to them, without their many minders knowing full well about it.

[DoctorMichael]

I'm SHOCKED! SHOCKED, I tell you!

[Cinnamon Girl]

And he stressed: "There is no such evidence that any government personality or military personality was involved in this at all."

Now, how would he know this?

[JimSEA]

I agree. The USA press is hopeless on foreign affairs. Musharraf has to be the most endangered individual and government in the world today. His position matches that of "moderate" Islam worldwide. Any major radical sucess and his government, along with Indonesia, Eygpt, and Jordan, may well collapse. The "major radical success" could well be Musharraf's assassination!

[swarthyguy]

Jihadis aren't big in the personality department.

Mindless, marauding mincing minions, scared of women, their individuality suppressed and replaced by a jihadi one size fits all mentality.

[dennisw]

Abdul Qadeer Khan is untouchable. He is considered a national hero in Paki-land.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

In many respects I think that Saddam's removal is just the beginning of the domino effect. Look at Libya.

Musharaff is a moderate, in terms of the region. And I suspect that both he and Hamid Karzai will continue to be targeted men. They desperately need our support. We cannot have their nations crumble, while at the same time we are trying to leverage dramatic change in hostile nations.

[Prodigal Son]

I pinged you because I know you follow this story. What do you make of Musharraf suddenly saying that 'secrets may have leaked'?

It seems to me that something is coming to a head here.

That's just me though, I would appreciate your input.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Musharraf will be placed in the position where he will have to acknowledge that this isn't a small "leak", but active cooperation with other nations. Khan's elevated position in society may mean that he and others could have accomplished their goals without the government's participation. I wonder who Khan's political allegiance is to, within Pakistan? Is he working against Musharraf, or not?

[piasa]

"US wakes up to Osama's nuke dreams"

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1066654/posts

"Pakistanis Exploited Nuclear Network"
The Washington Post ^ | January 28, 2004 | Kamran Khan


Posted on 01/28/2004 1:05:00 AM PST by neverdem


"Iran, Libya Aided Via Black Market, Investigation Finds"