Pakistan demands nuclear papers

Washington Times ^ | Massoud Ansari

[Khan Noonian Singh]

Yeah, maybe you're right.

But I feel like Columbo here, coming back to the same thing over and over because there's something amiss about it. My mind keeps returning to AQ Khan and why we're being so easy on him.

If it's to to keep Musharraf's game of footsie - or worse - with AQ Khan from becoming public, think of the consequences. Our worst fears of nuclear proliferation are coming to pass, and we refuse to do anything about it because nothing is more important than keeping Musharraf in office. ? !

I still don't believe the theory, though, that we're just covering up for Musharraf. It's too easy; it's the theory they put out there as a trial balloon to see if it would fly.

I think AQ Khan has us over a barrel in some other way:

Maybe he says he has an atomic bomb stored somewhere, with instructions on what to do if anything happens to him. It would just be his unproven claim that he had it, but would you take a chance?

Maybe it's not a bomb, but documents like the ones that supposedly incriminate Musharraf. But suppose they incriminate somebody else too? Just guessing here; blackmail is a powerful motivator. Keep in mind that blackmail against Musharraf wouldn't be a powerful motivator for us, though.

[nuconvert]

"Maybe he says he has an atomic bomb stored somewhere, with instructions on what to do if anything happens to him."

No. I don't think so.
Remember, the public is receiving very little information.
But the White House is getting tons. They know exactly who has what and that's incredibly valuable information. What they don't know is how involved Musharraf was, although they have a very good idea, I'm sure. The other information missing is the cooperation of Pakistan's lead military men. Well, who cares? That's their problem.
The White House has to deal with these incredibly dishonest leaders all the time. They can't go around arresting them all. And with Khan's daughters having taken off with some sort of proof, what's the White House really supposed to do? They can't turn Pakistan over to some radical, and cause chaos because they have a good hunch that Musharraf is in this up to his eyeballs. They're kinda stuck at the moment. But I think they've put pressure on Musharraf to tell them (almost) everything he knows. (with the exception of implicating himself.) And I think they're learning quite a lot. And probably waiting to see if the other shoe drops.

[Khan Noonian Singh]

Pakistan is a snakepit that is going to have to be tamed sooner or later. You are right, now is not yet the time.