'Pakistan threatened to give N-weapons to Iran' (Thanks Bill Clinton again)

The Times of India ^ | Februari 27 2004 | PTI

[knighthawk]

WASHINGTON : Although President George W. Bush's administration reacted with surprise to Pakistan's nuclear assistance to Iran, the Islamabad government warned the United States that such technology transfers might have occurred as early as 14 years ago, two former Pentagon officials say.

The threat was conveyed in January 1990 from Pakistan 's top general to the administration of Bush's father, but the information doesn't appear to have made its way to President Bill Clinton's administration when it took office three years later, according to interviews by The Associated Press.

In recent weeks, evidence has emerged that Pakistani nuclear aid to Iran began in the mid-1980s but accelerated after 1990 and included transfer of some of Pakistan 's most advanced nuclear technology.

The former Pentagon officials' accounts suggest the United States may have missed an early opportunity to thwart some of those transfers.

"We knew they were up to no good," said Henry Sokolski, the Pentagon's top arms control official in 1990.

Henry S. Rowen, at the time an assistant defence secretary, said Pakistani Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg issued the warning in a face-to-face meeting in Pakistan.

[knighthawk]

but the information doesn't appear to have made its way to President Bill Clinton's administration when it took office three years later

Looks like North Korea wasn't the only place Rockebilly made this mistake.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[cripplecreek]

Ahh the Clinton legacy grows.

Worse yet, I think democrats and liberals have started to figure it out, they just aren't willing to admit it.

[swarthyguy]

BJ Bill dropped the ball big time.

They didn't trend towards sanctions or putting Pak on the list of terror sponsoring nations as BushOne was thinking of doing.

They went so googoogaagaa over Benazir Bhutto and looked forward to the Pakistani Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan as bringing order and stability.

Meanwhile Khan's Bazaar was swinging.

[GOPJ]

bump