U.S. flies radioactive material, suitable for dirty bomb, out of Iraq

The Boston Globe ^ | July 6, 2004 | AP

[JellyJam]

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a secret operation, the United States last month removed from Iraq nearly two tons of uranium and hundreds of highly radioactive items that could have been used in a so-called dirty bomb, the Energy Department disclosed Tuesday.

The nuclear material was secured from Iraq's former nuclear research facility and airlifted out of the country to an undisclosed Energy Department laboratory for further analysis, the department said in a statement.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham described the previously undisclosed operation, which was concluded June 23, as ''a major achievement'' in an attempt to ''keep potentially dangerous nuclear material out of the hands of terrorists.''

[JellyJam]

... but there's no WMD in Iraq. </sarcasm off>.

[JellyJam]

This is hugh, by the way. :-)

[HipShot]

Now I know why Oak Ridge has been cleaning up. They're making room for more goodies in the cookie jar.

[Sub-Driver]

I'll be right back - need to take a shower.

[SlickWillard]

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham described the previously undisclosed operation, which was concluded June 23, as ''a major achievement'' in an attempt to ''keep potentially dangerous nuclear material out of the hands of terrorists.''

SAY WHAT?!?

Here at Free Republic, we've known about that for almost two and a half MONTHS!!!

U.S. Announces It Intends to Move Tons of Uranium From Baghdad
May 22, 2004

IENNA, May 21 — The United States has informed an international agency that oversees nuclear materials that it intends to move hundreds of tons of uranium from a sealed repository south of Baghdad to a more secure place outside Iraq, Western diplomats close to the agency say.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1141540/posts

[SlickWillard]

almost two and a half MONTHS!!!

Oops - make that ONE and a half months, or about six weeks.

[FormerACLUmember]

God bless, God bless George Bush and Dick Cheney.

[McGruff]

What?

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT!!

[McGruff]

Please consider this for Breaking News. It's Hugh.

[JellyJam]

Think the mainstream press will bother to report this?

[JellyJam]

It's definitely hugh. We need to blurt this out to the world!

[HipShot]

I'm local, my ears are on, nose to the ground.

[cripplecreek]

I wouldn't get too wound up about this one. It could be medical waste for all we know. It certainly doesn't constitute a WMD it only means it could be used in a dirty bomb.

Virtually every nation on the planet has WMDs if the standards are that low.

[JellyJam]

true, true, true.

[carl in alaska]

No question we have prevented what could have been a very series problem.

[fooman]

No, it is a lie. There is no wmd

[fooman]

and series....

[Normal4me]

"Think the mainstream press will bother to report this?

You new here? Of course they won't report on this. They have another two orgasmic weeks of John Edwards left.

[lefties]But it wasn't a threat to the USA....blah...blah..blah. [/lefties]

[JellyJam]

They shoulda trucked a load to Michael Moore.