Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Israelis seized nuclear material in Syrian raid
Times Online ^ | 9/23/07 | Uzi Mahnaimi and Sarah Baxter

Posted on 09/22/2007 7:30:07 PM PDT by Libloather

Israelis seized nuclear material in Syrian raid
Uzi Mahnaimi and Sarah Baxter
September 23, 2007

Israeli commandos seized nuclear material of North Korean origin during a daring raid on a secret military site in Syria before Israel bombed it this month, according to informed sources in Washington and Jerusalem.

The attack was launched with American approval on September 6 after Washington was shown evidence the material was nuclear related, the well-placed sources say.

They confirmed that samples taken from Syria for testing had been identified as North Korean. This raised fears that Syria might have joined North Korea and Iran in seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

Israeli special forces had been gathering intelligence for several months in Syria, according to Israeli sources. They located the nuclear material at a compound near Dayr az-Zwar in the north.

Evidence that North Korean personnel were at the site is said to have been shared with President George W Bush over the summer. A senior American source said the administration sought proof of nuclear-related activities before giving the attack its blessing.

Diplomats in North Korea and China believe a number of North Koreans were killed in the strike, based on reports reaching Asian governments about conversations between Chinese and North Korean officials.

Syrian officials flew to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, last week, reinforcing the view that the two nations were coordinating their response.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ahmadinejad; airstrikes; axisofevil; israel; nknukes; northkorea; nuclear; raid; sayeretmatkal; sept62007; spartansixdelta; syria
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 241-260261-280281-300301-310 next last
To: Libloather

IMHO, IMMHO, Syria is just the fence. Not that they don’t deserve a thrashing.
Curious this hasn’t been fully aired in the UN. Perhaps Pres. Bush doesn’t want to jump the gun, but what more does anyone need?


261 posted on 09/23/2007 10:22:35 AM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (Write. Phone. Fax. Demand answers. Demand questions!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pride in the USA; Stillwaters

ping


262 posted on 09/23/2007 11:35:08 AM PDT by lonevoice (It's always "Apologize to a Muslim Hour"...somewhere)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre
I think it was more a combo of watching Saddam get his teeth kicked out as well as repeated cases of nuclear and bio/chemical wmds and associated materials/engineering/chemical equipment etc., being made known being imported from Russia etc..
After Saddam was ousted, Quadafi all of a sudden came clean, and with the help of the DOS arranged somewhat for him to bow out of the nuclear race with grace. We should remember we rewarded him with financial aid shortly afterward.
Besides the last thing he wants to do is have his son take over with the US breathing down on his back.
263 posted on 09/23/2007 11:44:09 AM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter for POTUS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 250 | View Replies]

To: Eagles6

There where also traces of Plutonium found on incoming centrafuges if my memory serves me correct. Bottom line is your statements cannot draw any rebutals, for they are simply accurate.


264 posted on 09/23/2007 11:49:34 AM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter for POTUS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 255 | View Replies]

To: shield

Mr. Wheeler’s sources appear to have failed him. That the North Koreans failed to fully reach the threshold of their atomic test is understood. The idea it has not occurred seems long dated.

Some also are sticking with Debka. To each their own.


265 posted on 09/23/2007 12:16:15 PM PDT by romanesq
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 259 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

I think it’s even more telling that no one in the rest of the world said boo. Usually they’d fall all over themselves condemning Israel for something like this. But instead we have reps from France and Germany talking about how war with Iran might become necessary. Makes me think intel was exchanged that made a very strong impression.

In fact (I could be wrong) it seems like even the ME countries barely said anything. I think that’s because they know that Iran via Syria is ultimately just as big a threat to them as it is to Israel. The last thing the Sunnis want is a Shia dominent ME. They secretly like that Israel is willing to blow things up.


266 posted on 09/23/2007 1:47:02 PM PDT by agrace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: GovernmentShrinker

it is, in fact, open proliferation by DPRK if it is true (which the US knows one way or the other), and really is the nightmare scenario with regard to a nuclear DPRK.


267 posted on 09/23/2007 2:07:37 PM PDT by WoofDog123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: VA40
...conversations between Chinese and North Korean officials.>>>>>>>>>>>>

This line is troublesome.>>>>>

Chinas 2008 Summer Olympics are about to become China's 2008 Winter Olympics.

268 posted on 09/23/2007 2:24:28 PM PDT by Candor7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baghdad_(1258))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: popdonnelly
If Syria has North Korean nuclear material, what about Iran?

Hard to say since we will never know what Israel snatched from Syria. If it was in fact fissile material, we should assume Iran has a nuclear device.

269 posted on 09/23/2007 2:51:15 PM PDT by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: bert

“You don’t get it.

We will never leave. There will always be an air base there to dominate the area. “

No, I do get it. I get it that the Iraqi government says “NO attacks from Iraqi soil on our neighbors” and we comply. I get that they say “Release captured Iranians” that are spies and saboteurs. I get that they won’t let us kill the leadership of certain terrorist leadership and we comply. I get that we are not fighting a war for the sole good of the United States, using tactics that minimize US troop casualties because we kow-tow to Iraqi “leadership”.

So what is it I don’t get again?


270 posted on 09/23/2007 2:58:27 PM PDT by RFEngineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 241 | View Replies]

To: avacado

“Bush does not need the support of Congress to bomb Iran.”

Bush does not have the political support to engage Iran. He squandered it by subordinating the US mission to Iraqi “leadership”. Yes, theoretically, he COULD bomb Iran, but to secure the nuclear capability against certain reconstitution, we need to invade not just bomb. Iranians are smarter than Iraqi’s - and they have distributed their nuclear capability and have hardened it. It will take a war to dislodge it to the point of certainty.

Bush does not have the political capital with Congress or the American people to fight a war with Iran. That is why I say with certainty that he will do nothing because that is all he can do. It’s just my opinion, and I’d like to be wrong in this case, but I don’t think I will be.


271 posted on 09/23/2007 3:04:24 PM PDT by RFEngineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 257 | View Replies]

To: doc1019
The 'tags' are used to track what reactor created what materials.

Since we have seen and recieved material from the NK's and Iran it is likely we can identify which supplied what to Syria. The next few month are going to be kind of scary.

272 posted on 09/23/2007 3:05:23 PM PDT by Pistolshot (Keyes/Paul '08 - When you can't get crazy enough.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Liberty Valance
Has anybody got a fly swatter?

LOL!

273 posted on 09/23/2007 4:08:37 PM PDT by texanyankee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: mware

He looks ronery


274 posted on 09/23/2007 4:57:53 PM PDT by JewishRighter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: JewishRighter

“rooks” ronery?

rearry?


275 posted on 09/23/2007 5:04:08 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 274 | View Replies]

To: Libloather; All

Does anyone else besides me wonder if the $20K bonus for new US Army recruits to start their training before 30 September is designed to provide us with a boost in troop strength in preparation for an additional foray into Syria or Iran in the near future?


http://www.military.com/military-report/bonus-for-army-recruits
$20,000 Bonus for Army Recruits
Week of August 20, 2007

The U.S. Army’s Recruiting Command has announced a $20,000 “quick-ship” bonus for aspiring recruits. The bonus applies to new recruits with no prior military service who enlist for at least two years active duty in America’s Army. They must agree to report to basic training within 30 days of enlistment. The program ends Sept. 30. The $20,000 quick-ship bonus can be combined with the Army’s other cash enlistment bonuses, up to a maximum combination of $40,000 if an enlistee signs up for at least four years.


276 posted on 09/23/2007 6:20:49 PM PDT by Rockitz (This isn't rocket science- Follow the money and you'll find the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RFEngineer
"Bush does not have the political support to engage Iran. "

He doesn't need it. Clinton bombed 5 countries without telling the American people, Congress, or the UN. If Bush feels this is what needs to be done... Then as Commander in Chief of the USA, he can damn well do it...

277 posted on 09/23/2007 6:49:39 PM PDT by avacado
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 271 | View Replies]

To: mamelukesabre

“rooks” ronery?

“rearry?”

no fooring. ronery and forrorn.


278 posted on 09/23/2007 7:12:44 PM PDT by JewishRighter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 275 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

bttt


279 posted on 09/23/2007 7:19:04 PM PDT by petercooper ("Daisy-cutters trump a wiretap anytime." - Nicole Gelinas - 02-10-04)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: avacado

“He doesn’t need it. Clinton bombed 5 countries without telling the American people, Congress, or the UN. If Bush feels this is what needs to be done... Then as Commander in Chief of the USA, he can damn well do it...”

The point is not whether he could launch cruise missles, or an air strike against Iran, the point is whether that would be effective in any way against Iran’s nuclear program.

As you’ll recall, Clinton’s strikes were ineffective and meaningless, designed to be political more than military, especially when he was being subjected to certain lines of questioning......

A cruise missle strike against Iran would be ineffective. An air strike would be risky, given the advanced air defense weaponry they have recently acquired from our friends the Rooskies.

The only reason to attack Iran is to neutralize their nuclear capability. Air strikes don’t get us there.

So fine, he launches a few cruise missles...so what? Mind you I don’t think Bush will even do that, but if so, it’s not going to matter.


280 posted on 09/23/2007 8:07:28 PM PDT by RFEngineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 277 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 241-260261-280281-300301-310 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson