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BBC: Syria 'had covert nuclear scheme' ( Photos confirm nuke reactor )
BBC ^ | Friday, 25 April 2008 10:19 UK 09:19 GMT, | BBC Staff

Posted on 04/25/2008 12:49:12 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Syria 'had covert nuclear scheme'

US government image said to be of North Korean and Syrian reactors
The US says there were similarities between the Syrian and North Korean reactors


The United States has accused North Korea of helping Syria build a nuclear reactor that "was not intended for peaceful purposes".

The site, said to be like one in North Korea, was bombed by Israel in 2007.

Syria must "come clean" about its secret nuclear programme, the White House said in a statement after CIA officials briefed members of Congress.

Syria has repeated denials that it has any nuclear weapons programme, or any such agreement with North Korea.

Syrian officials have said the site that was bombed by Israel in September last year was an unused military facility under construction. Building on the site had stopped some time before the air strike, the Syrians said.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

6 Sept 2007: Israel bombs site in Syria

1 Oct: Syria's President Assad tells BBC site was military

24 Oct: New satellite images taken show site bulldozed clear


In late October 2007, an independent American research organisation, the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), released pre- and post-strike satellite images of the site which indicated it had been bulldozed flat after the bombing.

But the White House said the "cover-up" operation that Syria carried out after the Israeli air strike reinforced its belief that the alleged reactor "was not intended for peaceful activities".

"Until 6 September, 2007, the Syrian regime was building a covert nuclear reactor in its eastern desert capable of producing plutonium," the statement said.

"The Syrian regime must come clean before the world regarding its illicit nuclear activities."

The statement added that the US had long been "seriously concerned about North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and its proliferation activities".

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Images released by the CIA- footage courtesy of US Government video

But the White House insists it is committed to the on-going six-nation diplomacy, between North Korea and US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia that led to a landmark deal with Pyongyang, in February 2007.

Ulterior motive?

North Korea agreed to give up its nuclear weapons in return for aid and its removal from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism. But the US has accused Pyongyang of missing the deadline to make a full nuclear declaration as promised.

Compare before and after satellite images of the site


The CIA briefing and statement coincides with the end of a two-day meeting between US and North Korean officials on Pyongyang's nuclear programme, which both sides say have gone well - fuelling speculation that a deal may be imminent.

The BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Washington, says the question being asked by some in the US capital is whether the reactor statement is designed to reinforce those diplomatic efforts or an attempt by some in the administration to undermine them.

Damning images?

The CIA briefings included pictures which the US says prove that North Koreans were working inside the secret site.

One of the images, which shows two men standing side by side, was said by the CIA to be of the head of the North Korean nuclear plant and the head of the Syrian atomic energy commission together in Syria.

The images - said to have been obtained by Israel - showed striking similarities between the Syrian facility and the North Korean reactor at Yongbyon, the US said.

However, the facility was not yet operational and there was no fuel for the reactor, officials said.

Israeli fears

Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who attended the CIA briefing, said the US needed "good, clear, verifiable information" from the countries involved before North Korea could be removed from the terrorism blacklist, the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.

US government photo said to be of North Korean and Syrian nuclear chiefs
The US says this is the North Korean and Syrian nuclear chiefs in Syria

Mr Hoekstra criticised the Bush administration for waiting eight months to brief the intelligence committee and warned that it could jeopardise any future agreement with North Korea.

Syrian officials have denied any North Korean involvement in their country.

"These allegations are ridiculous," Syria's ambassador to the UK, Sami Khiyami, told the BBC.

"We are used to such allegations now, since the day the United States has invaded Iraq - you remember all the theatrical presentations concerning the WMDs [weapons of mass destruction] in Iraq."

Mr Khiyami said the facility was a deserted military building that had "nothing to do with a reactor".

Syria is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which gives it the right to enrich its own fuel for civil nuclear power, under inspection from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

North Korea has previously denied transferring nuclear technology to Syria.

The BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says the apparent strike on the reactor, deep inside Syria, was seen by many in Israel as a sign of their military prowess.

But she says Israeli defence officials now have expressed concern over the revelation of classified data in the US.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 090607; iran; iraq; israel; nkorea; northkorea; nuclear; nuclearproliferation; nukes; sept6; sept62007; syria; syriannukes
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1 posted on 04/25/2008 12:49:12 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: NormsRevenge; elhombrelibre; Allegra; SandRat; tobyhill; G8 Diplomat; Dog; Cap Huff; ...

fyi


2 posted on 04/25/2008 12:50:45 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

3 posted on 04/25/2008 12:52:24 PM PDT by bamahead (Avoid self-righteousness like the devil- nothing is so self-blinding. -- B.H. Liddell Hart)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Hopefully all the NKs were at the site all happily working on their reactor when Israel decided to say hello.


4 posted on 04/25/2008 12:52:34 PM PDT by Proud_USA_Republican (We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
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To: All
In text: US accuses Syria and N Korea

The full text of the statement by White House press secretary Dana Perino on alleged Syrian and North Korean nuclear co-operation follows:

Today, administration officials have briefed select Congressional committees on an issue of great international concern.

Until 6 September, 2007, the Syrian regime was building a covert nuclear reactor in its eastern desert capable of producing plutonium. We are convinced, based on a variety of information, that North Korea assisted Syria's covert nuclear activities. We have good reason to believe that reactor, which was damaged beyond repair on 6 September of last year, was not intended for peaceful purposes.

Carefully hidden from view, the reactor was not configured for such purposes. In defiance of its international obligations, Syria did not inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the construction of the reactor, and, after it was destroyed, the regime moved quickly to bury evidence of its existence.

This cover-up only served to reinforce our confidence that this reactor was not intended for peaceful activities.

'Must come clean'

We are briefing the IAEA on this intelligence. The Syrian regime must come clean before the world regarding its illicit nuclear activities.

The Syrian regime supports terrorism, takes action that destabilises Lebanon, allows the transit of some foreign fighters into Iraq, and represses its own people. If Syria wants better relations with the international community, it should put an end to these activities.

We have long been seriously concerned about North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its proliferation activities. North Korea's clandestine nuclear cooperation with Syria is a dangerous manifestation of those activities. One way we have chosen to deal with this problem is through the Six Party Framework.

Through this process we are working with our partners to achieve the verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The United States is also committed to ensuring that North Korea does not further engage in proliferation activities. We will work with our partners to establish in the Six Party Framework a rigorous verification mechanism to ensure that such conduct and other nuclear activities have ceased.

'Risks of Iran'

The construction of this reactor was a dangerous and potentially destabilising development for the region and the world. This is particularly true because it was done covertly and in violation of the very procedures designed to reassure the world of the peaceful intent of nuclear activities.

This development also serves as a reminder that often the same regimes that sponsor proliferation also sponsor terrorism and foster instability, and co-operate with one another in doing so. This underscores that the international community is right to be very concerned about the nuclear activities of Iran and the risks those activities pose to the stability of the Middle East.

To confront this challenge, the international community must take further steps, beginning with the full implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions dealing with Iranian nuclear activities. The United States calls upon the international community to redouble our common efforts to ending these activities and preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction in this critical region.


5 posted on 04/25/2008 12:53:15 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Obviously, just another George Bush lie.


6 posted on 04/25/2008 12:54:43 PM PDT by Holicheese (Hillary deserves the CMoH for her time in Tuzla!)
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To: bamahead
Get me within 500 yards of Boy Assad and I'll blow that grin of his face permanently.

L

7 posted on 04/25/2008 12:54:46 PM PDT by Lurker (Pimping my blog: http://lurkerslair-lurker.blogspot.com/)
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To: bamahead

I'm seeing a pattern here...

8 posted on 04/25/2008 12:55:57 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY (Your parents will all receive phone calls instructing them to love you less now.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Looking at the satellite ‘before and after’ photos, it looks like someone took a pencil eraser to ‘after’ photo. The reactor building has been completely erased.


9 posted on 04/25/2008 12:57:53 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

“However, the facility was not yet operational and there was no fuel for the reactor, officials said.”
The fuel was probably still aboard the NK “concrete” ship that was already docked. That’s most likely what made the airstrike necessary at that time.


10 posted on 04/25/2008 1:01:19 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: rawhide

I think my favorite part of the story from last year was how the fancy Russian-made Syrian radar was unable to see any Israeli jets coming. That’s the same fancy Russian-made radar that the Iranians supposedly will rely on to let them know the the Israelis are coming at them.


11 posted on 04/25/2008 1:02:38 PM PDT by pie_eater
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To: pie_eater

I say if Syria, Libya and Iran (and any other muslim nation) want nuclear weapons, we should let them have them. The only catch is they’ll be delivered via MIRV’ing SLBMs.


12 posted on 04/25/2008 1:07:11 PM PDT by CarmichaelPatriot
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Syria 'had covert nuclear scheme'

But Saddam Hussein had no interest in Nuclear Development...

Yeah, that's it...

13 posted on 04/25/2008 1:07:20 PM PDT by Wil H
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To: pie_eater

Yes, I remember that part of the story. I’m sure the Iranians will be upgrading their systems after this incident.


14 posted on 04/25/2008 1:10:13 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: rawhide
It looks like the building has been completely covered by sand.

-PJ

15 posted on 04/25/2008 1:10:41 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (Repeal the 17th amendment -- it's the "Fairness Doctrine" for Congress!)
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To: rawhide
Not sure where you are finding those photos....this thread has a before image:

Suspect Reactor Construction Site In Eastern Syria: The Site Of September 6 Israeli Raid? (Photos)

16 posted on 04/25/2008 1:12:59 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I looked at the satellite photo from your opening post in this thread:


17 posted on 04/25/2008 1:15:07 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: pie_eater
That should be somewhere on this list:

Keyword list of Freerepublic threads on the Sept 6, 2007 IAF Attack on Syria ..Possible NUKES ....

18 posted on 04/25/2008 1:16:47 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Lurker
Get me within 500 yards of Boy Assad and I'll blow that grin of his face permanently.

It looks like someone already knocked his chin off.

19 posted on 04/25/2008 1:17:41 PM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: bamahead
FR Thread:

PELOSI TRIP TO SYRIA: MET TERRORIST

20 posted on 04/25/2008 1:23:41 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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