[cicero's_son]

If Iraq has obtained the equipment to manufacture or extract plutonium, it must either have some quite complex -- and highly restricted -- technology or a functioning nuclear reactor.

There's a third, and perhaps even more disturbing possibility: that the plutonium was produced elsewhere (say, Russia or France) and shipped in its purified form to Iraq.

[Ford Fairlane]

Or North Korea

[blam]

"There's a third, and perhaps even more disturbing possibility: that the plutonium was produced elsewhere (say, Russia or France) and shipped in its purified form to Iraq."

IMO, This is the most likely. It's my understanding that each reactor leaves a 'signature' in the isotopes and can be tracked exactly to its source. Someone is in serious trouble.

[Beck_isright]

Remember the ship from North Korea with the missles encased in concrete? That is how you would ship plutonium also if you do not want it detected. Now, remembering that only 2% of all shipping containers are inspected coming into the U.S.A., just how hard do you think it would be to smuggle 20 lbs of plutonium into the U.S. Especially since dopers smuggle tons of drugs in on a weekly basis.

V

Sleep tight on that one gang.