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Posted on 09/11/2004 12:09:10 AM PDT by nwctwx
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The following report ties a lot of loose ends together of discussions we've had about nuclear proliferation on the TM:
http://www.isis-online.org/publications/southafrica/asherkarni.html
Asher Karni Case Shows Weakness in Nuclear Export Controls
By Jacob Blackford
September 8, 2004
Contents
Introduction
Details of Karni's alleged scheme
Other proposed deals involving Karni
* Proposed deal for Tektronix oscilloscopes
* Possibly completed deal for Tektronix oscillators
* Proposed deal for Lockheed-Martin Naval Systems infra-red detectors
* Proposed deal for a regulator made by Grove Regulators
* Proposed deal for manometers made by Setra Systems
* Proposed deal for accelerometer made by Columbia Research Laboratories or Crossbow
Conclusions
* The role of South Africa as a transshipment point
* The role of private companies
Appendix: Entities mentioned in the court records
Notes
Introduction
In January 2004, U.S. authorities arrested Asher Karni, an Israeli citizen living in South Africa, for allegedly re-exporting U.S.-made triggered spark gaps from South Africa to Pakistan. Among other things, triggered spark gaps can be used to detonate nuclear weapons. Karni's court records offer a rare glimpse into the workings of a company that allegedly transferred items of use in nuclear weapons, and might have done so again, had authorities not been tipped off. This review of court records is an effort to better understand the illicit trafficking of such items and ways to prevent this. This review does not presume, based on the limited evidence in the court records, to show or acknowledge that any party involved-including Karni, who has not been convicted-is guilty of a crime.
Details of Karni's alleged scheme
According to a U.S. government affidavit against Karni, Humayun Khan, the CEO of a Pakistani company, Pakland PME, approached Karni around June 2003 in search of triggered spark gaps, model number GP-20B, made by PerkinElmer Optoelectronics of Salem, Massachusetts. It is not clear exactly how many spark gaps Pakland initially sought. A source in South Africa told U.S. law enforcement that Pakland sought between 100 and 400 units, according to court records, and Pakland eventually placed an order for 200.
Triggered spark gaps are a dual-use item. They can be used to detonate nuclear weapons or to separate missile stages, but they can also be used in lithotripters, medical devices used to break up kidney stones without surgery. The Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed to restrict their export if there is a risk they will be used in nuclear weapons.[1] Based on the NSG guidelines, the United States requires an export license to send them to countries of nuclear proliferation concern, including India, Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan. (snipped)
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=062250CB-7FDB-4FD4-B789BDEC4B738697&title=World%20Oil%20Prices%20Hit%20%2450%20Barrel#
World Oil Prices Hit $50 Barrel
VOA News
27 Sep 2004, 22:28 UTC
Crude oil prices have jumped to $50.00 a barrel in after hours trading in New York.
The psychologically significant level was reached in electronic trading after the close of the markets Monday.
Before the end of the trading day, prices had been approaching the $50.00 level.
Traders attribute the late day surge to fresh concern about the effect of rebel attacks on Nigerian oil production. They also cite clashes between security forces and terrorists in Saudi Arabia as reasons for concern.
This adds to previous worries about disruption from hurricanes in the United States, sabotage in Iraq, and the legal and political struggles of a major Russian oil producer.
A spokesman for President Bush says the administration is keeping a close eye on oil prices.
I wonder if this applies to specifically citizens of the State of Israel....or to Jews in general? I mean, I can think of quite a few Jewish citizens of the United States who might be justifiably concerned with this new policy. Of course there is already a significant Hamas presence in this country, but they couldn't possibly be that stupid to.....could they?
We TM'rs are always speculating about specific dates, or trying to attach some significance to them. Their past history of attacks has led us to do this. I believe that now they know we are using the dates.....and they, in turn, are using this against us.
They will attack us at some time. This is pretty much a given.
But, we will not know when, and possibly not where. It's all part of their game.
I also believe, that in order to lend credence to their cause, they must attack soon, and strongly. They will lose face if they don't.
It is my prayer that someone more intelligent than I can figure it out.
The next six weeks will be crucial for them......and for us.
I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right about now. Not because of the heart attack, but for all the explaining he's going to have to do....and not to Allah, either!
Authorities believe someone caused the explosion by puncturing the pipeline with a trackhoe, which is used for digging, said Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams. He did not know whether the damage was intentional.
Oh please!
I got the impression that it applied to Jews in general, but that's just an opinion. They are definitely that stupid, as shown in this stunt from last month:
http://www.jnewswire.com/library/article.php?articleid=294
Hamas preparing to strike America? August 24th, 2004
JERUSALEM - Americans Tuesday were left feeling that the “Palestinian” group Hamas may be preparing to export its Islamic terrorist campaign from Israel to the shores of the United States in the very near future.
Hamas has long used the US as a base for money laundering operations aimed at financing attacks against Jewish men, women and children in Israel.
In an incident signaling the group may be set to take their anti-Americanism to the next level, senior Virginia-based Hamas official Ismael Selim Elbarasse was detained last week after police officers spotted him videotaping the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Police officials told the Associated Press that Elbarasse’s video camera contained close-up footage of the bridge that seemed unusual for a tourist.
He was placed in custody after local police learned he was wanted as a material witness in a separate terror-related court case in Chicago, where he was identified as a co-conspirator in a 15-year operation that financed “Palestinian” terrorist activity.
While the US State Department openly recognizes Hamas as a terrorist organization, Washington regularly criticizes Israeli military efforts to eliminate the group.
That's interesting.
Spy Imagery Agency Watching Inside U.S.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=624&ncid=738&e=2&u=/ap/20040927/ap_on_sc/watching_the_homeland
Let's pray its working
I agree that it is interesting. I must admit that I didn't read every word because of the length, but I did recognize some of the incidents that have been posted here, and the report clarified and gave closure to them.
Too funny!
I am jittery of everything I hear now:
Fire engines and ambulances, although I am near a firehouse, the sirens are going nutso right now!
Airplanes, alot of those too near O'Hare but nervous nelly I am, especially hearing choppers in the wee hours
Agree 100%. It's got to be massive. No half measures. Godzilla's great updates agree on this point. It's got to be spectacular, and extremely violent for the shock value and photo ops. That seems to me to preclude a bio attack. Too long for it to spin up, too uncertain in the spread and too difficult to coordinate. It does not preclude a chemical attack, but that too is going to be very limited in scope. Also, and perhaps more importantly for this, we are rapidly leaving the season for a good chemical attack to be persistant and to disperse evenly.
I can't rule out some form of massive conventional attack using the same methods as used before, namely airliners or fuel trucks etc. But there would have to be more of them on a larger scale spread over most of the country to achieve the effect they want. It's got to be bigger than 911 or they not only lose face, it looks like 911 was a lucky "sucker punch" on a sleeping giant. It could happen exactly as it did last time, except on a grander scale.....but......
I'm still laying odds on the nukes.....God forbid.
NYC, CA and Utah. Interesting.
Good.
By KATHERINE PFLEGER SHRADER, Associated Press Writer
BETHESDA, Md. - In the name of homeland security, America's spy imagery agency is keeping a close eye, close to home. It's watching America. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, about 100 employees of a little-known branch of the Defense Department called the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — and some of the country's most sophisticated aerial imaging equipment — have focused on observing what's going on in the United States.
Thank God, I say let them spy all the want. I am very
nervous about October. Only because it's the month
before the elections and so far nothing has happened.
It is almost like we are closing in on a deadline so to
speak.
I live in a medium-sized metro (Kansas City area) and I've heard a lot more sirens in the past few days too.
Fun With Arabic: This is a great little site that gives some good links and some brief overviews of beginners topics. I have not been through the whole site yet, but it seems quite informative... The entire alphabet is covered and it appears as if many common words are used.
Some other interesting sites:
Arabic in Jordan (Palestinian Dialect)
UPenn : Arabic Studies Links
I'm a bit behind on the thread, but hope everyone is doing well. :)
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-9-2004_pg7_6
Intelligence says Osama is alive, says Musharraf
THE HAGUE: President Pervez Musharraf said evidence from interrogations and technological intelligence suggested Osama Bin Laden was still alive, on Monday. “We interrogated the militants that we had apprehended and have a lot of intelligence, both human and through aerial surveillance, that suggests Bin Laden is still alive,” President Musharraf told reporters in the Netherlands when asked to speculate Bin Laden’s fate. President Musharraf was quoted by CNN on its website earlier this month as saying he was “reasonably sure” Bin Laden was still alive. The Al Qaeda leader’s whereabouts remain unknown, he said. “I don’t know where he is, I wish I knew.”
Thank you NW.
I'll take a look.
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