Posted on 05/24/2002 5:09:19 PM PDT by Pokey78
I quit cold turkey eight years ago. If a nuke goes off in this country and I survive the initial blast, I'm smoking a cigarette with a cup of coffee and a big fat donut (or two).
It seems to me that any organization, criminal or otherwise, tends to be concerned first and foremost with their own survival. This is manifest in their efforts to procure funds that are used to further the organization or individuals heading the organization. It is my understanding that the Russian Mafia (RM) is largely composed of old Soviet-era officials who have the contacts and know how things "get done", so it would be erroneous to assume that they're stupid or will behave like street thugs.
Smart criminals know that there are limits they can safely push and still do business with a low profile. As long as the "threat" exists that nuclear material could be sold through the RM, then the Russian Government can still milk monetary assistance from the US. But if anyone actually did sell a nuke to some wild and wacky Muslim who in turn floated in into DC I would imagine that it would bring a crackdown like the RM has never seen, and a serious strain on the emerging US-Russia money making machines and killing their golden geese.
In short, why would the RM sell a nuke to a nutball like OBL? They appear to have nothing to gain from it. They're in business to make money for themselves, like most non-Enron businessmen they would likely understand long term repercussions of the nuke trade.
Having a nuclear bomb takes more than a sack full of U-235 and plutonium.
Also, as you pointed out, radiation is the easiest thing in the world to detect.....remotely. Radiation detectors placed along the road could readily sniff it out.
This hasn't happened yet?
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