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

Skip to comments.

Al-Qaeda made 'dirty bomb' (in Afghanistan with help from the Taliban)
The Daily Telegraph ^ | January 31 2003

Posted on 01/30/2003 4:33:53 PM PST by knighthawk

OSAMA bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network successfully built a crude radiological device known as a "dirty bomb" in Afghanistan, the British Broadcasting Corp has reported.

British intelligence agents infiltrated the network and learned that terrorists had built the device near Herat in western Afghanistan, the BBC said, citing unidentified British government officials.

Britain's Foreign Office said today the report substantiated expert opinion that al-Qaeda wanted to develop a nuclear weapon.

"The evidence presented in the BBC report speaks for itself," a spokesman said.

"It provides proof to substantiate expert opinion that al-Qaeda was interested in developing nuclear weapons."

According to the BBC, the Taliban regime helped al-Qaeda construct the device, which has not been recovered, by providing medical isotopes.

There has been previous evidence of al-Qaeda's interest in developing a "dirty bomb" - a conventional bomb that would scatter radioactive material. Such a radiological weapon would be far less deadly and damaging than a nuclear explosion.

Computers found by journalists and US troops at a variety of facilities in Afghanistan indicated al-Qaeda had sought to obtain and develop nuclear and other potent weapons.

During a New York trial two years ago stemming from bombings at two US embassies in Africa, a former bin Laden aide testified he was ordered in 1993 to try to buy uranium on the black market for an effort to develop a nuclear weapon. Jamal Ahmed Al-Fadl said al-Qaeda was prepared to spend $US1.5 million ($2.5 million), but he did not know if a purchase was made.

In addition, US officials have said captured al-Qaeda lieutenant Abu Zubaydah told American interrogators the terrorist network was working on a "dirty bomb".

Authorities also have said that Jose Padilla, the former Chicago gang member charged with plotting with al-Qaeda, attended two meetings in Karachi, Pakistan, at which senior al-Qaeda operatives discussed the possible use of a "dirty bomb".

A United Nations report issued by experts monitoring al-Qaeda movements warned that al-Qaeda has the potential to obtain nuclear material and build "some kind of dirty bomb".

The BBC said documents discovered by the intelligence agents were sent to the British Government's weapons research facility in Porton Down, southern England. Scientists concluded al-Qaeda had constructed a small "dirty bomb", not a full-blown nuclear device.

In November the British Government issued - and then hurriedly withdrew - a statement warning that al-Qaeda might be prepared to use a "dirty bomb", or some kind of poison gas. It was replaced with a more general warning of terrorist threats.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; alqaeda; alqaida; bbc; dirtybomb; oef; southasialist; taliban; talibanlist; terrorwar
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-128 next last
To: Mo1



What's she been up to and where is Bill??

She's been up to no good, and bill is waiting to see what happens,(so he can say what he would of done if he was still in office) Remember his statement on gulf War 1?


61 posted on 01/30/2003 6:12:52 PM PST by woodyinscc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Mo1
Hill and Bill realize the train has left the station. And don't want to get run over.
62 posted on 01/30/2003 6:20:23 PM PST by Dog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Mo1
Did you by any chance see the the news clips of the Dims up on the hill complaining that Powell is taking this info to the UN next week and not to them first??

Screw them!

63 posted on 01/30/2003 6:34:54 PM PST by RightWingMama
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Dog
Hans Blix is running the equivalent that old 70s NCAA B-Ball four corner offense.

I think we should demand he personally lead all inspections of bunkers, palaces, underground complexes and labs DURING the shooting war.

Hans go poopy in pants.

64 posted on 01/30/2003 6:48:39 PM PST by ArneFufkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Mo1
Mo, I understand that his people regularly e-mail her people.

It's that intimate touch that keeps marriages strong.

65 posted on 01/30/2003 6:50:19 PM PST by ArneFufkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: PhiKapMom
The amusing thing to me ... was that 80% of the Democrats at the State of the Union address are SO STUPID ... they have no idea if they should stand and clap or sit and glare. They're like the resident management council at a Head Injury Home.

The smart guys like Lieberman, Daschele, Andrews, Miller, Graham, Breaux, Nelson, Feinstein, Hillary ... they know exactly when their interests are served by standing or opposing. The rest were looking around ... lost! LOL

There is never been as dismal a Democrat roster ... in my experience ... as now. They are unimpressive, unsuccessful and brightness-challenged hacks. Gerrymandered eunuchs.

How ugly is this Democrat abyss going to get? Two words ... Al Sharpton.

66 posted on 01/30/2003 7:00:50 PM PST by ArneFufkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: LibertyBelt
You might want to see this
67 posted on 01/30/2003 7:01:28 PM PST by Mr. Mulliner (Lord, please make me the kind of man my dog thinks I am.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: struwwelpeter
Well, here is a wild guess. It looks like a crude attempt to give two groups the 'N' code or trigger. The M-S-F could be something about San Francisco. Muslims in San Francisco ? The G-C-T could mean something about Connecticut. Some G group in connecticut ?
68 posted on 01/30/2003 7:07:55 PM PST by justa-hairyape
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: justa-hairyape
Goths?
69 posted on 01/30/2003 7:08:44 PM PST by ArneFufkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: ArneFufkin
Blix couldn't find his butt with two Hans.
70 posted on 01/30/2003 7:10:11 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: justa-hairyape
Some G group in connecticut ?

Please Lord, not the George "Goober" Lindsay Fan Club!

71 posted on 01/30/2003 7:10:46 PM PST by ArneFufkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: gov_bean_ counter
I'll bet that bastard makes $300K a year.
72 posted on 01/30/2003 7:11:53 PM PST by ArneFufkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: Dog
I agree w/the 10 day call.
73 posted on 01/30/2003 7:15:09 PM PST by reformedliberal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: knighthawk

74 posted on 01/30/2003 7:15:27 PM PST by mhking
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mhking
Yeah, you and your HTML skillsets Mr. King. ;^)
75 posted on 01/30/2003 7:17:09 PM PST by ArneFufkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: gov_bean_ counter
By the way, I liked your Blixian bon mot.
76 posted on 01/30/2003 7:18:00 PM PST by ArneFufkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: Dog; Poohbah; hchutch; Howlin; Sabertooth; Southack; rdb3; PhiKapMom; wimpycat
Ballon is about to go up...... 10 days away maybe less.

"Load quantum torpedoes, Mr. Worf; Stand by for my signal..."

77 posted on 01/30/2003 7:18:12 PM PST by mhking
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: ArneFufkin
Yeah, you and your HTML skillsets Mr. King. ;^)

;)

78 posted on 01/30/2003 7:18:50 PM PST by mhking
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: mhking
It's not yet time, but close...
79 posted on 01/30/2003 7:20:13 PM PST by Southack (Media bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: mhking
Naw.

"INCOMING EAM! RECOMMEND ALERT ONE, RECOMMEND ALERT ONE!"
80 posted on 01/30/2003 7:20:15 PM PST by Poohbah (Beware the fury of a patient man -- John Dryden)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-128 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