Posted on 01/30/2003 4:46:05 PM PST by MadIvan
British officials have presented evidence which they claim shows that al-Qaeda has been trying to assemble radioactive material to build a so-called dirty bomb.
They have shown the BBC previously undisclosed material backing up their claim.
It includes secret intelligence from agents sent into al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan by Britain.
Posing as recruits, they blended in and reported back.
They revealed that Osama Bin Laden's weapons programme was further on than anyone thought.
British officials said on Thursday Bin Laden now has the expertise and possibly the materials to build a crude radioactive bomb.
The government says evidence suggests that by 1999, Bin Laden's priority was to develop a weapon of mass destruction.
He had acquired radioactive isotopes from the Taleban to do this, officials said, adding that development work on the "dirty bomb" had been going on in a nuclear laboratory in the Afghan city of Herat.
Evidence 'credible'
The government even has al-Qaeda training manuals which detail how to use a dirty bomb to maximum effect.
For a second opinion, the BBC showed some of the material to an expert on al-Qaeda.
"I think this is genuine," said Dr Mustafa Alani, of the Royal United Service Institute.
"It is credible. This is proof that al-Qaeda put a lot of effort into collecting information and educating other members of the organisation.
"It is possible to produce this sort of weapon."
British military personnel worked with intelligence officers to gather material which was taken to Porton Down defence research centre in Wiltshire.
Their conclusion was that al-Qaeda had a small dirty bomb but probably not a full blown nuclear device.
"From nuclear weapons the threat is very, very slim," said Gary Samore, a former US National Security Council member.
To create one, he said, al-Qaeda would have needed to obtain weapons grade nuclear material - a difficult prospect.
Saddam might have that sort of material. Hmmm. - Ivan
"On the other hand, the threat of a dirty bomb or radiological bomb, is much more plausible," he added.
British officials say the "bomb" has never been recovered but at least one leading al-Qaeda weapons expert from Herat is still at large.
Why the British government would release such top secret information has been questioned by some commentators in the Arabic world.
Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor of Al Quds al Arabi, said it was an attempt to revive fears in Britain and the US about 11 September.
"They would like to prove their point that there are links between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda," he said.
He's not smart enough to do that. The man can't get enough of the taste of his own foot.
In these dangerous times, Dasshole's comic relief definitely hits the spot.
The vermin will try to split the UK from the US through some murder-intended event in the next 10 days.
Keep an eye on those peaceful Sons of Allah, promise?
Let's see if I can work with this. The French have nukes, and the last time they didn't wave the white flag at the first drop of the hat was when Greenpeace wanted them to stop nuke testing in the South Pacific.
That pisses me off.
LVM
Who said they were Western version spies?
Point taken about being hard to infiltrate, but if we (or UK) do, chances are it was not a James Bond look-a-like that does it. No?
LVM
And that Saddam got help from the Germans / Frogs / Chinees / NK.
As the world turns. Not that we are guiltless.
LVM
Guadalcanal? Page 251. August 1942 - February 1943.
Alamein? Page 232. November 1942.
Battle of Berlin? Page 399. May 1945
Drive to Rome? Page 303, May 1944
Iwo Jima (God bless the USMC)? Spring 1945
Anzio Killing fields? Page 303. May 1944
THE MIRACULOUS RESCUE OF BRIT TROOPS AFTER FRENCH BETRAYAL AT DUNKIRK? PAGE 46. JUNE 1940.
THE FRICKING FALL OF FRANCE? PAGE 49. JUNE 1940.
THE LIBERATION OF PARIS? PAGE 340, AUGUST 1944.
France: What a country of gutless turds. The Nazis goose stepped right through L'Arc de Triumphe, and Parisians of both genders were queuing up to orally service their new Arayan masters.
Yeah, they're short and hard to see.
I need a source for that comment
If Taliban Johnny can just go over there and sign up, how hard can it be?
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