Evidence Is Cited Linking Koreans to Libya Uranium

[radfringe]

Evidence Is Cited Linking Koreans to Libya Uranium
By DAVID E. SANGERand WILLIAM J. BROAD
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/23/international/asia/23NUKE.html?hp
Published: May 23, 2004

WASHINGTON, May 22 — International inspectors have discovered evidence that North Korea secretly provided Libya with nearly two tons of uranium in early 2001, which if confirmed would be the first known case in which the North Korean government has sold a key ingredient for manufacturing atomic weapons to another country, according to American officials and European diplomats familiar with the intelligence.

A giant cask of uranium hexafluoride was turned over to the United States by the Libyans earlier this year as part of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's agreement to give up his nuclear program, and the Americans identified Pakistan as the likely source.

But in recent weeks the International Atomic Energy Agency has found strong evidence that the uranium came from North Korea, basing its conclusion on interviews of members of the secret nuclear supplier network set up by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the former head of Pakistan's main nuclear laboratory. Two years ago, the United States charged that North Korea was working to build its own uranium-based nuclear weapons, which would require the same raw materials.

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Now, only weeks after Vice President Dick Cheney declared that "time is not on our side" in the North Korean nuclear crisis, the International Atomic Energy Agency's discovery suggests that North Korea has done just what many experts have warned: It has turned into a supplier of nuclear technology.

While reluctant to discuss the details, American officials describe the discovery of the North Korean connection as an intelligence success that came indirectly from Libya's decision to dismantle its nuclear program, and the ensuing drive to break up Dr. Khan's network. President Bush has said several times that Libya made its decision after it witnessed the American invasion of Iraq, an argument the Libyans reject.

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soooooooo how long before we invade Libya? North Korea? or is it going to Iran and Syria? and how long before we find out that this info is about as valid as the Niger yellow-cake and Iraq's WMDs?

More lies? Mis-information? Words of Mass of Deception? or just a diversionary scare-tactic?

just my 2-cents: I'm getting the feeling the underlying issue for the election is "who do you trust?"

[WVhill]

1. I doubt we'll do anymore invasions.

Syria will continue to be pressured. They lost their oil supply from Saddam and are now dealing with sanctions. I think we're leaving North Korea to the Chinese. The recent explosion seems to have had some effect. Iraq is key to bringing Saudi Arabia to heel and forcing them to stop supporting terrorism. We've still got a long way to go in Iraq.

Iraq is also key to neutralizing Iran. If we can return Iraqi oil production to much higher levels, we'll have an economic rope around both Iran's and Saudi Arabia's necks. That probably won't affect Iran as much as Saudi Arabia but it will deprive the Iranian mullahs of some of the ability to oppress Iranians, support terrorism outside of Iran and further their nuclear weapons program.

[Moderator]

2. Duplicate

Duplicate, please continue discussion in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x576201