Pakistan Nuclear revelations
Another hat-tip to
L.G.F., this one is for this link to a
Yahoo/AP story covering President Pervez Musharraf's talks in Davos Switzerland this last week.
In these talks, he has been outlining (coming clean) with details of Pakistan's secret nuclear development program.
From the article:
bq. Pervez Musharraf, who endured two assassination attempts in the past month, told The Associated Press that "as long as the military of Pakistan remains, nothing can go wrong."
bq. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Musharraf also revealed details of how the development of Pakistan's secret nuclear program gave wide latitude to scientists, possibly allowing them to sell nuclear secrets "for personal gain."
bq. The president told reporters that Pakistan is investigating the possibility that government officials knew about leaks of technology abroad. Agents also are checking bank accounts of nine scientists and administrators detained on suspicion of selling information to Iran and elsewhere, an Interior Minister in Pakistan said Saturday.
bq. "We will sort out everyone who is involved," Musharraf said.
And more:
bq. For years Pakistan rejected reports that its scientists might have been involved in proliferation and provided technology to North Korea, Iran, Libya and Iraq.
bq. The country started hedging in December, however, and Musharraf said investigations began after Iran disclosed to the U.N. inspection agency the names of people who provided them with nuclear technology and they included Pakistani scientists.
bq. "I accept that," he said, adding that he would like to see European countries and scientists investigated for their involvement, as well.
And more:
bq. "
There are European countries involved in the refining and producing. It is high-class metallurgy. Where is it available? In Europe. So why is no one talking about it?" he said.
(Emphasis mine)
Just like the French Sparrow missiles and the Russian Kornet Anti-Tank missiles that we found in Iraq - manufactured after the UN Arms embargo was fully in place - yet another reason why Old Europe has been less than helpful in the last two years.
Posted by DaveH at January 24, 2004 8:29 PM