June 12, 2007
US Cites Pakistan's Bomb
to Warn Against Nuclear Terrorism By Arun Kumar
Washington
Citing the example of A.Q. Khan, the father of Pakistan's atom bomb,
US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned against the
growing danger of nuclear terrorism.
"The economics of supply and demand dictate that someone, somewhere,
will provide nuclear material to the highest bidder, and that
material will end up in the hands of terrorists," FBI Director
Robert Mueller said Monday, noting that "several rogue nations - and
even individuals - seek to develop nuclear capabilities".
"A.Q. Khan, for example, was not only the father of Pakistan's
nuclear bomb, he peddled that technology to North Korea, Libya and
Iran. Khan was one of many to prove that it is indeed a seller's
market in the so-called atomic bazaar," he said while addressing a
30-nation 'Global Initiative Nuclear Terrorism Conference' in Miami,
Florida.
"The economics of supply and demand dictate that someone, somewhere,
will provide nuclear material to the highest bidder, and that
material will end up in the hands of terrorists," Mueller said.
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales also cited Khan's example to
stress that "the threat of nuclear terrorism is all too real".
"We know, for example, that Al Qaeda has been trying to acquire or
make nuclear weapons for over 10 years. Indeed, Osama bin Laden has
indicated that he considers the acquisition of weapons of mass
destruction to be an obligation for his followers," he said.
"And the discovery of A.Q. Khan's clandestine nuclear trafficking
network demonstrates that the international black market for nuclear
weaponry includes both buyers and sellers," Gonzales said.
Mueller added that Al Qaeda has demonstrated a clear intent to
acquire weapons of mass destruction.
In 1993, Osama bin Laden attempted to buy uranium from a source in
the Sudan. He has stated that it is Al Qaeda's duty to acquire
weapons of mass destruction. And he has made repeated recruiting
pitches for experts in chemistry, physics, and explosives to join
his terrorist movement.
"Bin Laden is no small thinker. Prior to 2001, (Pakistani national)
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed - the mastermind of the Sep 11 attacks -
suggested flying a small plane filled with explosives into CIA
Headquarters," Mueller said.
As noted by the 9/11 Commission, bin Laden reportedly asked him,
"Why do you use an axe when you can use a bulldozer?"
"If 9/11 was the 'bulldozer' of which bin Laden spoke, we can only
imagine the impact of a full-scale nuclear attack," the FBI chief
said.
"Unfortunately, Al Qaeda central is not our only concern. We face
threats from other terrorist cells around the world, and from home
grown terrorists who are not affiliated with Al Qaeda, but who are
inspired by its message of hatred and violence," he said.
Attended among others by the US, Russia, Canada, China, Britain,
Egypt, Morocco, Germany, France, Israel and Japan, the conference
aims to build the capabilities of partner nations to investigate,
prevent and respond to sudden strikes by terrorists using nuclear
devices or other radioactive materials.
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