While still circumstantial, new pieces of evidence are helping to unravel the nuclear black market. Nearly two tons of uranium handed over by Libya
has become a central study on who is supplying the radioactive material, and to whom they have sold it. Libya has also surrendered financial ledgers
to the United States that provide some evidence of the transactions, and evidence that Libya was planning to purchase enough to manufacture ten small
nuclear weapons. By a process of elimination, it is now clear for many that North Korea is the only possible source of the uranium. This new
information sent a chill through Washington, Asia and the offices of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency.
www.nytimes.com
This account was pieced together from interviews with former and current American officials, allies whom they have briefed, and nuclear investigators
from other nations.
Last week, for the first time in public, the White House declared that the uranium came from North Korea. "The fact that nuclear material found its
way out of North Korea to any destination is a source of serious concern for the United States," said Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, in
a letter to The Washington Post. The letter denied that American officials visiting Asia had focused on the North Korean connection to draw attention
from the fact that Mr. Khan's network in Pakistan - an American ally - had acted as a middleman.
More recently, United States officials have tried to follow the money trail. They argue that Libyan funds made it to companies or banks linked to
North Korea. One foreign diplomat said I.A.E.A. investigators were digging through the same financial records that the United States had examined, and
traced the money flow through money launderers to Khan front companies and "various bank accounts all over the world."
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
The evidence is mounting against North Korea, but some feel that the US administration is still a little gun shy about making definitive accusations
over weapons of mass destruction. We also find that Libya was intending to purchase 20 tons of this material, which is enough to build 10 nuclear
weapons, Pakistan has dirty fingers as well.
The only remaining piece of the puzzle is a sample of uranium from North Korea. It seems to me that after a year and a half of possession and study,
the US, China, or the UN could obtain a sample so this case could be closed.
Without that proof, it will be safe for North Korea to continue selling uranium and missiles to any terrorist group they wish, and you can bet that
they are. Now they are demanding that we dismantle our nuclear weapons.
Related News Links:
www.foxnews.com
Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
NEWS: Report: North Korea May Have Sold Uranium
[edit on 3/31/05 by NoPhobos]
[edit on 3/31/05 by NoPhobos]
[edit on 3/31/05 by NoPhobos]
