Today's most worrying news story
James Forsyth 6:44pm
The news that AQ Khan was selling the electronic blueprints for a modern nuclear device brings home just how close some rogue nations might be to a nuclear bomb.
Here are the two key passages from The New York Times report:
American and international investigators say that they have found the electronic blueprints for an advanced nuclear weapon on computers that belonged to the nuclear smuggling network run by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the rogue Pakistani nuclear scientist, but that they have not been able to determine whether they were sold to Iran or the smuggling ring’s other customers.The plans appear to closely resemble a nuclear weapon that was built by Pakistan and first tested exactly a decade ago.
...
The design is in electronic form, they said, making it easy to copy — and they have no idea how many copies of it are now in circulation.Investigators said the evidence that the Khan network was trafficking in a tested, compact and efficient bomb design was particularly alarming, because if a country or group obtained the bomb design, the technological information would significantly shorten the time needed to build a weapon. Among the missiles that could carry the smaller weapon, according to some weapons experts, is the Iranian Shahab III, which is based on a North Korean design.
The Washington Post has more details in its story. This really is a wake-up call for those who dismiss the dangers posed by rogue states and nuclear proliferation. When one considers that Khan was selling to the highest bidder, one realises how if proliferation of this kind of nuclear knowledge continues it really is just a matter of time before terrorists get their hands on a bomb.
Previous
Comments
Puzzled
June 15th, 2008 7:24pmOne also has to ask where he got the design from. Any moderately competent engineering company could make a nuclear device, if they had the enriched uranium or plutonium - it wouldn't be hard (stopping your self from getting fried by your own device would be the greatest difficulty) - hence the concentration up to now on stopping uranium enrichment.
But the Pakistanis didn't get their own design of a compact weapon - someone gave it to them (and I doubt it was the North Koreans) - is this another unintended outcome of the cold war?
David C
June 15th, 2008 8:08pmThe struggle over the region which includes Jammu and Kashmir involves three powers. India, Pakistan and China.
I assume you think that China gave the Pakistanis enough assistance to create a balancing force to India.
Verity
June 15th, 2008 8:54pmDavid C - No. The Chinese are not stupid. They are trying to join the community of nations (hence hosting the Olympics), which is, after all, a vast customer base for their continued economic leap forward.
China has no serious arguments with India. India and China are galloping forward neck and neck in their economic development. They will remain polite to each other. China has absolutely nothing to gain by offending India and Pakistan has absolutely nothing to offer either of these great powers.
My guess, Iran.
wonderfulforhisage
June 15th, 2008 9:29pmMaybe I'm being over cynical and I'm wondering if this might not be a calculated spin designed to soften up the public in advance of some planned action against Iran.
Verity
June 15th, 2008 9:38pmWonderful - Hmmmm. Dunno. Pakistan does have the nuclear bomb, and it equally have been an inside job, could it not?
Herbert Thornton
June 15th, 2008 10:15pmSpeculation about who has given what to whom is interesting, but isn't the really serious question - where will one (or half a dozen?) of these devices be first used?
It strikes me as curious that there are reports that there are now increased efforts to find Osama bin Laden.
The hijacking of four aircraft simultaneously on September 11th needed considerable organisation and coordination.
But it will be very much eclipsed if four nuclear bombs are detonated around the world on the same day.
HalcyonDays
June 15th, 2008 11:13pmPakistan developed the bomb pretty much all by itself. It had some help from North Korea, but mostly Khan did it all by himself. He gained a lot of information when he worked under cover in Europe in the 1980s. Officially the Pakistani Government disowns Khan, but that's just a blind. Pakistan has wanted the bomb for 30-odd years, and they have encouraged Khan to do it, which he did.
molesworth 1
June 16th, 2008 2:35amerm, eh... cough, cough... err.., em, eh... there is absolutely no comedy angle to this one, is there?
rather not say
June 16th, 2008 11:36pmThe problem I have with 9/11 is the twin towers, the way the planes hit, and the way the towers fell: instinct niggles away at any theory of spontaneity and the smell of planning is overwhelming. I can except that the other planes were destroyed for obvious reasons, and alternative explanations provided for obvious reasons, but the towers, hmm.
Now if there is any truth in this conspiracy, then this story in the Washington Post is scary. It can either mean watch out Iran here we come, or, Bang!