Pakistan Launches Huge Nuclear Arms Drive

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 7-25-2006 | Randeep Ramesh - Julian Borger

[blam]

Pakistan launches huge nuclear arms drive

· Satellite images reveal major building site
· US and China embroiled in buildup of rival arsenals

Randeep Ramesh, Julian Borger in Washington
Tuesday July 25, 2006
The Guardian (UK)

A satellite image showing Pakistan's Khushab plutonium production reactor. Photograph: EPA

Pakistan appears to have embarked on a dramatic expansion of its nuclear arsenal with the construction of a new heavy water reactor capable of producing enough plutonium for up to 50 warheads a year, according to a report released yesterday by a US thinktank. The report by the Institute for Science and International Security (Isis), is largely based on commercially available satellite images showing a large building site at a nuclear production complex at Khushab, in Pakistani Punjab. Isis, a non-governmental nuclear watchdog, estimates that the huge rectangular building under construction and the circular structure inside it almost certainly represent the early stages of a 1,000MW reactor capable of generating more than 200kg (440lbs) of weapons-grade plutonium per year. When completed it would be 20 times the size of the existing reactor at Khushab.

The Khushab complex uses deuterium oxide, known as heavy water because of its chemical similarity to water, to produce plutonium and tritium, which is used as a booster in nuclear fission weapons. The Isis report suggests the Indian government must know of the new reactor and may be seeking to increase its own plutonium production. In an agreement with the Bush administration, under review by Congress this week, India insisted several of its own nuclear reactors remain exempt from international safeguards.

"South Asia may be heading for a nuclear arms race that could lead to arsenals growing into the hundreds of nuclear weapons, or at a minimum vastly expanded stockpiles of military fissile material," the Isis report said.

[rawcatslyentist]

>" "South Asia may be heading for a nuclear arms race that could lead to arsenals growing into the hundreds of nuclear weapons, or at a minimum vastly expanded stockpiles of military fissile material," the Isis report said."

Nah they'll blow em up before then! After allah muuuhamhead (Pigs be inseminating him) commands it!

[null and void]

Coming to a city near you...

[blam]

"Coming to a city near you..."

I remember "duck and cover" and the bomb shelters of the 50-60's. Is it time again?

[trek]

This is the Arab response to Iran going nuclear. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the smaller gulf states are using Pakistan (a Sunni state) to counter Shia Iran.

[Dumpster Baby]

I remember "duck and cover" and the bomb shelters of the 50-60's. Is it time again?

It's almost inconceiveable that we will escape some kind of nuclear attack, or at least a dirty bomb in one or more of our major cities. No one is crazy enough to mount a conventional attack with missiles from overseas or from subs, but the muslims ARE crazy enough to hit us with anything they can get their hands on. There's too many nuclear arsenals and too much reactor waste in the hands of countries that are hostile to the Western way of life. If I had the buck$ I would be living where the fallout charts say would be the safest. Right now I'm between downtown Kansas City and Whiteman AFB, both prime targets for taking out population or military assets (B-2 bombers, missile fields).

[blam]

"This is the Arab response to Iran going nuclear. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the smaller gulf states are using Pakistan (a Sunni state) to counter Shia Iran."

In the book BCCI Bank that I read a few years ago it stated that Saudi Arabia funded 'The Muslim Bomb' for Pakistan. I bet SA already has a couple nukes somewhere under a sand dune.

[COEXERJ145]

"Duck & Cover"

Bend over, put your head between your legs and kiss your a*s goodbye.

[TheCrusader]

"This is the Arab response to Iran going nuclear."

Or is this that islamic nation's response to Israel's and the West's military presence in the ME?

[COEXERJ145]

Terrorists aren't going to bother hitting a military base or missile silos. They're going to go for a major population center.

The only nations that would target missile centers and bomber bases is Russia and maybe China. If we got into a nuclear exchange with Russia, the best thing that could happen is for you to be sitting on top of a primary target.

All that said, I still do not worry about terrorists getting their hands on a nuclear weapon.

[genefromjersey]

Interesting. The Washington Post was bloviating about this today, claiming "nobody told Congress !"

I check and found this site (Khusab) was started in 1986-construction finished in the mid 90's. Congress was very much aware of it then,and Clinton ordered sanctions vs Pakistan.

I knew about it 2 years ago (at least):heavy water reactor capable of making plutonium-which is a bear to work with:
poisonous,highly radioactive,oxidizes easily,etc.

Why the sudden whoop-de-do ?

[blam]

"I still do not worry about terrorists getting their hands on a nuclear weapon."

Why? The level of technology required?

[blam]

"Why the sudden whoop-de-do ? "

Don't know. Maybe the lefties at The Guardian trying to do some scare mongering?

[COEXERJ145]

If you're talking about building one, it would almost be impossible to do. A uranium gun weapon isn't hard to construct but getting enough HEU, forming it into the proper shapes, and getting enough high explosive shaped charges isn't something that can be done by walking into your local Radio Shack. Building a plutonium bomb is much more difficult.

If you're talking about them buying a functional nuclear device, it is (very slightly) possible but the weapon would have to be maintained. Just having it sit around for a while would greatly reduce the chances it would function as designed. That is why the mythical "suitcase nukes" are not a threat. They have long since passed their shelf life. (True "suitcase nukes" don't exist but the smallest nuclear weapons require very regular maintenance in order to function.)

[genefromjersey]

Here's a link,if anyone is interested.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/nuke.htm

[blam]

Thanks. I guess I won't put my cat-5 hurricane bunker underground just yet, lol.

[null and void]

Yes. Now more than ever.

[null and void]

. Right now I'm between downtown Kansas City and Whiteman AFB, both prime targets for taking out population or military assets (B-2 bombers, missile fields).

On the bright side, they go for soft targets.

[blam]

Thanks. Easy to read 'snapshot.'

[trek]

"Or is this that islamic nation's response to Israel's and the West's military presence in the ME?"

No, that explanation doesn't wash. The position of Israel and the United States has not changed materially in the time frame we are talking about. What has changed is the very real possibility that the Khomeiniacs will go nuclear.