Nuke component unearthed in Baghdad back yard

CNN ^ | 25 June 2003 | From David Ensor

[Nebr FAL owner]

It wasn't left to rot in some guys back yard it was cached in the back yard of a Iraqi nuclear scientist. By "cached " I mean carefully wrapped/packaged in a protective container & deliberately concealed by being buried in the back yard of an individual who has the technical training to understand that the item is prohibited to the govt. of Iraq since it was part of a nuclear weapons procurement program.

[TomB]

Actually, since we claimed that they had an ACTIVE nuke program, this find is just a bust if it turns out it's something that hasn't been usable since '91. I'm going to hold my breath on this one, seeing how the many other finds haven't panned out well.

When did we say that?

[HassanBenSobar]

ion separation w/big magnets. All are feasible but there are tradeoffs. Best way to go is gas diffusion, but fortunately, that's hard to do, and the Iraqis, at least til the mid-nineties, simply couldn't figure it out. See 'Saddam's Bombmaker' by Khidhir Hamza. Every Freeper should read it.

[VRWC_minion]

if it turns out it's something that hasn't been usable since '91

If it wasn't usable why hide it ?

[Normal4me]

Active??? Who ever said that?

[Right Wing Professor]

There's a device called the calutron, which is in effect a mass spectrometer; it takes atomic or molecular ions of the fissile material and propels them in a vacuum through a magnetic field. Because the heavier ions have a little more momentum, they're deflected slightly less. Because it separates isotopes atom by atom, it's very inefficient, but Oak Ridge were using it to separate some isotopes until at least 10 years ago. I think I read somewhere it dates back to the Manhattan project days.

[TomB]

ion separation w/big magnets.

THANKS! It was driving me nuts. I guess a magnetic separation apparatus would be very hard to hide.

[alnick]

Sounds like the administration is getting more than a little desperate to find something -- anything. I think I'll go centrifuge some wet clothes now.

Are you going to get your Iraqi nuclear scientist to help you with that?

[jwalsh07]

Actually, since we claimed that they had an ACTIVE nuke program, this find is just a bust if it turns out it's something that hasn't been usable since '91.

We didn't claim anything. That august world body known as the United Nitwits passed a resolution forbidding Iraq from possessing or hiding such data and centrifuges. Of course, many still believe that the aluminum tubes were meant for Udays sexual toy chest but for some, there is no evidence conclusive enough.

I'm going to hold my breath on this one, seeing how the many other finds haven't panned out well.

OK, but for most inexperienced free divers it's a minute and out.

[Right Wing Professor]

Found this link for the calutron

[Normal4me]

Cael signed up today....

[TomB]

I think I read somewhere it dates back to the Manhattan project days.

You read correctly. I remember that from a paper I did on the project in school.

[gov_bean_ counter]

and the Iraqis, at least til the mid-nineties, simply couldn't figure it out.

Your statement doesn't square with some claims on this board that this piece of equipment has been hidden for 13 years.

[McGavin999]

You might want to wait for the facts to come in rather than specualte why its rational for you to be out on that limb so far when you can hear Bush's chain saw reving up.

ROTFLMCO! It's people like you who make FreeRepublic such a joy to read.

[jwalsh07]

For Bush haters, this is the most significant part of the story

I heard this on the way home from work and thought of Kerry and Dean calling Bush a liar. I spent the rest of the ride laughing out loud merrily down the road.

[VRWC_minion]

The parts and documents Obeidi gave the CIA were shown exclusively to CNN at CIA headquarters in Virginia

Observation: This information was deliberately released by Bush otherwise the CIA would not be inviting CNN to interview an Iraqi scientist. This "leak" is a warning shot by Bush to his critics.

Anyone want to bet 1. Whether the critics will heed the warning and 2. Whether Bush will eventually chop off the limb they are all sitting on ?

[Right Wing Professor]

Your statement doesn't square with some claims on this board that this piece of equipment has been hidden for 13 years.

He's talking about a calutron. The Iraqis hid a gas centrifuge. Same purpose, entirely different piece of equipment.

[mewzilla]

Click here for an Insight article from 2002 on where Saddamn got his goodies.

[Sacajaweau]

The "key" to the article is that the scientist knows something and is willing to talk to us. These scientists lived in fear during the weapons inspections and THE WORLD WATCHED as Saddam controlled these scientists. The few interviews that did occur were a farce. Yet, Mr. Blix played it to the world as a sign of cooperation.

This "talking scientist" may take down BOTH Blix and the UN Nuke expert.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I am more interested in the reasons this scientist now feel safe in releasing this information.