Al-Qaida 'bought uranium' in Congo

Aljazeera ^ | 11/13/2003 | Aljazeera.net

[joyful1]

Al-Qaida 'bought uranium' in Congo

Friday 14 November 2003, 19:18 Makka Time, 16:18 GMT

Bin Ladin's network alleged to have 'dirty bomb' capability

Related: Al-Qaida threatens more attacks Saudi regime v al-Qaida: Only one survives

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An al-Qaida representative bought enriched uranium capable of being used in a so-called dirty bomb from the Congolese opposition in 2000, according to a French newspaper report.

In sworn testimony an unnamed former soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has told investigators looking into the murders of two Congolese opposition figures in France in December 2000 that he attended a meeting earlier that year at which the uranium was sold, the Lyon-based Le Progres reported.

The man "described a meeting which took place on 3 March in (the German city of) Hamburg between some Congolese men and an Egyptian by the name of Ibrahim Abd," the newspaper said.

It quoted the man as saying, "I realised it was al-Qaida."

According to Le Progres, the Egyptian was able to acquire two bars of enriched uranium 138.

Dirty bomb

Only highly enriched uranium can be used in the manufacture of an atomic bomb, but anti-terrorist experts take more seriously the threat of a "dirty bomb", in which radioactive material is disseminated via a conventional explosive.

The unnamed source spoke of the purchase in December 2002 in an affidavit to German police, who passed it to their French counterparts. The evidence is part of the dossier compiled by the team looking into the deaths of the two Congolese opposition figures.

Coup money

According to Le Progres, the man is himself close to Congolese opposition circles and told the German investigators that the money paid for the uranium was needed to finance a putsch against late DRC president Laurent-Desire Kabila.

The man has been interviewed by the American and French security services, but could give no information on the source of the uranium, the paper said.

The burned bodies of Philemon Naluhwindza and Aime Atenbina were found not far from Lyon in December 2000. An official close to the investigation confirmed to AFP that they had been seeking funds for a coup attempt against Kabila.

AFP

[joyful1]

Have a nice day.

[aristotleman]

How could this be true? It's been proven that Bush lied. Nobody bought anything from the Congo.

/sarcasm

[Ben Hecks]

We need to send Joseph C. Wilson over there to check this out!

[netmilsmom]

Okay, now say something to make me feel better about my hubby flying to CA this weekend. Please.

[joyful1]

One of the many pitiful things about this is most Americans care more about the stupid Laci Peterson/Kobe Bryant crap than the fact that our enemies are getting ready to destroy us.

[MamaLucci]

Thanks for this post.
No doubt it will get as much attention as the Valerie Plame/Joe Wilson setup story.
/sarcasm

[mewzilla]

It won't. But it should shut the Wilsons up.

[stuartcr]

The media wants us to think that is what most Americans care more about. What most Americans, and others in this world, care about most is just getting thriugh our daily lives....whatever that entails.

[areafiftyone]

Noooooo this can't be true!! Bush lied didn't you listen to the liberal democreeeps? What's wrong with you? (/sarcasm)

[Ditto]

An al-Qaida representative bought enriched uranium capable of being used in a so-called dirty bomb from the Congolese opposition in 2000, according to a French newspaper report.

Point 1. Enriched Uranium wouldn't make much of a dirty bomb. It's simply not that dirty. A real dirty bomb would be made with fission by-products like colbolt 60 etc. That stuff is hot, hot, hot, while you could take a nap in enriched uranium and not be harmed.

Point 2. Where in the hell would the Congo get the ability to enrich uranium? Maybe the author is confusing enrichment with refining (i.e. yellow cake) but actual enrichment is way way beyond the capability of the Congo.

Bottom line. This story is bunk.

[aristotleman]

Okay, now say something to make me feel better about my hubby flying to CA this weekend. Please.

You should think of terrorists as the ultimate male chauvinists. Bragging of their conquests and the size of their you know whats, while the truth is they are scared little boys. We got them on the run, and they are trying to scare us by making claims. Why would they warn us, and the authorities, risking their sources and methods, and actions? Unexpected strikes are what you should be vigilant about, not the ones they claim to be preparing.

[Quilla]

Bush lied didn't you listen to the liberal democreeeps?

At least that's what Rockefeller memo implied.

[js1138]

Dirty bombs require a powdered radioactive substance. Uranium is extremely hard -- hence it's use in munitions. These two requirements make the manufacture of a dirty uranium bomb very difficult and potentially lethal for those attempting to make a uranium powder.

Other radioactive waste products would be simpler and just as frightening.

[freeperfromnj]

So true. I used to watch Greta's show because it used to have some substance. She used to have interesting guests like "her Generals", Mansour Ijaz, Bill Gertz...Always interesting discussion. Now it's all Laci-all-Kobi-all-the-time. An update now and then is OK - but it certainly doesn't warrant hour long discussions. They all look ridiculous getting all fired up over something that no one cares about. I wonder if her ratings have gone down.

[Porterville]

Lies, no Muslim would ever buy uranium from a peace loving nation like the Congo... It goes against the Islamic notion of "The Religion of Peace" and the long history of restraint practiced by the noble leaders of the Congo who would never chop up and eat hundreds-of-thousands innocent tribal members.... It has to be Bush and Israel, we must ask the french for guidance.

[TexKat]

Consider the source of this article (Al Jazeera) terrorist themselves. Call me later when a reputable source reports this.

[metalboy]

One must wait for the evidence before one can truly make sure, evidence such as when a dirty bomb actually goes off in an American city. Then we must have inspections to make sure if it was indeed a dirty bomb, that`s if anyone is left to do the inspecting. Then the uranium purchase must be traced by paperwork, and seen if an Al Qaida guy actually signed for it. We must check serial numbers and experation dates because it could have been depleted uranium.. Then and only then can Bush safely claim that Uranium was indeed purchased in the Congo.

[aristotleman]

The biggest asset of the masses is their ability to move forward from tragedy and to be optimistic. The biggest downfall is their inability to stay focused on a grave issue and to follow through. Kobe is much more interesting to them than the security of this country. Go figure.

[aristotleman]

Although this is all hype, and as you stated they can't make a dirty bomb out of enriched uranium, I am mostly worried about materials from Saddam's undiscovered cache having fallen into the hands of these idiots. That's a nightmare scenario.

[Billthedrill]

What in tarnation is "enriched U-138"? U-238 is not enriched, that's the normal isotope, but a bar of "enriched" U-238 might contain 1% more U-235, or 5%, or whatever, making it more or less dangerous, but as someone has already pointed out, it's just not that dangerous at that.

Poor reporting.