Posted on 11/12/2007 1:40:17 PM PST by mojito
When the United States learned in 2001 that Pakistani scientists had shared nuclear secrets with members of al-Qaeda, an alarmed Bush administration responded with tens of millions of dollars worth of equipment such as intrusion detectors and ID systems to safeguard Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
But Pakistan remained suspicious of U.S. aims and declined to give U.S. experts direct access to the half-dozen or so bunkers where the components of its arsenal of about 50 nuclear weapons are stored. For the officials in Washington now monitoring Pakistan's deepening political crisis, the experience offered both reassurance and grounds for concern.
Protection for Pakistan's nuclear weapons is considered equal to that of most Western nuclear powers. But U.S. officials worry that their limited knowledge about the locations and conditions in which the weapons are stored gives them few good options for a direct intervention to prevent the weapons from falling into unauthorized hands.
"We can't say with absolute certainty that we know where they all are," said a former U.S. official who closely tracked the security upgrades. If an attempt were made by the United States to seize the weapons to prevent their loss, "it could be very messy," the official said.
Of the world's nine declared and undeclared nuclear arsenals, none provokes as much worry in Washington as Pakistan's, numerous U.S. officials said. The government in Islamabad is arguably the least stable. Some Pakistani territory is partly controlled by insurgents bent on committing hostile acts of terrorism in the West. And officials close to the seat of power -- such as nuclear engineer A.Q. Khan and his past collaborators in the Pakistani military -- have a worrisome track record of transferring sensitive nuclear designs or technology to others.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Not much mystery to it.
Their nuke tech was exported to Libya, Syria, and possibly Iran in a clumsy and dangerous attempt to create parity with and stalemate Israel.
Had they not done so, the North Koreans and Chinese would have, Pandora's box has been open for some time.
Do not doubt that the Saudi's and Egytians want the bomb also and will obtain one ASAP.
The Pakis are mainly afraid of/angry with India.
They will never let AQ get one, frankly, AQ wouldn't ever have the logistical support to maintain one. Giving AQ a bomb would terminate the Pakis entire program and leave them at a severe disadvantage with India, ain't gonna happen.
Um... that's easy.
Ask Mossad. I'll bet they know!
- John
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