Nuclear marketplace

[Marvin Gandall <marvgandall@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The case of an Israeli orthodox Jew selling nuclear weapons parts to a
Pakistani Islamic fundamentalist illustrates the extensive underground trade
in the components, today’s Los Angeles Times reports.

Asher Karni, an Israeli citizen now resident in South Africa, was arrested
on a recent visit to the US and charged with violating federal laws against
nuclear proliferation.

“The Karni case offers a rare glimpse into what authorities say is an
international bazaar teeming with entrepreneurs, transporters, scientists,
manufacturers, government agents, organized-crime syndicates and, perhaps,
terrorists”, writes reporter Josh Meyer. The trade is flourishing despite
decades-long efforts by the US and its allies and the UN’s International
Agency for Arms Control to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

The parts shipped by Karni to his Pakistani collaborator, who is allegedly
linked to an Islamic militant group, were believed intended for use in
Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program.

Another report in today’s Washington Post corroborates the ease with which
nuclear weapons can be assembled from materials available on the open market
for potential use against civilian populations.

Both articles available on: http://www.supportingfacts.com

or

URLs:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nukes24may24,1,7259909.s
tory?coll=la-headlines-world

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50362-2004May23.html?referrer
=email

Sorry for any cross posting.