Tux of Borg Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Sunday Times Iran's plot to mine uranium in Africa IRAN is seeking to import large consignments of bomb-making uranium from the African mining area that produced the Hiroshima bomb, an investigation has revealed. A United Nations report, dated July 18, said there was “no doubt” that a huge shipment of smuggled uranium 238, uncovered by customs officials in Tanzania, was transported from the Lubumbashi mines in the Congo. Tanzanian customs officials told The Sunday Times it was destined for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, and was stopped on October 22 last year during a routine check. The disclosure will heighten western fears about the extent of Iran’s presumed nuclear weapons programme and the strategic implications of Iran’s continuing support for Hezbollah during the war with Israel. It has also emerged that terror cells backed by Iran may be prepared to mount attacks against nuclear power plants in Britain. Intelligence circulating in Whitehall suggests that sleeper cells linked to Tehran have been conducting reconnaissance at some nuclear sites in preparation for a possible attack. The parliamentary intelligence and security committee has reported that Iran represented one of the three biggest security threats to Britain. The UN security council has given Iran until the end of this month to halt its uranium enrichment activities. The UN has threatened sanctions if Tehran fails to do so. A senior Tanzanian customs official said the illicit uranium shipment was found hidden in a consignment of coltan, a rare mineral used to make chips in mobile telephones. The shipment was destined for smelting in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, delivered via Bandar Abbas, Iran’s biggest port. “There were several containers due to be shipped and they were all routinely scanned with a Geiger counter,” the official said. “This one was very radioactive. When we opened the container it was full of drums of coltan. Each drum contains about 50kg of ore. When the first and second rows were removed,the ones after that were found to be drums of uranium.” In a nuclear reactor, uranium 238 can be used to breed plutonium used in nuclear weapons. The customs officer, who spoke to The Sunday Times on condition he was not named, added: “The container was put in a secure part of the port and it was later taken away, by the Americans, I think, or at least with their help. We have all been told not to talk to anyone about this.” The report by the UN investigation team was submitted to the chairman of the UN sanctions committee, Oswaldo de Rivero, at the end of July and will be considered soon by the security council. It states that Tanzania provided “limited data” on three other shipments of radioactive materials seized in Dar es Salaam over the past 10 years. The experts said: “In reference to the last shipment from October 2005, the Tanzanian government left no doubt that the uranium was transported from Lubumbashi by road through Zambia to the united republic of Tanzania.” Lubumbashi is the capital of mineral-rich Katanga province, home of the Shinkolobwe uranium mine that produced material for the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. The mine has officially been closed since 1961, before the country’s independence from Belgium, but the UN investigators have told the security council that they found evidence of illegal mining still going on at the site. In 1999 there were reports that the Congolese authorities had tried to re-open the mine with the help of North Korea. In recent years miners are said to have broken open the lids and extracted ore from the shafts, while police and local authorities turned a blind eye. In June a parliamentary committee warned that Britain could be attacked by Iranian terrorists if tensions increased. A source with access to current MI5 assessments said: “There is great concern about Iranian sleeper cells inside this country. The intelligence services are taking this threat very seriously.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv's Neighbor Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I say if they want Nukes, we should send a few over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Avenger Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Sounds so damn familiar, just can't place it...hmmm...oh yeah, "the British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa" Not saying it's not true, but past history has shown that sometimes you have to question the validity of such things, particularly when they fit nicely into how you'd like things to play out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talonz Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Sounds so damn familiar, just can't place it...hmmm...oh yeah, "the British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa" Not saying it's not true, but past history has shown that sometimes you have to question the validity of such things, particularly when they fit nicely into how you'd like things to play out... 739971[/snapback] You're right! No way they want to nuke us!! BUSH+BLAIR=LIARS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdh1 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Not saying it's not true, but past history has shown that sometimes you have to question the validity of such things, particularly when they fit nicely into how you'd like things to play out... 739971[/snapback] Yeah, I sure everyone in the US and British governments are hoping a for larger conflict with a nuclear armed Iran. Yeah, OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Avenger Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Yeah, I sure everyone in the US and British governments are hoping a for larger conflict with a nuclear armed Iran. Yeah, OK. 740015[/snapback] No, but a justification for a unilateral preemptive strike against a nation that does not yet have nuclear weapons - that sounds pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 Wide Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Sounds so damn familiar, just can't place it...hmmm...oh yeah, "the British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa" Not saying it's not true, but past history has shown that sometimes you have to question the validity of such things, particularly when they fit nicely into how you'd like things to play out... 739971[/snapback] So the part about the US confiscating the uranium is innacurate? There's a difference between accusing Iraq of seeking it and intercepting it enroute to Iran. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdh1 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 No, but a justification for a unilateral preemptive strike against a nation that does not yet have nuclear weapons - that sounds pretty good. 740084[/snapback] Your right, the Mullahs in Iran are just peace loving lambs who are being bullied by the big bad US. How did their "conference" to look at "scientific evidence" to determine if the holocaust actually happened turn out? Were you there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 Wide Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Your right, the Mullahs in Iran are just peace loving lambs who are being bullied by the big bad US. How did their "conference" to look at "scientific evidence" to determine if the holocaust actually happened turn out? Were you there? 740094[/snapback] ....and I'm sure Hezbollah has a well established rocket factory that they replenish their ammunition cache with too...Iran is the major instigator in that part of the world. Rational communication with a nation that denies the most tragic mass murder in history even took place is almost an impossibility. Their radical hatred is rooted deeper than any treaty or sanction can take place. They are a ticking timebomb just waiting for the moment where they feel empowered enough to start something on the main stage as opposed to behind the scenes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mile High Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Two words: Parking lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFinkle Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Two words: Parking lot. 740106[/snapback] Four words: Twenty dollars a gallon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Four words: Twenty dollars a gallon. 740110[/snapback] Isn't it worth it, though? I think so. No more flag-burning crazies jumping for joy at the death of 3000 of our citizens. I'd trade for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Sounds a little PPP'ish here. Shouldn't this be on the nazi board? 740016[/snapback] Welcome aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meazza Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Isn't it worth it, though? I think so. No more flag-burning crazies jumping for joy at the death of 3000 of our citizens. I'd trade for it. 740111[/snapback] I might have second thoughts on buying a boat if it does happen though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 So thats where all the Kazakh Uranium went! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuntheDamnBall Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Your right, the Mullahs in Iran are just peace loving lambs who are being bullied by the big bad US. 740094[/snapback] Well, I'm not sure about the peace-loving lambs part, but there is a history in Iran eerily similar to the present in Iraq, where we helped install and support a U.S.-friendly Iranian government (deposing a democratically elected one [!]), basically giving rise to the radical Islamic revolution in 1979. They did feel bullied. And they've been trying to take it out on us since they got into power. This is from the Wikipedia entry: The 1950s and the politics of oil, a turning point From 1952-53, Iran's democractically elected nationalist Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq began a period of rapid power consolidation, which led to the brief exile and then placement into power of Iran's constitutional monarch, the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Much of the events of 1952 were started by Mossadeq’s nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, now British Petroleum. Established by the British in the early 20th century, an agreement had been made to share profits (85% British-15% Iran), but the company hid their financial records from the Iranian government. Due to alleged profit monopolization by the Anglo-Iranian Oil company, the Iranian Parliament had unanimously agreed to nationalize its holding of, what was at the time, the British Empire’s largest company. The United States and Britain, through a now-admitted covert operation of the CIA called Operation Ajax, conducted from US Embassy in Tehran, helped organize protests to overthrow Moussadeq and return the Shah to Iran. After his return from brief exile, Iran's fledgling attempts at democracy quickly descended into dictatorship as the Shah dismantled the constitutional limitations on his office and began to rule as an absolute monarch. During his reign, the Shah received significant American support, frequently making state visits to the White House and earning praise from numerous American Presidents. The Shah's close ties to Washington and his bold agenda of rapidly Westernizing of Iran soon began to infuriate certain segments of the Iranian population, especially the hardline Islamic conservatives. They don't just hate us because of Britney Spears and soda-pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdh1 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 They don't just hate us because of Britney Spears and soda-pop. 740157[/snapback] No, it because: We are are not hard core Muslims Our country is not founded on Islamic Law. Women. and gasp, Jews, can hold office and vote. This past year we have seen attacks by Islamic Terrorists in India, The Philippines, Indonesia, Sudan, Somalia, Bangladesh, etc... Not exactly members of the Coalition forces in Iraq. Major plots were stopped against Canada, Italy, Spain, and Demark. Not exactly warmongering nations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuntheDamnBall Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 No, it because:We are are not hard core Muslims Our country is not founded on Islamic Law. Women. and gasp, Jews, can hold office and vote. This past year we have seen attacks by Islamic Terrorists in India, The Philippines, Indonesia, Sudan, Somalia, Bangladesh, etc... Not exactly members of the Coalition forces in Iraq. Major plots were stopped against Canada, Italy, Spain, and Demark. Not exactly warmongering nations 740168[/snapback] And my point, which I'll repeat one last time, is that to engage with them in the kind of war we are used to, with bombs and guns and troops, is to stir up their pot even more, and to hurt the cause of rational Muslims who might work on their own to bring down the oppressive regimes that rule them -- both the fanatically religious ones and the ones more interested in power for its own sake. Remember the campaign that we weren't going to be "World Police"? Why are we doing it now, when what it really amounts to is drawing a bigger bullseye on our backs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 And my point, which I'll repeat one last time, is that to engage with them in the kind of war we are used to, with bombs and guns and troops, is to stir up their pot even more, and to hurt the cause of rational Muslims who might work on their own to bring down the oppressive regimes that rule them -- both the fanatically religious ones and the ones more interested in power for its own sake. Remember the campaign that we weren't going to be "World Police"? Why are we doing it now, when what it really amounts to is drawing a bigger bullseye on our backs? 740208[/snapback] Can't bomb them, can't ignore them. I have an idea. Let's sourround them and cut off all food and trade to their country. Worked for Stalin. </sarcasm> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef Jim Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I might have second thoughts on buying a boat if it does happen though. 740125[/snapback] That would be my first thought...............the wind is free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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