B
B1ackwater
Guest
BBC
Pakistan has raised the state of alert around its nuclear facilities
amid concerns they could be targeted by Islamist militants.
But a senior Pakistan military official said there had been no
specific threat to the sites, and insisted that safeguards in place
were fool proof.
The official was speaking in a rare press briefing on the issue.
It followed Western media reports warning that Pakistan's nuclear
weapons could fall into the wrong hands.
The Pakistani authorities have been angered by Western media reports
speculating that the country?s nuclear arsenal could fall into the
hands of al-Qaeda militants.
The senior military official briefing foreign journalists said that
the weapons were protected by an elaborate command and control system,
and multiple levels of security.
He acknowledged that Islamic militants had begun to attack army
personnel in recent months, and that nuclear sites may also become a
target.
He said the state of alert around nuclear facilities had increased,
but there had been no specific threats against them.
The official said there was no way the Taleban or al-Qaeda could take
over Pakistan?s estimated 50 nuclear warheads.
And he dismissed the possibility of collusion from within the system,
saying all personnel dealing with sensitive material had been
carefully monitored.
- - - - -
No chance of collusion ... of 'stealth' islamists ??? Yea, sure.
I guess Pakistan has founds ways to read minds ...
It only takes a few.
Regardless, it was smart to bump up the alert level. Even
if militants can't get their hands on finished armable
weapons, a raid could yeild raw plutonium from which
bombs or fissile devices ('dirty bombs') could be
fabricated. Iran might be interested in acquiring
refined plutonium as well - and willing to PAY huge
amounts for the stuff.
The downside of any kind of alert at Pakistans nuclear
bunkers is that it will make India nervous. At the
present time, if a nuclear war is to break out anywhere
in the world, it's still most likely between India
and Pakistan - and the population densities and food
situation mean even a 'small' nuclear war would kill
untold millions.
Pakistan has raised the state of alert around its nuclear facilities
amid concerns they could be targeted by Islamist militants.
But a senior Pakistan military official said there had been no
specific threat to the sites, and insisted that safeguards in place
were fool proof.
The official was speaking in a rare press briefing on the issue.
It followed Western media reports warning that Pakistan's nuclear
weapons could fall into the wrong hands.
The Pakistani authorities have been angered by Western media reports
speculating that the country?s nuclear arsenal could fall into the
hands of al-Qaeda militants.
The senior military official briefing foreign journalists said that
the weapons were protected by an elaborate command and control system,
and multiple levels of security.
He acknowledged that Islamic militants had begun to attack army
personnel in recent months, and that nuclear sites may also become a
target.
He said the state of alert around nuclear facilities had increased,
but there had been no specific threats against them.
The official said there was no way the Taleban or al-Qaeda could take
over Pakistan?s estimated 50 nuclear warheads.
And he dismissed the possibility of collusion from within the system,
saying all personnel dealing with sensitive material had been
carefully monitored.
- - - - -
No chance of collusion ... of 'stealth' islamists ??? Yea, sure.
I guess Pakistan has founds ways to read minds ...
It only takes a few.
Regardless, it was smart to bump up the alert level. Even
if militants can't get their hands on finished armable
weapons, a raid could yeild raw plutonium from which
bombs or fissile devices ('dirty bombs') could be
fabricated. Iran might be interested in acquiring
refined plutonium as well - and willing to PAY huge
amounts for the stuff.
The downside of any kind of alert at Pakistans nuclear
bunkers is that it will make India nervous. At the
present time, if a nuclear war is to break out anywhere
in the world, it's still most likely between India
and Pakistan - and the population densities and food
situation mean even a 'small' nuclear war would kill
untold millions.
