NYT, J. Miller: Iran nuke supplier sanctions, Dem ?s re. Dr. Khan [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

Bush Puts Penalties on Nuclear Suppliers
By JUDITH MILLER

Published: April 2, 2004


The Bush administration is imposing sanctions on 13 foreign companies and individuals in seven countries that it says have sold equipment or expertise that Iran could use in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, according to administration and congressional officials....

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Questioned by committee Democrats about whether there was evidence that General Musharraf was complicit in nuclear sales by Dr. Khan's network to Iran, Libya and North Korea, (Under Secretary of State John R. Bolton) said that while General Musharraf might have been aware of such sales, he might have been politically unable to stop them because Dr. Khan was "an icon in Pakistan -the father of the nuclear weapons program."

Mr. Bolton said he believed that President Musharraf might finally have been emboldened by the revelations last year of Iran's illicit nuclear activities and Libya's decision to renounce weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. Bolton, bristled visibly when committee Democrats suggested that he and other administration officials were overlooking Pakistani proliferation activities because of that state's cooperation in fighting terrorism.

"If we had information about complicity of top levels of the government of Pakistan, we would act on it," Mr. Bolton said....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/02/politics/02iran.html