U.S. Misled Allies About Nuclear Export

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&ncid=716&e=17&u=/washpost/20050320/ts_washpost/a50241_2005mar19

In an effort to increase pressure on North Korea (news - web sites), the Bush administration told its Asian allies in briefings earlier this year that Pyongyang had exported nuclear material to Libya. That was a significant new charge, the first allegation that North Korea was helping to create a new nuclear weapons state.

But that is not what U.S. intelligence reported, according to two officials with detailed knowledge of the transaction. North Korea, according to the intelligence, had supplied uranium hexafluoride -- which can be enriched to weapons-grade uranium -- to Pakistan. It was Pakistan, a key U.S. ally with its own nuclear arsenal, that sold the material to Libya. The U.S. government had no evidence, the officials said, that North Korea knew of the second transaction.

Pakistan's role as both the buyer and the seller was concealed to cover up the part played by Washington's partner in the hunt for al Qaeda leaders, according to the officials, who discussed the issue on the condition of anonymity. In addition, a North Korea-Pakistan transfer would not have been news to the U.S. allies, which have known of such transfers for years and viewed them as a business matter between sovereign states.

The Bush administration's approach, intended to isolate North Korea, instead left allies increasingly doubtful as they began to learn that the briefings omitted essential details about the transaction, U.S. officials and foreign diplomats said in interviews. North Korea responded to public reports last month about the briefings by withdrawing from talks with its neighbors and the United States.

more

[acmejack]

1. What tangled web they weave

How long do you think it will take America to regain any credibility?

[American in Asia]

3. about an eternity...

God I hate what these people are doing to my country. :argh: :grr:

[Up2Late]

4. Just One Night

That Night is the Election Night when Democrats regain the White House and at least One of the branches of the Congress.:hurts:

[Up2Late]

2. Ya know, I just seems like they view the Truth as some sort of Game

or that they never heard some basic, Common sense knowledge, like "The Tale of the Boy Who Cried Wolf.":evilfrown:

[Ready4Change]

5. Another blow to US credibility.

This administration is ripping apart any ability for us to act meaningfully abroad. Short visioned, profit oriented, corporate tactics, being applied on an international level.

This is how empires die, not how they are formed.

[Maine-ah]

6. bump the rating at yahoo if y'all can,

kick.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Did it. Looks as if some freeple aren't happy with the story.....

"Its current average rating is 1.87 with 266 vote(s)." Tough!

This Korea story will clear up any misconceptions anyone may have had that the Iraq lies represented a temporary madness which came over all of _Bush's collection of bloodthirsty, treacherous psychopaths.

[reprobate]

11. The freeper mind is unfathomable to me. And they clam to be patriots?

Anyone who claims patriotism should be inflamed that their government is apparently incapable of speaking truth.

Truth is the absolute minimum we should expect of government, but this bunch seems opposed to its very concept.

[Laurab]

21. It's hard to believe most of them have minds at all

Why would anyone want a government that does nothing but lie?

It's rated up to 2.97 right now, but still, it should be WAY higher than that. Rate the story (link above) up if you can.

:kick:

[Rose Siding]

7. But NK should come to the table and trust us

:eyes:

[Toots]

9. The world is becoming painfully aware the US can not be trusted at all.

This Administration is just plain not credible and the entire world knows that to be the case...

[enough]

10. kick

[onehandle]

12. U.S. Misled Allies About Nuclear Export

Bush administration concealed Pakistan's role in sale of North Korean uranium to Libya.

North Korea Sent Material To Pakistan, Not to Libya

In an effort to increase pressure on North Korea, the Bush administration told its Asian allies in briefings earlier this year that Pyongyang had exported nuclear material to Libya. That was a significant new charge, the first allegation that North Korea was helping to create a new nuclear weapons state.

But that is not what U.S. intelligence reported, according to two officials with detailed knowledge of the transaction. North Korea, according to the intelligence, had supplied uranium hexafluoride -- which can be enriched to weapons-grade uranium -- to Pakistan. It was Pakistan, a key U.S. ally with its own nuclear arsenal, that sold the material to Libya. The U.S. government had no evidence, the officials said, that North Korea knew of the second transaction.

Pakistan's role as both the buyer and the seller was concealed to cover up the part played by Washington's partner in the hunt for al Qaeda leaders, according to the officials, who discussed the issue on the condition of anonymity. In addition, a North Korea-Pakistan transfer would not have been news to the U.S. allies, which have known of such transfers for years and viewed them as a business matter between sovereign states

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50241-2005Mar19.html

[RandomKoolzip]

13. Is the US doing business with AQ Khan?

What the fuck is going on here?!?

[htuttle]

15. It's in line with the goals of the Bush administration

They wanted to avoid domestic embarrassment, so they hid the link between Pakistan and Libya, same as they covered up (and quelled) the AQ Khan scandal (and continue to deflect the 'No WMD', 'No 9/11 link', 'Complete occupation SNAFU' scandals in Iraq).

They don't really care about things like long term foreign policy implications, etc... It's all about short-term domestic popularity ratings which they try to roll over into money-making policies for themselves and their constituency.

I've seen it time and time again. They'll sacrifice a longer-term greater good for a short term coverup or poll boost.

Remember, they boast that 'We make reality'. This is how they do it (and no, it doesn't REALLY make reality...just the short term domestic perception of it).

[makhno]

18. It's all about the money for these sons of bitches

Politics is merely a game they have to play to have access to economic leverage for as long as possible. None of them takes the game at face value - duty, honesty, patriotism are for tax-paying suckers like you and me.

The more I look at this administration, the more it becomes obvious that it's nothing more than a short-term speculative adventure. Peel back the neo-con foreign policy bluster and you can see the neo-liberal foundation of unfettered capitalist exploitation. The administration is getting bolder every week - look at Wolfowitz's appointment - as its members and clients see that they're facing no popular or political scrutiny at home and little if any credible opposition on the international arena.

[blogbear]

14. With Friends Like Ours..

Who needs enemies?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. No! Our government [i]lied[/i] to extend their empire?

Say it is not so.
Please, Joe, say it ain't so

[Supersedeas]

17. why can't the MSM confront this story head-on!!!!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

20. ummm, because they are so much a part of the whole

thing?

[Rose Siding]

19. previous post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1327113

[chlamor]

22. Kick this one

Thanks for update. Hoooeeey ISI weds CIA honeymon not so sweet.

[struggle4progress]

23. and again

:kick:

[Jacobin]

24. No shit Sherlock