In two previous posts, I’ve mentioned press reports about Dr Khan and Syria, one saying there may have been a connection, the other saying no way.
Middle East
Khan’s network just keeps going and going and going…
The Jerusalem Post ran an article September 20, which may very well be the first article, linking whatever it was in Syria that was attacked by Israel in early September, to wider nuclear proliferation concerns. The article by Yaakov Katz stated:
This week, Khan's name again made headlines – this time over suspicions that his black-market ring was behind the supply of nuclear technology and material to the facility that Israel – according to foreign news reports – bombed two weeks ago in northern Syria.
BASIC calls for suspension of US arms sales and military assistance to the Persian Gulf and Middle East
The proposed sales would support authoritarian governments in the Arab world
Khan? I’ll get back to you on that
Since I just blogged about Iran I’m thinking what does it say about American intelligence abilities that some of the best information on Iran’s nuclear program and, for that matter, Khan’s network, has come from private sources. Now I’ve got nothing against private sources; in fact, I’ve long been a huge proponent of increased reliance on OSINT. But it does raise the issue of how effective and interested the US government is in taking out clandestine nuclear trafficking networks.
A front company by any other name is still a front company
On June 13 the Washington Times ran an article asserting that Iran is using newly created front companies in a bid to frustrate US and United Nations sanctions on its suspect nuclear programs. The charges were made by the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which supports the overthrow of the regime in Tehran.
From the frying pan into the fire: US Arms sales and military assistance to the Persian Gulf and Middle East
Continuing arms sales and military assistance programs are premised on an unproved Iranian threat, will affect the regional strategic balance and support authoritarian regimes.
Getting to Zero Update
In this issue: Arms control ; Country reports ; Nuclear energy