September 28, 2002
DAMNABLE WAR-MONGERING TURKS:
Turkish police seize smuggled uranium (Tabitha Morgan, 28 September, 2002, BBC)Turkish police say they have seized more than 15 kilograms (34.5 pounds) of weapons grade uranium, which had been smuggled into the country from Eastern Europe.Two men have been arrested for questioning in the south of the country, close to the Syrian border.
According to the Turkish state news agency, the uranium was being transported in a taxi, concealed in a lead container beneath the seats.
Isn't it awfully suspicious that this seizure comes just as Congress is debating a war resolution and George Bush is suggesting Democrats don't care about national security just because they say Saddam has no nukes and is no threat? Couldn't this just be an administration plot to embarrass Senator Daschle, President Gore, and the rest? Posted by Orrin Judd at September 28, 2002 1:47 PM
damianpenny, via lgf, has a photo of the
alleged container, which is labeled 'made
in w germany" (sic), which he says merits
more explanation.
I think so. Shouldn't that be Hecho en w.
germany"? Or something.
Seriously, who packages up uranium in
bomb-size amounts and for what purpose?
damian also notes previous, smaller seizures
of uranium in Turkey.
Maybe we should name the package "Eric."
I saw the photo via a link from Rantburg. I'm no expert, but doesn't this look like a fuel-rod tip for a nuclear electric generating plant?
I also note that 15 kg of weapons-grade U-235 is inherently unstable, to the point that you would not transport it in a lead box under the seat of a taxi. Besides the rather small matter of a critical mass (recalling college physics, it's not just the mass but the shape, but 15 kg is close), there's the thermal energy. The driver would literally have a hot seat.