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| India-Pakistan |
| 'Pakistan close to boosting atom bomb ability' |
| 2008-09-19 |
| Pakistan is close to completing a second plutonium-producing reactor, and is well into building a third, and these reactors could increase its ability to make atomic bombs, a United States think-tank said on Thursday. "The wider implication ... (is that) there is a real risk this will exacerbate an India-Pakistan nuclear arms race and increase tensions more broadly between the two," the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said in a report. The report included commercial satellite images taken two weeks ago and in February and May showing construction of the second and third Khushab complexes. The 10-page report estimated the reactors would run on power of "about 100-megawatts or more", which could enable the two combined to yield plutonium for 8 to 10 atomic bombs a year. Pakistan has an operating heavy-water reactor and heavy-water production plant already at Khushab. A row of cooling towers indicated the second reactor was close to completion and could be ready to operate in a year's time, according to the 10-page report. "Once completed, these reactors will increase several-fold Pakistan's ability to make weapons-grade plutonium (fuel)." "When finished...will allow a significant increase in the quantity and quality of Pakistan's nuclear weapons." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Anuther threat for RUSSIA = VLADVEDEV. ION NOT NECESSARILY UNRELATED [Russ = USA/Ruso-Georgian war], IRNA > IISS DECLARES: IDEALISTIC MODE OF WESTERN FOREIGN POLICY [read - USA] IS OVER. AGE OF AMBITIOUS DEMOCRATIZATION + REGIONAL STRATEGIC MAKEOEVRS being replaced by INCREASINGLY INWARD-LOOKING NATIONALIST + REGULATORY FOCII, as due to the WORLD-AFFECTING TRIPLE SHOCK OF OIL, FOOD, and CREDIT etc. WOES. "IDEALISM and REALPOLITIK" will be dependent on the NEXT US PRESIDENT. IOW, "RETURN OF THE APPARATCHIKS"??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-09-19 21:00 |
| #3 Great, just what they need. Why don't they make one that can destroy the entire country, then use it. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-09-19 14:20 |
| #2 What I want to know is how many Chinese engineers are working at these sites. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-09-19 12:00 |
| #1 If there is a place you don't want an increased nuclear capability it is Pakistan. And Iran... Both pose tremendous dangers to the West. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-09-19 10:01 |