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| Arabia | |
| Computer firm in Dubai was hub for black market nuke network | |
| 2004-02-13 | |
| A Dubai-based company in the United Arab Emirates has been cited as the linchpin in the lucrative nuclear weapons black market that has supplied Iran, Libya and North Korea. The United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency have determined that the UAE company served as the hub for the traffic of nuclear weapons components. Officials said the company coordinated with a range of nuclear suppliers for orders from such countries as Iran, Libya and North Korea. Somebody had to be the hub. The Bush administration identified the UAE firm as SMB Computers, a key element in the nuclear weapons black market operated by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. The company was found to have served as a clearinghouse for nuclear components ordered by Iran, Libya and North Korea. Another UAE company involved in the nuclear black market was Gulf Technical Industries, which worked closely with SMB’s Tahir, Middle East Newsline reported. The Dubai-based Gulf Technical, founded by British engineer Peter Griffin, an associate of Khan, contracted with Malaysia’s Scomi Group Berhad for the manufacture of centrifuge equipment identified as P-2. "The supply network will grow, making it easier to acquire nuclear weapon expertise and materials," IAEA director-general Mohammed ElBaradei wrote in the New York Times on Thursday. "Eventually, inevitably, terrorists will gain access to such materials and technology, if not actual weapons." No thanks to you for stopping them. The company was said to have processed orders for such goods as uranium hexafluoride – used for the centrifuge process that can produce enriched uranium for nuclear bombs – as well as components and complete centrifuges. The shipments were said to have been disguised and often relabeled in Dubai to avoid detection. SMB was operated by a deputy of Khan. Officials said the deputy, identified as Bukhari Sayed Abu Tahir, a Sri Lankan native, employed his Dubai company as the front for the nuclear network that sought to provide up to 1,000 centrifuges to Libya. Wonder if he was a Tamil? "Tahir acted as both the network’s chief financial officer and money launderer," President George Bush said in a speech on Wednesday. "He was also its shipping agent, using his computer firm as cover for the movement of centrifuge parts to various clients. Tahir directed the Malaysia facility to produce these parts based on Pakistani designs, and then ordered the facility to ship the components to Dubai. Tahir also arranged for parts acquired by other European procurement agents to transit through Dubai for shipment to other customers." Dubai served as the port of destination for these shipments. Officials said Tripoli acquired nuclear weapons components manufactured in Malaysia, shipped and processed in Dubai and then sent to Libya. "As a result of our penetration of the network, American and the British intelligence identified a shipment of advanced centrifuge parts manufactured at the Malaysia facility," Bush said. "We followed the shipment of these parts to Dubai, and watched as they were transferred to the BBC China, a German-owned ship. After the ship passed through the Suez Canal, bound for Libya, it was stopped by German and Italian authorities. They found several containers, each forty feet in length, listed on the ship’s manifest as full of ’used machine parts. In fact, these containers were filled with parts of sophisticated centrifuges."
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #4 A German firm that's part of a Swiss firm? So are these firms just doing illegal activities or are they actively participating in this war? Does a monetary fine mean squat? There's a target of the type I rant about. Boom, so sorry, need a new Jag, Hienz? How about you Fritz, a new AMG? No, oh your plants are gone, who would do that? |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-2-13 12:50:28 PM |
| #3 In 2002 and 2003, officials said, Gulf Technical maintained a representative from Dubai to Malaysia to oversee the production of P-2 for Middle East clients. Gee, does this mean Mr. Griffin lied when he said he doesn't know anything about them? :) |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-2-13 8:14:38 AM |
| #2 Okay, thanks Paul. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-2-13 1:35:12 AM |
| #1 Wonder if he was a Tamil? 'Bukhari Sayed Abu Tahir' is a Muslim name, and in Sri Lanka the Muslims side with the government against the Tamils. |
| Posted by: Paul Moloney 2004-2-13 1:25:40 AM |