Uranium – enough for a nuclear weapon –airlifted from Uzbekistan to Russia

[Khephra]

Uranium – enough for a nuclear weapon – airlifted from Uzbekistan to Russia

WASHINGTON – Twenty-four pounds of highly enriched uranium, enough for a crude nuclear weapon, was secretly flown to Russia last week from a research lab in Uzbekistan where U.S. officials had long feared terrorists could obtain the material, the Energy Department said Monday.

The material from nuclear fuel assemblies, which was kept at a research reactor near Tashkent, has for years been the subject of concern despite security improvements put in place two years ago.

The Energy Department said the uranium, including irradiated reactor fuel, was put in two specialized transport containers and airlifted Sept. 9 under guard to a secured facility in Dmitrovgrad, Russia. The material will be turned into low-enriched uranium that would no longer be suitable for a bomb or other weapon.

The shipment is part of a broader effort aimed at returning highly enriched uranium, or HEU, from research reactors around the world to reduce the chances of the material being obtained by terrorists. The uranium fuel has been provided over the years by the United States and Russia to promote civilian nuclear research.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20040913-1415-nuclearshipment.html

[oldhat]

1. t0tally k3wl d00d!!!!!!!!111

[LiberalVoice]

2. Oh please

If the terrorists want a nuke they'll get it. The highest caan have whatever he/she likes. I hate to be such a pessimist but thats the way the world turns.

[UNION.JACK]

3. You could well be right

But the middle Eastern country that gets one first; may well be glassed over by Uncle Sam's only friend (in the middle East)Ariel Sharon. Of course I use the word friend *at this moment in time* with tongue in cheek!!!!

[DoNotRefill]

4. why aren't we buying this stuff?

the russians need cash, and they've got tons of nuclear materials.

We shoud buy it, ship it over here, and safely dismantle it. That would give them an economic boost, and the cost to us would be miniscule compared to a nuke going off here.

[thecrow]

5. Have you looked at OUR economy lately?

* might have to cut some seniors off of Social Security to finance it.