Ain’t Nobody’s Business
by digby
Here’s a terrific idea. Just fantastic:
The Bush administration acknowledged yesterday that it had long known about Pakistan’s plans to build a large plutonium-production reactor, but it said the White House was working to dissuade Pakistan from using the plant to expand its nuclear arsenal.
“We discourage military use of the facility,” White House spokesman Tony Snow said of a powerful heavy-water reactor under construction at Pakistan’s Khushab nuclear site in Punjab state.
Pakistan has begun building what independent analysts say is a powerful new reactor for producing plutonium, a move that, if verified, would signal a major expansion of the country’s nuclear weapons capabilities and a potential new escalation in the region’s arms race.
The reactor, which reportedly will be capable of producing enough plutonium for as many as 50 bombs each year, was brought to light on Sunday by independent analysts who spotted the partially completed plant in commercial-satellite photos. Snow said the administration had “known of these plans for some time.”
And yet (I know this will shock you) they didn’t bother to tell the congress, not even members of the Eunuch Caucus:
The acknowledgment came as arms-control experts and some in Congress expressed alarm about a possible escalation of South Asia’s arms race. Some also sharply criticized the administration for failing to disclose the existence of a facility that could influence an upcoming congressional debate over U.S. nuclear policy toward India and Pakistan.
“If either India or Pakistan starts increasing its nuclear arsenal, the other side will respond in kind,” said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-chairman of a House bipartisan task force on nonproliferation. “The Bush administration’s proposed nuclear deal with India is making that much more likely.”
Pakistan is reportedly the new home of Osama bin laden and all indications are that it is the epicenter of the next generation of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism. But no matter. Let’s let the whole sub-continent nuke itself up to the gills. Nothing bad can come of it, right?
Still, I can’t help but recall the immortal words of our Dear Leader when he said:
Tonight I want to take a few minutes to discuss a grave threat to peace, and America’s determination to lead the world in confronting that threat.
The threat comes from Iraq. It arises directly from the Iraqi regime’s own actions – its history of aggression, and its drive toward an arsenal of terror.
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We also must never forget the most vivid events of recent history. On Sept. 11, 2001, America felt its vulnerability – even to threats that gather on the other side of the earth. We resolved then and we are resolved today to confront every threat, from any source, that could bring sudden terror and suffering to America.
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Some ask how urgent this danger is to America and the world. The danger is already significant and it only grows worse with time. If we know Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today – and we do – does it make any sense for the world to wait to confront him as he grows even stronger and develops even more dangerous weapons?
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We know that Iraq and the al-Qaida terrorist network share a common enemy – the United States of America. We know that Iraq and al-Qaida have had high-level contacts that go back a decade. Some al-Qaida leaders who fled Afghanistan went to Iraq.
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Iraq could decide on any given day to provide a biological or chemical weapon to a terrorist group or individual terrorists. Alliances with terrorists could allow the Iraqi regime to attack America without leaving any fingerprints.
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There is no easy or risk-free course of action. Some have argued we should wait – and that is an option. In my view, it is the riskiest of all options – because the longer we wait, the stronger and bolder Saddam Hussein will become. We could wait and hope that Saddam does not give weapons to terrorists, or develop a nuclear weapon to blackmail the world. But I am convinced that is a hope against all evidence. As Americans, we want peace – we work and sacrifice for peace – and there can be no peace if our security depends on the will and whims of a ruthless and aggressive dictator. I am not willing to stake one American life on trusting Saddam Hussein.
The military dictator Pervez Musharraf, however, he’s willing to trust with an entire nuclear arsenal and a population full of Islamic fundamentalists who hate the United States with every fiber of their beings. Now he’s keeping Pakistan’s secret development of plutonium from the congress. I sure hope he looked into Musharraf’s soul and saw a guy who could guarantee an iron grip on events because if not, Pakistan holds a lot of very scary cards.
I have always wondered why this was not questioned during the run-up to the war. Pakistan always made the Iraq invasion absurd. Still does, more than ever.
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