LAT: Sense of Urgency at U.N. Over Nuclear Trade

[DeepModem Mom]

Sense of Urgency at U.N. Over Nuclear Trade
Its watchdog agency is developing new ways to thwart a black market in weapons technology. The U.S. pushes to give monitors a larger role.
By Doug Frantz and Sonni Efron, Times Staff Writers


VIENNA — Concerned that efforts to halt nuclear proliferation have proved inadequate, the international community is developing new strategies to fight the illicit spread of atomic weapons technology by private smuggling networks.

Based on lessons from the investigation of the global black market in nuclear technology headed by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Bush administration is pushing for a larger role for the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency. It is also lobbying other nations to beef up export controls and is seeking to expand international cooperation on impeding nuclear contraband.

The Khan network began to unravel after an intelligence tip led to the seizure of a shipload of nuclear equipment bound for Libya in October 2003. Investigators later found evidence that the network had sold designs and material for a complete enrichment plant and atomic warhead to Libya as well as nuclear technology to Iran.

The two countries operated ambitious clandestine nuclear programs for many years without detection through international safeguards and export controls.

Along with improving safeguards and monitoring, top counter-proliferation officials are focused on establishing new measures to combat what they warn is the increasing threat of nuclear terrorism....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nukes26jun26,0,4792558,full.story?coll=la-home-world

[mom cat]

1. Bush administration is pushing for a larger role for the United Nations

nuclear watchdog agency.
So now Bush needs the UN.