The soft underbelly of non-proliferation

[Dover]

The soft underbelly of non-proliferation

By Paul Reynolds

The secret acquisition by Iran and Libya of nuclear centrifuge technology has revealed a gap in the policing of weapon development which needs closing, according to experts.

There are concerns about the nature of Iran's nuclear programme
The attempt to prevent more countries from building the bomb is matched only by President George Bush's war on terror as the number one priority in US foreign policy, strongly supported by Britain.

Recent revelations have demonstrated that the soft underbelly of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - designed to allow countries to develop nuclear power but not a nuclear bomb - is a black market in the technology to build centrifuges. These are used to spin uranium material and separate the parts needed to make a nuclear explosion.

Under the NPT, countries are allowed to enrich uranium to a level needed to fuel nuclear power stations, so long as this is under the control of the UN's nuclear agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Most countries simply buy the fuel from the small number of recognised supplier governments.

The problem occurs when a government secretly develops the ability to enrich uranium to the higher levels needed for a nuclear bomb.......cont'd

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/3375953.stm

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. "so long as this is under the control of the UN's nuclear agency" - but

.
.
. "so long as this is under the control of the UN's nuclear agency" -but

but the USA has "branded" the UN as irrelevant, especially by "doing" the war in Iraq without the UN's blessing

sooooo , in some nation's eyes, - they are "justified" in ignoring whichever part of the UN's mandate that does not suit them

GeeDubya set the "example" with his "pre-emptive" sh*t

So ya know,

. . "What's good for the Goose - - - ?" :shrug:

[Voice_of_Europe]

2. How difficult can it be to build a centrifuge?

It just takes time....
Time is the only problem. Not to be discovered long enough...

I think the bomb itself isn't that much of a problem...

Delivery is.. few have the missile technology... unlike a ceartain east asian country...