NEGATIVE/NUCLEAR/PROLIFERATION

THREATS OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL FROM RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE UNREALISTIC

NUCLEAR SCAMS IN RUSSIA HAVE THWARTED THOSE ATTEMPTING TO BUY REAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL

Al J Venter International Defense Review , September 1, 1999, HEADLINE: Watching the radioactive detectives // Inu-acs

Nuclear 'scams' have been big business for some time. Most transactions involving radioactive material have been between former Soviet Union (FSU) countries and three or four pariah states in the Middle East. US intelligence sources are aware of several transactions involving Iranian and Iraqi agents who have been deceived and lost millions of dollars in deals that have gone sour. "The trouble is," according to a spokesman for the US Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), "what the seller or smuggler actually offloads may well be dangerously radioactive." The authorities are aware that deaths have resulted from individuals unknowingly handling radioactive materials.

A VARIETY OF NUCLEAR SCAMS IN RUSSIA HAVE SEPARATED POTENTIAL NUCLEAR BUYERS FROM THEIR MONEY WITHOUT GETTING THEM ANY REAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS MATERIALS

Al J Venter International Defense Review , September 1, 1999, HEADLINE: Watching the radioactive detectives // Inu-acs

An unusual aspect of the course is the time spent on scams related to elicit nuclear trafficking. Until recently, few outsiders were aware that a multi-million dollar industry involving some of the best swindlers in the game existed. Many of those doing the 'trading' are either Russian or Ukrainian. The work can be dangerous. The number of people murdered because they were involved in red mercury scams in South Africa over the past 10 years is high: red mercury traffickers in Europe and the Middle East have also been active' (Red mercury is an extremely sophisticated technological fraud that over the past 10-12 years has generated millions of dollars. It is purported to be a 'substitute radioactive component' in nuclear weapons development -- and compared by some operators to the heaviest hydrogen isotope, Tritium - but this is false.) Such is the extent of trade in this substance that several books have appeared on the subject. Other nuclear shams involve Osmium-187, Philippine 'uranium', Southeast Asian .uranium' as well as radiation gauges. The US states that Osmium only recently emerged as a common nuclear trafficking scam in the FSU. PNNL officials say it has no known weapons application, nor is it radioactive. Scam prices can be awesome. Candium (another fake Russian radioactive substance) sells for upwards of US$50,000/kg. One hustler tried to offload a kilogram of Osmium-187 to an Iranian agent for US$70 million. "Obviously if there weren't takers, the market wouldn't exist," the specialist said. He added that there were "a lot of basket cases out there and some of them have millions of dollars".

CHINA HAS AGREED TO STOP ASSISTANCE TO ALL UNSAFEGUARDED NUCLEAR FACILITIES

M2 PRESSWIRE, July 16, 1999 HEADLINE: THE WHITE HOUSE Fact sheet on nonproliferation - the Clinton Administration record // Inu-acs

Engaging China: Through U.S. efforts, China joined the Zangger Committee of nuclear suppliers, pledged to cease all assistance to unsafeguarded nuclear 'facilities and cut off nuclear cooperation with Iran.