Comments on: NYT: U.S. has highly classified program to help safeguard Pakistani nukes

By: CP

CP — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:35:04 +0000

This is old news. I remember a story from a few years ago about a military program to secure Pakistan’s nukes.

By: progressoverpeace

progressoverpeace — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:45:22 +0000

This article is nothing but silly wishful thinking. The AQ Khan network was still actively working out of Pakistan (moving technological knowhow, materials, and equipment) all while we were aligned with Musharraf against the Taliban/Al Quaeda. The idea that we knew enough about Pakistani nukes, but were unaware of the AQ Khan network’s activities at the time, is just absurd.

Unfortunately, I have very little confidence that we know nearly enough about the Pakistani nuclear arsenal/industry. That just seems to be a matter of fact that we were all confronted with when Libya turned over and the whole AQ Khan network was exposed.

By: Egfrow

Egfrow — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:35:53 +0000

So, what we are all saying is that if we want to spy on America than all we have to do is compromise the NYT and get the classified information they are sitting on.

By: Liberty or Death

Liberty or Death — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:14:23 +0000

Eh, I’m sure that given a few weeks, the NY Times will post the exact locations of the nukes with maps and everything.

I thought that was Geraldo’s job?

By: 91Veteran

91Veteran — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:14:49 +0000

According to AP, the NYT only ran it after the Administration dropped its objection. What I find surprising is that they actually sat on it for so long. I suppose they couldn’t figure out how to spin it to make Bush look bad for trying to do such a commonsense thing.

Lancer on November 17, 2007 at 7:10 PM

Beat me to it Lancer. Exactly what I have been thinking. Why now?

By: 91Veteran

91Veteran — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:12:21 +0000

NOT so highly classified now is it??? I for one am tired of the NYT and others for leaking classified material.

allrsn on November 17, 2007 at 6:25 PM

Nah, all the National Security Secrets that are fit to print.

AP did point out they sat on this for what? three years?

What I cannot fathom is why they did so. The Slimes seemed to be breaking their necks at printing any secret they could over the past few years as fast as they could as soon as they got the information.

Why sit on this and not the others?

Another question. Does this suggest the Slimes actually understands what national security secrets are? and what should not be published willy-nilly?

By: Asher

Asher — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 05:11:31 +0000

Leave the Bronx

By: Maxx

Maxx — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:32:50 +0000

Not worried about the Pakistani nukes for as long as someone halfway sane remains in power in Pakistan. If they can build nukes they can encrypt the launch sequence, that is not difficult technology. That is much more interesting is this link posted by MB4 over in Robert Spencer's thread. Iran has big problems at one of it's weapons facilities. I wonder if it was an accident of if someone "helped" it along.

By: Zorro

Zorro — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 01:10:21 +0000

A plan seems to have been put in motion some time ago concerning Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto just didn’t show up there to shop.

By: saved

saved — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:37:44 +0000

After reading that the federal government has a plan to deal with Pak nukes, I can sleep better at night.

India will know how to deal with the problem.

By: BDU-33

BDU-33 — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:30:41 +0000

This is kind of old news that was first reported by the Washington Post.

A follow up article from AFP on 12 Nov had the Pakistani reply.

“Denouncing “irresponsible conjecture,” the foreign ministry said Pakistan was ready and able to defend its nuclear arsenal and there was no risk of the arms being taken.
Its reaction followed a Washington Post report that with Pakistan in the throes of a political crisis, the United States had drawn up contingency plans in case the Pakistani military risked losing control of the weapons.
“If there is any threat to our nuclear assets and sovereignty, we have the capacity to defend ourselves,” foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq told AFP.”

From spacewar.com

Not very surprising, wouldn’t even surprise me if we had contingency plans for Israeli nukes.

The Administration dropped its objection to publishing the story, and now Pakistan is forewarned; secure your nukes or you will find out what GBU-28s are made for.

By: Lancer

Lancer — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:10:40 +0000

According to AP, the NYT only ran it after the Administration dropped its objection. What I find surprising is that they actually sat on it for so long. I suppose they couldn’t figure out how to spin it to make Bush look bad for trying to do such a commonsense thing.
If I were Bush, I’d make Musharraf an offer: He gives us the locations of all his nukes and facilities, and, if/when things fall apart in Pakistan and he has to flee, we’ll take him and give him a safe comfortable retirement. But, if he does not give us all the data, we’ll throw him to the wolves.

By: Attila (Pillage Idiot)

Attila (Pillage Idiot) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:08:12 +0000

we’re getting very little bang for our buck.

I don’t think it’s our buck whose bang we should be concerned about.

By: BL@KBIRD

BL@KBIRD — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:33:39 +0000

Who are these pragmatic, selfless, loyal, totally in control people who altruistically watch over the Pak nukes?

Foreigners?

Is this where it gets exciting in an unpleasant way? Will they one day call it Paki Nuke Roulette?

By: allrsn

allrsn — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:25:11 +0000

NOT so highly classified now is it??? I for one am tired of the NYT and others for leaking classified material.

By: R. Waher

R. Waher — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:22:32 +0000

Wait, wait, what? We can’t provide Pakistan with some extra safeguards for their nukes but Russia and China can sell Iran everything they need to make nukes? When are we going to get some leaders that have something that vaguely resembles a spine?

By: doriangrey

doriangrey — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:52:50 +0000

Eh, I’m sure that given a few weeks, the NY Times will post the exact locations of the nukes with maps and everything. Isn’t publishing national secrets treason or something? If we had the media we have now during the WW’s, we’d all be speaking German or Japanese.

Tuari on November 17, 2007 at 4:04 PM

But don’t you dare question the NYSlimes patriotism…

By: Tony737

Tony737 — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:32:55 +0000

Thank God … uh, the REAL One, not that moon god they got over there.

By: steveegg

steveegg — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:28:24 +0000

Eh, I’m sure that given a few weeks, the NY Times will post the exact locations of the nukes with maps and everything. Isn’t publishing national secrets treason or something? If we had the media we have now during the WW’s, we’d all be speaking German or Japanese.

Tuari on November 17, 2007 at 4:04 PM

Precisely when Al Qaeda is on top of them and is in a position to seize them, no doubt.

By: T J Green

T J Green — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:23:05 +0000

This is the sort of NYT crap that is just worthless. “Secret” funds used for a “secret” initiative protecting an unknown number of warheads at unknown locations involving undisclosed operational details but – the evil Bush and Cheney blew 100 million bucks on training and an unfinished training facility instead of insuring Aunt Nancy’s children! Then again, maybe the Administration hasn’t done enough to protect the nukes…

Like we need this sort of ~~reporting~~ free association current events fiction.

By: infidel4life

infidel4life — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:19:17 +0000

we’re getting very little bang for our buck.

I was gonna compare the Federal Government to a drunken sailor, but at least the sailor has a good time and spends his own money.

By: Tuari

Tuari — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:04:07 +0000

Eh, I’m sure that given a few weeks, the NY Times will post the exact locations of the nukes with maps and everything. Isn’t publishing national secrets treason or something? If we had the media we have now during the WW’s, we’d all be speaking German or Japanese.

By: Bad Candy

Bad Candy — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:56:07 +0000

Limerick on November 17, 2007 at 3:49 PM

Onion post, you mean?

Nah, I have your concerns too.

By: Limerick

Limerick — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:49:55 +0000

Count me very skeptical. Our own government can’t even give the FBI a decent computer system but we have all the cards in regards to Pak nuke security. This must be a SNL post.

By: Theworldisnotenough

Theworldisnotenough — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:43:40 +0000

Ah the Cold War. When trust in government did not mean full disclosure. A comfpting feeling to know that the governemnt is doing things we do not know about but are very glad they are doing.