Pakistan:  Two Scientists Discussed WMD With Bin Laden

Two Pakistani scientists who formerly worked in Pakistan’s nuclear program allegedly told investigators that they discussed nuclear, chemical and biological weapons with suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden in August in Kabul, according to Pakistani officials.  The officials said authorities have detained Sultan Bashiru-din Mehmood and Chaudry Abdul Majid since Oct. 23 and questioned them about their links to the Taliban and al-Qaeda (see GSN, Oct. 26).

Pakistani authorities said they believe that Mehmood and Majid used their nongovernmental organization, Ummah Tameer-e-Nau, as a cover for meeting bin Laden (see GSN, Nov. 28).  The scientists said bin Laden indicated he possessed or had access to radiological material, but the material was not sufficient to manufacture a weapon (see GSN, Dec. 5).  Mehmood had experience in uranium enrichment and plutonium production but lacked the knowledge needed to construct a nuclear weapon, according to Pakistani officials.

The scientists’ alleged admissions contradicted their earlier claims that they had only discussed charitable activities with leaders in Afghanistan (see GSN, Nov. 5).  After investigators showed the scientists evidence linking them to bin Laden, the scientists said they had discussed such weapons with bin Laden, Pakistani authorities said.

Authorities have kept secret the location and methods of the interrogations, according to the Washington Post.  They have not charged either scientist with a crime but were considering trying them for violating a national official secrets act (Khan/Moore, Washington Post, Dec. 12).

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Al-Qaeda:  Terrorists Plan to Use BW, Says Taliban Member

Al-Qaeda plans to attack the United States with biological weapons at the end of Ramadan, which ends Sunday, John Walker Lindh, an American captured while fighting for the Taliban, told U.S. investigators.  Lindh said the attack would be “phase two” of al-Qaeda’s war on the United States, and a third phase would destroy the entire country.

U.S. intelligence officials said they distrusted the credibility of the information because Lindh’s position in the Taliban was low.  Nonetheless the United States did issue an attack alert last week partly based on Lindh’s claim, according to the Washington Times (see GSN, Dec. 4).  Lindh provided “very helpful” information, according to U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.

U.S. Marines have been holding Lindh as an enemy prisoner of war (Bill Gertz, Washington Times, Dec. 12).

No Evidence Al-Qaeda Has WMD, Says Coalition

Meanwhile, U.S. forces and allies in Afghanistan have not found any evidence that al-Qaeda was able to acquire or produce weapons of mass destruction, U.S. Coalition Information Center spokesman Kenton Keith said yesterday.  Keith confirmed that forces had found some al-Qaeda documents specifically about weapons of mass destruction, adding, “What they wanted to achieve from these documents is not clear.”

U.S. Cooperates With Pakistani Investigation Into Scientists

The United States has been cooperating with Pakistan in an investigation into the possibility that Pakistani nuclear scientists—particularly Sultan Bashiru-din Mehmood and Chaudry Abdul Majid—provided assistance or information to al-Qaeda or the Taliban, Keith said (see related GSN story, today).  “It would not be a fair conclusion that we are interested in these people for a specific thing,” he added (DAWN, Dec. 12).

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U.S. Response:  Dual-Use Exports to be Monitored

The U.S. Customs Service yesterday announced a new plan in which businesses are to monitor export orders for items that could be used by terrorists.

The Customs Service has created a “shopping list for terrorist organizations” of 100 items that could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction, said Customs Service Commissioner Robert Bonner.  Items on the list include the chemical thiodiglycol, which can be used both for making dyes and mustard gas, and krytrons, which are small glass bulbs that have uses in photocopiers as well as nuclear warhead triggers, Bonner said (see GSN, Nov. 27).

Businesses should be cautious of first-time customers, customers offering large amounts of cash or prospective buyers willing to pay high above market prices for sensitive materials, Bonner said. 

The Customs Service, along with the State and Commerce departments, will also work to strengthen enforcement of export laws, Bonner said.  “It will take a vigorous effort from everyone, including the government and private sector, to shield America from being targeted by its own technology,” he said (Bill Miller, Washington Post, Dec. 11).

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Iraq:  German Engineer Sent Weapons Equipment

A German mechanical engineer who allegedly facilitated illegal arms sales to Iraq has been jailed since October, according to Der Spiegel, the Agence France-Presse reported Saturday.  Prosecutors told Der Spiegel that the suspect may have already sent equipment through Jordan to Baghdad in violation of U.N. sanctions.  Officials believe that the shipped equipment included a drill to make cannon tubes which could be used to fire nuclear, biological or chemical weapons (Agence France-Presse, Dec. 8).

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South Korea:  WMD Warfare Defense Unit Planned

South Korea plans to create a new biological and chemical warfare defense command next year, officials said today.

The existing Army Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defense Command is to be reorganized, reinforced, and placed under the direct control of the Defense Ministry.  The reinforcement will consist of 200 extra personnel and a new force trained to combat terrorists using chemical or biological weapons, said Col. Chang Sang-geun, head of the ministry’s division for biological, chemical and radiological warfare.

“The new command will maintain close cooperation with police, the government and civilian organizations to thwart possible terrorist attacks ahead of the 2002 World Cup soccer finals,” Chang said (Hwang Jang-jin, Korea Herald, Dec. 10).

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