| The Greatest Threat to the United States Security |
| Written by Michael Webster |
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The wedding of terrorist and nuclear weapons is now the greatest threat to the United States, security. The U.S. tried to deter terrorists from gaining access to nuclear weapons through Pakistan. The results however of investigations into Pakistani nuclear black market and nuclear proliferation network demonstrates in stark terms the devastating consequences of nuclear proliferation by Al-Qaeda and Taliban who may now have access to state-controlled nuclear weapons according to an American/Pakistani who said, “I read it in a Pakistan newspaper during a recent visit to that country”. U.S. Homeland Security web site claims that having excess to those bombs alone is not enough the terrorist must have delivery systems. These systems can consist of small suit case type nukes and dirty bombs to major delivery systems.Pakistan has a powerful nuclear arsenal. According to published reports, Pakistan’s arsenal consists of approximately 100 nuclear bombs. These weapons have yields ranging from as little as 10 to as much as 100 kilotons the upper level is equivalent to the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. Jane’s on-line reports that Pakistan has three jet aircraft delivery systems in place-the F-16, provided by the U.S. the Mirage 5, provided by the French and finally the Q-5, the J-10 and jf-17 provided by the Chinese. Pakistan has ballistic missiles provided by both China and North Korea. These missiles are known as the “Haft” and they have ranges from 100 miles to over 2500 miles. That means they can reach all of Afghanistan and much of India. Pakistan also has the Babur cruise missile which can be fired from Pakistan’s F-16s with a range of up to 1000 miles after it’s fired from the aircraft. The F-16,s range is unlimited when you consider Pakistan’s ability to re-fuel in med air. Last but not least is Pakistan’s Agosta-class submarines which with refueling capabilities it can be found anywhere in the world with nuclear weapons aboard. The worrisome realities is the cozy relationships and links between some high ranking retired Pakistani military and intelligence officials and nuclear scientists to the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists. It is this relationship and the relationship the Taliban and al-Qaeda have with the tribal leaders in the mountains bordering Afghanistan that allow the terrorist to flourish and maintain this amassing safe haven and develop the contacts. The reports claim U.S. and Pakistan policy has failed to prevent the penetration of the nuclear establishment over time by individuals sympathetic to the radical extremist goals which is and has been for some time to gain and possess nuclear weapons and use them against the west. Despite Pakistan’s denials and arguments that its nuclear weapons are safely guarded, some experts now believe that it is a distinct possibility that some control of Pakistan's nuclear weapons has already fallen into the wrong hands. |
