http://www.paknews.com/main.php?id=17&date1=2001-11-10

Al-Qaeda nukes may have reached US shores

Naveed Miraj

ISLAMABAD Nov 10(PNS): Pakistani and American investigators converge that Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network may have successfully transported several nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons of mass destruction to the United States.

Already on high alert, United States security officials are having sleepless nights that Al Qaeda can strike in New York again on the occasion of United Nations General Assembly session.

Investigators from Pakistan’s ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) and American FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) are jointly probing into the possibilities of Al Qaeda possessing nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. They have reached a conclusion that at least two briefcase nuclear weapons may have reached the US shores, sources close to these investigators revealed to this scribe.

The investigators have been able to identify at least one briefcase weapon acquired by Al Qaeda from Central Asian rogue groups. The weapon identified is small 8-kilogram device that carries at least 2 kg of fissionable plutonium and uranium. The device, of Russian make, carries a serial number 9999 and manufacturing date October 1988.

The design of the device is simple. The radioactive materials consist of Uranium and Plutonium both kept in separate compartments. At the top of the two compartments is placed the charging mechanism. The charging mechanism can be activated through a timer or even through a cell phone command.

Besides nuclear devices, a chemical and a biological weapon have also been identified to be in the hands of Al Qaeda activists. They are said to be in possession of at least 70 capsules, also of Russian origin, containing a very lethal biological agent.

Broken in a crowded place, this capsule can cause deaths on a huge scale. It melts human body meat to the bone. Another chemical agent in the hands of Al Qaeda operators is called Vipera Lebentina Venema. A derivative of snake poisons, this venom developed in USSR attacks through skin.

Most probable way of using this agent is through mail as with Anthrax. US security agencies are already on high alert and realise that Al Qaeda can strike in New York again on the occasion of UN General Assembly. Analysis of the recent statements released by Osama bin Laden carried out by US agencies has shown that the terrorist network can pick up an important occasion like the UN General Assembly session to retaliate against US strikes on Afghanistan.

-- Swissrose (cellier3@mindspring.com), November 10, 2001

Answers

Propaganda to sweeten the loss of Mazar-i-Sharif and terrify the US population? The fact is, in two months, there was no other attack....

-- Swissrose (cellier3@mindspring.com), November 10, 2001.

Hmmm..... "The weapon identified is small 8-kilogram device that carries at least 2 kg of fissionable plutonium and uranium. The device, of Russian make, carries a serial number 9999 and manufacturing date October 1988."

Russians undoubtedly "serialize" their weapons, but somehow, I doubt very seriously that they ever put the serial # 9999 on any of them.

I used to be a Nuclear Weapons Security Officer - you know, one of those guys with the keys in the safes 15 feet apart. Let me assure you that US weapons serial numbers are much longer, combining a complex code of serial number, manufacturing information, model and check digits. Hence, the Russian serial number "9999" is unlikely to be anything but imaginary.

Further, 2kg of "plutonium and uranium" would generally produce a stronger weapon than one in the 8kt range. US nuclear demolition packs (the comparable US weapon), was closer to 50kt.

As a result, relax, I don't see much credance to this story.

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), November 10, 2001.

Thankyou so much for the insightful replies to this article. It put my mind at ease to hear the specifics. love to all Judy

-- Judy/W (judywhalen@aol.com), November 10, 2001.

This sounds much more like science fiction than anything real.

-- Uncle Fred (dogboy45@bigfoot.com), November 10, 2001.

Y2K was good practice for low odds catastrophe. Prepare for the posibility but realise that it probably won't happen. The companies and families that have contingency plans in place for any disasters that may arise will be the best off. Just think it through and formulate a plan. What would you do? SS

-- Scott Stokes (sstokes@chorus.net), November 10, 2001.