March, 2007, Rasmussen confirms Dems poll higher on national security. Today's Wapo lays the blame for the AQ Khan's Pakistan nuclear nightmare squarely on Republicans:
...in January 1980, Ronald Reagan was asked about Pakistan's atomic ambitions. "I just don't think it's any of our business," he replied.
In office, Reagan and his aides made an art of ignoring Pakistan's march toward the bomb, including intelligence in 1987 that warned that Khan had transferred nuclear equipment to Iran...
Republicans hand out WMD like candy. So, why can't Dems make the national security case to the American people when the toilet seat hangs around Bush's neck?
Americans Need To Know that key Khan weapons plans disappeared two years after 9/11 while George Bush was busy declaring an end to combat operations in Iraq. Of course, the plans the current Republican President lost were of technology provided by the two preceding Republican morons, Reagan and Bush Sr. who armed Pakistan from 1980-1992.
Despite a US law passed in 1976 (the "Symington amendment") that required the US to suspend economic and military aid to non-signatories of the Nuclear Non-proliferation that engage in uranium enrichment, Washington did not respond to the mounting evidence of Pakistan's nuclear program...
In June 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced an agreement to provide Pakistan with $3.2 billion in economic and military aid over the next six years... The Pakistan ISI took charge of funneling arms and money to the feuding gangs that made up the reactionary mujaheddin fighting to overthrow Afghanistan's Soviet-backed, left-wing government...
In July 1985, Congress passed another $4 billion six-year aid package for Pakistan, but also passed the ``Pressler amendment'‘, which required the US president to certify each year that Pakistan ``does not possess a nuclear device'‘ and was not involved in nuclear smuggling before the aid could be delivered.
Unfazed, Reagan certified Pakistan's compliance in 1986 despite the fact that, according to the November 4, 1986, Washington Post, US intelligence reports and non-proliferation experts had concluded that Pakistan was between two weeks and ``two screwdriver turns from having a fully assembled bomb'‘.
In 1987, Congress approved another $480 million in aid for Pakistan and extended the Symington amendment exemption for another two and half years.
Despite overwhelming evidence, including public boasts by Pakistani politicians and scientists, that Pakistan had a nuclear bomb, Reagan and his successor, President George Bush senior, certified Pakistan to be free of nukes every year until 1990 (the Soviet Union had withdrawn its troops from Afghanistan in early 1989). In October 1990, Washington halted economic and military aid to Islamabad, worth $564 million, and froze government arms sales.
US senator John Glenn, one of the sponsors of the Symington amendment, observed in the June 26, 1992, International Herald Tribune: ``Nine years of US assistance had helped Pakistan release funds for its nuclear weapons program and given it the means for delivering the weapons.'‘
Reagan Defied US Law drafted to prevent Pakistan from acquiring nukes. Check out the damning chronology:
Early 1980's--Multiple reports that Pakistan obtained a pre-tested, atomic bomb design from China.
Early 1980's--Multiple reports that Pakistan obtained bomb-grade enriched uranium from China.
1980--U.S. Nuclear Export Control Violation: Reexport via Canada (components of inverters used in gas centrifuge enrichment activities).
1981--U.S. Nuclear Export Control Violation: New York, zirconium (nuclear fuel cladding material).
1981--AP story cites contents of reported US State Department cable stating `We have strong reason to believe that Pakistan is seeking to develop a nuclear explosives capability
1984--President Reagan reportedly warns Pakistan of `grave consequences' if it enriches uranium above 5%.
1985--ABC News reports that US believes Pakistan has `successfully tested' a `firing mechanism' of an atomic bomb by means of a non-nuclear explosion, and that US krytrons `have been acquired' by Pakistan.
1985--U.S. Nuclear Export Control Violation: Texas, krytrons (nuclear weapon triggers).
1985--U.S. Nuclear Export Control Violation: US cancelled license for export of flash x-ray camera to Pakistan (nuclear weapon diagnostic uses) because of proliferation concerns.
1985/6--Media cites production of highly enriched, bomb-grade uranium in violation of a commitment to the US.
1986--Commenting on Pakistan's nuclear capability, General Zia tells interviewer, `It is our right to obtain the technology. And when we acquire this technology, the Islamic world will possess it with us.'
1987--U.S. Nuclear Export Control Violation: Pennsylvania, maraging steel & beryllium (used in centrifuge manufacture and bomb components).
1987--U.S. Nuclear Export Control Violation: California, oscilloscopes, computer equipment (useful in nuclear weapon R&D).
1989--Multiple reports of Pakistan modifying US-supplied F-16 aircraft for nuclear delivery purposes...
Heritage Foundation, 1982, approves Reagan's $3.2 Billion Hand-out to Pakistan arguing:
The U.S. aid package would also provide Washington with greater leverage to defer, if not deter, Pakistan's drive to test a nuclear weapon. By strengthening Pakistan's conventional forces and giving it a reliable security partner, the Administration hopes to reduce Islamabad's motivation for attaining a nuclear capability.
Reagan knew Pakistan was pursuing a nuclear weapon. Republican Reagan relaxed restrictions on 'dual use' technologies and refused to punish Pakistan as the US law demanded. Heritage morons also recommended attacking Iraq in 2003, two decades of being wrong teaching pro-Republican 'defense experts' absolutely nothing.
August 6th, 2001, George Bush knew that Pakistan had close contact with Osama Bin Laden's Taliban hosts. George Bush refused to commit the diplomatic and military resources to protect America on 9/11. Remember the 3000 American lives lost ostensibly to secure Iraq's WMD? Check out this final bombshell from the Wapo piece:
In previously secret briefings with senior IAEA officials in Vienna, he disclosed that he had made electronic copies of the warhead plans in the fall of 2003, acting on orders from Khan, according to diplomats with direct knowledge of the briefings. The mole said that he sent the copies to Khan and one of his associates. But the plans have never surfaced.
Other items from Khan's deadly inventory are missing, too, including a shipment of centrifuge components and precision tools that disappeared in mid-2003.
Mission Accomplished! At precisely the same time Bush was preening on the flight deck, the Khan network was transferring vital nuclear weapons technology to parts unknown.
We don't have a fucking clue where these plans are now. Hazard a guess? One thing we do know, the cost of the war in blood and money just keeps rising. $2.4 trillion, at last count; and that's before Bush attacks Iran!
Republicans cannot be trusted on national security. Republicans can't be trusted to manage the economy. Republicans can't be trusted to keep Americans safe. Republicans can't be trusted in elected office.
Reagan should be dug up and tried with Bush, Bush Sr, Rummy, Rice, and Cheney.