Secret U.S. mission hauls uranium from Iraq

cnredd · #1 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 03:29 AM

Quote:

The last major remnant of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program — a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium — reached a Canadian port Saturday to complete a secret U.S. operation that included a two-week airlift from Baghdad and a ship voyage crossing two oceans.

The removal of 550 metric tons of "yellowcake" — the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment — was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam's nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions...

...While yellowcake alone is not considered potent enough for a so-called "dirty bomb" — a conventional explosive that disperses radioactive material — it could stir widespread panic if incorporated in a blast. Yellowcake also can be enriched for use in reactors and, at higher levels, nuclear weapons using sophisticated equipment...

...The deal culminated more than a year of intense diplomatic and military initiatives — kept hushed in fear of ambushes or attacks once the convoys were under way: first carrying 3,500 barrels by road to Baghdad, then on 37 military flights to the Indian Ocean atoll of Diego Garcia and finally aboard a U.S.-flagged ship for a 8,500-mile trip to Montreal.

And, in a symbolic way, the mission linked the current attempts to stabilize Iraq with some of the high-profile claims about Saddam's weapons capabilities in the buildup to the 2003 invasion.

Accusations that Saddam had tried to purchase more yellowcake from the African nation of Niger — and an article by a former U.S. ambassador refuting the claims — led to a wide-ranging probe into Washington leaks that reached high into the Bush administration.

Joe Wilson must be amazed...

After all, it was he that concluded that because one instance of Iraq trying to procure yellowcake may not have played out, that must mean there was never any other attempt ever ever ever ever ever...

Adept1 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 03:53 AM

I'm just sure that there is some other use for "yellowcake"......

saltwn · #3 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 03:26 PM

I always thought there were weapons we didn't publicize. I figured we wanted him to give up stuff we hadn't found yet, or that there was trouble getting our hands on it.

But Valerie's husband said there was no proof of procurement from that particular area. His outrage was in the fact his words were twisted to say there was proof. And he was afraid he would be a scape goat in whatever scenario the government officials had in mind. Smart move.

faithful_servant · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adept1

I'm just sure that there is some other use for "yellowcake"......

faithful_servant · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 02:59 PM

But seriously folks....

A primer on yellowcake refining:
Nuclear Chemistry - Uranium Production

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