Sunni insurgents take over nuclear materials in northern Iraq

[pmaitra]

Sunni insurgents take over nuclear materials in northern Iraq

Iraq says "terrorist groups" have seized nuclear materials used for scientific research at a university in the country's north. Iraq's UN envoy has appealed for help to "stave off the threat of their use by terrorists in Iraq or abroad."

According to Iraq's UN ambassador, Mohamed Ali Alhakim, about 40 kilograms of uranium compounds were kept at Mosul University. He added that such materials "can be used in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction."

"Terrorist groups have seized control of nuclear material at the sites that came out of the control of the state," Alhakim told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the July 8 letter obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.

Alhakim warned that the materials could be smuggled out of Iraq.

The stolen materials are not believed to be enriched uranium, which would make it difficult for them to be made into weapons, a government source told Reuters.

Source: http://rt.com/news/171672-iraq-terrorist-groups-seize-nuclear/

 

[Virendra]

Hope this isn't very serious, in terms of ramifications. What could be the possible uses they can put this material to ? No dirty bomb for God sake !!
This entire overrun of Iraqi State Military seems a bit too easy to genuinely believe in it. There's something more than what meets the eye.
Could be some fallout of Oil competition between Sunni(Arab)-US axis against Shia-Russio-China axis. Seems probable, looking at the present and potential pipelines in the region.

Regards,
Virendra

 

[pmaitra]

@Virendra,

If not make a nuke, they will sell the Uranium for a high price.

 

[jackprince]

It's simple. The Iraqi govt. is trying to panic the world into send troops and support to defeat ISIS. 40 kg uranium in an university?!!! Further, kept in a university, it was unlikely to be enriched.

 

[Virendra]

Yeah that is possible. Who could be the potential buyers?
Arabs - they have Pakistan for it.
Central Asian States - they're still under Russian toes, can't take chance.
Turkey - wants to be in good books of US-Europe. Won't get their hands dirty.
Afghan Taliban may try but ISIS is in competition with Al-Qaeda and Iran won't let such a smuggle pass through, to sit in their own neighborhood.
That leaves the sanction tied Iran themselves or the ISIS using it against Assad in Syria - also possible.

 

[pmaitra]

That leaves the sanction tied Iran themselves or the ISIS using it against Assad in Syria - also possible.

Good analysis.

Yes, a dirty bomb is possible. I did not think about it.