Sources: U.S. assessing Pakistan nukes if Musharraf falls

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CNN

U.S. military intelligence officials are urgently assessing how secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons would be in the event President Gen. Pervez Musharraf were replaced as the nation's leader, CNN has learned.

Key questions in the assessment include who would control Pakistan's nuclear weapons after a shift in power. The United States is pressuring Musharraf, who took control in a 1999 coup, not to declare a state of emergency as he faces growing political opposition.

Three U.S. sources have independently confirmed details of the intelligence review to CNN but would not allow their names to be used because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The sources include military officers and intelligence community analysts.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/10/pakistan.nuclear/index.html

[bemildred]

1. You know, some of these weasels want him to fall so they can invade.

Safeguarding the nukes would be the perfect excuse. Just saying.

Edit: not saying that would be a smart thing to do, just saying some of the wingnuts have already ruminated on such ideas in public.

[hobbit709]

2. And just what army are they gonna use to invade?

[Ian David]

4. We still have Aweemboway left in our "Coalition Of The Leaving." n/t

[bemildred]

6. True, we won't be able to occupy the place.

But I would be surprised if some attempt was not made to keep some "bases" there after we "secure the nukes", assuming Mushhead were to fall and all this were to be attempted.

[Ian David]

3. Anyone remember this episode of Stargate: SG-1?

EPISODE NUMBER - 805
ORIGINAL U.S. AIR DATE - 08.06.04
SYNDICATION AIR DATE - 10.17.05
WRITTEN BY - Damian Kindler
DIRECTED BY - Peter F. Woeste
GUEST STARRING - Matthew Bennett (Jarrod Kane), Amy Sloan (Leda), Timothy Webber (Commander Gareth), James Kidnie (Soren), Gary Jones (Technician), Richard Side (Guide), Leanne Adachi (Rebel Aide), Preston Cook (Radio Man), Charles Zuckermann (Rebel Soldier)
Daniel is stranded on another planet after the team's arrival on an alien world sparks a
violent civil war.

<snip>

Shortly after a startled tourist group witnesses the relic of their Stargate open for the first time in the middle of a museum, Colonel Carter, Dr. Jackson and Teal'c step through to be greeted by delegates from the world. Many here had dismissed the possibility that the Stargate is a mystical power source for ancient gods. The team is warned that there are even those who might consider this new reality a threat.

One month later, Daniel reports that his negotiations between the Rand Protectorate (the government in possession of the Stargate) and the Caledonian Federation (a rival nation) have only been moderately successful. Both governments have enough firepower to wipe out the other -- but the real problem is Soren, the leader of a radical group who still believe in the ancient gods. They believe SG-1's arrival has verified their beliefs, and thus made a touchy situation worse. Daniel insists he must return to help, and eventually persuades General O'Neill to allow him to go back to the planet.

Two weeks later, Daniel has been unsuccessful in brokering a truce. The religious zealot, Soren, has gathered his forces from across the country and is now a major threat. The Rand have been forced to heighten their alert status to match that of the rival nation. Minister Treydan of the Caledonians swears to Commander Gareth that if the Rand are unable to secure Soren and his forces, the Caledonians will be forced to strike to prevent the radicals from taking over.

Rebel forces have detonated devices very near to one of the Rands missile facilities. Shortly afterward they use it to strike at Caledonia. Gareth's second, Jarrod Kane, reports that the facility is now compromised. Soren's forces attack the Rand's command bunker, and Kane attempts to get Daniel to the Stargate before government falls -- but is shot in the leg by the insurgents. Daniel and Kain escape together to the surface, and Gareth is executed soon after.

Both sides are left in ruins, with Soren now in control of the Rand Protectorate -- and the Stargate.

More:
http://www.gateworld.net/sg1/s8/805.shtml


See also:

http://www.stargatehandbook.org/sg1/randians.html

and

http://www.astro.umd.edu/~avondale/Reviews/Stargate/s8-icon.html

[Ilsa]

8. Reminds me of a ST Enterprise storyline where the cause

for a war that was going on for millenia was religious: whether their world was created in six days or seven.

[Ian David]

9. The key to the Icon episode was that the other side launched their nukes preemptively...

once the religious zealots gained possession of The Rand Protectorate.

[Tempest]

5. If Mushy declares a state of emergency

The government will collapse in less than a year.

And the uncertainty about the status of the nuclear weapons will become very real.

If the U.S. was smart, they would pressure Mushy to not seek to change the law so that he can run as president again (an election he would lose if it were fair) and work with moderate Pakistanis in supporting someone who is not an extremist.

If Mushy runs again and wins, the elections will be seen as rigged and there will be chaos.

[ladjf]

7. We're thinking about nuking caves in Afghanistan?

Brilliant!