Saturday, January 12, 2008

Syria Rebuilds Bombed Nuclear Site; IAEA Chief Unveiled   [J. Peter Pham]

The New York Times reports today that satellite imagery shows Syria is rebuilding the site of what Israeli and American analysts believe was a partially completed nuclear reactor before it was destroyed in an Israeli attack in September.

The article, by William Broad, quotes International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Mohammed El Baradei as saying that the United Nations watchdog agency had no information on the site because the Syrians had been unresponsive to requests for information and an inspection. Most interestingly, however, is how El Baradei, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his alleged contributions to a more secure world, characterizes the Baathist regime in Damascus:

“So far, we have not received any information about any nuclear programs in Syria,” he said, according to a transcript posted on the newspaper’s Web site. Dr. ElBaradei said he had asked for the Syrians’ permission “to allow the agency to visit the facility and to verify that it was not nuclear.”

He added: “The Syrian brothers did not allow us to visit and inspect the location.”

Syrian brothers? Is the supposedly neutral IAEA chief showing his true colors?

01/12 05:43 AMShare