Global Jihad: temi, piste di diffusione e il fenomeno del reducismo ...

acquisition and transfer operations must have been carried out. Intelligence records
indicate that suspicions of such activities developed in a number of western states
during the 1990s. By the end of the century, a more complete picture had emerged.
These proliferation activities appeared not to be isolated events. There were
indications of the existence of an international proliferation network involving Dr
Khan. For example, the Joint Intelligence Committee in the UK was reporting that
they had information linking Dr Khan attempts to acquire uranium enrichment
technology by one middle eastern country (believed to be Libya). Within a year, Dr
Khan had been removed as director of the KRL but retained as a special advisor to
the government. He has been shielded ever since from direct investigation by other
states or the international community.
Efforts to establish just what proliferation activities Dr Khan had or may continue to
be involved in, however, managed to progress despite the lack of access to the man
himself. Statements from US officials indicate that they possess intelligence linking
Dr Khan to the North Korean nuclear weapons programme. Dr Khan, it was later
proven, helped to provide North Korea with centrifuge designs, complete centrifuges
and lists of components for centrifuge production. 154
Additionally, in October 2003 links to Dr Khan emerged through the international
inspections of the Iranian nuclear programme. In early March 2005, Pakistan
acknowledged A. Q. Khan had provided centrifuges to Iran. 155
Equally, a shipment of centrifuge parts destined for Libya, interdicted in October
2003, were also linked to Dr Khan. Surveillance by the UK’s Joint Intelligence
Committee revealed Dr Khan had expanded his activities to mass-produce the
components for centrifuge cascades and had established his own production
facilities, in Malaysia. Libya was also reportedly provided by the Dr Khan with
154 http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/khan-dprk.htm [last accessed 24.10.06]
155 http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/khan-iran.htm [last accessed 24.10.06]
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