Lawmaker: Ukraine sold Iran, China nukes (Cruise missiles too)

[NNN0LHI]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Ukraine%20Weapons

KIEV, Ukraine -- A senior lawmaker alleges that Ukraine sold nuclear-capable cruise missiles to Iran and China in violation of international nonproliferation treaties and is demanding the new government launch a full investigation.

The allegations were made in a letter - made available to The Associated Press on Tuesday - by lawmaker Hrihory Omelchenko and addressed to President Viktor Yushchenko, a reformist who took office last week.

Yushchenko, who takes over from Leonid Kuchma, has promised a thorough investigation of corruption and misdeeds that allegedly flourished during his predecessor's 10 years as president. Kuchma allegedly sanctioned the sale of sophisticated radar systems to Iraq in 2002, contravening U.N. sanctions.

In the letter, Omelchenko said an investigation launched last summer "proved that some 20 air-launched Kh-55 and Kh-55M cruise missiles with nuclear capability were exported to third countries" in contravention of international treaties.

"Six missiles destined for Russia ended up in Iran ... six missiles destined for Russia ended up in China" the letter said. It said the exports occurred during 1999 to 2001.

more

[NNN0LHI]

1. Wonder if this is why Iran has been acting so uppity lately? n/t

[Mike Niendorff]

2. Wow, right on cue.

Just in time for Bush's SOTU and the coming ramp-up for Iran.


MDN

[Zech Marquis]

3. oh shit

no wonder Iran's been acting like,"yeah come over here starting shit and see what happens!"

[Eurobabe]

4. so of course. we jez havta go after thim.

[NNN0LHI]

5. If this is actually true Bush won't be going after nothing

Israel won't be bombing any Iranian nuclear sites either.

Don

[ugarte]

6. Not nuclear warheads, 'nuclear capable'

meaning capable of carrying a nuke. The article isn't saying anything about actual nuclear warheads.

[IA_Seth]

12. That's what I got out of it too. n/t

[neweurope]

7. How much did the US pay that lawmaker? It's just in time, isn't it, to

strengthen the fear... Watch for more of this in the next weeks.


--------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[frankieT]

8. quite unusual...

to see a lawmaker bring publicly such sensitives cases for his country, no ? Ukraine risks heavy sanctions if it's true.

Whether this story is true or false, Ukraine is now for sure a US-puppet and beside selling national companies to "international" interests it will do anything to please its new master: during next months wait for other allegations against Russia, China, Iran, etc...

[Charles19]

9. Propaganda payback to US for support in last election

[Mountainman]

10. Gee what great timing for Bush, he needed a reason to kick their no good

swarthy asses and now he has one!

[hector459]

11. Remember, the former USSR sattelites are loaded with nukes and other

missiles. this is the destablized arms control that took place with the hasty destruction of the USSR. Every friggin one of these little sattelites guarded some portion of the USSR weapons cache. Gorby tried to warn us about this but Reagan was in such haste to suck up to Yeltsin, the drunk, that a lot of shit got lost in the process. The truth is, we don't know who the hell has nuke capability anymore. And can you blame any nation for wanting to have some just to respond to the bullying US?