Brazil Nearly Built Atom Bomb in 1990s, Scientist Says

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBEPFM60DE.html

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) - A leading nuclear scientist said Brazilian military officials defied a presidential order and nearly finished building an atomic bomb even after the program was officially scrapped in 1985.

Jose Luiz Santana, the former president of Brazil's National Nuclear Energy Commission, or CNEN, said in a televised interview late Sunday that many components for an atomic bomb were manufactured in the early 1990s, after former President Jose Sarney had deactivated the project during his 1985-1990 term.

Military officials even obtained a supply of enriched uranium to arm it, Santana told the Globo TV network. snip

In 2003, Brazil's then-Science and Technology Minister Eduardo Campos sparked a controversy when he said Brazil should pursue "any form of scientific knowledge, whether the genome, DNA or nuclear fission."

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

1. Hmmm...this is coming to light now?

What, do they have a bunch of oil or something?

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Nope. They're friendly with Chavez.

IOW, Chavez has access to weapons of mass destruction.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

3. That explains it! the wily, evil, and diabolical tinpot-dictator

who was amazingly elected by a huge margin and has survived a right-wing coup attempt and a recall just won't quit, will he?

Say, speaking of evil, wily and diabolical, where has Cheney been?

[YOY]

4. It would have been the most festive A-bomb of them all

"Fat Man"

"Little Boy"

"Topless Hoochie Coochie Girl"