Nuclear Weapon Bearing Smuggler Faces Trial(pic)

The trial of a Dutch businessman accused of smuggling nuclear weapons-creation technology -- including critical centrifuge bearings -- to Pakistan has concluded in Amsterdam. The final verdict and sentencing is expected this week. The individual has now been identified as Henk Slebos, a former Urenco employee. Mr. Slebos was arrested in mid-2004 on charges of supplying Urenco nuclear weapons technology and materiel to Abdul Qadeer Khan, head of Pakistan's clandestine nuclear weapons program. article: Arrest in high-precision bearings smuggling for illicit nuclear program Mr. Khan, since pardoned by Pakistan, has freely admitted selling nuclear weapons and delivery system technology and materiel to Iran, Libya, North Korea, and Iraq. Mr. Slebos stole the technology and materiel from Urenco, a British-Dutch-German consortium formed in 1970 to supply enriched uranium for European nuclear reactors. In particular, Urenco developed and used a highly classified centrifuge system and related technologies -- employing advanced magnetic bearing systems -- to separate fissionable uranium-235 from uranium-238. The separation is achieved by centrifuging the isotopes at over 100,000 RPM. Amazingly, Mr. Slebos had been arrested once before, in 1985, and charged with supplying Urenco's nuclear secrets to Mr. Khan. Sentenced to prison, Mr. Slebos was able to appeal and served no jail time. He soon returned to selling weapons secrets and materiel to Mr. Khan. In that same 1985 case, Mr. Khan was tried and convicted in absentia by Dutch authorities. In a recent interview, Mr. Slebos made no attempt to hide what he had done, saying: "I don't recognize the hegemony of the Western world. Pakistan needed an atomic bomb for stability." Mr. Slebos had no comment when presented with evidence Mr. Khan profited handsomely by selling that same technology and materiel on to Iran, Libya, North Korea and Iraq. Although he admits to many more incidents, in the current case before the courts, Mr. Slebos has been charged with only five counts of stealing and supplying nuclear secrets for Mr. Khan between 1999 and 2002. The shipments included highly specialized nuclear material processing equipment -- a barometer, 20kg of triethanolamine, 104 graphite rods, O-rings, and, most importantly, the otherwise unobtainable advanced magnetic bearings for 100,000 RPM uranium centrifuges. The particular bearings involved are specifically barred from unaudited international trade, not only because they have nuclear centrifuge applications, but also because they have weapons guidance systems applications for missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads. Below: Uranium enrichment gas centrifuge bearing, confiscated by the U.S. CIA in Iraq in mid-2003 represents an older, less-efficient design of uranium gas centrifuge: The bottom bearing in place on a full-size centrifuge mechanical drawing; the upper bearing would be a magnetic suspension bearing: In 1998, Pakistan successfully tested a nuclear weapon. After September 11, 2001, the program came under intense international scrutiny; details about how the program had been operating gradually began to leak out. Mr. Khan later admitted running what amounted to a wholesale nuclear weapons technology training and supply program, selling nuclear weapons technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea. In the case of North Korea, he apparently traded Pakistan's nuclear technology for North Korea's more advanced missile systems. In 2003, Iran and Libya were found to have active nuclear programs, using uranium enrichment centrifuges from Pakistan and based on designs and bearings Mr. Slebos stole from Urenco. The centrifuge designs and bearings shown above were found in Iraq, and are based on technology Mr. Slebos stole from Urenco in the early 1990's. In January 2004, Mr. Khan confessed publicly, offering, "deepest regrets and unqualified apologies. I take full responsibility for my actions and seek your pardon." He was shortly pardoned by Pakistan's President Musharraf, a move which angered the international community, but subjects him to immediate arrest if he should ever leave Pakistan.