:
NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND
CHEMICAL WEAPONS
December 5, 2008: The UN is accusing Syria
of trying to conceal nuclear weapons development work at four different
locations. Syria refuses to allow the UN inspectors to investigate the sites.
Syria has signed an international agreement to not develop nuclear weapons, and
that treaty allows UN inspectors to double check.
Last month, UN nuclear weapons
inspectors found traces of processed uranium at the site of a suspected nuclear
weapons research center in Syria. Commercial satellite photos of the suspected
Syrian nuclear facility, which was bombed by Israel in September, 2007, showed
structures that indicated a nuclear research facility was under construction.
The Syrians promptly removed the structures, both the ones that were bombed and
those left intact, after the Israeli raid. In response to the UN allegations,
Syria claimed that Israel had planted the nuclear material their by including
it in their bombs.
It is also known that North Korean
technicians were involved with whatever was going on there, although Syria
denied any nuclear work was taking place. Denying that North Koreans were
around was difficult, as North Koreans have been seen entering and leaving this
area for months. North Korea is believed to be still selling weapons, and
possibly nuclear technology, to Syrian mentor Iran.