1 5C o m b i n a t i o n s : A n E x a m p l eThis incident, linked with the tubes, is another indicator of Iraq’s attempt to
reconstitute its nuclear weapons program.
Intercepted communications from mid-2000 through last summer showed
that Iraqi front companies sought to buy machines that can be used to bal-
ance gas centrifuge rotors. One of these companies also had been involved in a
failed effort in 2001 to smuggle aluminum tubes into Iraq.
People will continue to debate this issue, but there is no doubt in my mind.
These illicit procurement efforts show that Saddam Hussein is very much fo-
cused on putting in place the key missing piece from his nuclear weapons pro-
gram, the ability to produce fissile material.97364_ch01_ptg01_001-016.indd 15 11/14/13 1:51 PM
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