Pakistan's dark nuclear secrets and how something good can come of this
 Make no mistake about it: Abdul Qadeer Khan's (picture) crime is one of the most serious that can be committed by anyone. Proliferation of nuclear secrets to rogue states endangers everybody on this planet. Nobody can reasonably know in whose hands these terrible weapons can end up, or what the ruthless dictators in countries like North Korea may one day end up doing.
Yet, it looks likely that Pakistan's nuclear hero AQKhan, who made a frank and open confession to his countrymen on TV, will indeed get the clemency and mercy he asked for. Even if not formally pardoned, it is hard to imagine him being put on trial. First, he is a national hero. Second, he knows too much, can imply too many, and hardly anyone believes that Pakistan's military was in the dark about Khan's activities anyway. In fact, many Pakistanis consider him even more of a hero for dodging the bullet for Musharraf to protect his country.
When Khan takes the full blame, and somewhat improbably (heh) argues that nobody else in the government knew, it is hard to imagine some deal is not already being made. The friend of Khan's implication of Musharraf was a clear warning shot, and a message, and the top brass took the cue.
And how about the Bush administration, and its allies, that have been forced to build its anti-terror strategy on a close alliance with Musharraf? Well, as much as everyone hates the idea of a crminal of that magnitued getting away, they are unlikely to upset the balance by protesting too loudly. Very importantly, all this is in the past. If AQKhan gets away with this, he better sing like a canary and do it well, and in that case this can become a real boost for anti-proliferation work. He can let the west know, from an authoritative source, exactly how far North Korea has gotten on its nuclear programme. He can prove that Iran's denials are a fraud. And perhaps most importantly, he can give real insight into the mafia that trades in nuclear secrets and (possibly) in material worldwide.
And if he does that, then AQKhan can go a long way in making good again all the damage he has caused.
11:00:18 PM 
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