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The Atomic Bazaar: The Rise of the Nuclear Poor

by William Langewiesche

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2199123,093 (3.53)7
Journalist Langewiesche investigates the burgeoning global threat of nuclear weapons production. This is the story of the inexorable drift of nuclear weapons technology from the hands of the rich into the hands of the poor. As more unstable and undeveloped nations find ways of acquiring the ultimate arms, the stakes of state-sponsored nuclear activity have soared to frightening heights. Even more disturbing is the likelihood of such weapons being manufactured and deployed by guerrilla non-state terrorists. Langewiesche also recounts the recent history of Abdul Qadeer Khan, the scientist at the forefront of nuclear development and trade in the Middle East who masterminded the theft and sale of centrifuge designs that helped to build Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, and who single-handedly peddled nuclear plans to North Korea, Iran, and other potentially hostile countries. He then examines in dramatic and tangible detail the chances for nuclear terrorism.--From publisher description.… (more)
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» See also 7 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 9 (next | show all)
Well documented book, discussing how weapons can be spread, and focusing on Pakistan's chief nuclear scientist A. Q. Khan and how he facilitated profliferation of nuclear weapons to North Korea, Libya, and several other nations. ( )
  rsutto22 | Jul 15, 2021 |
Decent overview of some nuclear proliferation risks, especially focused on the AQ Khan organization and Pakistan's uranium bomb. I was pretty familiar with a lot of this material, but there was a lot of insight into the failings of Dutch and overall European ITAR controls. ( )
  octal | Jan 1, 2021 |
Gives a great perspective on how easy it could be for terrorists to get their hands on nuclear material from one of the former Soviet secret nuclear cities, where international efforts are now trying to warehouse the stuff. A short, gripping book, very illuminating and hard to put down. ( )
  geza.tatrallyay | Apr 10, 2019 |
Fascinating analysis on the underground of nuclear trafficking. Langewiesche analyzes the skill set a group of terrorists would need to have in order to get a hold of and detonate a nuclear bomb. He only lost me when he got technical on the bombs themselves, but he managed to keep things relatively accessible even to a technoidiot like me.

Yet he doesn't play down the threat. America and Russia we don't really need to worry about; the failsafes in place (even on the bombs themselves) make it extremely difficult for terrorist organizations to have the necessary skill set and resources. Now if Iran builds a bomb, we may have a different set of problems. ( )
  stacy_chambers | Aug 22, 2013 |
The contents of the book were not really anything of note: nuclear bombs bad, rogue states or organizations with nuclear bombs badder. The narration was even worse. I don't need the reader to break into his worst Boris and Natasha Russian accent every time he quotes a Russian general. Frankly, anyone listening to a book about nuclear proliferation should be able to figure it out from the leading phrase "The Russian General said:..." It just became insulting after a while... ( )
  ScoutJ | Apr 27, 2013 |
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Journalist Langewiesche investigates the burgeoning global threat of nuclear weapons production. This is the story of the inexorable drift of nuclear weapons technology from the hands of the rich into the hands of the poor. As more unstable and undeveloped nations find ways of acquiring the ultimate arms, the stakes of state-sponsored nuclear activity have soared to frightening heights. Even more disturbing is the likelihood of such weapons being manufactured and deployed by guerrilla non-state terrorists. Langewiesche also recounts the recent history of Abdul Qadeer Khan, the scientist at the forefront of nuclear development and trade in the Middle East who masterminded the theft and sale of centrifuge designs that helped to build Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, and who single-handedly peddled nuclear plans to North Korea, Iran, and other potentially hostile countries. He then examines in dramatic and tangible detail the chances for nuclear terrorism.--From publisher description.

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