How to make a nuclear bomb: You're just one click away
By Jeremy Reynalds
web
posted November 4, 2002
Apparently not satisfied with just having access to information on nuclear weapons via the internet, one Arab group provides information on its site that details how to make a nuclear bomb.
At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that www.araburanium.com is just an information site warning interested readers (in a heavily propagandized fashion, of course) about the dangers and the horrors of a nuclear war.
A paraphrased description of the site reads in part, "Our purpose is to let you know about what will happen if there is a war with weapons made from uranium; (i.e. a nuclear war) Depleted uranium is what the American and the British used in their war against Iraq. The first to suffer will be Iraq and then Kuwait and then Saudi Arabia ... We are interested in the future generations of the Arab nation. The results of hundreds of tons of uranium will scatter in all directions ... This site will tell you all the facts."
Another innocuous sounding (paraphrased) passage on the front page of the site reads, "Depleted uranium is a very strong poisonous material and the radiation effects last for billions of years."
Then
directly under the paragraph I have referred to above is a picture of
the cloud generated by the detonation of an atomic bomb. Wording below
the picture reads, "The atomic bomb production plans." It is
a hyperlink to an article from "Outlaw Labs," containing documentation
and diagrams on how to make an atomic bomb. That's where the seemingly
innocent nature of this site ends.
If this is just an informational site pleading the case for the Arab nations on what would happen to them if nuclear weaponry is used against Iraq, why would its operators feel the need to provide a prominent link to a "recipe" providing full instructions on how to make a nuclear bomb? Just show some of the visually graphic effects that occur to land and people after a nuclear bomb has been detonated, and leave it at that.
While this same documentation from Outlaw Labs detailing the construction of a nuclear bomb is admittedly on hundreds of internet sites, somehow its inclusion on this site makes me more than a little concerned. And while the disclaimer on this article might scare off, say, curious college students from trying to make a nuclear bomb, I bet that the vast majority of people who read the article on this site aren't doing so out of academic fascination. Here's what the disclaimer (at http://araburanium.com/Atomic%20Bomb.html) reads:
"The information contained in this document is strictly for academic use alone. Outlaw Labs and all publishers of this document will bear no responsibility for any use otherwise. It would be wise to note that the personnel who design and construct these devices are skilled physicists and are more knowledgeable in these matters than any layperson can ever hope to be. Should a layperson attempt to build a device such as this, chances are s/he would probably kill his/herself not by a nuclear detonation, but rather through radiation exposure. We here at Outlaw Labs do not recommend using this document beyond the realm of casual or academic curiosity."
Maybe they should have added, "unless you're an American and Israeli-hating Islamic militant." In that case, what follows would be a terrorist's delight. Here's a portion of the "recipe" for successful detonation of a plutonium or uranium bomb. It's on line at: http://araburanium.com/atomicBomb.html
"Plastic explosives work best in this situation since they can be manipulated to enable both a Uranium bomb and a Plutonium bomb to detonate. One very good explosive is Urea Nitrate. The directions on how to make Urea Nitrate are as follows:
Ingredients
[INFORMATION REDACTED - editor]
When apparent Arab jehadists post such information as this on the internet, isn't it time that someone cared – really cared? If you do and want to make a difference, contact the internet service provider that appears to host this site. Politely let them know about the material on this site by contacting abuse@fasthosts.co.uk. You may also e- mail the following addresses: rob@fasthosts.co.uk or mark@fasthosts.co.uk In addition, you can write to Rob Crack at Fasthosts Internet Limited, Suite 7, Discovery Court,154 Southgate Street address: Gloucester, GL1 2EX. Tel: 44 1452 541251.
If you're curious, the person listed as administrative contact for this
site is an Amin Khalid. You can e- mail him at info@araburanium.com,
or if you're in England go see him (perhaps you should consider taking
an English "bobby" with you, just in case) at 297 Preston New
Rd. Blackburn, Lancashire. 
Jeremy Reynalds is
a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's
largest emergency homeless shelter. He has a master's degree in communication
from the University of New Mexico and is pursuing his PhD in intercultural
education at Biola University in Los Angeles. He is married with five
children and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His work can be viewed
here and weekly at www.americasvoices.org.
He may be contacted by e-mail at reynalds@joyjunction.org.
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