[link|http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/24/AR2006072400995.html|Washington Post]

The Bush administration acknowledged yesterday that it had long known about Pakistan's plans to build a large plutonium-production reactor, but it said the White House was working to dissuade Pakistan from using the plant to expand its nuclear arsenal.

"We discourage military use of the facility," White House spokesman Tony Snow said of a powerful heavy-water reactor under construction at Pakistan's Khushab nuclear site in Punjab state.

The reactor, which reportedly will be capable of producing enough plutonium for as many as 50 bombs each year, was brought to light on Sunday by independent analysts who spotted the partially completed plant in commercial-satellite photos. Snow said the administration had "known of these plans for some time."

Two bad things here. First, Pakistan is expanding their nuclear bomb capacity. Second, the White House knew about this and neither did anything nor told anybody.

Pakistan's current facilities are such that running full tilt they can make less then 5 bombs a year at best, and probably just 1 or 2. This new facility is estimated as expanding that capacity to 50. Given the capacity, I can only assume that part of that is actually for civilian use, but Pakistan isn't even trying to pretend that is it's only use.

And then there is the US Administration. They have known about this for several years, did not notify Congress and did nothing to stop Pakistan.

I would rant a bit, but I'm suffering from outrage overload.

Jay