FAS: Richard Barlow, Nuclear Weapons and Pakistan

The declaration of emergency rule in Pakistan has focused new concern
on the status of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.  It may also bring renewed
attention to the case of Richard Barlow, the former intelligence officer
who attempted to warn Congress two decades ago about Pakistan's
clandestine acquisition of U.S. nuclear technology and who was punished
for his trouble.

In a classic whistleblower tale, Mr. Barlow's security clearances were
suspended, the state secrets privilege was invoked, and he was
personally vilified after he attempted to notify Congress of
irregularities and illegalities in Pakistan's U.S. acquisitions
program.  Yet his allegations about Pakistani export control violations
and official attempts to conceal those violations were ultimately
corroborated.

A summary account of Mr. Barlow's actions and experiences was presented
in one of two pending amendments introduced by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
last summer to provide belated compensation for his losses.  See:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2007/barlow.html

Mr. Barlow's story, and much else about the clandestine development of
the Pakistani nuclear weapons program, is presented in a new book
called "Deception: Pakistan, the United States, and the Secret Trade in
Nuclear Weapons" by Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark (Walker &
Company, 2007):

     http://www.walkerbooks.com/books/catalog.php?key=690

The Congressional Research Service examined "Pakistan's Political
Crisis and State of Emergency" in a new report dated November 6, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34240.pdf

See also "Pakistan-U.S. Relations," updated October 18, 2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33498.pdf

And "Direct Overt U.S. Aid to Pakistan, FY2001-FY2008," November 8,
2007:

     http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/pakaid.pdf

 

Source: SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2007, Issue No. 112
November 8, 2007

Secrecy News Blog:  http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/