Nepal RPCV Peter Burleigh warns of Pakistan nukes
Ex-diplomat warns of Pakistan nukes
He says the U.S. must find out about the country's weapons proliferation.
By JESSIE-LYNNE KERR
The Times-Union
The attention focused on Iraq has eclipsed serious tension between nuclear powers India and Pakistan, according to a former United Nations ambassador speaking Monday in Jacksonville.
"They've actually been selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea and the extent and detail of that is new to the U.S.," said A. Peter Burleigh, who is also a former State Department counterterrorism coordinator. "We are scrambling to understand how much technology has been transferred to these countries. It is something of a longer term, critical issue."
If you go
A. Peter Burleigh's speech, titled "A Troubled Neighborhood," will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the University Center at the University of North Florida.
Burleigh will speak about global issues related to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the University of North Florida. His appearance is part of a forum sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville. The speech is free and open to the public.
In a telephone interview Friday, Burleigh said more attention must be given to "the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction out of Pakistan."
Burleigh was ambassador and deputy representative of the United States to the United Nations from 1997 to 1999, representing the country in the Security Council, the General Assembly and on other major United Nations bodies.
He stressed the role the United Nations could play in the rebuilding of Iraq.
"This is not something [the U.S.] should be doing [itself]," Burleigh said. "We need help from other countries in the redevelopment of Iraq and also in its political evolution."
Burleigh added that he believes the Bush administration has been inviting the United Nations to return to Iraq and help.
"After June 30, when we turn sovereignty over to the Iraqi government, we intend to keep our military forces there, but officially, the political responsibility will be in the hands of the Iraqis," he said.
The Colgate University graduate served in the Peace Corps in Nepal before joining the U.S. Foreign Service in 1968. Before retiring in 2000, Burleigh held a range of posts, including U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives, coordinator of the Office of Counterterrorism in the first Bush administration, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research and head of the State Department office responsible for Iran and Iraq.
Burleigh also served in the American embassies in Nepal, Bahrain and India. He now serves as ambassador in residence and distinguished visiting professor at the University of Miami.
jessie-lynne.kerrjacksonville.com, (904) 359-4374
