ISIS has 40 kg of nuclear material

This was my first reaction too. And they said on the radio, 'only' 40 kg!!

ISIS and Al Nusra Just Got Their Hands on 88 Pounds of Uranium - No Big Deal Says Washington

The Uranium that ISIS now possesses is not suitable for a nuclear bomb, but there are other ways to use radioactive material as a weapon.

SCG News

10 July, 2014

Yesterday the Iraqi government announced a startling new development: ISIS has managed to make off with 88 pounds of uranium from Mosul University.

According to CNN two U.S. officials said on Wednesday that "the small amounts of uranium aren't enriched or weapons-grade, prompting only minimal concern."

Minimal concern?

One has to wonder how it is that a extremist group that has made a name for itself by conducting mass executions across Iraq and Syria getting a hold of almost 90 pounds of uranium is of minimal concern (especially when you consider it in the context of the hissy fit the U.S. State Depart has been throwing over Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy).

This isn't enriched uranium mind you, so it wouldn't be suitable for making a nuclear bomb, but it would do just fine for a dirty bomb (or bombs). A dirty bomb is a weapon which combines radioactive material with conventional explosives with the goal of irradiating an area. Though officially such a weapon has never been used (the U.S. military's extensive use of depleted uranium ammunition apparently doesn't count) the scenario has been thoroughly studied.

Most experts agree that a dirty bomb would not actually cause a large number of deaths. It would however be devastating to an economy and would have a significant psychological impact on a population. Considering the fact that ISIS already does everything in their power to terrorize anyone who doesn't agree with them (including posting graphic videos of executions online), it is only logical to assume that they will at least try to misuse this uranium. Whether they have the technical know how to accomplish this is another question altogether.

Now I'm not writing about dirty bombs to hype people up with fear. You're far more likely to be killed by a bee sting or a car crash regardless of what ISIS does. However the nonchalant reaction by the U.S. government is odd to say the least, and is strikingly out of sync with their typical fear mongering.

Perhaps this strange response is a reflection of the U.S. government's uncomfortable ties to ISIS. After less than 6 months of being ostracized by the leadership of their parent organization, Al Qaeda, ISIS has recently joined forces with Al Nusra (Al Nusra is Al Qaeda's official branch in Syria), and as we've pointed out repeatedly, the so called "moderate" rebels that Washington is funding and arming have gone on record to say that they regularly conduct joint operations with Al Qaeda, and do not consider the group an enemy. Put two and two together and it should be obvious that there is no way that Washington can arm these groups without some of these weapons ending up in the hands of Al Nusra and ISIS

If you want some perspective about who these ISIS/Al Nusra characters are watch the video below. WARNING it shows a mass execution, so don't click it if you are easily disturbed or have children in the room.

So far the U.S. government's attempts at framing the crisis in Iraq have not gone well. While the corporate media continues to provide steady cover, this is no longer enough to maintain control of the narrative. Washington's three year campaign to take down Assad and the countless reports (and footage) of atrocities being committed by their pet rebels (including the sarin gas attacks which they got caught attempting to frame the Syrian government with), has turned the issue into an Achilles heel.

So now those rebels have uranium. No big deal.