Shopping for Bombs: Nuclear Proliferation, Global Insecurity, and the Rise and Fall of the A.Q. Khan Network

by Gordon Corera

A.Q. Khan was the world's leading black market dealer in nuclear technology, described by a former CIA Director as "at least as dangerous as Osama bin Laden." A hero in Pakistan and revered as the Father of the Bomb, Khan built a global clandestine network that sold the most closely guarded nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea, and Libya.

Here for the first time is the riveting inside story of the rise and fall of A.Q. Khan and his role in the devastating spread of nuclear technology over the last thirty years. Drawing on exclusive interviews with key players in Islamabad, London, and Washington, as well as with members of Khan's own network, BBC journalist Gordon Corera paints a truly unsettling picture of the ultimate arms bazaar. Corera reveals how Khan operated within a world of shadowy deals among rogue states and how his privileged position in Pakistan provided him with the protection to build his unique and deadly business empire. It explains why and how he was able to operate so freely for so many years. Brimming with revelations, the book provides new insight into Iran's nuclear ambitions and how close Tehran may be to the bomb.

In addition, the book contains startling new information on how the CIA and MI6 penetrated Khan's network, how the U.S. and UK ultimately broke Khan's ring, and how they persuaded Pakistan's President Musharraf to arrest a national hero. The book also provides the first detailed account of the high-wire dealings with Muammar Gadaffi, which led to Libya's renunciation of nuclear weapons and which played a key role in Khan's downfall.

The spread of nuclear weapons technology around the globe presents the greatest security challenge of our time. Shopping for Bombs presents a unique window into the challenges of stopping a new nuclear arms race, a race that A.Q. Khan himself did more than any other individual to promote.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Asia, International Relations

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Gordon Corera is a British journalist. He is the Security Correspondent for the BBC.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gordon Corera’s book “Shopping For Bombs: Nuclear Proliferation, Global Insecurity, and the Rise and Fall of the A. Q. Khan Network” is an interesting read and offers a good history of what has gone wrong in the attempt to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. What is apparent from reading this book is that while A. Q. Khan is the face of what went wrong; if it hadn’t been him then it would have been someone else. The book is divided into two fairly simple sections, “Rise” and “Fall”. The “Rise” section covers the development of the bomb in Pakistan, as well as the development of Khan’s network to sell the information. The “Fall” section details the discovery of the network, and the actions, often painfully slow, to deal with the issue by the U.S. and other western countries.

A. Q. Khan is an interesting person. Clearly he is very intelligent, but at times a bit careless and foolhardy. He used his circumstances and the political situation in the world skillfully to get the technology and money and other resources from numerous sources. He allowed the development in Pakistan to be looked at as the creation of an “Islamic Bomb” to other Muslim countries, but had no issue with dealing with North Korea as well, and so in his way he was simply a capitalist, dealing in a product which was not approved of in the west. He also used capitalism in the west to purchase what he needed. Companies would sell it to him, because otherwise someone else would, and if something was completely prohibited, then he would buy the components.

From a perspective of stopping Pakistan and Khan, attempts were made, and even successful for periods of time, but what happened again and again was that more immediate concerns would trump non-proliferation goals. Whether it was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, or the perceived terror threat after September 11th, time and time again the U.S. Government, and the Europeans would have their attentions focused elsewhere and Pakistan and Khan were not their biggest problem, and that Pakistan was too useful in dealing with other issues to crack down on them.

“Shopping for Bombs” covers a very interesting subject and the events within it will continue to shape our world for a long time to come. If non-proliferation is important, what can we do to keep focus on that issue, or is the genie out of the bottle now and we simply have to live with the fact that any country and perhaps any organization, can procure nuclear weapons if they have the funds and the will? It is not an easy question to answer, and the answers may not be easy to live with. The writing in this book was a bit repetitive for my tastes, but definitely readable. It probably could have been significantly shorter without the repetition of events, and perhaps it was put in to pad the book to about 250 pages. It does have a good set of notes though, and I would give it three and a half stars if I could, but they don’t allow that so I am rounding down to three.

[Sharon Ginley · Rating 5 out of 5]

this bomb is AMAZING. i used it on my friend after he said he didnt like my cut. it landed on his house. i watched the full scene. the cops came and took my job. i am not Jake from State Farm anymore. i am now. just. jake. :(

[Kalle Wescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read /Shopping for Bombs: Nuclear Proliferation, Global Insecurity, and the Rise and Fall of the A.Q. Khan Network/, by Gordon Corera:

https://fpif.org/review_shopping_for_...

Corera writes about A. Q. Khan, the Pakistani engineer/spy who stole designs and trade secrets about how to design and build nuclear bombs. Subsequently, Pakistan followed India's lead and is now a nuclear power. North Korea owes its nuclear arsenal to A. Q. Khan. Fascinating and scary stuff!

[Jason R · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating read, bordering on academic at time, revealing how international trafficking really works and how it is exposed. The sub-title is correct: insecurity is a key factor in the motivations of the nations discussed but ultimately wasn't explored as deeply as the structure and operation of Khan's network.

[Aurangzeb Alam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is about rise and fall of AQ Khan network. However, author was bit biased towards Pakistan as one must not forget that every country does whatever it takes to strengthen its defences. USSR stole from USA and so on. Nevertheless an interesting read.

[Sikander Hayat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative but lack the consistency of events and references are weak.

[teohjitkhiam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging & illuminating book written for the layperson with keen interest in the proliferation of nuclear & missile technology.

[SYED]

Although this book is completley against the our real hero DR QADEER KHAN but we still love our hero and the prson who left everything for just PAKISTAN we always love with our real hero and without his help we can't be the seventh atomic power and the first ISLAMIC power although the he is now in prison but this prison of DR QADEER is due to two islamic countries one is LIBYA and second is IRAN both treat too much selfishly although that great scientist do all things to provide atomic power to these two islamic countries

but still we proud of our real hero and till death we love him

LOVE U DR QADEER THE GREAT SCINTIST EVER IN THE WORLD

[Daniel Milano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and explains how N. Korea, Iran and Libya ended up with the blueprint on how to build nuclear weapons ( who knew that it all started in an obscure lab in Belgium). Now I Know the subtleties about uranium enrichment, weapon grade uranium, yellow cake and plutonium . The book traces back the origin of the tense situation the western world finds itself with N,Korea and Iran.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books tells the story of the nuclear proliferation network headed by A.Q. Khan. It covers the rise and fall of this network. The book is well-researched and includes a great deal of good information on the topic, but the writing style is somewhat dry.

[Bubba · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're interested in nuclear proliferation, want to know who to thank for uranium enrichment programs in North Korea and Iran, and don't want to sleep at night, read this!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit too anecdotal and not very well-sourced, but fascinating.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read on nuclear smuggling and entrepreneurship.

[Charles Faddis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview. Good background for anyone unfamiliar with AQ Khan's impact on the world of proliferation.

[Longee Guo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring book. It is more of a biography of the infamous A.Q Khan and his works.

[Zack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bland, dry, and could use an update I think.

[Nils · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read Langewiesche's "Atomic Bazaar" instead.

[Scott Holstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real life mystery/thriller. Fascinating, strongly recommended!