Turning Steel Into Uranium: The Alchemy of War Hysteria

Two Named in Iran Uranium Export Scheme

That was the headline at the Washington Times, leading the person who didn’t read any further to believe Iran was involved in an export scheme for uranium. Others termed it a “nuclear smuggling case,” or a “nuclear export plot.”

Scared yet? That’s the idea.

A cursory look at the actual articles reveals that two guys, one Chinese and one Iranian, managed to “illegally” export lathes to Iran, and failed at a second attempt to acquire some steel.

The steel in question was “maraging steel,” which can be used for nuclear centrifuges. Sure, it can be used for countless other things from engine equipment to surgical components. But that wouldn’t make nearly as good a headline.

A little honesty about what we know, what we have credible reason to suspect, and what is just random hype could spare us a lot of war hysteria.

In this case, we know lathes are for metalworking and whatnot. We know maraging steel can be used for gears and dies. Sounds like a manufacturing was the order of the day.

Instead, we see the almost mystical reasoning by which steel becomes uranium and then becomes nuclear weapons in just a few easy steps and are left shaking our heads at yet another headline that doesn’t match the story.

14 thoughts on “Turning Steel Into Uranium: The Alchemy of War Hysteria”

  1. Well, you only have to follow the link to read the rabid goose-stepping comments to see what sort of "people", and I use that word loosely, are pandered to.

  2. Yes, exactly what we have come to expect from the American Pravdas, Izvestias, Tass News Services, and all the rest.

  3. The Washington Times = rag for right-wing morons who can't read a real newspaper (USA Today being the equivalent for left-wing morons)

  4. Strange: in the same news cycle furor over Chinese made US Olympic uniforms, while Iran supposedly has to go to its arch nemesis (US) for special steel which is somehow equated with nukes. This is starting to make me angry.

  5. Well, you only have to follow the link to read the rabid goose-stepping comments to see what sort of "people", and I use that word loosely, are pandered to.

  6. Steel is really a precious commodity that's why plasma cutting in Perth is a lucrative business. Anyhow, turning steel into uranium is a promising innovation but people should be aware that these product developments should benefit humanity and not destroy it.

  7. Hmmm. Uranium in the wrong hands can be used to power up nuclear plants. If uranium will be readily available within each steel produced, what is the possibility of a very smart person using it to hurt others? Even if a simple perth panel beater do not know it, what is his client knows about it? What would adequate knowledge with extracting uranium from steel will do? Scary thought.

  8. The steel in question was “maraging steel,” which can be used for nuclear centrifuges. Sure, it can be used for countless other things from engine equipment to surgical components. But that wouldn’t make nearly as good a headline. houston wedding bus

  9. War, a never ending battle. Dad and I used to argue about its benefits. We usually spend dinner time with good and bat points of war. I hope that's how war ends, with a good debate.

Comments are closed.