The Nuclear Black Market: AQ Khan and the Smiling Buddha

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

iHeartPodcasts

Society & Culture

4.2 • 11K Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2021

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As World War II drew to a close, nations across the planet scrambled to take stock, to recover, to rebuild and survive. But the looming spectre of nuclear technology continued to grow -- the US went against allies and enemies alike to keep its military edge. So how did countries traditionally considered enemies of the US gain nuclear technology? In many cases, the conspiracy goes down to a single man: AQ Khan. Terrified by what India's Smiling Buddha test might mean for the future of Pakistan, he worked furiously to get Pakistan the bomb -- and eventually began selling his expertise to the highest bidder.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	My father was a block star.
0:01.7	It was like Bidlemania.
0:03.2	But not here in America.
0:04.7	Dean Reed criticized the American government
0:06.8	from behind the Iron Curtain.
0:08.3	He had lots of enemies.
0:09.7	He'll calm you down, you can call out.
0:11.3	He wanted to come back home and then
0:13.4	the unthinkable happened.
0:15.0	Dean Reed died.
0:16.2	Come with me, Ramona Reed,
0:17.8	to learn more about the extraordinary life
0:20.0	and mysterious death of revolutionary.
0:22.7	Listen to Red Elvis, a Curiosity Audio Network podcast
0:25.8	on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,
0:28.0	or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:31.3	I'm Munga Shatekler,
0:32.4	and it turns out astrology is way more widespread
0:35.7	than any of us want to believe.
0:37.4	You can find it in major league baseball,
0:39.3	international banks, K-pop groups, even the White House.
0:42.8	But just when I thought I had a handle on this subject,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.