What happens when Pakistan’s nukes are fearfully guarded by the military, and no one can really be sure they’re safe? Oil goes higher. The dollar goes lower. And people move assets into gold. Why? Because the misappropriation of Pakistani nukes could lead to the destruction of London, or Tel Aviv, Manhattan, or Los Angeles. And the world could be thrown into chaos. Then Pentagon assures us the nukes are under the control of the Pakistani military, but that is no real assurance:

But U.S. military and defense officials have said Pakistan’s nuclear weapons remain securely under the control of the Pakistani military. Those officials have repeatedly called the Pakistani military a responsible steward of the arsenal and said it would remain out of country’s political conflict.

Concern about the security of the arsenal surfaced in November, when Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency, prompting protests and arrests.

Despite the Pentagon’s assurances, some experts and U.S. lawmakers have argued instability raises risks in Pakistan, where the military is still suspected by some of at least knowing about the smuggling activities of Pakistan’s A.Q. Khan network that sold weapons technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

Original story here: Pentagon says Pakistan nuclear arsenal secure.