What no one noticed at the time was that Rumsfeld also sat on the board of directors of technology giant ABB. Two years later the company landed a $200 million contract to deliver the two nuclear reactors to North Korea, with Rummy still on the board. The company sold its nuclear division four months later to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. for almost $500 million. Rumsfeld stepped down in Feburary 2001 to join the cabinet.
Although the ABB reactors were sanctioned by the 1994 accord, “their waste material could be used for ‘dirty’ bombs,” says energy expert Anna Aurilio. Rumsfeld has long been adamant about not making concessions to the North. But when asked about the sale of the reactors, Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clark said, “Secretary Rumsfeld does not recall it being brought before the board at any time.”
