Saudis consider nuclear bomb

[Who do the Saudi's fear to the extent that a nuclear weapon would
serve as a deterrent? (the way things are going probably the US
itself). Oh yes, there are 14 scud missles that were intercepted on
their way from North Korea to Yemen, and which the Bush admin. allowed
the Yemenese to keep (explain that you Bu****es). In any case, the US
and Isreal will most likely never allow the Saudi's to obtain or
develop nuclear weapons. Radical factions within Saudia Arabia will
most likely overthrow the house of saud - which is currently propped
up with the aid of the US presence in that country - a presence that
is on the decline since it was identified as a main (or only) motive
for 9-11. Just wait. We have not seen truely insane oil prices yet.
-Ed.]

------------------------

Saudis consider nuclear bomb
http://www.guardian.co.uk/saudi/stor...044402,00.html

Ewen MacAskill and Ian Traynor in Vienna
Thursday September 18, 2003
The Guardian

Saudi Arabia, in response to the current upheaval in the Middle East,
has embarked on a strategic review that includes acquiring nuclear
weapons, the Guardian has learned. This new threat of proliferation
in one of the most dangerous regions of the world comes on top of a
crisis over Iran's alleged nuclear programme. A strategy paper being
considered at the highest levels in Riyadh sets out three options:

· To acquire a nuclear capability as a deterrent;

· To maintain or enter into an alliance with an existing nuclear power
that would offer protection;

· To try to reach a regional agreement on having a nuclear-free Middle
East.

Until now, the assumption in Washington was that Saudi Arabia was
content to remain under the US nuclear umbrella. But the relationship
between Saudi Arabia and the US has steadily worsened since the
September 11 attacks on New York and Washington: 15 of the 19
attackers were Saudi.

It is not known whether Saudi Arabia has taken a decision on any of
the three options. But the fact that it is prepared to contemplate the
nuclear option is a worrying development.

United Nations officials and nuclear arms analysts said the Saudi
review reflected profound insecurities generated by the volatility in
the Middle East, Riyadh's estrangement with Washington and the
weakening of its reliance on the US nuclear umbrella.

They pointed to the Saudi worries about an Iranian prog-ramme and to
the absence of any international pressure on Israel, which has an
estimated 200 nuclear devices.

"Our antennae are up," said a senior UN official watching worldwide
nuclear proliferation efforts. "The international community can rest
assured we do keep track of such events if they go beyond talk."

Saudi Arabia does not regard Iran, a past adversary with which Riyadh
has restored relations, as a direct threat. But it is unnerved by the
possibility of Iran and Israel having nuclear weapons.

Riyadh is also worried about a string of apparent leaks in American
papers from the US administration critical of Saudi Arabia.

David Albright, director of the Institute for Science and
International Security, a Washington thinktank, said he doubted
whether the Saudis would try to build a nuclear bomb, preferring
instead to try to buy a nuclear warhead. They would be the first of
the world's eight or nine nuclear powers to have bought rather than
built the bomb.

"There has always been worries that the Saudis would go down this path
if provoked," said Mr Albright. "There is growing US hostility which
could lead to the removal of the US umbrella and will the Saudis be
intimidated by Iran? They've got to be nervous."

UN officials said there have been rumours going back 20 years that the
Saudis wanted to pay Pakistan to do the research and development on
nuclear weapons.

In 1988, Saudi bought from China intermediate-range missiles capable
of reaching any part of the Middle East with a nuclear warhead.

Four years ago, Saudi Arabia sent a defence team to Pakistan to tour
its secret nuclear facilities and to be briefed by Abdul Qader Khan,
the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb.

A UN official said: "There's obviously a lot of restlessness in the
Middle East. Regional insecurity tends to produce a quest for a
nuclear umbrella. The Saudis have the money and could provide it to
Pakistan."

Mr Albright said the Saudis would face a long haul if they were
determined to acquire nuclear weapons. He doubted whether anyone would
sell.

Arab countries yesterday urged the International Atomic Energy
Authority, the UN nuclear watchdog, to get tough with Israel to let
inspectors assess its nuclear programme in line with similar pressure
on Iran.

Oman's ambassador to the IAEA, Salim al-Riyami, speaking on behalf of
the Arab League, which represents Arab states, said it was time to get
tough with Israel. "I think it's time to deal with this issue more
substantively than before," he said.

In article , Meghan Powers
wrote:

[Who do the Saudi's fear to the extent that a nuclear weapon would
serve as a deterrent? (the way things are going probably the US
itself). Oh yes, there are 14 scud missles that were intercepted on
their way from North Korea to Yemen, and which the Bush admin. allowed
the Yemenese to keep (explain that you Bu****es). In any case, the US
and Isreal will most likely never allow the Saudi's to obtain or
develop nuclear weapons. Radical factions within Saudia Arabia will
most likely overthrow the house of saud - which is currently propped
up with the aid of the US presence in that country - a presence that
is on the decline since it was identified as a main (or only) motive
for 9-11. Just wait. We have not seen truely insane oil prices yet.
-Ed.]

Bottomline, the US has no moral high ground in stopping any country
from owning anything. US's arsenal has just about everything. They have
anthrax and other agents stored in their military establishment. If a
Martian investigator came along to search for WMD, the Martians could
have extrapolated that the US has a WMD program and excused for the
invasion of earth!

With the plain and total moron now raging freely about in the White House
you might expect quite a few more states - in particular if the ones that
might be a little rouge on the edges - to obtain nukes. However why should
the Saudis want to do that? No matter that they are the main culpits for 9 -
11! Nevertheless, they are the moron's untouchable brothers in crude!!

Nik.


"Meghan Powers" wrote in message
...
[Who do the Saudi's fear to the extent that a nuclear weapon would
serve as a deterrent? (the way things are going probably the US
itself). Oh yes, there are 14 scud missles that were intercepted on
their way from North Korea to Yemen, and which the Bush admin. allowed
the Yemenese to keep (explain that you Bu****es). In any case, the US
and Isreal will most likely never allow the Saudi's to obtain or
develop nuclear weapons. Radical factions within Saudia Arabia will
most likely overthrow the house of saud - which is currently propped
up with the aid of the US presence in that country - a presence that
is on the decline since it was identified as a main (or only) motive
for 9-11. Just wait. We have not seen truely insane oil prices yet.
-Ed.]

------------------------

Saudis consider nuclear bomb
http://www.guardian.co.uk/saudi/stor...044402,00.html

Ewen MacAskill and Ian Traynor in Vienna
Thursday September 18, 2003
The Guardian

Saudi Arabia, in response to the current upheaval in the Middle East,
has embarked on a strategic review that includes acquiring nuclear
weapons, the Guardian has learned. This new threat of proliferation
in one of the most dangerous regions of the world comes on top of a
crisis over Iran's alleged nuclear programme. A strategy paper being
considered at the highest levels in Riyadh sets out three options:

· To acquire a nuclear capability as a deterrent;

· To maintain or enter into an alliance with an existing nuclear power
that would offer protection;

· To try to reach a regional agreement on having a nuclear-free Middle
East.

Until now, the assumption in Washington was that Saudi Arabia was
content to remain under the US nuclear umbrella. But the relationship
between Saudi Arabia and the US has steadily worsened since the
September 11 attacks on New York and Washington: 15 of the 19
attackers were Saudi.

It is not known whether Saudi Arabia has taken a decision on any of
the three options. But the fact that it is prepared to contemplate the
nuclear option is a worrying development.

United Nations officials and nuclear arms analysts said the Saudi
review reflected profound insecurities generated by the volatility in
the Middle East, Riyadh's estrangement with Washington and the
weakening of its reliance on the US nuclear umbrella.

They pointed to the Saudi worries about an Iranian prog-ramme and to
the absence of any international pressure on Israel, which has an
estimated 200 nuclear devices.

"Our antennae are up," said a senior UN official watching worldwide
nuclear proliferation efforts. "The international community can rest
assured we do keep track of such events if they go beyond talk."

Saudi Arabia does not regard Iran, a past adversary with which Riyadh
has restored relations, as a direct threat. But it is unnerved by the
possibility of Iran and Israel having nuclear weapons.

Riyadh is also worried about a string of apparent leaks in American
papers from the US administration critical of Saudi Arabia.

David Albright, director of the Institute for Science and
International Security, a Washington thinktank, said he doubted
whether the Saudis would try to build a nuclear bomb, preferring
instead to try to buy a nuclear warhead. They would be the first of
the world's eight or nine nuclear powers to have bought rather than
built the bomb.

"There has always been worries that the Saudis would go down this path
if provoked," said Mr Albright. "There is growing US hostility which
could lead to the removal of the US umbrella and will the Saudis be
intimidated by Iran? They've got to be nervous."

UN officials said there have been rumours going back 20 years that the
Saudis wanted to pay Pakistan to do the research and development on
nuclear weapons.

In 1988, Saudi bought from China intermediate-range missiles capable
of reaching any part of the Middle East with a nuclear warhead.

Four years ago, Saudi Arabia sent a defence team to Pakistan to tour
its secret nuclear facilities and to be briefed by Abdul Qader Khan,
the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb.

A UN official said: "There's obviously a lot of restlessness in the
Middle East. Regional insecurity tends to produce a quest for a
nuclear umbrella. The Saudis have the money and could provide it to
Pakistan."

Mr Albright said the Saudis would face a long haul if they were
determined to acquire nuclear weapons. He doubted whether anyone would
sell.

Arab countries yesterday urged the International Atomic Energy
Authority, the UN nuclear watchdog, to get tough with Israel to let
inspectors assess its nuclear programme in line with similar pressure
on Iran.

Oman's ambassador to the IAEA, Salim al-Riyami, speaking on behalf of
the Arab League, which represents Arab states, said it was time to get
tough with Israel. "I think it's time to deal with this issue more
substantively than before," he said.

"Nik" wrote in message ...
[snip]
However why should the Saudis want to do that?
[snip]

Because they look west and see the only nation in the region with
WMD..... Israel.

On 19 Sep 2003 08:06:47 -0700, (me) wrote:

"Nik" wrote in message ...
[snip]
However why should the Saudis want to do that?
[snip]

Because they look west and see the only nation in the region with
WMD..... Israel.

More likely they are aware that the U.S. is moving, slowly but surely,
to wean itself from dependence on Saudi oil. That was one of THE
prime reasons for the invasion of Iraq . No doubt Bush I and his
family will manage to divest their Saudi interests in good time.
The Saudis might be thinking that going nuclear would keep the
U.S. stuck to the petroleum nipple. Dubious proposition.

(I trust no one with half a brain bought into the Bushies'
double-talk reasons for invading Iraq -- which have been thoroughly
discredited, even by the cringing U.S. press, and the gutless
Congress. A few of them are finally lifting their faces from saluting
Dubya's behind.)

Bringing in the Israel factor is, of course, more of The Same, and
you know just what I mean!

There would BE no Israel today, given the relentless hatred of its
neighbors who have attacked Israel in five wars, if not for Dimona --
which serves as a deterrent only. Just like the U.S. nuke program.

--

Traveler