Saudis: If Iran Gets Nukes, We Want ’Em

[DonViejo]

Source: TDB/BBC

A Saudi prince said that if Iran is permitted to operate a nuclear program, then Saudi Arabia will want its own arsenal. “I’ve always said whatever comes out of these talks, we will want the same,” said Prince Turki al-Faisal, who formerly served as Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief. “So if Iran has the ability to enrich uranium to whatever level, it’s not just Saudi Arabia that’s going to ask for that.” The prince warned that a nuclear deal with Iran could potentially set off an arms race in the region. “The whole world will be an open door to go that route without any inhibition, and that’s my main objection to this P5+1 (the six world powers) process,” he said.

Read it at BBC

###

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/03/16/saudis-if-iran-gets-nukes-we-want-em.html

[leveymg]

1. This is pure canard: the Saudis paid for the Pak nuclear program,

and the Bush Sr. CIA looked the other way while AQ Khan rounded up the components. The Saudis have had a proxy nuclear arms capability since the mid-1990s.

[Fred Sanders]

12. If Israel has nuclear weapons, not just nuclear power, then why not anyone? Pure Israeli election canard by Saudi.

[lsewpershad]

32. Great question

[Fred Sanders]

33. This is what full Psych-Ops looks like:

https://s.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/X3tNfnVQtLY4n5h7Lhivgw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7aWw9cGxhbmU7cT03NTt3PTYwMA--/

[Crowman1979]

2. I think we need to accelerate our alternative energy program.

So we can put an end to giving these tribal backwards assholes any more money.

[delrem]

3. Meanwhile I'm happy with the info that the US is spending trillions to update its own nukes.

Can't have too many nukes!

[WDIM]

4. All nuke programs should be illegal.

We need to do away with nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Both are very dangerous to the human race and all life on this planet.

[Telcontar]

5. Evidence is the opposite

Seems since the advent of nuclear weapons, interstate warfare is at an all time low.

[daleo]

6. Unfortunately, it only takes one nuclear war to eliminate that benefit

And a whole lot more.

[WDIM]

7. Evidence shows how dangerous it truly is.

We've been in almost a constant state of war since WWII. War is not at an all time low.

[Lurks Often]

9. The world has been in a constant state of war since forever

I have been unable to find a time going back to 1750 where there wasn't a war going on somewhere and prior to 1750 the word wasn' exactly a peaceful place.

[Telcontar]

11. Interstate warfare is at an all time low

There have been no wars between Great Powers in 70 years. That alone is unique.

[Lurks Often]

13. Oh I agree, I was just pointing out world peace is pretty much a myth

[Telcontar]

20. Yes it is

Great book by Jared Diamond, "The World Until Yesterday" does a great job showing how human history us one long violent war.

[7962]

25. Oh yes, look what happened to Ukraine when they gave up theirs!

They had a nice agreement with Russia to be left alone and everything. But people forget that tyrants like Putin think of treaties as nothing more than cage liner.

[Lurks Often]

8. If the talks fail, Saudi Arabia will likely be a nuclear power before Iran

and Pakistan will be a bit richer.

The other question will be whether the other Gulf nations follow suit and I am inclined to think at least a couple of them will choose to purchase a few nukes from Pakistan as well.

[leveymg]

22. KSA already is a de factor nuclear power since Pak's first open test in 1998.

Last edited Mon Mar 16, 2015, 01:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Wiki:

In May 1998, Saudi Arabia was the only country that was taken in complete confidence by Prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan's decision on performing atomic test in Weapon-testing laboratories-III (WTL-III) in the region of the Chagai Hills. After he ordered the atomic tests (see codenames: Chagai-I and Chagai-II), Saudi Arabia, along with United Arab Emirates, were the only countries to backed Pakistan and congratulated the country for making the "bold decision". Furthermore, Saudi Arabia promised to supply 50,000 barrels per day of free oil to help Pakistan cope with likely economic sanctions in the aftermath.

(. . .)

Military cooperation

Pakistan maintains close military ties with Saudi Arabia, providing extensive support, arms and training for the Saudi Arabian military.[8] Fighter Pilots of the Pakistan Air Force flew aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force to repel an incursion from South Yemen in 1969. In the 1970s and 1980s, approximately ~15,000 Pakistani soldiers were stationed in the kingdom.[8] Saudi Arabia has negotiated the purchase of Pakistani ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.[8] It is also speculated that Saudi Arabia secretly funded Pakistan's atomic bomb programme and seeks to purchase atomic weapons from Pakistan to enable it to counteract possible threats from arsenals of the weapons of mass destruction possessed by Iran, Iraq and Israel.[11][12][13] Both nations have received high-level delegations of scientists, government and Saudi military experts of seeking to study the development of a Saudi nuclear programme.[8][11][14]

[Fred Sanders]

10. Note to article: there is a difference between wanting nukes and wanting nuclear power generation.

A difference no one wants to talk about between weapons grade uranium and power plant grade...pure and desperate propaganda to help ally Israel.....Saudi dictatorship allied with Israeli fascism...match made in hell.

[quadrature]

14. so why does Iran need 20%enriched Uranium? ..nt

[Fred Sanders]

15. Research reactors. The information on uranium enrichment and specifically Iran is widely available.

You need 90% for weapons grade.

Why does Israel need a hundred nukes...and in secret? Better question.

[quadrature]

17. so how many 1000s of tons of 20%U235 does Iran need ...

to produce medical isotopes?

research reactors are typically
1 megawatt-thermal, btw.

[Fred Sanders]

19. Do your research, Iran has no weapons grade uranium...it is all going to be in the deal negotiated

by experts from 6 countries.....how much do they "need"... Again for the experts..thousands of TONS...no.

[hack89]

28. Their enrichment capability significantly exceeds the requirements to support a research reactor.

they have two large enrichment facilities. If they wanted a research reactor, it would have been easier and cheaper to negotiate with Russia or China to provide the fuel under UN inspection protocols.

[7962]

26. And why build a "research" facility hundreds of feet underground?

Because they're lying, and everyone in the ME knows it

[Bluenorthwest]

16. As usual for the Saudis, a less than honest line of verbiage.

It would be so great if he was saying 'If other countries are going to have human rights and equality, then we want them too'.

[blackspade]

18. Really?

Why do these idiots think that more nukes will make them safe?
The answer is that they want to use them to threaten their neighbors.

[father founding]

21. not clear

Do they want nukes or pukes.

[roamer65]

23. I would bet big money Pak nukes are already in Saudi Arabia.

It's just not "officially announced".

[Renew Deal]

24. Does the Prince think it's better for Iran to build whatever they want unchecked?

Then they really can have an arms race. The Middle East is such a mess.

[7962]

27. They and others have been saying this for years. Obviously they dont fear Israel's nukes

And for good reason. Israel has had them for years, yet all their Arab neighbors went about their business until Iran started their program.
If Israel was the real problem, the Saudis and others would already have their own

[yurbud]

30. Saudi and Israel are allies under the table

Why else would the Saudi flying monkeys of terrorism destabilize just about every other country EXCEPT Israel (or even the Occupied Territories)?

[7962]

34. Jordan is pretty stable. Oman, U.A.E. also pretty stable. Iraq WAS stable.

But we ruined THAT. Yemen is a wreck, but I dont see it being because of S.A.
The Palestinians are in bed with the Iranians

[yurbud]

35. and that has directly affected the US how? It doesn't even seem to be slowing down Israel much

[yurbud]

29. Saudi would be more dangerous than Iran with nukes

Given their history of support for al Qaeda, ISIS, and inherent instability of their political system, they couldn't be counted on to keep them safe or only use them as a deterrent as every other country has.