Iran Has Started a Mideast Arms Race
Submitted by Amir Taheri on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 05:58
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In the capitals of Western nations, Abdul Qadeer Khan, the man regarded as the father of the Pakistani atom bomb, is regarded as a maverick with a criminal past. In addition to his well-documented role in developing a nuclear device for Pakistan, he helped Iran and North Korea with their nuclear programs.
But since his release from house arrest a month ago, Mr. Khan has entertained a string of official visitors from across the Middle East. All come with messages of sympathy; and some governments in that region are looking to him for the knowledge and advice they need to fast track their own illicit nuclear projects.
Make no mistake: The Middle East may be on the verge of a nuclear arms race triggered by the inability of the West to stop Iran's quest for a bomb. Since Tehran's nuclear ambitions hit the headlines five years ago, 25 countries -- 10 of them in the greater Middle East -- have announced plans to build nuclear power plants for the first time.
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates [UAE] and Oman) set up a nuclear exploratory commission in 2007 to prepare a "strategic report" for submission to the alliance's summit later this year. But Saudi Arabia is not waiting for the report. It opened negotiations with the U.S. in 2008 to obtain "a nuclear capacity," ostensibly for "peaceful purposes."
Egypt also signed a nuclear cooperation agreement, with France, last year. Egyptian leaders make no secret of the fact that the decision to invest in a costly nuclear industry was prompted by fears of Iran. "A nuclear armed Iran with hegemonic ambitions is the greatest threat to Arab nations today," President Hosni Mubarak told the Arab summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia two weeks ago.
Last November, France concluded a similar nuclear cooperation accord with the UAE, promising to offer these oil-rich lands "a complete nuclear industry." According to the foreign ministry in Paris, the French are building a military base close to Abu Dhabi ostensibly to protect the nuclear installations against "hostile action," including the possibility of "sensitive material" being stolen by terrorist groups or smuggled to Iran.
The UAE, to be sure, has signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S. forswearing the right to enrich uranium or produce plutonium in exchange for American nuclear technology and fuel. The problem is that the UAE's commercial hub, the sheikhdom of Dubai, has been the nerve center of illicit trade with Iran for decades, according to Western and Arab intelligence. Through Dubai, stolen U.S. technology and spent fuel needed for producing raw material for nuclear weapons could be smuggled to Iran.
Qatar, the smallest GCC member by population, is also toying with the idea of creating a nuclear capability. According to the Qatari media, it is shopping around in the U.S., France, Germany and China.
Newly liberated Iraq has not been spared by the new nuclear fever. Recall the history. With help from France, Iraq developed a nuclear capacity in the late 1970s to counterbalance its demographic inferiority vis-à-vis Iran. In 1980, Israel destroyed Osirak, the French-built nuclear center close to Baghdad, but Saddam Hussein restored part of that capacity between 1988 and 1991. What he rebuilt was dismantled by the United Nations' inspectors between 1992 and 2003. But with Saddam dead and buried, some Iraqis are calling for a revival of the nation's nuclear program as a means of deterring "bullying and blackmail from the mullahs in Tehran," as parliamentarian Saleh al-Mutlaq has put it.
"A single tactical nuclear attack on Basra and Baghdad could wipe out a third of our population," a senior Iraqi official told me, on condition of anonymity. Since almost 90% of Iraqis live within 90 miles of the Iranian border, the "fear is felt in every town and village," he says.
Tehran, meanwhile, is playing an active part in proliferation. So far, Syria and Sudan have shown interest in its nuclear technology, setting up joint scientific committees with Iran, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency. Iranian media reports say Tehran is also setting up joint programs with a number of anti-U.S. regimes in Latin America, notably Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Ecuador, bringing proliferation to America's backyard.
According to official reports in Tehran, in 2006 and 2007 the Islamic Republic also initialed agreements with China to build 20 nuclear-power stations in Iran. The first of these stations is already under construction at Dar-Khuwayn, in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan close to the Iraqi border.
There is no doubt that the current nuclear race in the Middle East is largely prompted by the fear of a revolutionary Iran using an arsenal as a means of establishing hegemony in the region. Iran's rivals for regional leadership, especially Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, are aware of the propaganda appeal of the Islamic Republic's claim of being " the first Muslim superpower" capable of defying the West and rivaling it in scientific and technological fields. In that context, Tehran's development of long-range missiles and the Muslim world's first space satellite are considered political coups.
Mohamed al Quwaihis, a member of Saudi Arabia's appointed parliament, the Shura Council, warns of Iran's growing influence. Addressing the Shura Council earlier this month, he described Iranian interferences in Arab affairs as "overt," and claimed that Iran is "endeavoring to seduce the Gulf States, and recruit some of the citizens of these countries to work for its interests."
The Shura devoted a recent session to "the Iranian threat," insisting that unless Tehran abandoned its nuclear program, Saudi Arabia should lead the Arabs in developing their own "nuclear response." The debate came just days after the foreign ministry in Riyadh issued a report identifying the Islamic Republic's nuclear program as the "principal security threat to Arab nations."
A four-nation Arab summit held in the Saudi capital on March 11 endorsed that analysis, giving the green light for a pan-Arab quest for "a complete nuclear industry." Such a project would draw support from Pakistan, whose nuclear industry was built with Arab money. Mr. Khan and his colleagues have an opportunity to repay that debt by helping Arabs step on a ladder that could lead them to the coveted "threshold" to becoming nuclear powers in a few years' time.
Earlier this month, Mohamed ElBaradei, the retiring head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned that the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has become a blunt instrument in preventing a nuclear arms race. Meanwhile, the U.S., France, Russia and China are competing for nuclear contracts without developing safeguards to ensure that projects which start as peaceful undertakings are not used as cover for clandestine military activities.
The Obama administration should take the growing threat of nuclear proliferation seriously. It should try to provide leadership in forging a united response by the major powers to what could become the world's No. 1 security concern within the next few years.
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Amir Taheri writes for the New York Post. His latest book, The Persian Night: Iran Under the Khomeinist Revolution, is due out next month.
In all fairness, Iran has
In all fairness, Iran has right to develop alternate means of energy like any sovereign country. The developed world, led by the US must recognize this fact.
However, the concerns about nuclear proliferation are genuine and need to be addressed thus. Iran has to import nuclear fuel from the NSG if it develops nuclear reactors. International community could legitimately ask Iran about what it intends to do to the used fuel (which contains plutonium-239 and other uranium isotopes that have potential dual use apart from residual U-235 a large part of which is more or less burnt in the reactor to generate electric power). Better still, the nuclear fuel could be given on lease to Iran and the used fuel taken back by the NSG (nuclear suppliers group) with an additional exit load cost to Iran on account of radioactive waste disposal.
Uranium enrichment must not be allowed though, that is indeed dangerous till such time Iran establishes credibility in its usage of nuclear fuel. That is a genuine irritant for a country without proven track record.
Pakistan was allowed to get away in its acts of omissions and commissions. In Pakistan’s case, the US is as much at fault (remember senior Bush could not give waiver to Pakistan in the early nineties, a mandatory requirement under Pressler amendment). It is hard to believe that CIA did not know what rogue Paki scientist was doing all through the decade of nineties.
However, one couldn’t whip up passions of nuclear proliferation for every sovereign country, just because it happened for Pakistan.
You should remember some
You should remember some facts about the nuclear industry----
1)As a nation america has all ways maintained nuclear supremacy.
2)As a nation america always had a dual policy in every policy,including nuclear policy.
3)As a nation america looked the other way when pakistan was running its clandestine nuclear program & worse, she turned a blind eye when pakis passed the technology to rogue nations.
4)As a nation america harassed INDIA in the 60s,70s & 80s.They blocked India at every step to import heavy water to run the nuclear reactors,there by successfully making India self sufficient,but at a cost.Mind you India never had hegemonic ideas.She just had to provide cheap electricity to her large population.EFFECTIVELY OUR NUCLEAR INDUSTRY LAGGED BEHIND BY FEW DECADES.THANKS TO AMERICA.
Then islam became aggressive & to wean INDIA from islamic arab oil,america went out of the way to get the necessary waivers with a lot of media hype.I had challenged my friend that INDIA would get the waiver(this was just drama),i felt the change in USA policy.(read western)
Now coming to the rational of arab countries going for peaceful nuclear technology.Except for Egypt & possibly Syria,all the countries in the middle east are SUSPECT.They have enough oil.But because of islam all are suspect.
India would be very uncomfortable if Iran becomes a nuclear weapons state.Then she has to deal with 2 unstable neighbors,one ruled by hateful men in uniform & another by mad mullahs.
Just watch, in the future,the americans will arm saudi arabia directly or indirectly as a bulwark against the Iranians.The day is not far,when an MADE IN USA(more likely paki made) war head is exploded in an american city.Thanks to enlightened american foreign policy
WAR ON TERROR! The Quran
WAR ON TERROR! The Quran says Allah gave them the right to terrorize non-muslims and yet American politicians say we are not supposed to say ISLAMIC TERROR. THE BIBLE DIDNT SAY IT, BUT THE QURAN DID AND THE AHADITHS. I take them at its words. WAR is deceit as Satan is the greatest deceiver and schemer. If Allah is god why does he need to deceive man or scheme. This proves that Muhammad is /was allah. IMPOTENT!
#2. krishna786; Nice
#2. krishna786;
Nice speculation or should I say correct prediction when you said----
"The day is not far,when an MADE IN USA(more likely paki made) war head is exploded in an american city."
You are right, in the very near future" American foreign policy" will result in radioactive 9/11s.
Guys,i need a clarification.I
Guys,i need a clarification.I heard that these muslim xxxxxx don't have technology to crack crude oil into petroleum products.This technology is closely guarded by the western oil companies.Is it true.???Please can anyone clarify.
one arab guy had recently
one arab guy had recently blogged that if the indians and americans leave ME, people will not get even basic services like water and electricity becuase those sheikhs don't know anything about it. so i guess you can gauge how good they will be at cracking the petroleum.
#2: I couldn't agree more.
#2: I couldn't agree more. Sometimes, I wonder how it came to be that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were America's greatest allies.
Mad world isn't it?
Of course Krishna its a fact
Of course Krishna its a fact that the Western Companies guard these secrets. This is how you gain leverage in buisness, if the Arabs were to learn how to do this job, they would train their slaves the Pakistanis to do this for them and the American Companies would be left in the dry.
See you have to understand that the Arab is the eternal womanisg fool and the Pakistani the ultimate Arab slave. The Americans and Brits know this very well and are quite well trained to deal with these bozzos. A large amount of those petro dollars are spent in Europe and America by means of the gambling buisness. In case you din't know most of the Casinos in Las Vegas are full of Arab sheiks followed by the Japs and then the Oil Barons of the ertswhile USSR federation.
The Ameircans have a lot to gain from the Saudis and as long as they have oil, the Americans will pamper them, soon after America starts its own drilling operations, the Saudis will have to return to their tents and camels, living of the land just as in the days of their ancestors. The only hope for the Mid East is Dubai which as become some sort of a buisness and entertainment hub. Rest of the mid east, especially Saudi Arabia will be waste land once again and that's when we will get to see the end of the islamic uncilization. Cos the Saudis will have nothing left to offer to the Non_arab Paki Slaves.
Ibrahim, about dubai,if the
Ibrahim, about dubai,if the socialistic congress had only converted Bombay into a free port in the 60s,do you think dubai would reach this state?Talk of missed opportunities!!!!
You don't need to nuke saudi
You don't need to nuke saudi arabia.Just coordinate with the expatriates living in saudi arabia & air drop special forces & plenty of arms.The grudge of the expatriates will destroy saudi arabia.Saudi arabia is surprisingly a soft state.Once when some Yemeni tribesmen attacked some saudi border posts in our area with .303 rifles,the saudis forces turned tail with their(believe it or not) armored tanks.
Excellent article.
Excellent article.
#5 I've got to disagree with
#5 I've got to disagree with you.Technology of oil refinery is not a closed secret, many process are well-know tothe main media,yes indeed some are old and not so efficient as others recently developped,but how not pay for a more efficient process made by a company, when a n specific product is needed in a particular company? For example, in USA there's a huge need of gasoline (mailnly one with high octanage), but in other countries, there's a huge need for diesel. And lately the world is ever increasing the consumption of natural gas.
Sirs, please see
Sirs,
please see http://fizy.com/yt8Gj6-K60dC and enjoy!
See
See http://www.therudenews.com/archives/178
There is an intense research
There is an intense research for developing alternative fuel. The greener the fuel the better it is for nature. Once that happens--and it is fast developing-- the demand for petroleum from middle east decreases. The Arabs will have nothing but their camels to mount on and wage Jihad for survival. I don't think the rest of the kaffir world is that innocent to tolerate their mischief. If Islam has to be destroyed, then it has to start with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Many of the Iranians that live abroad are some of the nicest people I have ever seen. Due to their Zoroastraian background, many don't behave like zombie-time Muslims. They are caught up between barbaric Islam and sublime Zoroastrianism. Nav Roz is the Iranian New Year (nav or nava in Sanskrit means New). Iranians celebrate all pre-islamic cultural and religous events, and yet they are unable to get rid off Islam. Once in Australia, I saw many Iranians attending a Buddha festival. I then enquired is it OK for Shia Muslims to attend other religious functions. They said they liked the noble truths that Buddha preached and don't mind practicing meditation. One of my friends Ali Hasan, from Tehran, has given up Islam and become a Hindu.
Dear rationalist, You are
Dear rationalist,
You are right,alternative fuel is the answer.Do you know the similarity between cockroaches & muslims.Let me tell you.Using organo phosphorus sprays to kill the roaches is not the ultimate answer.Just deny food & water. roaches are said to eat anything under the sun including themselves(dead ones),so you need to maintain your kitchen neat & dry to manage the roaches population. likewise jihads require money,manpower & sanctuary. Answer is obvious,have a tight international financial control,punish elements in western countries for even hate speech & finally break up Pakistan & saudi arabia.jihad will die out, it will not require a nuke bomb.
From a Indian point,strict financial controls will not be allowed. politicians need the hawala route for their activities & for protection money from the hawala racketeers.(running into crores of ruppees). Varun gandhi is held for hate speech,but when muslim leaders preach hate "secular authorities" will turn a blind eye.Finally we are fed the story of a stable pakistan is good for India. Whereas pakistan wants India on its knees & broken into a hundred pieces.see the difference in perception.
AT THIS CRUCIAL JUNCTURE INDIA NEEDS A STATESMAN (not a politician) WITH A POWERFUL VISION FOR THE FUTURE.Do we have one.????
AT THIS CRUCIAL JUNCTURE
AT THIS CRUCIAL JUNCTURE INDIA NEEDS A STATESMAN (not a politician) WITH A POWERFUL VISION FOR THE FUTURE.Do we have one.????
>>> Narendra Modi is the only person that I can see as a statesman cum politician. Single handedly, he has turned Gujarath into the most developed state in India. Let him become the PM or Defence Minister; you will see the results.
you are right again.you read
you are right again.you read my mind.But other BJP leaders have become senile idiots with congress culture.They are no more the disciplined lot we saw 20 years ago.They are more worried about themselves not the country.
18. krishna786; Now you are
18. krishna786;
Now you are talking my language. "senile idiots with congress culture" have polluted BJP of NDA ( BJP the distorted, polluted version of Janashangha ) am I correct?
Yes you are right
Yes you are right halalporky.!!!!!!!
I don't think alternative
I don't think alternative fuel will be available in near future.It will take 4 to 5 decades.THe present elctric distribution and and mechanical systems also need to tuned to according the news sources of energy just like what happened in the case of vacume tubes to transistors to IC .If we allow that much time to islamists then will elimate entire kaffirs and then themselves .Finally human race will get extinct like Dinosaurse.Remember what happened in indonesia and malasia .with in just few decades they have forced to convert or killed then hindus and buddhists.The hindus existing in malasia are tamil hinuds migrated during British rule in 19th century.Bali hindus are fortunate as they were separated and isolated in separated island.Only hope is gradually rationaising muslims to free thinking or atleast making them to become tolerant .This unfortunate people are brian washed every friday with ahte and irrational sermons.Few hundred mullahs are controlloing millions of muslims lives and keeping them in darkness.THey are literally mental slaves who were controlled by these mullas who controll allmatters right from famaily to politics with thier big list of irrational Dos and Donts