nuclear-news

Behind the Arabs’ rush for nuclear energy- the nuclear weapons motivation

“in light of Iranian situation we would be fooling ourselves if we deny there’s not a prospect of another motivation, which is to train their nationals to build weapons of their own if they feel threatened,”…The Wikileaks documents exposed Arab concern over Iran’s nuclear program and support for a military campaign to derail Tehran, contradicting official Arab policy……

Why are Arabs Racing to Go Nuclear?, Energy Tribune, by Andres Cala, 16 Dec 10, A top US energy official said this week in Riyadh that Saudi Arabia expects to generate nuclear power within 10 years.

Egypt will invite tenders for its first nuclear plant later this month. And Kuwait this week not only launched a feasibility study aimed at having nuclear power as early as 2020, it bought a 4.8 percent stake in French Areva, the world’s top reactor supplier.That follows Jordan’s ongoing march to enrich uranium and to build a power plant and the United Arab Emirates’ years-old program aimed at completing its first nuclear power plant by 2017. Syria is believed to have been working on setting up its own nuclear plant before it was destroyed by Israelis…….

“in light of Iranian situation we would be fooling ourselves if we deny there’s not a prospect of another motivation, which is to train their nationals to build weapons of their own if they feel threatened,” said Charles K. Ebinger, senior fellow and director of the Energy Security Initiative in the Brookings Institute. “….

The more concerning case is Saudi Arabia, the regional powerhouse that rivals Iran. Riyadh recently agreed to buy up to $60 billion worth of American advanced weaponry to counter its enemy’s might. The Wikileaks documents exposed Arab concern over Iran’s nuclear program and support for a military campaign to derail Tehran, contradicting official Arab policy……

Energy Tribune- Why are Arabs Racing to Go Nuclear?

December 16, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | MIDDLE EAST, weapons and war