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| Middle East |
| IAEA conference to discuss Israeli nukes for first time |
| 2003-08-28 |
| From the World Tribune....more fuel for the nuclear fires... LONDON — The International Atomic Energy Agency has decided to discuss Israeli nuclear capabilities in its next major conference. Diplomatic sources said the IAEA has placed on the agenda of its General Conference and Regular Session the subject of "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities and Threats." The subject will be discussed at the conference in Vienna in September. The sources said this is the first time in decades that the IAEA has placed Israel’s nuclear programs on the agenda of its general conference. The conference has been planned from Sept. 15 to Sept. 19, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the subject was placed at the behest of Arab and Islamic states. The proposal to discuss Israel’s nuclear programs came from the Arab League, the diplomats said. Oman was said to have submitted the request. The IAEA has reserved the conference to also discuss Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. charges that Teheran is developing nuclear weapons. In response, Iran and Arab states have criticized the agency for failing to address Israel’s purported nuclear arsenal. In a recent meeting, the Arab League has asserted that Israel has stockpiled up to 300 nuclear warheads. The league said Israel now has the capability of producing hydrogen bombs. The sources said the Arab League plans to distribute a study on Israel’s nuclear programs to participants at the IAEA conference. The league will also demand that Israel sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #12 Read an article in one of the Foreign Relations Quarterlies oh, ten years ago or longer, about the prospect of Israeli nukes. The consensus then was that Israel had five-six nukes in the 100Kt range, and the capability of manufacturing one to three a year after that. While the lefties have been in power in between that time, I doubt that Israel has stopped making or maintaining nukes. Do the Arabs really, really want to know for sure that Israel has nukes? I think that, if Israel acknowledged a nuclear arsenal and the means of delivering that arsenal to the capital of every Arab nation within 500-600 miles, there would be some serious puckering going on. I doubt that the "Arab Street" really wants to know their life can end in a flash and a bang any time Israel feels sufficiently threatened. At the same time, it might be just what's needed to get Arafart kicked out of Palestine. Personally, I'd like him to try his tricks down in the Congo, where they still eat people they don't like... Of course, at the same time, I'd like about 10,000 shares of stock in Pepto Bismol, and the exclusive rights to the Congo market. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-8-28 8:33:27 PM |
| #11 LH---The problem is that any Saudi even wanting to meet with Israeli reps will be killed by his own countrymen. Hell, look what happened to Anwar Sadat. Rational negotiation requires compromise, but to many people over there, compromise is viewed as weakness. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-8-28 8:26:00 PM |
| #10 It might also help not wanting to wipe out the country you want to negotiate with. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-8-28 8:07:42 PM |
| #9 that was kinda my point AP - you want to make a stink about Israeli nukes, you gotta have diplomatic relations with them first. How are they gonna negotiate arms reduction with you when you wont step into the same room with them? |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-28 4:56:38 PM |
| #8 LH---In a rational world, face to face would be the way to go. However, If Crown Prince Abdullah flew to Tel Aviv for frank and useful discussions, he would become buzzard bait the moment he landed back in Saudi. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-8-28 4:39:05 PM |
| #7 MOFO? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-8-28 4:36:14 PM |
| #6 yeah JDAM |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-28 4:17:31 PM |
| #5 Hey Alaska Paul, you must have missed the news on the latest "technological advances" made to the Islamic Prayer Rug. If everything goes according to plan, soon the whole world will have one! Does anybody know the stock symbol? |
| Posted by: Daniel King 2003-8-28 4:09:38 PM |
| #4 nothing wrong with the arab league discussing this - DIRECTLY WITH ISRAEL. Just sit down and talk. Im sure the Israelis would be ok. Better yet have Crown Prince Abdullah fly to Tel Aviv and meet with Sharon to express his concerns. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-28 3:55:42 PM |
| #3 Right on, Daniel King. Blame Israel for their shortcomings. The arabs and Iranians think that the only way that they will get respectability is owning a Nuke. Producing or creating something of real use and value for everyone is a concept that is totally beyond them. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-8-28 2:45:57 PM |
| #2 Smokescreen to buy more time for and/or avoid doing anything to Iran. |
| Posted by: Daniel King 2003-8-28 2:42:12 PM |
| #1 Arab league, huh? My kids used to watch cartoon characters in superman's Justice League...they both had the same reality and relevance |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-28 2:30:41 PM |