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| International | |||
| Pakistan-Saudi trade nuke tech for oil | |||
| 2003-10-21 | |||
| Should be read with salt firmly in hand, although frankly, I believe this report; especially since the Saudis partially funded the Paki nuclear program Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have concluded a secret agreement on nuclear cooperation, an unimpeachable source said Monday. "It will be vehemently denied by both countries," added this ranking Pakistani source known to this correspondent for more than a decade as a knowledgeable insider, "but future events will confirm that Pakistan has agreed to provide KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) with the wherewithal for a nuclear deterrent." In a lightning, hastily arranged, 26-hour "state visit" in Islamabad, Crown Prince Abdullah Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, flew across the Arabian Sea with an entourage of 200, including Foreign Minister Prince Saud and several Cabinet ministers. The pro-American Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan, who is next in line to succeed to the throne after Abdullah, was not part of the delegation. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met Abdullah at the airport and saw him off Sunday night with a 21-gun salute. In Washington, Mohammed Sadiq, Pakistan’s deputy chief of mission, said Monday the report about Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reaching agreement on nuclear cooperation was "totally wrong."
He’s lucky he wasn’t eaten. The Sunni Saudis have concluded that nothing will deter Shiite Iran from continuing its quest for nuclear weapons. Pakistan, on the other hand, is openly concerned about the recent armaments agreement between India, its nuclear rival, and Israel, a long-time nuclear power whose inventory is estimated at between 200 and 400 weapons. Iran and India, located on either side of Pakistan, have also signed a strategic agreement whose aim is regarded with suspicion in Islamabad. That would make for some interesting trilateral talks To counter what Pakistani and Saudi leaders regard as a multiregional threats, they have decided quietly to move ahead with a two-way exchange — free or cheap oil for nuclear know-how and expertise. In their private talks, Abdullah and Musharraf also discussed the possibility of Pakistan supplying troops, not to Iraq, but to the kingdom. Abdullah can see that the world’s largest oil reserves look increasingly vulnerable over the next 10 years. And what army has a finer record that the Pakistanis? Apart from the infidel French, of course. The denials of any secret nuclear agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the source said, "must be seen in the same context as Iranian denials about its own nuclear weapons plans." Libya is also said to have a nuke program, things could get very interesting in the next few years if the Bush administration’s ’domino theory’ doesn’t work. Prior to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, along with the United Arab Emirates, were the only countries that recognized and aided Afghanistan’s Taliban regime that had been educated in Pakistan’s madrassas (Koranic schools). Pakistani officials are also fearful that the Bush administration will leave them in the lurch after al-Qaida leader Osama bin laden has been killed or captured. They also speculate about what the policy would be in the event of a Democratic Party victory in the 2004 U.S. elections.
They make for cheap and willing cannon fodder while the Princes, Generals and Mullahs fantasise about their Khalifah. Musharraf, in a milestone speech three months before Sept. 11, 2001, denounced the danger of these schools and urged syllabus reform. But all attempts at reform have been blocked by the mullahs with the support of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal — a coalition of the six major politico-religious parties — that now governs two of Pakistan’s four provinces. Musharraf has opted for appeasement of the MMA rather than confrontation. At the state banquet for Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah, the principal MMA chieftains were invited and attended. The two traditional mainstream parties were not present. They were pointedly left off the guest list. If the Pakistanis are very good, the Saudis just might let Qazi and Hafiz Saeed rule over the revived Mughal Empire, and let Hamid Gul and the Army serve as the Khalifah’s Imperial Guard. Of course the Al-Sauds will have to work out some sort of compromise with the ultra-radical Islamists like al-Hawali, but i’m sure they would be able to renew the Saud-Wahabi alliance. But just who gets to wear the bejewelled turban? | |||
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #6 .com--they won't leave a nuclear device--it will be shipped by container freight to the port of New York or Los Angeles--where the BUSH under funded--Homeland |
| Posted by: NotMikeMoore 2003-10-21 11:44:40 PM |
| #5 This isn't about the oil - it's about the Saudis getting nukes from Pakiland and then, when the Mad Mullahs come for them - likely in the next few years, high-tailing it for cuckooland. Believe it, they will be gone in a heartbeat. They have their own fleet of cargo and passenger jets ready to rock 'n roll... they will load up the cash and the jewelry and the favorite wife or two - leaving the nukes and everything else for the Izzoids. That's the problem, boys. This equation sucks any way you look at it: Wahabbis + Nukes = Insanity = Nukes + Black Hats There will be true believers among the techs. Enough? A complete set? Who knows. Unacceptable situation, regardless. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-21 4:26:41 PM |
| #4 If worst somes to worst on the oil front, we can always repeal some of the laws covering genetic engineering, and try the Chinese Tallow Tree (which is already invading the Gulf Coast grasslands and proving something of a nusance). The Tallow tree is one of the few plants whose oil (inside the seeds) is so rich, it can actually be burned directly in a diesel engine with no futher treatment other than filtering for bits and pieces of solid plant matter. A bit of redesign, some concentration, and we could have a tree whose sap would be suitable for shipping to refineries. It would be rather like the annual maple sap tapping, only FAR more useful. Heh. Ed Becerra |
| Posted by: Ed Becerra 2003-10-21 3:14:41 PM |
| #3 As the Saudis leave, let's be sure to seize the oilfields and let the mad mullahs have all the holy sites and sand they want. |
| Posted by: Craig 2003-10-21 12:23:28 PM |
| #2 I hope we have already toppled Iran and given it back to the Iranians, cleansed SryLeb of asshats, and had a chance to replenish our people and stocks before this heats up to serious levels. The Royals won't be there all that much longer, folks - and you KNOW they will skedaddle to Switzerland when it gets hot -- and leave all this technology in Wahabbi hands. Think about that for a moment or two... |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-21 11:00:49 AM |
| #1 Abdullah can see that the world’s largest oil reserves look increasingly vulnerable over the next 10 years. What Ab-dull-ah can't see is that if he keeps behaving like this, in 10 years we won't need his oil. We don't oil, but we do have technology. |
| Posted by: B 2003-10-21 8:51:54 AM |