| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Putin: 'Israel's nuclear weapons just make it a target' |
| 2013-09-20 |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Israel's alleged nuclear weapons stockpile only serves to make the Jewish state "a target" and creates "foreign policy problems." Putin's comments, reported by AFP, came in response to questions from reporters on the US and Russia-brokered deal to put Syria's chemical weapons arsenal under international supervision. According to AFP, Putin said that Syria had developed chemical weapons "as an alternative to the nuclear weapons of Israel." The Russian president claimed that "the technical advantage of Israel -- we need to say this directly -- is such that it doesn't need nuclear weapons. Israel is already in a technical military sense several heads above the countries in the region." Putin added that "nuclear weapons just make it a target. They just create foreign policy problems." Maybe they just want enough deterrence to be a living target instead of a dead one? The chemical weapons deal with Syria has increased pressure on Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. How so? It's not as if any of the people who hate Israel now are going to like it if it signs it. Some 190 states have joined the NPT, whose goal is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology. Of the world's nuclear powers, only four have not joined the treaty. Of these, India, Pakistan and North Korea have all openly tested nuclear weapons. Israel continues with its policy of nuclear ambiguity. Israel has refused to sign the NPT despite pressure from the international community. However, when it comes to the Chemical Weapons Convention, the country might be more flexible. Or would, if the Haterz didn't accuse it of chemical warfare every time it used an illumination round. "Israel has an interest in a chemical free zone as opposed to a nuclear-free zone," Eitan Barak, a professor of international relations from Hebrew University said. And they've gotten to the self-professed experts, which means it's time to snip |
| Posted by:Thing From Snowy Mountain |
| #8 I remember how peaceful it was in the region before Israel got nukes. I can't possibly guess what made them feel they needed extra protection. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2013-09-20 21:28 |
| #7 It makes them a target that can shoot back... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2013-09-20 17:36 |
| #6 If Israel's (phantom) nukes make them a target, Pootie-Pute, then Maybe y'all should get rid of yours so you'll no longer be targeted by the Chechens, etc. Just sayin' .... |
| Posted by: Barbara 2013-09-20 16:23 |
| #5 Russia should test this hypothesis first; they're the ones with the ten time zones or so of strategic depth. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-09-20 14:59 |
| #4 'Israel's nuclear weapons just make it a target' So if I extend the logic, does that mean that getting rid of them would make it no longer a target? |
| Posted by: gorb 2013-09-20 14:37 |
| #3 Putin is a chess player. We just finished a big exchange of pieces (to our disadvantage) and he is offering to continue the exchange. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2013-09-20 12:58 |
| #2 Well, unlike being told that "raising the debt cieling does not raise the debt", Joining the NPT DOES NOT GET RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Its a treaty against NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION. Poor pootie, he doesn't like Israel playing the MAD card: they were targets before they got nuclear weapons, and they are a h*ll of a lot more responsible than Iran. It is IRAN that is threatening ISRAEL with annihilation, not ISRAEL threatening IRAN. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2013-09-20 08:13 |
| #1 So, we should give some of the surplus ones to Poland, Vladimir? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2013-09-20 00:08 |