Giving Away the Nuclear Farm

Here’s a really good question for you. Why is George W. Bush helping Saudi Arabia build nukes?

Here’s a quick geopolitical quiz: What country is three times the size of Texas and has more than 300 days of blazing sun a year? What country has the world’s largest oil reserves resting below miles upon miles of sand? And what country is being given nuclear power, not solar, by President George W. Bush, even when the mere assumption of nuclear possession in its region has been known to provoke pre-emptive air strikes, even wars?

If you answered Saudi Arabia to all of these questions, you’re right.

Apparently our Secretary of State has already signed an agreement to provide the Saudis with assistence in developing a “peaceful nuclear power program” and they are moving forward with it. This, as the editoial points out, is in the middle of a country which could probably power the entire Middle East with a decent number of solar panels. Consider the following:

1. Saudi Arabia is far from innocent in any number of questionable international incidents. (Where were those 9/11 highjackers from again?) They have a horrible human rights record and are in the middle of one of the most tumultuous areas on the planet.

2. Even if you assume that the King’s government is nothing but sweetness and light, is there any way to assure us that a future revolution won’t overthrow them and put nuclear technology in the hands of more questionable actors? (Naw… never happen. Huh? What does Pakistan have to do with anything?)

3. The Saudis don’t have to refine uranium and build an actual bomb. All they need to do is lose control of some spent fuel rods and the locals will be able to assemble a dirty bomb. (No, you can’t put uranium in your shoes, but nice try.)

Are not all of the points above exactly the same arguments we’ve been hearing about Iran lately? And are they not the same reasons being given from some quarters as to why we (or Israel) should bomb the Iranians if they go any further in their nuclear ambitions?

I have long felt that we will never be able to stop the spread of such technology indefinitely. Countries who are determined will eventually develop it on their own. But by the same token, we don’t have to go out of our way to push it into their hands. And, if nothing else, we should at least present a consistent foreign policy. If Iran can’t have nuclear reactors, handing them to the Saudis is questionable to say the least.