Yee Haw! Another interesting episode in the history of the Middle-East. Where, in the past, different sects went at each other’s throat by merely using conventional weapons, they upgrade their weapons in Episode 1 000 005 of this thought-provoking book.
O, as Charles points out: “Oops, my mistake. Upon closer reading, I see this is all about peace”.
The oil-rich Arab states on the Persian Gulf said Sunday that they will consider starting a joint nuclear program for peaceful purposes.
The announcement comes as the U.S. and its allies allege Iran is developing atomic weapons in violation of treaty commitments and appears to be a muscle-flexing gesture to the gulf’s Persian state. It also was sure to ratchet up concerns about a regional nuclear arms race.
Issued after a two-day meeting of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, the statement said the group “commissioned a study” on setting up “a common program in the area of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” which would abide by international standards and laws.
The statement read by Abdul Rahman al-Attiyah, secretary-general of the political and economic alliance, did not elaborate on the plan by the group — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
Jules summarizes the situation like this:
The Gulf Arabs want nukes. Why is this good news? Nuclear-armed Persian Shiites and Sunni Arabs can stare at each other across the Gulf, a lot like the Indians and Paks stare at each other across the Line of Control. Nuclear-armed Israelis will stare at all of them.
Fly in the ointment: Iraq remains the no mans land. Guerrilla war and terrorism will continue throughout the region, the only option when the alternative is Armageddon. But with the playing field leveled, no fear that the Iranians will become the dominant power in the region.
Some people may be unhappy with all these Muslim bombs around. But that train left the station about 20 years ago. This was inevitable. So, look on the bright side of that mushroom cloud. Maybe they suddenly have to grow up a little. Meanwhile, they keep each other in check.
That’s the reality. The United States has yet to show any signs of having a practical strategy for dealing with a nuclearly inclined Iran. As long as we are sitting around letting the Euros do the talking with the mullahs, nothing will be accomplished. The United States’s influence with the Saudis also would appear to have its limits.
Peaceful… Heh.
When I try to analyze the situation in the Middle-East and imagine that certain countries like Iran have nuclear weapons, I always wonder in how far we could compare it to the cold war: two nations with lots of nuclear weapons… both choosing life, over death and… as such… not using their WMDs. Will Saudi Arabia, as long as it is led by the Royal family, use WMDs for other reasons than self-defense? Not likely. Israel certainly not.
But Iran?
Can we be certain enough that Iran will not use them? Can we be certain enough that the Mullahs might talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk?
My answer is ‘no’.
What’s yours?
PAST CONTRIBUTOR.