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Saudis consider nuclear bomb


I wonder if they are going to be selling non nuke subs to the Saudis?

Russia is also setting up to be the nuclear protector of Europe. I don’t think we are getting the whole story from our ‘free press’. -Am

Washington has never made any secret of its agenda to wrestle the Caucasus, the Caspian and Central Asia away from Russia. European customers for Russian oil and gas might be forced to rely on American giants for their supply, but the Russian counterpunch is already on: Putin has offered the European Union plenty of oil and nuclear protection in return for European investment - an offer Brussels simply cannot refuse.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/EL25Ag02.html



Ewen MacAskill and Ian Traynor in Vienna

Thursday September 18, 2003
The Guardian


Saudi Arabia, in response to the current upheaval in the Middle East, has embarked on a strategic review that includes acquiring nuclear weapons, the Guardian has learned.
This new threat of proliferation in one of the most dangerous regions of the world comes on top of a crisis over Iran's alleged nuclear programme.

A strategy paper being considered at the highest levels in Riyadh sets out three options:

· To acquire a nuclear capability as a deterrent;

· To maintain or enter into an alliance with an existing nuclear power that would offer protection;

· To try to reach a regional agreement on having a nuclear-free Middle East.

Until now, the assumption in Washington was that Saudi Arabia was content to remain under the US nuclear umbrella. But the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US has steadily worsened since the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington: 15 of the 19 attackers were Saudi.

It is not known whether Saudi Arabia has taken a decision on any of the three options. But the fact that it is prepared to contemplate the nuclear option is a worrying development.

United Nations officials and nuclear arms analysts said the Saudi review reflected profound insecurities generated by the volatility in the Middle East, Riyadh's estrangement with Washington and the weakening of its reliance on the US nuclear umbrella.

They pointed to the Saudi worries about an Iranian prog-ramme and to the absence of any international pressure on Israel, which has an estimated 200 nuclear devices.

"Our antennae are up," said a senior UN official watching worldwide nuclear proliferation efforts. "The international community can rest assured we do keep track of such events if they go beyond talk."

Saudi Arabia does not regard Iran, a past adversary with which Riyadh has restored relations, as a direct threat. But it is unnerved by the possibility of Iran and Israel having nuclear weapons.

Riyadh is also worried about a string of apparent leaks in American papers from the US administration critical of Saudi Arabia.

David Albright, director of the Institute for Science and International Security, a Washington thinktank, said he doubted whether the Saudis would try to build a nuclear bomb, preferring instead to try to buy a nuclear warhead. They would be the first of the world's eight or nine nuclear powers to have bought rather than built the bomb.

"There has always been worries that the Saudis would go down this path if provoked," said Mr Albright. "There is growing US hostility which could lead to the removal of the US umbrella and will the Saudis be intimidated by Iran? They've got to be nervous."

UN officials said there have been rumours going back 20 years that the Saudis wanted to pay Pakistan to do the research and development on nuclear weapons.

In 1988, Saudi bought from China intermediate-range missiles capable of reaching any part of the Middle East with a nuclear warhead.

Four years ago, Saudi Arabia sent a defence team to Pakistan to tour its secret nuclear facilities and to be briefed by Abdul Qader Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb.

A UN official said: "There's obviously a lot of restlessness in the Middle East. Regional insecurity tends to produce a quest for a nuclear umbrella. The Saudis have the money and could provide it to Pakistan."

Mr Albright said the Saudis would face a long haul if they were determined to acquire nuclear weapons. He doubted whether anyone would sell.

Arab countries yesterday urged the International Atomic Energy Authority, the UN nuclear watchdog, to get tough with Israel to let inspectors assess its nuclear programme in line with similar pressure on Iran.

Oman's ambassador to the IAEA, Salim al-Riyami, speaking on behalf of the Arab League, which represents Arab states, said it was time to get tough with Israel. "I think it's time to deal with this issue more substantively than before," he said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/saudi/story/0,11599,1044402,00.html


Russia, Saudi Arabia Sign Oil Agreements

Tuesday September 2, 2003 7:59 PM


By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia and Saudi Arabia - the world's largest oil exporters - signed oil industry cooperation agreements Tuesday during a landmark visit to Moscow by the Arab kingdom's ruler.

The two sides also were expected to take up the sensitive question of whether rebels in the secessionist republic of Chechnya receive funding from Saudi charities.

Crown Prince Abdullah, who met with President Vladimir Putin, is the first Saudi head of state to visit post-Soviet Russia. A Saudi crown prince last visited in 1932.

``This day will go down in history as it opens a new era in the Saudi-Russian relations,' the prince said during talks with Putin and other officials.

Putin hailed Saudi Arabia as ``one of the most important Muslim nations. We have always considered the Muslim world, the Arab world, as one of our most important partners.'

After talks, Russian and Saudi energy ministers signed a five-year agreement on cooperation in the oil and gas industry. The deal also calls for joint ventures in oil and gas exploration and scientific research, according to the text released by the Russian Cabinet.

Russia is the world's second-largest oil exporter behind Saudi Arabia.

The two countries were also expected to address the situation in Iraq and the Middle East peace process. Riyadh hopes the visit will strengthen Russia's support for Arab causes, particularly the Palestinian issue.

Russia is a member of the so-called Quartet, along with the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, which drafted the ``road map' plan for Middle East peace leading to Palestinian statehood.

Moscow officials have said they expected talks with the Saudi ruler to also focus on joint efforts to combat terrorism. Riyadh has faced widespread international criticism for being unable to control terrorist organizations allegedly operating in Saudi Arabia. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11 attacks were Saudi citizens.

Moscow has accused Saudi charities of providing financial support Chechen separatists, who are mostly Muslim. Russian officials have maintained that the Chechen gunmen who seized a Moscow theater last October made calls to Saudi Arabia during the siege.

With Muslims making up about one-seventh of Russia's population of 145 million, Putin has expressed a desire to see Russia become an observer nation in the Organization of Islamic Conference, a grouping of Muslim-majority countries. That issue also could be raised during Abdullah's visit, according to Russian media reports.



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