Arab Countries Have their own Nuclear Ambitions

[EagleEyes]

Arab Countries Have their own Nuclear Ambitions

The Sunni Muslim countries of Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries have also joined the nuclear race in the Middle East where Shia Iran is in the verge of becoming a nuclear power and Israel is said to have over 200 nuclear warheads. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which groups Arab countries in the world’s top oil and gas exporting region, said at a summit meeting on Sunday that it has decided to set up a nuclear energy program for peaceful purposes.

Abdurrahman al-Attiya, secretary-general of the GCC, which consists of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain emphasized the plan was for peaceful means and said the project “came at an important time.”

“I think the GCC is serious,” said Adel Al Harby, political editor for leading Saudi daily Al Riyadh. “It’s clear from the context the region is involved in a nuclear race.”

Robin Hughes, deputy editor of Jane’s Defense Weekly, said there are political obstacles before the GCC conducting a joint nuclear program.

Sunni Arabs, particularly Saudi Arabia, are worried about the growing influence of Iran in the Arab world through Teheran’s backing for Shia groups in Iraq and Lebanon and its alliance with Syria. So far, Sunni Pakistan is the only Islamic country with a nuclear bomb and its relations with Saudi Arabia are close. With Iran in mind, Riyadh is already boosting its military strength.

 

[Awesome]

I like it. It takes the focus off our nukes... No matter how progressive a society we become the closed minded west would always call our nukes the Islamic bomb, and thus be seen as a threat.

Plus the Arabs have a legitimate right to the bomb since the west tolerates Israel's arsenal.