Reuters: Saudi defends Gulf Arab atom plans, criticizes Iran

[Eugene]

Saudi defends Gulf Arab atom plans, criticizes Iran

By Souhail Karam

41 minutes ago

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Monday Iran's nuclear program was an extra burden
on a region already fraught with challenges, but that Gulf Arab allies had the right to their
own peaceful atomic ambitions.

Arab Foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were meeting in the
Saudi capital Riyadh to discuss progress in their plans for a joint civil atomic program that
has raised fears of a nuclear race with Iran.

-snip-

"This urges us to deal with the new challenge with full responsibility ... and adopt diplomatic
solutions in a way that would preserve the right of countries in the region for their own nuclear
energy for peaceful purposes."

-snip-

The GCC's decision to pursue a nuclear program has raised concerns that Arab states may want
to protect themselves if Iran acquires nuclear weapons. Gulf Arabs have expressed concern
over Iran's nuclear program which the United States says could be aimed at making bombs.
Tehran says its program is peaceful.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070305/wl_nm/gulf_nuclear_meeting_dc

[dkofos]

1. Is it time to ban ALL nuclear energy worldwide or

should we just give everyone the bomb.

[jaksavage]

2. Too expensive

We just need to give every individual on the planet his/her share of the nukes directly and this will result in the same effect, except much less enviro devistation.

Save the worms.

[Nihil]

5. If you're going to do your first option ...

... you might as well have done with it and do the second as the
planet will be fucked either way (and at least the second path
will be over quickly so the recovery can begin).

[HuffleClaw]

3. hilariously hypocritial

just hilarious.

[kitty1]

4. I agree. The Saudi's who have been funding terrorists for.....

years including the 9/11 hijackers who were mostly Saudis,are advocating the Gulf States to pursue atomic energy for peaceful use. Isn't that rich.
However they vigilantly oppose the evil empire Iran from pursuing the same purpose because they will likely nuke the ME into oblivion some day and must be watched.
Some interesting recent news to do with this ignorance:
Al Qaeda arms traced to Saudi National Guard

By IE
Sunday February 25, 03:46 AM

Saudi authorities are investigating suspected illegal arms sales by members of the country's national guard to Al Qaeda operatives in the country. The weapons were seized in a May 6 raid on an Al Qaeda safe house and traced to the national guard. The Saudi interior minister said on Sunday that officials have identified three of the suicide bombers involved in last week's attack on three residential compounds in Riyadh, which led to the deaths of 34 people. He said they were part of a group of 19 people wanted in connection with the May 6 raid. Problems in the Saudi Arabian National Guard aren't new, according to officials, past armoury audits have revealed that weapons were missing. But there was no crackdown on the illicit trade

snip

A small number of officers in the national guard have been involved in illicit gun sales for years, according to officials, and have sold weapons, including automatic rifles, to anyone willing to pay a good price.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070224/48/6cgy2.html

I'm sure the Saudi National Guard will accept a line of credit from Al Qaida for future nuclear components. Maybe a 2 for 1 special on AK 47's thrown in.