Bush Providing Saudi Arabia With Enriched Weapons-Grade Uranium

[doeriver]

MIddle East Times: Bush seeks more oil as Saudis say output is enough

Published: May 16, 2008
by Laurent Lozano

(...)

Ahead of Bush's visit analysts had said the main Saudi concern was likely to be Washington's failure to do more to advance the Middle East peace process, amid growing fears that the influence of Shiite Iran is soaring on the back of Arab frustration.

In Israel Bush's visit was dominated by expressions of support on the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state's creation, with talks on the peace process relegated to the background.

Riyadh appears more concerned about Iran's increasing influence in the Arab world -- most recently demonstrated in the victory of its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon in clashes with supporters of the US-backed government -- in the face of perceived Western bias towards Israel.

"The kingdom believes that if Washington really wants to curb Iran's clout and role in the region it must work to resolve the Palestinian issue which Iran is exploiting to spread its influence," said Saudi political analyst Khalid al-Dakhil.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said that King Abdullah would focus on the Middle East peace process during a second round of talks with Bush later on Friday.

"We all know the special nature of US-Israeli relations," Saud said. "But it is also important to underline the legitimate historic and political rights of the Palestinian people... which remain confiscated by the Israeli occupation."

Official Saudi media said the Palestinian problem, the Lebanon crisis and war-torn Iraq featured in a first round of talks between Abdullah and Bush.

The White House announced major new cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia on civil nuclear power and protecting the kingdom's oil infrastructure which has come under attack by Islamist militants.

"The United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to cooperate in safeguarding the kingdom's energy resources by protecting key infrastructure, enhancing Saudi border security, and meeting Saudi Arabia's expanding energy needs in an environmentally responsible manner," a White House statement said.

It said Washington and Riyadh would also sign an agreement on nuclear cooperation clearing the way for Saudi Arabia to receive enriched uranium for its reactors ((that can be also be utilized for nuclear weapons)), without the need to master the fuel nuclear cycle itself as Iran has done.

Saud said the two countries signed "a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in nuclear energy."

He said the agreement on protecting oil infrastructure provides for cooperation in training and exchange of information, but only Saudis will guard oil facilities.

Bush is due in Egypt on Saturday on the third and last leg of his Middle East tour.

[Phred42]

1. Link failed

[doeriver]

2. link problem - Google the phrase

I Googled the phrase "Bush seeks more oil as Saudis say output is enough" and was notable to find the referenced Middle East Times article, but the search did pull up a whole slew of the same news report within different publications, such as:

Bush seeks more oil as Saudis say output is enough
May 16, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdAaIPpRLzgc3BYhZWFeAfz9EG1g

Google search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Bush+seeks+more+oil+as+Saudis+say+output+is+enough%22&start=0&sa=N