SAUDIS REVIEW OPTIONS FOR NUKES

IMRA ^ | Thursday, November 20, 2003 | MENL

[yonif]

LONDON [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia has drafted a strategic plan that envisions the end of a U.S. military umbrella over the kingdom and the procurement of nuclear weapons. Western intelligence sources said that the Saudi leadership has begun seriously considering the option of acquiring or developing nuclear weapons. The sources said the Saudis have discussed the issue with Pakistan and China as well as at least one other Muslim country.

"The Saudi effort has been led by [Defense Minister] Prince Sultan," a senior intelligence source said. "Sultan believes that nuclear weapons are required to save the Saudi regime from Iran."

The Saudi discussions were prompted by Iran's nuclear program, which the United States has asserted serves as a cover for the development of nuclear weapons. The sources said the prospect of an Iranian nuclear program by 2006 has dismayed the Saudi kingdom. During the 1980s, Saudi Arabia was said to have funded Iraq's nuclear weapons program to balance the Iranian threat.

[yonif]

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia are seeking to reach a statusquo like that of North Korea - a state of affairs which lowers the possibility they will be touched by an outside force like the US.

[Mr. Mojo]

Delusional, those Saudis. Niether we nor Israel will ever allow that Wahabbi-infested sandpit to have nukes.

[Dallas59]

Islam with Nukes....The end of the world.

[Mr. Mojo]

Pakistan already has them. ......and allowing it could very well turn out to be a fatal misktake.

[LibKill]

Pakistan already has them. ......and allowing it could very well turn out to be a fatal misktake.

You got that right.

Any chance of confiscating them?

[dr_who_2]

Islam with nukes: the end of Islam.

[blam]

"Any chance of confiscating them?"

The Indians are claming first go.

[camas]

maybe for them. hopfully not for us. just keep your powder dry and build a missile shield.

[dr_who_2]

Time to stop kissing their royal butts and start kicking butt.

[SICSEMPERTYRANNUS]

"Sultan believes that nuclear weapons are required to save the Saudi regime from Iran."

Wait....I thought Muslims didn't hurt their fellow Muslims..hmmmm. < sarcasm off >

SIC

[LibKill]

The Indians are claming first go.

Uh, nice, but my experience of Indians is that they are very nice smart folks with little sense of urgency.

Any chance of, say, Delta Force, getting in there? If necessary we could always give the stolen warheads to India and let them take the political heat.

[Kozak]

Oh there will be a US military umbrella over Saudi Arabia. It just won't won't be friendly....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you're on to something.

[TSgt]

Mushroom clouds to resemble umbrellas don't they?

[TSgt]

to = do

[winker]

North Korea went nuclear for this same mistake being made today with Saudi Arabia & Iran. If the west drags its feet any longer we will reach the point of no return and have two more nuclear terrorist poot hole countries!

[Mr. Mojo]

Yeah, it's a job for Delta, and I have no idea what their chances of successfully securing them are. It's incredible that we ever let it get this far.

[templar]

... just keep your powder dry and build a missile shield.

Won't do any good if it gets delivered by Fedex.

[Bobby777]

yep ... that is what they're hoping for ...