I have been blogging about fast breeder reactors recently. One of the major concerns about fast breeder reactors is the fact that plutonium is recovered from their fuel and can be purified to make nuclear weapons. Over the decades of research and development, this has been a constant concern. Various international cooperative agreements to develop this technology usual include some way of dealing with the dangers of nuclear weapons proliferation. The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation which currently has around thirty members explicitly states that prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation is a major goal.
The Middle East has been and is a major problem for nuclear proliferation. It is well known that Israel has nuclear weapons and delivery systems but they refuse to admit it. One of the excuses given for our invasion of Iraq was the fear that Saddam Hussein might be developing nuclear weapons. The world is wrestling with the issue of the Iranian nuclear program right now because of a concern that they are working on nuclear weapons even though they claim that they are not. Israel is so worried about Iran having nuclear weapons that they are considering a preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear installations with or without the help of the United States. All of this has been going on for years and has been widely reported.
While the spot light has been on Israel, Iraq and Iran, there are other disturbing developments in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has stated in the past that if its sworn enemy Iran develops nuclear weapons, then Saudi Arabia will obtain nuclear weapons. This is not an empty threat. For years Saudi Arabia has been funneling money into the Pakistani nuclear program. For some time it has been rumored that Saudi Arabia has essentially "ordered" nuclear weapons from Pakistan and has paid for them. Now that Iran may be on the threshold of developing nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia may decide to "take delivery" off Pakistani nuclear weapons. If they actually do have nuclear weapons waiting for them in Pakistan, then Saudi Arabia could easily have nuclear weapons before Iran if Iran is indeed trying to develop them.
Saudi Arabia was created after World War I by western powers to reward the support of Bedouin tribes on the peninsula against the Ottoman Empire and its allies. The major powers in Saudi Arabia are the hundreds of royal princes running the economy and the Wahabist sect demanding a strict adherence to a very conservative form of Islam in the moral sphere. If you are not a Royal prince or an enthusiastic Wahabist, then you may not support the current order in Saudi Arabia. There is a big population of Shiites in the eastern part of the country which is where most of the oil is. They are not being treated well by the Saudi authorities. There are a lot of guest workers who are considered second-class citizens. And, there is massive suppression of all the women in the country.
Recently Saudi Arabia managed to anger the Chinese and the Russians. A powerful member of the Saudi Government complained recently that the U.S. has not been active enough in the support of the rebels in Syria and the Saudis are really upset by a possible thawing relations between the U.S. and Iran. Osama Bin Laden came from Saudi Arabia. Nineteen of the 911 hijackers were Saudi citizens. Al Qaeda, founded by Osama Bin Laden, is very active in Syria and seem to be gaining more land and power than other rebel groups. There appears to be a growing turbulence in Saudi Arabia that could lead to a struggle for power and even civil war.
Given the volatile nature of the situation in Saudi Arabia and the general volatility of the Middle East, the possession of nuclear weapons by the Saudis would inject a new and very dangerous element. We went into Iraq to look for nuclear weapons out of fear that radical Islamic terrorist might obtain nuclear weapons. One of the stated goals of Al Qaeda is to overthrow the Saudi Royal family. If the Saudis possess nuclear weapons and Al Qaeda foments a rebellion in Saudi Arabia, our Iraqi nightmare might come true.
Coat of Arms for the Saudi Kingdom:
