- VIENNA -- Saudi Arabia, in
response to the current upheaval in the Middle East, has embarked on a
strategic review that includes acquiring nuclear weapons, the Guardian
has learned.
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- This new threat of proliferation in one of the most dangerous
regions of the world comes on top of a crisis over Iran's alleged nuclear
programme.
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- A strategy paper being considered at the highest levels
in Riyadh sets out three options:
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- * To acquire a nuclear capability as a deterrent;
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- * To maintain or enter into an alliance with an existing
nuclear power that would offer protection;
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- * To try to reach a regional agreement on having a nuclear-free
Middle East.
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- Until now, the assumption in Washington was that Saudi
Arabia was content to remain under the US nuclear umbrella. But the relationship
between Saudi Arabia and the US has steadily worsened since the September
11 attacks on New York and Washington: 15 of the 19 attackers were Saudi.
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- It is not known whether Saudi Arabia has taken a decision
on any of the three options. But the fact that it is prepared to contemplate
the nuclear option is a worrying development.
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- United Nations officials and nuclear arms analysts said
the Saudi review reflected profound insecurities generated by the volatility
in the Middle East, Riyadh's estrangement with Washington and the weakening
of its reliance on the US nuclear umbrella.
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- They pointed to the Saudi worries about an Iranian prog-ramme
and to the absence of any international pressure on Israel, which has an
estimated 200 nuclear devices.
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- "Our antennae are up," said a senior UN official
watching worldwide nuclear proliferation efforts. "The international
community can rest assured we do keep track of such events if they go beyond
talk."
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- Saudi Arabia does not regard Iran, a past adversary with
which Riyadh has restored relations, as a direct threat. But it is unnerved
by the possibility of Iran and Israel having nuclear weapons.
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- Riyadh is also worried about a string of apparent leaks
in American papers from the US administration critical of Saudi Arabia.
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- David Albright, director of the Institute for Science
and International Security, a Washington thinktank, said he doubted whether
the Saudis would try to build a nuclear bomb, preferring instead to try
to buy a nuclear warhead. They would be the first of the world's eight
or nine nuclear powers to have bought rather than built the bomb.
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- "There has always been worries that the Saudis would
go down this path if provoked," said Mr Albright. "There is growing
US hostility which could lead to the removal of the US umbrella and will
the Saudis be intimidated by Iran? They've got to be nervous."
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- UN officials said there have been rumours going back
20 years that the Saudis wanted to pay Pakistan to do the research and
development on nuclear weapons.
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- In 1988, Saudi bought from China intermediate-range missiles
capable of reaching any part of the Middle East with a nuclear warhead.
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- Four years ago, Saudi Arabia sent a defence team to Pakistan
to tour its secret nuclear facilities and to be briefed by Abdul Qader
Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb.
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- A UN official said: "There's obviously a lot of
restlessness in the Middle East. Regional insecurity tends to produce a
quest for a nuclear umbrella. The Saudis have the money and could provide
it to Pakistan."
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- Mr Albright said the Saudis would face a long haul if
they were determined to acquire nuclear weapons. He doubted whether anyone
would sell.
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- Arab countries yesterday urged the International Atomic
Energy Authority, the UN nuclear watchdog, to get tough with Israel to
let inspectors assess its nuclear programme in line with similar pressure
on Iran.
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- Oman's ambassador to the IAEA, Salim al-Riyami, speaking
on behalf of the Arab League, which represents Arab states, said it was
time to get tough with Israel. "I think it's time to deal with this
issue more substantively than before," he said.
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2003
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/saudi/story/0,11599,1044402,00.html
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