E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Mustafa Ozer / AFP - Getty Images, file
Saudi special forces take part in a military parade in the holy city of Mecca on November 10, 2010.
Saudia Arabia would move quickly to acquire nuclear weapons if Iran successfully tests an atomic bomb, according to a report.
Citing an unidentified Saudi Arabian source, the Times newspaper in the U.K. (which operates behind a paywall) said that the kingdom would seek to buy ready-made warheads and also begin its own program to enrich weapons-grade uranium.
The paper suggested that Pakistan was the country most likely to supply Saudi Arabia with weapons, saying Western officials were convinced there was an understanding between the countries to do so if the security situation in the Persian Gulf gets worse. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have denied such an arrangement exists.
Iran, which follows the Shiite branch of Islam, and Sunni Saudi Arabia are major regional rivals.
The Times described its source for the story as a "senior Saudi," but gave no other details.
Israel uses MEK terror group to kill Iran's nuclear scientists, US officials say
Mohammad Javad Larijani, a senior aide to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describes what Iranian leaders believe is a close relationship between Israel's secret service, the Mossad, and the People's Mujahedin of Iran, or MEK, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States.
"There is no intention currently to pursue a unilateral military nuclear program, but the dynamics will change immediately if the Iranians develop their own nuclear capability," the source told the newspaper. "Politically, it would be completely unacceptable to have Iran with a nuclear capability and not the kingdom."
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta now believes there's a strong possibility that Israel will attack Iran in an attempt to thwart Tehran's nuclear ambitions, according to U.S. officials. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Iran envoy: We could hit US forces anywhere in world if attacked
Asked whether Saudi Arabia would maintain its commitment against acquiring WMD, Turki said: "What I suggest for Saudi Arabia and for the other Gulf states ... is that we must study carefully all the options, including the option of acquiring weapons of mass destruction. We can't simply leave it for somebody else to decide for us."
Turki is also a former Saudi intelligence chief and remains an influential member of the Saudi royal family.
In October, the U.S. claimed that agents linked to Iran's Qud's Force, an elite wing of the Revolutionary Guard, were involved in a plot to kill Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., Adel Al-Jubeir. Iran said the claims were "baseless."
The Saudi government has also accused a terror cell linked to Iran of plotting to blow up its embassy in Bahrain, as well as the causeway linking the island kingdom to Saudi Arabia.
In a secret diplomatic cable made public by WikiLeaks, Saudi King Abdullah allegedly urged Washington to strike at Iran and "cut off the head of the snake."
He said military action would only stiffen Iran's resolve, rally support for the regime and at best delay, but not halt, the nuclear program. "Such an act I think would be foolish, and to undertake it I think would be tragic," he said.
Leave a Comment:
If Reagan and the United States had not given credibility to the use of Nukes as weapons, this would not be happening. Every penny spent on these weapons is a waste of money. They can never, and will never be used. Period. Reagan was a very old, senile man. If it had not been for him, these weapons would be a thing of the past.
actually a Democrat gave credibility to the use of nukes when HE USED THEM on Japan. but dont let reality get in the way of an idiotic rant against reagan
It's the Liberal Socialist Schooling!, They just Do NOT KNOW BETTER!...
You mean when 500,000, mostly women and children were burnt up. By a hydrogen based weapon, not the world ending dope they use today. I think by the 70's the thought process in this country was a little more educated. There was a pretty good concensus around the world at that time to disarm. Reagan is quoted as saying, a "limited" use of nuclear weapons is feasable, and proceeded to bankrupt us stocking up. His brain was rottted.
actually Russia was the one that went bankrupt; and a tactical nuclear weapon is hardly a world ender genius; which is what he referred to. your brain is rotted with obsession with decades-old republican policy
consensus around the world to disarm genius? if you had your way we would have unilaterally disarmed decades ago and you expect us to believe the islamo-fascists of the world that want to see the whole planet praying to Mohammad would have been so overjoyed they would have never even considered developing their own anyway? what color is the sky on your planet?
Tactical nuclear weapons against a country that has nuclear weapons. And would use them to retaliate. So smart. That is the dumbest thing that I have ever heard. Nukes are for fools.
no you are mixing the decades old policy rants with modern issues. and you make moot your own point. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REAGAN YOU IDIOT. we played the hande we were dealt when a couple of far-leftists gave russia the technology to build nukes
We created a true frankenstein when we developed nukes. However they will be around until the end of time just like s.t.d.s. And there aint no condoms to fit a dick that big
Middleman - Reagan's baby was called Star Wars and was to be a nuclear shield ... it was to intercept any incoming nuclear attack.
I will agree that nuclear proliferation is dangerous, but once Pandora's Box is open, there's no going back.
Spreading hatred and sewer remarks-shame on you , Fabienne. Read the book by Henry Ford Sr . in 1920 he described your agenda. You can buy it on amazon,com ,even get kindle for $2.95
MAD (mutually assured destruction) is no deterrent to those who hate the west more than they love life. Iran doesn't care how many other countries acquire nuclear weapons as long as they can promote their own murderous agenda.
This is like watching US vs RUSSIA 50 years ago, but on a smaller scale! I'M gonna bomb you! NO! I'M gonna bomb YOOU! GROW UP IRAN! before its tooo late!
It's racist when I use eye black on my entire face
Isreal is the country with the big fat red "X" on its back. If Iran gets nukes - they will find a delivery system (plane train or pack mule) to get it there. They have told the world as much. Can someone please tell me why Panetta is releasing Isreal tactical information to the press? I mean "they will attack between April and June". Gee thanks...with friends like us who needs enemies?
Probably because President Obama is finally getting TOUGH with those JEW'S finally putting his foot down and letting those JEW'S know who is BOSS!!!
It's The Liberal Socialist Muslim in the White House!.......
mickey is a hate-filled loser; where is a newsvine censor when you need one? he gives himself away when he rants about Jews as opposed to Israel; there are millions of Jews outside Israel
Between the "opinion" that Israel will attack Iran, and the release about Israel training "terrorists" to assassinate the Iranian nuclear scientists, I think the administration is trying to drive public opinion against Israel so that Obama's lack of support for Israel will not be used against him in the re-election campaign. Judging from Mickey's response, it's working.
Hey MickeyD: On ahmadinejad's payroll? This is exactly what happens when you spend too much time out in the sun. Here is what you do: Wipe that swastika off your bigoted and racist forehead and return to the trailer park. Go back on your meds, put some tin foil on those rabbit ears, and watch some more NASCAR.
I say just give them all nukes and let the end game begin....
All I know is that I need CRUDE OIL a whole lot more than BAGEL'S any day TWICE on Sunday!!!
you need mental help more than you need both of those things too
Talk to your Leader The Liberal Socialist Muslim in the White House!... He must be getting a Kick Back From The Saudis!, Because He Only Wants America To BUY OIL NOT DRILL FOR OURS!??????.......
What might help the situation would be to arm all of them with nukes, then start rumors in Iran that the Saudi's are about to attack them, and rumors in Saudi Arabia that the Iranians are about to attack them. Likewise with Syria, Lybia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Afghanistan, etc. When the smoke clears and the Middle East glows in the dark, the world will be a better place. Oh, yeah, we might have to do something to clean up the atmosphere and start drilling for oil in Alaska. :D
Good and maybe with any luck they will nuke each other at the same time. We then could move in and re-develope the oil fields and everyone will live happly ever after.
Come on, did you see the pic of the FUNNY Saudi Special forces.... They are not a threat except to your stomach from laughing so hard....
This all makes me hope that the CIA genius that generated the idea to assassinate the Iranian PM to support the Shah is getting all his (I'm assuming it was a dude) awards, pay, and benefits clawed back. Idiot.
Point 2: If Isreal is dealing with an organization (MEK) on the US's list of terrorist organizations then we are obligated to stop selling them (Israel) weapons. There is no grey area in the law. Terrorist groups often grow as funded operatives for some other country's missions: the Taliban, for example. Africa is replete with other examples as are the Muslim Russian states and the non-state armed groups surrounding Israel in Syria and Lebanon. Israel should not solve current challenges by creating bigger problems for later.
moron; the state of Iran is a terrorist organization. you are whining over decades-old pablum being spoon-fed to you brainwashed self
You are the brainwashed one ,Fabrienne, to destroy the U.S. Henry Ford Sr. warned us in 1920 in his book in 1920-check your agenda there on amazon .com
All the middle east will have nuclear capabilities in 5 - 10 years. If you don't see this your ignorant and stupid.
you're; it's you're ignorant and stupid, not your.
If Chamberlain were here today, he'd go over to Iran, get a signed statement from Achmadinajad saying that he had no intention of building or using a nuclear weapon, and that would be the end of our problem, just like with Hitler in WWII. NOT!! No, I really believe, just like WWII, we're dealing with madmen, and the sooner we act preemptively, and stop fooling ourselves, like Chamberlain, the better.
There's got to be a regime change so that the majority of Iranians, who are young and smart, can take over the joint. How do we do a regime change without hurting inocents? I don't know. I'd like to say to wait until their entire polictcal body was in legislative session, and do some precision bombing. But that's probably not the way. Maybe just let israel do what they have to do, and take it from there so to speak?
Let these rabid Mohturds have at it. They will do us all a favor by destroying each other.
A little MAD in the Middle East might go a long way
I tried stuffing Bagel's and Motzah Ball's in my gas tank! Needless to say it didn't work!
Hey Mickey D: See my comment above
Absolutely amazing how ineffectual the Obama administration is, both abroad and domestically.
Is there any reedeeming qualities at all in the middle east countries ? They have been fighting for 2000 years with one another. Many want to live just like the Westerners they despise. They treat women like dogs. Hopefully they will blow each other off the map & we can survive the nuclear fall-out. Of course that's wishful thinking at best. No way the USA could stay out of any conflict, we have to be the police of the world, right ?
A balance of terror.
This is the result of nearly twenty years of neglect to the growing power of Iran and their megelomaniac leader(s). Diplomacy has gotten us and the world nowhere. What many fail to recognize is that both the USSR and the USA both realized the horrific destruction that these weapons could cause. Once these weapons were unleashed, there was no calling them back. MAD is precisely that; insane and to paraphrase Regan, should not be allowed.
A nuclear arms race is beginning in the Middle East and will be waged by societies that do not have the maturity to fully understand the consequences of owning these weapons. They will be children on the playground with loaded weapons.
OH LORD! Now isn't that just a Wee Bit Melo-dramatic just a little over the TOP one might say? GOOD GRIEF! Visit any major city here in the USA Chicago New York Los Angeles Miami, their already are plenty of children on the playgrounds with loaded weapons! WHERE HAVE YO BEEN?
Mickey D
Are you one of the anti gun believers who seem to think that simply banning guns will solve the problem? The problem with the Middle East is that dangerous leaders in countries that believe in gaining power because Allah told them to. Reason does not work with fanatics.
They do not understand one thing:the point of a gun. They wish to the the ones holding that gun so they can DICTATE what is fair to others. Where is the correlation of your arguments as it relates to the situation in the Middle East: please explain.
I want 99-cent Unleaded Regular GO JUICE! I can get Bagel's just about anywhere!!! But I must admit I will miss my usual once a month Big Corned Beef Reuben!
i think you missed this morning's electro-shock therapy session
Sewer smell , Fabienne.
Question is one of taking action prior to your sworn enemy being able to build and deliver a nuclear weapon on your door step. Iran is one of many countries sworn to drive the Jews into the sea and commit a complete genocide on the Jewish population. Given those terms of existence, who could really blame Israel from making a first strike? If someone is out there and openly states their intent to make you dead. One option is to make them dead first. Understandably, an attack of this type would cause the region to become even more unstable than it is. A real dammed if you do and dammed if you don't situation.
Even if they blow themselves up with nukes (Iran, IRaq, Saudis, etc), the oil will still be fine...we just swoop in when the dust settles and start pumping again.
as history unfolds nostardamus quatraine comes to pass. he wrote that in the middle east some one will unite all of the countries and start ww3. its happening as we speak. the arab spring uprisings islamists taking over goverments. while we sit with our hands tied by a president who does nothing but applauds it. iran will get the bomb suadis will get it and then the real prophecy will come true. if i lived in new york i would move. target one is the new city. i dont know if i believe that but you have to wonder as things are happening now that support every word of it.
they want nukes? we should give 'em to them, droped from 40,000 feet.
Yeah, "Here..Catch!"
And here's some for your "friends".