Why Is Bush Helping Saudi Arabia Build Nukes? Rep. Markey (D., Mass.)

[maddezmom]

Source: WSJ

Why Is Bush Helping Saudi Arabia Build Nukes?
By EDWARD J. MARKEY
June 10, 2008; Page A15

Here's a quick geopolitical quiz: What country is three times the size of Texas and has more than 300 days of blazing sun a year? What country has the world's largest oil reserves resting below miles upon miles of sand? And what country is being given nuclear power, not solar, by President George W. Bush, even when the mere assumption of nuclear possession in its region has been known to provoke pre-emptive air strikes, even wars?

If you answered Saudi Arabia to all of these questions, you're right.

Last month, while the American people were becoming the personal ATMs of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Saudi Arabia signing away an even more valuable gift: nuclear technology. In a ceremony little-noticed in this country, Ms. Rice volunteered the U.S. to assist Saudi Arabia in developing nuclear reactors, training nuclear engineers, and constructing nuclear infrastructure. While oil breaks records at $130 per barrel or more, the American consumer is footing the bill for Saudi Arabia's nuclear ambitions.

Saudi Arabia has poured money into developing its vast reserves of natural gas for domestic electricity production. It continues to invest in a national gas transportation pipeline and stepped-up exploration, building a solid foundation for domestic energy production that could meet its electricity needs for many decades. Nuclear energy, on the other hand, would require enormous investments in new infrastructure by a country with zero expertise in this complex technology.



Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121305642257659301.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[babylonsister]

1. Someone noticed! That's a start... Rec'd for more eyes. nt

[bhikkhu]

2. And we are helping Egypt, and probably Jordan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7367475.stm

A good recent BBC overview.

[Heywood J]

3. As if the global market for uranium was not fierce enough,

their bright idea is to introduce sources of nuclear waste into a region ill-equipped to store it and full of people who'd love to steal it and use it on their enemies...

[TheFarseer]

4. What is wrong with these people?

Nuclear anything in Saudi Arabia is bad news. I'm sick of playing kissy-face with the Saudis for their oil.

[yurbud]

5. and what country did the joint congressional inquiry find aided 9/11 hijackers?