| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Arabia | |
| Workshop on Gulf as WMD-Free Zone | |
| 2004-12-11 | |
The Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre (GRC) will hold a two-day closed-door workshop on "The Gulf Region as a Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone" today and tomorrow.
"There is no bigger threat now than the arms race in the Gulf for developing weapons of mass destruction", Sager said, adding that "regional and world reaction to the project has been positive, confirming the appropriate timing of the project". Most of the Gulf countries will be represented by official delegates at the workshop. The GCC states, in their capacity as co-initiators of the project, will send top-level delegations drawn from their diplomatic and military establishments. Attendees will include delegates from the UN affiliate organisations concerned with WMD — which were closely involved in formulating regional disarmament treaties in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, South Pacific, etc., the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 "That so few of the other major powers (i.e., Europe in general) do not seem to comprehend what sort of threat to regional and global security the possibility of Islamic nations obtaining nuclear weapons and WMDs in general, only increases the danger to all involved." I've become convinced that sooner or later, by one means or another we are going to have to adopt a policy that **NO** Islamic nation, democratic or not, shall be allowed to possess nuclear weapons-- and be prepared to back that policy with force, unilaterally if necessary. I have no idea how we would come to adopt such a policy; I fear that it will come after-- not before-- one of our own cities is incinerated. Islam simply is not compatible with nuclear weaponry, PERIOD. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2004-12-11 5:46:40 PM |
| #4 While such a move has all the appearances of progressive thinking, it is really just pure self-preservation. Given the inescapable level of internecine conflict inherent to the entire region, it would be nothing less than pure insanity for Islamic states in the Middle East to acquire nuclear capability. The region would be reduced a sheet of smoking glass in the time it takes to say, "Arab disunity." Representative elected government should be a mandatory feature of any nation seeking to obtain nuclear technology. Without meeting the primary requirement of having a democratic process in place, no country should be allowed to develop WMDs. Any who doubt this merely need to examine Pakistan. Not satisfied with proliferating nuclear technology to anyone with a fat bank account, this festering cesspool of terrorist indoctrination is in direct danger of having its nuclear arsenal fall into the hands of Islamic radicals who are actively undermining the state. Now magnify this several fold and the scope of risk involved with nuclear proliferation in the Middle East becomes apparent. Iran's constant stream of threatening rhetoric should serve as an adequate example of what to expect from any other tinpot dictator or theocrat's pursuit of nuclear capability. That so few of the other major powers (i.e., Europe in general) do not seem to comprehend what sort of threat to regional and global security the possibility of Islamic nations obtaining nuclear weapons and WMDs in general, only increases the danger to all involved. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-12-11 5:34:43 PM |
| #3 Don, you forgot Israel....Sorry. I just realized Israel is on the Mediterranean, not the Gulf. Never mind. (One of many family jokes is that I'm geographically illiterate.) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-12-11 2:00:39 PM |
| #2 Nah, this is just a front, cause everyone knows the one power in the area with WMD is the US. Just another street theater being set up do denounce the US. "Gee, they have to have them, because you are here". Hey, after we field tested two in Japan nearly sixty years ago, I think we've shown major restraint, particularly by Rantburg standards. |
| Posted by: Don 2004-12-11 10:07:01 AM |
| #1 Does this mean Saudi Arabia will cancel delivery of the nuclear weapons being built by Pakistan? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-12-11 3:11:16 AM |