DISADVANTAGE/PROLIFERATION

SAUDI ARABIA SCENARIO: SAUDI ARABIA CAN GO NUCLEAR

FEARS EXIST THAT SAUDI ARABIA FINANCED THE PAKISTANI NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND NOW WANTS TO COLLECT A NUCLEAR CAPABILITY

Ian Black and Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian (London), August 4, 1999; Pg. 2 HEADLINE: Saudis 'trying to buy nuclear weapons' // Inu-acs

Diplomatic sources said there was concern Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil producer, might have agreed to finance the Pakistani effort and might try to buy missiles and nuclear knowhow. Pakistan is desperate for for financial aid to prop up its ailing economy.

PAKISTANIS ARE WILLING TO SELL NUKES TO SAUDI ARABIA

Vladimir Skosyrev, Russian Press Digest , August 5, 1999 HEADLINE: "Arab Bomb": Myth Or Reality // Inu-acs

However, Islamabad may be interested in providing nuclear technologies to a fraternal Moslem country for very mundane reasons: its coffers are bare, while the Saudi Arabians are wallowing in oil dollars. How efficient is Islamabad's technology is another question. In May of last year, Pakistan, following India, exploded six nuclear devices underground. These tests demonstrated that Pakistan, taking into account its tactical and medium range missiles, as well as fighter-bombers, has become a country possessing nuclear weapons that can be employed in combat.

SAUDI ARABIAN ACTIONS INDICATE IT IS ON THE VERGE OF ACQUIRING NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Vladimir Skosyrev, Russian Press Digest , August 5, 1999 HEADLINE: "Arab Bomb": Myth Or Reality // Inu-acs

The prospect of the nuclear arms race spreading from South Asia to the Middle East arouses understandable concern in London, Washington and other western capitals, IZVESTIA writes in connection with the recent visit of Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Abdul Aziz to a top secret nuclear weapons plant in Pakistan. This facility was "out of bounds" even for Benazir Bhutto when she headed the Pakistani government, the author remarks. So why was the Saudi Arabian visitor given such a high honor? the author queries. The West believes it knows the answer to this question. The respectable English GUARDIAN considers that Saudi Arabia intends to acquire nuclear weapons, and this will be a telling blow to the efforts aimed at preventing their proliferation.

SAUDI ARABIA IS ON THE VERGE OF ACQUIRING NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Ian Black and Richard Norton-Taylor, Manchester Guardian Weekly, August 18, 1999; Pg. 2 HEADLINE: Saudis 'trying to buy nuclear weapons'

Saudi Arabia appears to be seeking nuclear weapons in a devastating blow for nonproliferation efforts in one of the most heavily armed regions in the world, it emerged last week. Suspicions that the Saudis were planning to buy nuclear weapons technology were raised privately in diplomatic circles after the kingdom's defence minister, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, toured Pakistan's secret nuclear facilities in May. The prince toured the Kahuta uranium enrichment plant and missile factory with the Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and was briefed by A Q Khan, the father of Pakistan's atom bomb. Concern was underlined when a senior British official spoke of "concern" that Saudi Arabia, the most powerful state in the Gulf, may be seeking to acquire a nuclear weapons capability.