DISADVANTAGE/PROLIFERATION

SAUDI ARABIA SCENARIO: IMPACT OF SAUDI ARABIA PROLIFERATION

SAUDI ARABIAN PROLIFERATION TRIGGERS A MIDDLE EAST CRISIS WITH RUSSIAN IMPLICATIONS

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

Of course, the author continues, the prospect of the nuclear arms race spreading to the Middle East should also be of concern to Russia. Several Arab countries are already armed to the teeth, although they do not possess mass annihilation weaponry. Israel has from 100 to 200 nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles to deliver them to their targets. If one more country in that region [Saudi Arabia] breaks into the 1. nuclear club," this will most certainly fan up tensions, and the situation will become unpredictable.

SAUDI ARABIAN PROLIFERATION POSES A MAJOR THREAT

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

Concern was underlined yesterday when a senior British official spoke of of 'concern' that Saudi Arabia, the most powerful state in the Gulf, may be seeking to acquire a nuclear weapons capability. Peter Hain, the junior foreign officer minister, has been given an expanded brief including nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation. Last year's Indo -Pakistani tests and the recent tension over Kashmir have added to long - standing worries about North Korea and Iran. 'Proliferation has got to be pushed up the agenda in the interests of everyone,' the official said. 'What is happening is very serious.'