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'Washington Post': Israeli subs have nuclear cruise missiles
Jerusalem Post ^ | 6/16/02

Posted on 06/15/2002 3:38:42 PM PDT by Enemy Of The State

'Washington Post': Israeli subs have nuclear cruise missiles
By THE JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Former US military and State Department officials told The Washington Post yesterday that Israel is arming three submarines with cruise missiles that can carry nuclear warheads.

This could give Israel a sea-based alternative to land- or air-based nuclear weapons, the paper reported. Israel has refused in the past to divulge whether it has nuclear weapons, but American analysts claim it has a small atomic arsenal.

According to Pentagon officials, Israel tested these new cruise missiles in 2000 in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, the paper reported. These tests were monitored by the US Navy, the sources told The Washington Post.

Israel's sea-based nuclear capabilities could counter Iraqi and Iranian efforts to develop missiles capable of destroying its weapons, the paper said.

The report follows the publication of a book by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace stipulating Israel had made attempts to arm its diesel submarines with nuclear missiles. According to the book, Israel had tested the sea-launched, 1,440-kilometer range cruise missiles in May 2000, the paper reported.

The paper quoted Joseph Ciricione, co-author of the book and an endowment official, as saying: "Probably the most important nuclear-related development in Israel is the formation of its sea-based nuclear arm."

Two years ago, on June 19, 2000, The Jerusalem Post carried a report by the Sunday Times of London that the Israel Navy had secretly test-fired cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The IDF Spokesman denied the report.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: israel; missiles; nukes; submarines; wmd

1 posted on 06/15/2002 3:38:42 PM PDT by Enemy Of The State
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To: Enemy Of The State
This should give the Muslims something to consider in their plans for a pre-emptive strike on Israel.
2 posted on 06/15/2002 3:44:26 PM PDT by Mike Darancette
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To: Enemy Of The State
God Bless them, each and every one of them.
3 posted on 06/15/2002 3:44:46 PM PDT by A. Morgan
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To: Enemy Of The State
Ah, the Washington Post finally catches up with the Washington Times - who wrote about this back in 1998. Heck, an Arab MP in the Knesset talked about this on the legislature's floor way back in February 2000.
4 posted on 06/15/2002 3:50:14 PM PDT by LenS
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To: Enemy Of The State
Does Sweden really want to indict Sharon on war crime charges? I think not.
5 posted on 06/15/2002 3:56:15 PM PDT by Faraday
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To: A. Morgan
<>

The submarines, the cruise missles, or just the nuclear warheads? :)

6 posted on 06/15/2002 4:05:18 PM PDT by steve86
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To: A. Morgan
God Bless them, each and every one of them. The submarines, the cruise missiles, or just the nuclear warheads?
7 posted on 06/15/2002 4:08:50 PM PDT by steve86
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To: BearWash
Each and every one of 'em.
8 posted on 06/15/2002 4:29:51 PM PDT by A. Morgan
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9 posted on 06/15/2002 4:31:58 PM PDT by Mo1
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To: A. Morgan
Are they like the Holy Bomb of the mutants in the second Planet of the Apes film?
10 posted on 06/15/2002 4:38:25 PM PDT by LenS
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To: LenS
Victory at all Costs...Victory in spite of all terror...Victory how ever long and hard the road may be; for without Victory, there is no survival." -- Sir Winston Churchill, 13 May 1940
11 posted on 06/15/2002 5:22:44 PM PDT by A. Morgan
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To: LenS
More like the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch of Monty Python and the Holy Grail: they need only pull the pin, count the correct number (coordinates) and cast the sacred weapon against their foes. These missiles would, no doubt, slay not only Arabs, but even the terrible beast that guards the Caves of Caer Bannog.

Imal

12 posted on 06/15/2002 5:22:49 PM PDT by Imal
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To: Enemy Of The State
The funny thing about the nuclear tipped cruise missiles is that Russia and the US under the Start Treaty are not allowed to possess such cruise missiles (SLBMs are okay, but not nuclear cruise missiles).

For example the Granit SS-N-19 Cruise missiles deployed on Russian Oscar 2 SSGNs ( a nuclear powered sub that carries strategic cruise missiles instead of SLBMs) had to be changed from a nuclear payload to a high-explosive one.

I guess from the article that only the US and Russia had to comply with the parameters of the treaties (for example the Us had to change its air launched cruise missiles into conventional air launched cruise missiles). So does this mean any other nation can go ahead and develop these capabilities?

13 posted on 06/15/2002 5:28:28 PM PDT by spetznaz
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To: LenS
Are they like the Holy Bomb of the mutants in the second Planet of the Apes film?

That was on TCM the other night. Godawful film. Rollerball and Soylent Green last night---awesome.

14 posted on 06/15/2002 5:29:37 PM PDT by montag813
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To: spetznaz
So does this mean any other nation can go ahead and develop these capabilities?

Clearly any nation not a signatory to the treaty is not bound by it.

On top of that, Israel does not admit to having nuclear weapons. Why would they be a party to this treaty?

Are India and Pakistan bound by this treaty?

While I can't say that I like the idea of Israel having nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles, it does appear to be a logical move for Israel. When your entire country is about the size of New Jersey and is surrounded by unpredictable enemies, an "ace in the hole" is a usefule thing to have.

15 posted on 06/15/2002 9:28:08 PM PDT by CurlyDave
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