German newspaper: Egypt is trying to obtain nuclear weapons

Ha'aretz Daily ^

[RCW2001]

German newspaper: Egypt is trying to obtain nuclear weapons

By Ha'aretz Service

Western security establishments have reached the conclusion that Egypt is taking measures to obtain nuclear weapons, the German daily Die Welt published on Saturday. According to the report, Egypt intends to mine natural uranium in the Sinai Peninsula and enrich it to weapons' grade material with the help of Chinese technology. The material would then be used on long-range missiles.

The paper also said that Egypt had in the past few years considered obtaining enriched uranium from several African countries.

Die Welt stressed that Egypt has denied the existence of any military nuclear project, and that the International Atomic Energy Agency, located in Vienna, confirmed that it has no information on nuclear developments in Egypt. The paper claimed that despite the denial, there have been increased hints that Cairo was stepping up its attempts to attain and enrich uranium, so as to be able to produce nuclear weapons in the future.

On January 23, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak set out for an official trip to China. During the visit the two countries signed an agreement on cooperation. Most of the details of the agreement have remained confidential, although security sources believe that the agreement between the two countries regards cooperation on matters of research, development, use of uranium sources, and especially "Chinese aid for mining natural uranium in the Sinai Peninsula."

[The_Media_never_lie]

At some point rational governments must stop this madness!

[Imal]

Nukes, Arabs and Islam go together like high school kids, whiskey and car keys on a Saturday night.

I'm sure U.S. and Russian nuclear weapon strategists have set aside a few deterrents for Islamic governments that decide to join the nuclear club. I'm also sure they know they are far more likely to actually have to use them, too.

We need some covert ops teams all over this, and they'd better make those who pose a danger to us disappear.

Imal

[spetznaz]

The paper also said that Egypt had in the past few years considered obtaining enriched uranium from several African countries

This does not make sense to me since the only African nations i know with access to enriched uranium are South Africa and Libya. There is a chance that Kenya may have some quantities and i know Nairobi university has a working reactor for study purposes, but they are strictly for lab research (and anyways Kenya is quite pro-American and pro-Israel and would not find it prudent to sell such stuff to Egypt). the same pertains to South Africa (where they had even went as far as having several (6) nuclear weapons, which they destroyed before signing a treaty saying they would not engage in the building of nukes.

As for Libya i really doubt Ghaddafi would try to proliferate nuclear material (unless he did so covertly) since he has been trying really hard to get into the good graces of the US and the west.

However my biggest question has to do with Egypt's need to acquire such material from other African nations! After all the Egyptian academia is quite developed, and they could synthesize their own nuclear industry without requiring help from external sources (somethign similar to South Africa's military which is indigenous and comparable to that of the Israelis).

Also remember Egypt is subsidized by the US to the tune of several billions dollars a year (i think the only nation that tops that is US aid to Israel) and thus this means two things:

1) Egypt has the funds to develop their own nuclear 'cottage industry' using (ironically) American funds!

2) Egypt would be foolish to do this since it would risk not only the lifting of American aid but also risk the placement of embargoes (as well as tactical airstrikes by Israel akin to those it did towards the Iraqi reactor years ago).

Hence i am not sure this story is really accurate...because if it was it would be huge news...especially in the US.Thus there is a huge question mark to this tale!

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Before this decade is out, the world will know first hand nuclear war.

It will begin at the hands of some third world Arab/Islamic septic tank and will be ended by either us or Israel.

TMMT

[Straight Vermonter]

Ever read "On the Beach"?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

At some point rational governments must stop this madness!

One way to stop it: The US government should issue a policy statement declaring that any country that uses a nuclear weapon in any fashion, either directly or through surrogates, against the USA or it's allies (including Israel) will be immolated. They will receive a full nuclear retaliation, completely destyroying every major population center in their country. Unilaterally Assured Destruction.

[Bobby777]

given Egypt's previous behaviour against Israel in '48, '56, '67 and '73, I'm not sure "rational" can be used with historical certainty regarding Egyptian gov't ... maybe they're still mad about that whole Pharoah / Red Sea thing from 3400 years ago ... 8)

[Bobby777]

covert ops may not work in facilities like Libya's "Rabata II" (IIRC the name) ... it's a chemical warfare facility, built by the Germans I believe, and it's nestled deep in the mountains ... (the Germans built underground bunkers for Iraq in the 1980's as well) ... and you can bet slipping by security is next to impossible in a place like that ... taking out a facility like that requires nuclear "earthquake" weapons that are designed to shake the Earth in the impact area rather than using the heat / blast to destroy ... this is why some weapons have the "frangible" nose so that they land squarely, though against a mountain facility, it seems superfluous ... some I'm sure probably "burrow" before detonation ...

[Prince Caspian]

Before this decade is out, the world will know first hand nuclear war.

I agree. You can feel the momentum of events moving inexoribly toward that outcome. It is beyond the means of human agency to stop it. There is spiritual warfare woven throughout. And the chaotic, destructive element is refined, sophisticated, and effective. But, in the end, desparate and futile.

[Imal]

Yeah, hard sites require hard measures. But we definitely have the tools and the talent to do what must be done.

Now, I pray on bended knees that we have the WILL to do what must be done.

Imal
A thought: WWRD - What Would Reagan DO?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Dear Moslem Murderers,

You Islamic bastards are way too irresponsible to have nuclear weapons.

The Grownups

[spetznaz]

I pray you are wrong in your prediction, but i have this strange pang in the pit of my stomach that you may be correct about the spectre of nuclear holocaust being realized in the near future!

[Brilliant]

Maybe if India made an example of Pakistan, the Muslim nations would be less inclined to follow Pakistan's lead in obtaining nuclear weapons.

[jonatron]

bttt