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"Saudi Arabia has invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects, and believes it could obtain atomic bombs at will, a variety of sources have told BBC Newsnight."
Technically, not a violation of the NPT. Pakistani owned nukes to be delivered via Saudi delivery vehicles with a dual release mechanism. Standard NATO/Warsaw Pact practices for the life of the Cold War.
Originally posted by Officer of EngineersView Post
Technically, not a violation of the NPT. Pakistani owned nukes to be delivered via Saudi delivery vehicles with a dual release mechanism. Standard NATO/Warsaw Pact practices for the life of the Cold War.
And, in Middle Eastern hands, a complete clusterfuck for our future national security.
Whatever the legal issues, revelations like this will probably escalate hostilities between Iran and Saudi Arabia and an arms race around the Middle East.
If it is true that Pakistan has already supplied mobile ballistic missiles to Saudi Arabia and that delivery of the nuclear warheads to the kingdom at anytime the Saudis want them is a done deal, i can imagine that Iran would go ahead with developing its own nuclear weapons. Who knows.
I know that the revelation of a Saudi missile base with launchers pointed towards Iran and Israel was already revealed awhile ago, but i assume the latest from this BBC investigation on Saudi-Pakistan nuclear co-operation is new information? (for the public).
Rhetoric aside, i believe that Iranian leaders consider Saudi Arabia more of a threat and hostile antagonist than they do Israel. Israeli leaders should feel the same about the Saudis. The terrorist, wahhabi jihad sponsoring 'family' cannot be trusted.
And then theres crumbling, reckless Pakistan that nobody but the Saudis could ever trust.
Not that Iran's regime is much better. But unlike the Saudis, it is not so totalitarian or extremist. Not even close to the Saudi level in fact.
Originally posted by Officer of EngineersView Post
Technically, not a violation of the NPT. Pakistani owned nukes to be delivered via Saudi delivery vehicles with a dual release mechanism. Standard NATO/Warsaw Pact practices for the life of the Cold War.
This is why the NPT is a joke. I'm just wondering what would have been the reaction if this had been Iran instead of SA.
The NPT works. There is absolutely no denying about that. Thus far, not one non-weapons state member has acquired nukes. Iran is in non-compliance as far as research is concerned but she does not have a nuke. The NPT is also a peacetime treaty. Both Washington and Moscow fully expects the treaty to be null and void once comes to a nuclear exchange.
Back to topic, the CSS2s are 20 years old and are maintained by Chinese engineers. There has been not one single drill by the Saudis on how to fuel and launched that thing. Most certainly nobody in the KSA, or in Pakistan for that matter, knows how to mate a nuke to that thing. Secondly, the article calling this rocket inaccurate is an understatement. The Chinese mated a 5 megaton warhead to that thing just so that it has a chance to kill its target, ie city hall, with the blast. Megaton warheads are beyond Pakistani expertise.
The KSA is also under the American nuclear umbrella. The KSA would be idiots to exchange that for a Pakistani nuclear umbrella.
Lastly, I highly doubt the Israelis would ever allow Pakistani nukes to even dock in Saudi ports.
Whatever the legal issues, revelations like this will probably escalate hostilities between Iran and Saudi Arabia and an arms race around the Middle East.
So long as they just talk about it nothing will happen.
And this isn't a revelation its been conjectured for a long time now. Yes, its legally possible.
But i have this idea that it is US nukes that defend Mecca & Jerusalem. Only way i can see to keep a troublesome area of the world less troublesome.
If it is true that Pakistan has already supplied mobile ballistic missiles to Saudi Arabia and that delivery of the nuclear warheads to the kingdom at anytime the Saudis want them is a done deal, i can imagine that Iran would go ahead with developing its own nuclear weapons. Who knows.
Look at the timing of this 'revelation'. Iran is in talks today and tomorrow. How convenient.
Rhetoric aside, i believe that Iranian leaders consider Saudi Arabia more of a threat and hostile antagonist than they do Israel. Israeli leaders should feel the same about the Saudis. The terrorist, wahhabi jihad sponsoring 'family' cannot be trusted.
And then theres crumbling, reckless Pakistan that nobody but the Saudis could ever trust.
Not that Iran's regime is much better. But unlike the Saudis, it is not so totalitarian or extremist. Not even close to the Saudi level in fact.
This is just Saudi's trying to rock the boat and bait Iran. It aint' going to work and is just another Saudi hissy fit.
US and Israeli intel discovered the missile link between China and the KSA in 1988. An initial shipment of Chinese CSS-2 missiles was delivered in June 1990 and deployed to desert bases at El-Suleil and El-Jofer. Confronted with the intel information, King Fahd promised Ronald Reagan in writing that the Saudis would not seek to equip the missiles with CBN warheads nor ever use them as a first strike option. The Saudis also promised Reagan not to harden the missile sites and signed the NPT as additional proof of intent. Comparing satellite images taken in 1995 with recent imaging reveals that the Saudis have broken their promise to not develop/harden the missile sites.
The CSS-2 is an outdated and primitive mobile missile. It is a one-stage missile with Hydrazine liquid fuel and Tetroxide as an oxidizer. Anyone familiar with liquid missile propellants realizes that both Hydrazine and Tetroxide are each highly dangerous and very difficult to work with. Even the US had huge difficulties with Tetroxide in the Trident II missiles. Due to the inaccuracy of its inertial guidance system, the CSS-2 is virtually worthless with a conventional HE warhead which is why many Israeli analysts deduce that the Saudis ultimately plan to mate them with a CBN warhead. This issue is one of the current hidden frictions between the United States and the Kingdom.
Due to the inaccuracy of its inertial guidance system, the CSS-2 is virtually worthless with a conventional HE warhead which is why many Israeli analysts deduce that the Saudis ultimately plan to mate them with a CBN warhead.
Until the Saudis replace Chinese engineers with their own ... and actually practice launching the damned thing, China is a signatory to both the BWC and the CWC, the thing is armed with HE.
I should also point out that throughout its entire operational history with the China's 2nd Artillery Force (China's strategic delivery force), the thing was armed with HE and not a nuke though the Chinese had drilled mating a nuke to the thing.
Originally posted by Officer of EngineersView Post
Technically, not a violation of the NPT. Pakistani owned nukes to be delivered via Saudi delivery vehicles with a dual release mechanism. Standard NATO/Warsaw Pact practices for the life of the Cold War.
Revelations of this means that Iran in no way would give up its nuclear program.
Originally posted by Officer of EngineersView Post
What? Does people actually think that Saudi is going to give up the American nuclear umbrella for a Pakistani one?
It is all about perception. Iran is bordered by a nuke state to its east and now you got a state south of your borders with access to nukes in addition to US and Israel. It is the feeling of being against the wall and that makes for a dangerous enemy.
In short, this situation is a good time for you to brush up on Gen. Sundarji and Rie's nuclear doctrine and apply those principles.
Politicians are elected to serve...far too many don't see it that way - Albany Rifles! || Loyalty to country always. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it - Mark Twain! || I am a far left millennial!
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