Thursday, October 9, 2003
MEMRI: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Editor: Iran's Nuclear Weapons a Threat to Arab and Islamic Countries
MEMRI with a translation of a translation of an editorial appearing in a London-based Saudi daily suggesting that the real threat from Iranian nuclear weapons is not toward Israel or the USA, but towards the other states in the region.
"If you want to be foolish, you have to believe that Iran is producing its nuclear bomb in order to attack Israel; you'll turn into a complete idiot if you believe it's producing it in order to confront the U.S. The Iranians are enriching uranium to produce nuclear weapons aimed, essentially, at its neighbors, mainly Pakistan. However, the danger encompasses the other neighboring countries as well, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, which share with Iran a land border of 5,400 km and a sea border of 2,400 km.
"I don't need anyone to remind me that nuclear bombs are not artillery fired from across a border, and that with [suitable] launching facilities they are capable of reaching the end of the world. What I mean is that it is hard to believe the claim that Iran's purpose in producing nuclear weapons is to attain balance with Israel due to the enormity of the Israeli arsenal and [Israel's] technological superiority. Likewise, it is inconceivable that we believe Iran will do what the Russians – with the second largest nuclear arsenal in the world – were incapable of doing, and will enter into nuclear confrontation with Washington." ...
'We Have Used Conventional Weapons More Against Each Other Than Against Israel'
"We have used conventional weapons more against each other than against Israel, and this situation will not change tomorrow if we add nuclear bombs to our arsenals. I understand Iran's motivation for producing nuclear bombs. Iran saw the world's indifference over neighboring Pakistan's acquisition of nuclear weapons. And Pakistan itself produced them after India revealed its own nuclear arsenal. [These were considered by Iran as] sufficient reason to achieve regional balance. However, Iran, unlike the two countries of the Indian subcontinent, realized… that it is sitting on one of the most important and sensitive international centers of conflict.
"It would be a mistake to come to the defense of our neighbor Iran out of ignorance and on the pretext of deterring Israel. The Iranian nuclear danger threatens us, first and foremost, more than it threatens the Israelis and the Americans."
Saddam killed more Muslims than Israel or the USA ever did. It doesn't take a great deal of creative thought to imagine that the Mullahs might end up doing the same.
