Us Pressures Arab Countries Not To Push For Israel To Join NPT. Why??

by V for vendetta Thu Sep 16, 2010 09:24

This is looking like it might have been a diplomatic victory for Egypt

They are to discuss the issue of Israeli nukes today.(thursday) in Vienna. Let's hope all this new energy directed at revamping the NPT leads us all to a world with a lot less nukes in it. there seems to be a small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel this time. Lets hope it's not just the lights of an oncoming train full of secret nukes headed to Tel Aviv!!

A previous statement by Obama on the issue
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?ID=176833

Israel of course, not happy either. They want world peace and harmony to reign and fluffy happy peace puppies to gambol in the streets of the middle east first. Then OF COURSE they will disarm their nukes. They promise. We should trust them.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/analysis-u-s-...92931

Some background on the NPT
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Non-Proliferation_...reaty

and finally a rather weasly extract taken yesterday from the washington daily press briefing sept 15th 2010
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/09/147183.htm
:.......
QUESTION: P.J., are you concerned at all that efforts by Arab nations at the IAEA to take Israel to task or to hold Israel to account for its alleged nuclear weapons program will hurt the peace talks? There’s some reports – reporting out of Vienna today that suggests that Gary Samore raised this concern.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, first of all, let’s state a fact, that Israel has fully cooperated with the IAEA, and that is in contrast to one or more governments – Iran and Syria being two that come to mind – who have not cooperated with the IAEA. So we believe that there is really no basis for a debate at the IAEA. There is – there was a discussion of these issues with – during the NPT Review Conference, and we felt that there was a proper course of action outlined in the document at the end of the NPT Review Conference. So we do not think that this is a necessary step within the IAEA. And we certainly agree that it has the potential, just as the Goldstone report did a year ago, to interrupt the progress that we think is possible now that we’re back in the direct negotiations.

QUESTION: But, I mean, these countries are complaining about an issue that they think is important, just like when you talk to the IAEA about Syria’s suspected nuclear program or another suspected nuclear program. I mean, are these countries not entitled to air a grievance that they think is legitimate about a member nation?

MR. CROWLEY: This was an issue that was discussed within the NPT Review Conference, and the --

QUESTION: And not to their satisfaction. I mean, they --

MR. CROWLEY: But --

QUESTION: They pretty much agreed to cave at the time, and they said that this issue is going to come up again.

MR. CROWLEY: At the IAEA, if the question is; “Is Israel meeting its international obligations and cooperating fully with the IAEA,” the answer is yes. That’s a matter of fact. So to the extent that there are very legitimate concerns and questions that countries have about the NPT and the future of nuclear weapons in the region --

QUESTION: And about Israel’s suspected nuclear program.

MR. CROWLEY: And we – we, the United States, support universal adherence to the NPT, and we support the concept of a nuclear-free Middle East. We’re on the record with that. So there are ways in which to constructively and properly address the concerns that countries do have. We debated this over the summer, and we think the appropriate – we outlined the potential for an international conference to address these issues.

QUESTION: Isn’t it correct, P.J., that the only reason that Israel is in full compliance with the IAEA is because it hasn’t signed the NPT?

MR. CROWLEY: That’s a good question. I can’t answer that.

QUESTION: Well --

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, I don’t know.

QUESTION: P.J., there’s a call within Israel – Israeli scientists, (inaudible) and so on – really calling on the country to come clean, literally come out of the closet on the nuclear issue and dispense with this ambiguity. Would you be supportive of that?

MR. CROWLEY: I gave you my best shot a minute ago.

QUESTION: Let’s talk about the subtleties of Taiwan policy now. (Laughter.) Do you – can I change the subject, way off the subject?

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

........

They are certainly quite uneasy about all this!!

by but....... Fri Sep 17, 2010 22:52

the problem of course with the NPT is the sheer inconsistency of it. The big 5 are saying: 'ignore what we do, do what we say' If nukes are bad, they're bad for all including Us, Uk, france, china russia. Or, if nukes are ok for them, then they've got a bloody cheek to say nobody else can have what we have.

by Cannannite. Sat Sep 18, 2010 15:06

Asking Israel to indorse the NDP is like asking it to disarm itself.

"The threat" to your very life is all important in that mad part of the world.

Churchill said:
"Speak Softly.. but carry a Big Stick."

by Physicist. Sat Sep 18, 2010 15:30

"When they've got a bloody cheek to say nobody else can have what we have"

Those weapons are so indescribably awful reponsible people don't want anybody else to have them.

Tin-Pot dictators would just love to lob an atomic bomb on to the tribe in the country next door.
Just to score a point.

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Sep 18, 2010 16:25

'...responsible people dont want anybody else to have them.'

Would responsible people not be inclined to work a litle more diligently to show a litle leadership by disarming their own stockpiles and so lowering the terror that drives the proliferation?

I was always more worried that Cheyney or Reagan would push the button, just to see the side-order of mushrooms grow, than that China or Moscow would be so reckless. Israel is a more likely threat than Iran or Pakistan, if the 'West' would desist from its 19th century 'Great Game' plan of determination to dictate its market anarchy as panacea of planetary management for an expanding population in an increasingly volatile global environment.