Israel Adds Subs to Its Atomic Ability

October 12, 2003

SUNDAY REPORT
Israel Adds Subs to Its Atomic Ability
Officials confirm that the nation can now launch nuclear weapons from land, sea and air. The issue complicates efforts to rein in Iran.


By Douglas Frantz, Times Staff Writer


TEL AVIV — Israel has modified American-supplied cruise missiles to carry nuclear warheads on submarines, giving the Middle East's only nuclear power the ability to launch atomic weapons from land, air and beneath the sea, according to senior Bush administration and Israeli officials.

The previously undisclosed submarine capability bolsters Israel's deterrence in the event that Iran — an avowed enemy — develops nuclear weapons. It also complicates efforts by the United States and the United Nations to persuade Iran to abandon its suspected nuclear weapons program.

Two Bush administration officials described the missile modification and an Israeli official confirmed it. All three spoke on condition their names not be used.

The Americans said they were disclosing the information to caution Israel's enemies at a time of heightened tensions in the region and concern over Iran's alleged ambitions. (snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iznukes12oct12.story

NK, Pakistan, Israel...

Please, Great Spirit, help us get this dimwit out of the WH so we can start rebuilding the international institutions and agreements that he has wrecked!

From the article:

"Israel's parliament was dragged into the nuclear debate briefly on Feb. 2, 2000. Issam Makhoul, one of 10 Israeli Arabs in parliament, got the item on the agenda by petitioning the Supreme Court after being rebuffed seven times.

"The entire world knows that Israel is a huge warehouse of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons that serves as a cornerstone of the nuclear arms race in the Middle East," said Makhoul, whose speech was protected by parliamentary immunity.

Several members of parliament walked out. Others responded with angry shouts. "This is putting lives in danger," said one member, Moshe Gafni.

Haim Ramon, a Cabinet minister, said no democratic country invites its enemies to listen in on discussions of nuclear arms policy. "Do you want us to announce to Iran and Iraq exactly what we have?" he asked.

Sitting in his cluttered office in Haifa recently, Makhoul defended his attempt to spark a debate and argued that the issue was more pressing now.

"The American administration decided to destroy weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and they are threatening Iran," he said. "They cannot continue giving a blind eye to what is going on in Israel."

Oh dear

Was gonna go to sleep

I don't want this to be my last thoughts this morning

(sigh)

to stop sending out tax dollars to foreign countries?

I was reading two years ago the German subs Israel was adding to the fleet would be part of a US style nuclear triad.

If the US is allowed to sell nuclear capable missiles to Israel with the knowledge that they will be armed with nuclear warheads, then surely North Korea, Pakistan and any other nations is free to do so as well?

The Bear could use the money.

180

This actually makes sense the Next day is 11/1/2003

:bounce:

The last thing we need is a whackjob like Sharon with the ability to vape any city he doesn't like with no more than 5 minutes notice at best...

DUPED at



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=161661

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