If the Christian Right zealots hope to bring on the end of the world by continuous escalation of military tensions in the Middle East, this report will make them ecstatic: "Israel Adds Subs to Its Atomic Ability." For all the worries over chemical and biological weapons, nuclear bombs are far and away the most threatening "weapons of mass destruction."
With Iran building a nuclear capability - there are reports independent of the Bush Administration that indicate that is so - and Israel continuing to enhance its nuclear arsenal and delivery systems, there could be a nuclear arms race on the verge of breaking out in the Middle East. This is not going to be solved by the US taking over country after country there. It's not going to be fixed by a series of purely bilateral agreements.
If the world doesn't want to see a radical increase in the real "weapons of mass destruction" held by countries friendly to Islamic radicals, we need to find a way to put together a more effective international nonproliferation program.
The Los Angeles Times article I referenced above provides a good summary of the background of Israel's nuclear program, which it initially developed in cooperation with France.
This report in Der Spiegel focuses on the fact that it's German-made submarines being used to carry Israel's nuclear weapons. It also reports that Israel is preparing plans for a possible military strike at Iranian facilities suspected of being used to develop nuclear weapons.
(Addition 10/12: Daily Kos also comments at some length on this with reference to related stories in Ha'aretz and the Jerusalem Post.)
Tags: israel, nuclear proliferation
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