'Iran's Nuke Program May Spur Arms Race'

From The Jerusalem Post:

Iran's disputed nuclear program has sent a wave of interest in atomic energy across the Middle East, a think tank said Tuesday, warning that it risked setting the scene for a regional nuclear arms race.

At least 13 Middle Eastern countries either announced new plans to explore atomic energy or revived pre-existing nuclear programs between February 2006 and January 2007, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, or IISS, said in a report.

While the flurry of interest in nuclear power is still tentative, the report said countries such as Saudi Arabia, Algeria or Egypt could soon feel the need to match Iran's nuclear ambitions.

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Update From Yahoo News: Report: Iran's nuclear program feeding proliferation

Update From AP: Report: Iran's nuclear program feeding proliferation

Commentary From IBD: Nuclear Epidemic

My Comment: Libya has disbanded its program. Syria's reactor in the desert was bombed, and numerous countries such as Egypt and Turkey are concerned about security issues when it comes to Iran. But the country that I am most concerned about is Saudi Arabia. They have the financial and intellectual resources to develop very quickly a program that will give them the tools to produce nuclear weapons.

The reasons why Saudi Arabia would do this are multiple. Ego and pride ..... they perceive themselves as the preeminent Muslim country in the Islamic world, responsible for Islam's most holy of sites. Security issues with Iran and their own Shiite community. Being a counter to Israel's nuclear program. Being aware of the declining position of the United States as they prepare themselves for a new President and the eventual American withdrawal from Iraq. Being a counter and deterrent to the West (and the East) and those countries who are already hungry for energy resources.

With Iran rushing to develop a nuclear weapons program, it is in my opinion when, not if, Saudi Arabia will have their own program. They will do it in the same manner as the Japanese. Japan has all the facilities and resources to have nuclear weapons. If the decision is made in Japan to have a nuclear weapon because of some international crisis, it would only be a matter of time (I am talking about a month or two) that they would these weapons available.

The wire services talk about how Iran may spur an arms race ..... I think it is already happening.