Friday, December 08, 2006

Think We Don't Live in a Fantasy World?


It seems that the incoming US Defence Secretary dropped a bomb at his Senate confirmation hearings - and it has Israel in a tizzy.

During his testimony, Robert Gates speculated as to why Iran seems bent on acquiring a nuclear weapon:

"They are surrounded by powers with nuclear weapons: Pakistan to their east, the Russians to the north, the Israelis to the west and us in the Persian Gulf," he said.

According to an article in the Toronto Star, Gates let the cat out of the bag. He openly stated what everybody has known for decades - that Israel has nuclear weapons.

The article quotes a retired Israeli diplomat as calling Gates' comment, "quite unprecedented. ... I can only assume he (Gates) has yet to get to grips with the understandings that exist between us and the Americans."

The Star explains America's "don't ask/don't tell" policy on Israel's nukes:

"Israel neither confirms nor denies having the bomb, as part of a "strategic ambiguity" policy that it says fends off numerically superior enemies while avoiding an arms race.

"By not declaring itself, Israel also skirts a U.S. ban on funding states that proliferate weapons of mass destruction. It can thus enjoy more than $2 billion in annual military and other aid from Washington.

"This sanctioned reticence is a major irritant for Arabs and Iran, which see a double standard in U.S. policy."

Washington is looking for elusive answers to putting out the fires in the Middle East. It might begin by putting aside all the fantasy.

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