IAEA asked to condemn a Mideast nation for its nuke program

The IAEA has been asked to condemn a dangerous nation for its nuclear program. About time they cracked down on the mad mullahs, eh? Well, er, that's not quite what they have in mind. The IAEA's Arab member states are asking it to do what they always do in moments of crisis: blame the Zionists.

This is an interesting manifestation of the same kind of deflection game that Islamic apologists and Muslim spokesmen play in the U.S.: when asked uncomfortable questions about Islamic terrorism, they start talking about the Palestinians or the Crusades. When international attention begins to focus too sharply on Iran's nuclear ambitions, the Arab states point fingers at Israel. "IAEA Arab members slam Israel over atom bombs," from Al-Jazeera, with thanks to Scaramouche:

Arab member states of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency plan to push the agency to condemn Israel as a threat to peace in the Middle East for possessing nuclear weapons, reported Reuters.

Under its policy of "nuclear ambiguity," Israel refuses to neither deny or admit possessing a nuclear arsenal, though experts say that Jewish state has between 100 and 200 atomic bombs.

In a letter submitted to the IAEA, Oman, on behalf of the Arab member states, demanded that the agency's annual General Conference of the IAEA's 138 member states in Vienna next week to consider a statement strongly criticising Israel.

"Israel's possession of nuclear weapons is likely to lead to a destructive nuclear arms race in the region, especially if Israel's nuclear installations remain outside any international control," a text attached to the letter said, listing 11 UN General Assembly resolutions asking Israel to sign the NPT.

The move follows a row at the IAEA's 35-nation governing board over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear programme.

Posted by Robert at September 24, 2005 8:50 AM
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