by Stephen Lendman

Imagine nuclear weapons in the hands of a rogue state waging direct and proxy aggression on its neighbors at its discretion.

Ruling Saudi family dictatorship thugs run things. Decapitations and public whippings are routine.

So are imprisoning people for their political beliefs, torture, state-sponsored assassinations and disappearances, as well as blanket denial of fundamental human and civil rights.

Imagine a regime this ruthless with nukes. Lunatics influencing policy claim a nonexistent Iranian nuclear threat.

They urge developing Saudi atomic weapons to match what Iranians don't have, don't want and deplore.

Imagine an arms race with other regional rogue states wanting nukes if Saudis develop their own.

Imagine takfiri terrorists getting hold of radiological weapons. Imagine a Middle East more destabilized than already.

Comments by Saudi officials lack credibility. Former foreign affairs advisor Abdullah al Askar said "(w)e prefer a region without nuclear weapons."

"But if Iran does it, nothing can prevent us from doing it too, not even the international community."

"Our leaders will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon while we don’t," Saudi security analyst Ibrahim al-Marie maintains.

"If Iran declares a nuclear weapon, we can’t afford to wait 30 years more for our own. We should be able to declare ours within a week."

Former Riyadh intelligence chief/US ambassador Prince Turki al Faisal said anything Iran gets in Geneva "we want the same."

Saudi King Salman nonsensically warned of "plunging the region into an arms race" based on a nonexistent Iranian nuclear weapons program.

Saudi military spokesman Brig. General Ahmed al-Aseeri said Riyadh "must protect our interests in a suitable fashion" despite preferring a nuclear-free region.

Sunni Saudis and regional allies are waging war on Syria and Yemen. They want Iran eliminated as a major rival.

They distrust US regional interests. Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Abdulmohsen says "(o)ur allies aren't listening to us, and this is what is making us extremely nervous."

He lied claiming Tehran "will do anything in (its) power to get a nuclear weapons."

"Should Iran gain the ability to produce weapons-grade uranium and ability to deploy such weapons," developing a comparable Saudi response "would be considered as part of our homeland security."

The whole world know Iran has no nuclear weapons program and won't tolerate one. It strongly urges a nuclear free Middle East.

Saudis know Iran threatens no one. It's the region's leading peace and stability proponent. It wants nuclear weapons abolished everywhere.

Current Saudi plans call for creating 17.6 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2032. No reactors have been built so far.

Don't expect confirmation if developing nuclear weapons is planned. Western intelligence agencies believe Riyadh largely bankrolled Pakistan's nuclear program in return for being able to obtain warheads on short notice.

In the hands of a rogue state known to possess medium-range ballistic missiles, it's a matter of major regional concern.

Lunatics infesting Riyadh are capable of anything to maintain power and influence - even possibly waging nuclear war.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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