On the book Salon I asked a simple question.

http://firedoglake.com/2009/03/21/fdl-book -salon-welcomes-juan-cole-engaging-the muslim-world/

ThingsComeUndone March 21st, 2009 at 3:18 pm
88
What the word on Nuclear Power I heard the Saudis were getting reactor tech from us who got the contract GE ?
Any other Muslim Countries getting reactor tech from us? Why has the MSM been so quiet?
Then I provided a link one of mine I am such the Blog whore:)

:29 pm
95
In response to ThingsComeUndone @ 88 (show text)
Diary link Saudis getting nuclear Reactor
The Reply was interesting
http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/1302
Juan Cole March 21st, 2009 at 3:36 pm
101
In response to ThingsComeUndone @ 95 (show text)
Light water reactors are innocuous and cannot be used to make a bomb. Not enough fissile material builds up on the rods (it would take a century). This is why the Israeli bombing of Osirak in the early 1980s was just for show. The French built it as a light water reactor, and very responsibly so. In fact, bombing Osirak just impelled the Iraqis to (unsuccessfully) pursue enrichment for bomb making in the late 1980s and until 1991.
There is a lot of hysteria in the press about nuclear issues. Just basic physics literacy seems absent in our politicians and journalists.


My Bold These claims Juan made might be true but I could not find a link to confirm it. So I asked for a link.

ThingsComeUndone March 21st, 2009 at 4:37 pm

132
In response to Juan Cole @ 101 (show text)
Come to think of it I can’t even find the name of the company giving the Saudis Nuclear Reactor tech much less that its a light water reactor. I’m sure its true but I would like to see a link.
Also there are rumors that Arab states want the bomb because they expect Iran to have one soon. any truth to that? http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=560567149&banter_id=616086960&ref=nf&show_all

I even asked Juan Cole on his Face Book page and waited a few days
Things Come Undone wrote
at 2:32am on March 22nd, 2009
Hi I enjoyed the talk at FDL I still can’t find anything on who is selling Nuclear Reactors to the Arab world, or what kind of reactors.
Can’t find anything real about which muslim states have a nuclear bomb program or want to buy one. Any ideas?
I’m anti everyone having nukes.

Then I did a Google Search “ Saudi Arabia Light Water Nuclear Reactors” and I read several but not all the results.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=saudi+arabia+light+water+nuclear+reactors&btnG=Search


Nope Can’t Seem to find one reference to Saudi Arabia Buying A Light Water Nuclear Reactor.
Sure Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with Bush to peacefully develop Nuclear Power but then why can’t I find any details about what kind of Nuclear Reactor, What Country and Company will build it etc?
Secrecy builds suspicion the idea that Iran has a Nuclear Reactor has made the Arab World Jumpy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/25/iran-reactor-bushehr-trial

Anyway I would like the concerns listed below addressed.
Now then why would any country worried about a Nuclear Neighbor waste money on Nuclear Reactor Tech that can’t make them a bomb? If the Saudis want power they can go Solar.
Israel would have no cause to bomb a Solar Plant like they bombed Iraq’s Light Water Nuclear Plant which Juan says cannot be used to build fuel for Nuclear bombs.
Maybe America will supply the Saudis a Nuclear bomb maybe we will give them the Tech so they can build a Nuclear Bomb.
Any reasonable man would be concerned about an Iranian Nuclear Bomb. Having a Nuclear Bomb of your own seems reasonable at least to anyone who thought MAD was a good idea.
But buying a reactor that the Israelis have shown from past experience they will bomb, even if it can’t make Nuclear Weapons fuel?
Well just who is insuring this Nuclear Plant so that I can short their stock?