Saudi Arabia buys all new ICBMs... "Now, the Middle East gets interesting. "

[FogerRox]

CSS-2

Well we know that Saudi Arabia has missiles, rather, has had missiles for quite a while. Apparently the Saudi missile program goes back to 1988.

In his 2003 Naval Post graduate thesis titled "Is Saudi Arabia a Nuclear Threat?" Steven R. McDowell writes:

Now that the CSS-2 missiles are nearing the end of their lifecycle, the Saudi regime may choose to replace them. During a March 11, 1997 interview with Defense News, Saudi military chief of staff, Lt Gen. Saleh Mohaya stated , “The oil kingdom is now considering replacing or refurbishing the desert missile force.”


Early in 2006, the German periodical Cicero reported that satellite imagery obtained by Germany's secret service indicated that Saudi Arabia has set up in Al-Sulaiyil, south of Riyadh, a new secret underground city and dozens of underground silos for missiles. TPMcafe has also picked up on this item.

According to some Western security services, long-range Ghauri-type missiles of Pakistani-origin are housed inside the silos.

The Ghauri missile has a range of 1,500 kilometers, while the CSS-2.
missile has a longer 2500km range.

The East Wind's modified range/payload (5) of 2,500 km/2,000 kg (conventional load) brings many countries within striking range, including Israel, the former Soviet Union, and Iran, though the missiles are said to be targeted on Tehran and other Iranian population centers, rather than Israel.


It seems that Saudi Arabia has replaced its aging Chinese missiles with North Korean/Pakistani "Ghauri" missiles, albeit with 1000km less range, they have essentially modernized their missile fleet.

Read the rest, plus sources & cites:


http://rdanafox.blogspot.com/2006/12/now-middle-east-gets-interesting.html

[Malmo Blue]

1. Saudi Nukes = Shit Scary

I'm a Muslim myself, but the idea of the super-strict Saudi Arabia aquiring nuclear warheads (which by the way is forbidden in Islam) - that just creeps me out.
Wouldn't be surprised if Ahmadinejad found a possible nuclear ally in the Saudis. No, this isn't Nightmare on Elm Street. This is the world as we know it.

[FogerRox]

2. Looks like the Saudis chipped in 5 billion to Pakistan

And the A. Q. Kahn nuke program. While these new SA ICBMS seem to be Chinese parts, assembled by Pakistan, sold to SA.

[Contrite]

3. Looks to me more like SA is planning to hit Iran

This is no longer a proxy war

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Oh boy nightmare scenario

SA hits Iran, Iran hits our troops and Israel and Israel hits everybody

[FogerRox]

6. My thinking is a little more cautious

Its an arms race. DUring the Iraqi Iranian war they tossed missiles at each other. Saudi Arabia bought their 1st ICBMs during that time.

AS during the Cold War it needs to be kept at the Proxy war level or lower. Or else.

[Contrite]

7. Here is the question, as posed by the article's author

"Would Saudi Arabia allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons first? Certainly not in the current environment of a regional Middle East proxy war. Ah yes, the current environment, whereby invading Iraq and installing a Shiite regime, the US has upset a long standing balance in the Middle East."

While I, too, am cautious, the "current environment" is very dicey indeed.

[FogerRox]

8. Dicey indeed.

[autorank]

5. K&R Well I'm sure that whenthe regeime falls to extremeist..

...thise estremists will just giveback the missles and never threaten us with them. Right?

NOT!

"Armed Madhouse" should have been about the planet earth.

[FogerRox]

9. Its very possible

That the Saudi Royal family put down an effort to destabilize the Royal faimly about a yr ago.