TheByte

Rob · 05-26-2008, 07:18 PM

Jimmy Carter says Israel had 150 nuclear weapons

Bronwen Maddox

Israel has 150 nuclear weapons in its arsenal, former President Jimmy Carter said yesterday, while arguing that the US should talk directly to Iran to persuade it to drop its nuclear ambitions.

His remark, made at the Hay-on-Wye festival which promotes current affairs books and literature, is startling because Israel has never admitted having nuclear weapons, let alone how many, although the world assumes their existence. Nor do US officials deviate in public from that Israeli line. Carter, who has immersed himself since his presidency in Israeli-Palestinian relations, was highly critical of Israeli settlers on the West Bank, and of Israel's refusal to talk to elected officials of the Islamic party Hamas, although he said that Israel's security was his prime concern.

Carter, whose presidency was dominated by the 444-day siege in which Iran held 52 American diplomats hostage, said "my advice to the US would be to start talking to Iran now" to persuade it to drop its nuclear work. But he cited Israel's nuclear arsenal - and those of the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - in arguing that Iran would find it almost impossible to develop, in secret, many weapons and the missiles to deliver them.

Jimmy Carter says Israel had 150 nuclear weapons - Times Online

Rob · 05-26-2008, 07:22 PM

No real surprises that Israel possesses nuclear weapons ....the world has long suspected this. But I am surprised they posses so many of them.

The Artist · 05-26-2008, 07:52 PM

I guess it makes them feel safe..
better that than all other actions they take to make them feel safe..

Rob · 05-26-2008, 08:23 PM

I don't think it is a good thing. It does give Iran a much stronger case for having nuclear weapons too. The last thing they need in the Middle East is an arms race.

I have always been very cynical of the belief that nuclear weapons are a "deterrent" -- if that was the case, then surely one weapon would be enough. The US and Russia have long had more than enough weapons to destroy the entire world dozens of times over -- where is any rationality in that?

Germaniac · 05-26-2008, 09:39 PM

I just adore America's hypocrisy on these matters. We can have them, but there's no way you can! I mean, after all, you are potential a threat to us! So, it's really OK for us to be a nuclear threat to you, because we're a responsible nation, but you possessing them? That's just scary.

Some slightly flawed reasoning there too, I fear...

Bruce · 05-26-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Germaniac

I just adore America's hypocrisy on these matters. We can have them, but there's no way you can! I mean, after all, you are potential a threat to us! So, it's really OK for us to be a nuclear threat to you, because we're a responsible nation, but you possessing them? That's just scary.

Some slightly flawed reasoning there too, I fear...

Could not agree more. Total BS.

The Artist · 05-27-2008, 12:55 AM

^Fo Sho..

Rob · 05-27-2008, 01:36 AM

Well I think most of us will acknowledge there is a certain amount of hypocrisy with regards to the United States -- but lets not turn this into an anti-US/anti Bush thread.

Regardless of what the US wants, should the world not be concerned about Iran wanting nuclear weapons? -- why does Iran want nuclear weapons in the first place?

Choleric · 05-27-2008, 01:39 AM

Victors make the rules.

US/USSR were the dominant and nuclear powers after WWII. They had the ability to dictate who is allowed Nukes because they have the military capability to enforce what they say.

Rob · 05-27-2008, 01:46 AM

^ That didn't stop India and Pakistan though. Once a country has nuclear weapons ....what can the US do about it?

05-26-2008, 07:18 PM	#1
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Israel has 150 nuclear weapons Jimmy Carter says Israel had 150 nuclear weapons Bronwen Maddox Israel has 150 nuclear weapons in its arsenal, former President Jimmy Carter said yesterday, while arguing that the US should talk directly to Iran to persuade it to drop its nuclear ambitions. His remark, made at the Hay-on-Wye festival which promotes current affairs books and literature, is startling because Israel has never admitted having nuclear weapons, let alone how many, although the world assumes their existence. Nor do US officials deviate in public from that Israeli line. Carter, who has immersed himself since his presidency in Israeli-Palestinian relations, was highly critical of Israeli settlers on the West Bank, and of Israel's refusal to talk to elected officials of the Islamic party Hamas, although he said that Israel's security was his prime concern. Carter, whose presidency was dominated by the 444-day siege in which Iran held 52 American diplomats hostage, said "my advice to the US would be to start talking to Iran now" to persuade it to drop its nuclear work. But he cited Israel's nuclear arsenal - and those of the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - in arguing that Iran would find it almost impossible to develop, in secret, many weapons and the missiles to deliver them. Jimmy Carter says Israel had 150 nuclear weapons - Times Online

05-26-2008, 07:22 PM	#2
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Re: Israel has 150 nuclear weapons No real surprises that Israel possesses nuclear weapons ....the world has long suspected this. But I am surprised they posses so many of them.

05-26-2008, 07:52 PM	#3
The Artist Shaolin Shadow Boxer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Gothenburg Posts: 9,171 Thanks: 41 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Re: Israel has 150 nuclear weapons I guess it makes them feel safe.. better that than all other actions they take to make them feel safe..

05-26-2008, 08:23 PM	#4
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Re: Israel has 150 nuclear weapons I don't think it is a good thing. It does give Iran a much stronger case for having nuclear weapons too. The last thing they need in the Middle East is an arms race. I have always been very cynical of the belief that nuclear weapons are a "deterrent" -- if that was the case, then surely one weapon would be enough. The US and Russia have long had more than enough weapons to destroy the entire world dozens of times over -- where is any rationality in that?

05-26-2008, 09:39 PM	#5
Germaniac Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 153 Thanks: 7 Thanked 89 Times in 33 Posts	Re: Israel has 150 nuclear weapons I just adore America's hypocrisy on these matters. We can have them, but there's no way you can! I mean, after all, you are potential a threat to us! So, it's really OK for us to be a nuclear threat to you, because we're a responsible nation, but you possessing them? That's just scary. Some slightly flawed reasoning there too, I fear...

05-27-2008, 12:55 AM	#7
The Artist Shaolin Shadow Boxer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Gothenburg Posts: 9,171 Thanks: 41 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Re: Israel has 150 nuclear weapons ^Fo Sho..

05-27-2008, 01:36 AM	#8
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Re: Israel has 150 nuclear weapons Well I think most of us will acknowledge there is a certain amount of hypocrisy with regards to the United States -- but lets not turn this into an anti-US/anti Bush thread. Regardless of what the US wants, should the world not be concerned about Iran wanting nuclear weapons? -- why does Iran want nuclear weapons in the first place?

05-27-2008, 01:39 AM	#9
Choleric Justice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Great Plains Posts: 2,513 Thanks: 236 Thanked 569 Times in 292 Posts	Re: Israel has 150 nuclear weapons Victors make the rules. US/USSR were the dominant and nuclear powers after WWII. They had the ability to dictate who is allowed Nukes because they have the military capability to enforce what they say.

05-27-2008, 01:46 AM	#10
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Re: Israel has 150 nuclear weapons ^ That didn't stop India and Pakistan though. Once a country has nuclear weapons ....what can the US do about it?

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