Grandpa Andrew,
Thank you for pointing out my error. I only recently learned that
Israel is purported to have nuclear weapons (right about the time the
current conflict with Lebanon began). I recall mentioning this to
someone, who informed me that the U.S. sold Israel nuclear weapons.
Unfortunately, I do not recall who told me this, but after further
research, I realize that this was erroneous.
I do want to point out that I was not trying to spark a debate about
the state of Israel. I have only had to time to skim the sermon that
you sent out Andrew, but I will hopefully find time to read it more
carefully soon. I was only trying to use that as an example of the
U.S.'s inconsistent foreign policy.
I did find a wealth of information about nuclear weapons in Israel.
As far as I can tell, Israel has yet to confirm or deny whether they
have nuclear weapons, but most intelligence sources estimate that
Israel possesses at least several dozen weapons. I also learned that
Israel developed their own nuclear technology, though they received a
large amount of support from France, including nuclear materials, and
that they have most likely received some degree of similar support
from Britain as well. U.S. intelligence has suspected that Israel was
developing nuclear weapons as early as the 1960's. It appears that
the U.S. decided neither to officially support, nor attempt to stop
Israel's nuclear program.
------ from Wikipedia [1] (I am also providing the references that
they have cited, but I have not read them myself)
By 1969 U.S. Defense Secretary Melvin Laird believed that Israel
might have a nuclear weapon that year [6] [7]. Later that year U.S.
President Nixon in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir
pressed Israel to "make no visible introduction of nuclear weapons or
undertake a nuclear test program", so maintaining a policy of nuclear
ambiguity. [8]
------
In conclusion, it appears that the U.S. has been inconsistent in its
policies on nuclear proliferation. This was the point I was trying to
make.
So, once again I would like to apologize for spewing erroneous
information. Thank you for noticing Andrew. We don't always come to
much concensus on this list, but I do learn quite a bit, and it is
very rewarding to engage in discussion with people who are carefully
reading and examining arguments, and pointing out their flaws. In the
future, I will try to back up my claims a little better.
Rob
References (2-5 included for additional information)
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_nuclear_weapons
[2] http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/nuke/
[3] http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Israel/index.html
[4] http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/farr.htm
[5] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/correspondent/2841377.stm
[6] Israel crosses the threshold", Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,
May/June 2006, pp. 22-30. Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
[7] Stopping the introduction of nuclear weapons into the middle east
(PDF). Memorandum to the secretary of state. National Security
Archive (1969-03-17). Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
[8] Discussions with the Israelis on nuclear matters (PDF).
Memorandum for the President. National Security Archive (1969-10-07).
Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
On Aug 15, 2006, at 10:51 AM, Andrew Reeves wrote:
> The above quotation (emphasis in the original) is certainly one of the
> more amazing assertions that came out in this debate. I assume "We"
> means the USA. What evidence exists to support this assertion? Who
> said
> that originally, and in what media? Under which administration was it
> supposed to have occurred? I am asking these questions quite sincerely
> but should the answer be that the assertion is self-explanatory I
> would
> have a serious quarrel with that.
> --Danny's Grandpa Andrew
>
>
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