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We're Giving Saudi Arabia Enriched Uranium, They're Giving Us the Shaft

Fri, May 16, 2008 at 9:48:36 am PDT

The United States is going to supply Saudi Arabia with enriched uranium: US unveils deals with Saudi on nuclear power, oil protection.

The White House said Washington and Riyadh were also to sign an agreement on nuclear cooperation that would clear the way for Saudi Arabia to receive enriched uranium for its reactors, without the need to master the fuel nuclear cycle itself as Iran has done.

Did I wake up in the Twilight Zone? Seven years after 9/11, we’re handing enriched uranium to the country that sponsored and inspired the terrorist plot.

And to show their appreciation for this magnanimous gesture, the Saudis will not do anything to bring down soaring oil prices: Saudis see no reason to raise oil production now.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabian leaders made clear Friday they see no reason to increase oil production until their customers demand it, apparently rebuffing President Bush amid soaring U.S. gasoline prices.

During Bush’s second personal appeal this year to King Abdullah, Saudi officials stuck to their position that they are already meeting demand, the president’s national security adviser told reporters.

“What they’re saying to us is ... Saudi Arabia does not have customers that are making requests for oil that they are not able to satisfy,” Stephen Hadley said on a day when oil prices topped $127 a barrel, a record high.

521 comments

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1 The Other Les  5/16/08 9:50:03 am reply quote
Did I wake up in the Twilight Zone?


I'd say an episode of ATLAS SHRUGGED the TV series.

2 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)  5/16/08 9:50:10 am reply quote

Long past time for a regime change in SA

3 Nevergiveup  5/16/08 9:50:12 am reply quote

Was this negotiated over another one of them sword dances?

4 Iron Mike  5/16/08 9:50:33 am reply quote

Tell me again why we like these people?

5 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 9:50:44 am
6 Charles  5/16/08 9:51:20 am reply quote

We're giving one of the world's most radical, primitive Islamic states the material to make nuclear weapons.

7 The Other Les  5/16/08 9:51:44 am reply quote

re: #4 Iron Mike

Tell me again why we like these people?

They give our politicians and academics money.

8 buzzsawmonkey  5/16/08 9:51:44 am reply quote

re: #5 savage_nation

Excuse me, but did I see this right? Enriched uranium?

Tell me this is a lie.... please!

Not only enriched, but new and improved. Large economy size.

9 Sharmuta  5/16/08 9:52:07 am reply quote
“What they’re saying to us is ... Saudi Arabia does not have customers that are making requests for oil that they are not able to satisfy,”

It's not that the customers aren't making requests, it's that the saudis don't give a rat's ass.

10 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 9:52:22 am
11 pat  5/16/08 9:52:27 am reply quote

But the Saudi have magnanimously agreed to share their school books with American children.

12 Charles  5/16/08 9:52:35 am reply quote
The White House said Washington and Riyadh were also to sign an agreement on nuclear cooperation that would clear the way for Saudi Arabia to receive enriched uranium for its reactors, without the need to master the fuel nuclear cycle itself as Iran has done.

They won't even need to enrich the uranium themselves. We're handing it to them.

13 MandyManners  5/16/08 9:52:55 am reply quote

Are we stupid or suicidal? Both?

14 song_and_dance_man[deleted]  5/16/08 9:52:59 am
15 galloping granny  5/16/08 9:53:07 am reply quote

Anyone who expected the Saudis to actually do anything to lower oil prices has been smoking some funny stuff.

16 Nevergiveup  5/16/08 9:53:09 am reply quote

re: #10 savage_nation

Are we gonna give them our nuclear weapons blueprints too?

Why should we, the Chinese probably already have.

17 Honorary Yooper  5/16/08 9:53:33 am reply quote
Did I wake up in the Twilight Zone?

That was my thought too when I saw this. It makes no sense what-so-ever to give these twits any sort of uranium or anyother radioactive material at all. First, we give it to them, them they'll give it right back in the form of dirty bombs (or worse).

18 unrealizedviewpoint  5/16/08 9:53:53 am reply quote

re: #6 Charles

We're giving one of the world's most radical, primitive Islamic states the material to make nuclear weapons.

They need nuclear power to generate electricity. How else are they gonna do it?

/s

19 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 9:54:14 am
20 Nevergiveup  5/16/08 9:54:26 am reply quote

re: #17 Honorary Yooper

That was my thought too when I saw this. It makes no sense what-so-ever to give these twits any sort of uranium or anyother radioactive material at all. First, we give it to them, them they'll give it right back in the form of dirty bombs (or worse).

Well at least it will easier to identify then.

21 sattv4u2  5/16/08 9:55:46 am reply quote

ANWAR,,,,,,, NOW

GULF OF MEXICO ,,,,, NOW

22 gordonshandling  5/16/08 9:55:47 am reply quote

The States should have worked on oil independance (coming the Middle East that is) a long time ago.

Enriched uranium. I am still not sure where the bigger fools live. Europe or The United States....

23 Sharmuta  5/16/08 9:55:49 am reply quote

The article doesn't say- does Congress have to approve this deal?

Not that Congress is much help.

24 jcm  5/16/08 9:55:53 am reply quote

re: #16 Nevergiveup

Why should we, the Chinese probably already have.

Enriched Uranium!? You don't need bloody plans.

25 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 9:56:40 am
26 The Other Les  5/16/08 9:56:47 am reply quote

re: #12 Charles

They won't even need to enrich the uranium themselves. We're handing it to them.

Which can be used to make the extremely simple gun configuration nuclear device.

27 The Other Les  5/16/08 9:57:27 am reply quote

re: #18 unrealizedviewpoint

They need nuclear power to generate electricity. How else are they gonna do it?

/s

Solar arrays and banks of batteries.

28 Fo knee ix  5/16/08 9:57:43 am reply quote

This reminds me of 'The Sum of All Fears,' when Baltimore is destroyed via a nuke in a vending machine, and when the CIA finds out where the uranium came from, the analyst says, 'right here in the good 'ol USA.' F*cking insane.

29 syndicate  5/16/08 9:57:53 am reply quote

No uranium unless they kick down some oil.

30 nyc redneck  5/16/08 9:58:07 am reply quote

why would they willingly do anything for us? it's an uneasy relationship that has nothing to do w/ our well being. in fact they probably enjoy seeing the infidel coming, cap in hand.
that approach needs to stop.

31 brent  5/16/08 9:58:12 am reply quote

Please let the only enriched uranium that ever reaches that place do so on top of a polaris missile....

Is that over the top? Really, what are these people thinking? What possible good could come from this - the logic has to be that we're sending a message to Iran, but couldn't this happen to a nicer country?

Are there any in the region that would be worse candidates?

32 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 9:58:18 am
33 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)  5/16/08 9:58:20 am reply quote
34 ziggyelman  5/16/08 9:58:34 am reply quote

Gee, so all that hand holding and Kissing Bush has done with That Saudi King(or is he a prince?) was for nothing? I am on a jazz board with a very liberal political forum. and anytime I post some outrage from Saudi Arabia, they pull out that photo of Bush walking hand in hand with the Saudi big wig....it's one of the few times they leave me at a lose for words...what can you say?

To be fair to the Saudi's they are going to need nuclear power...they have so little natural resources under their sand....

35 abu_garcia  5/16/08 9:58:42 am reply quote

They know, and anybody who deals with commodities knows, that it takes considerable excess of supply to depress prices and they have no intention of doing that. If you think prices are high now, just wait 'til an actual shortage develops.

36 JammieWearingFool  5/16/08 9:59:28 am reply quote

al Qaeda just canceled all plans to leave Saudi Arabia. They figure with Obama in office, when they make their move on the oil ticks, Barry O will nod approvingly before getting back to his waffle.

37 Charles  5/16/08 9:59:46 am reply quote

Seven years after 9/11, we're handing enriched uranium to the country that sponsored and inspired the plot.

This is insane.

38 Sharmuta  5/16/08 9:59:53 am reply quote

Dear God- I hope this isn't Bush's idea of how to make the iranians nervous.

39 song_and_dance_man[deleted]  5/16/08 9:59:56 am
40 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 10:00:07 am
41 galloping granny  5/16/08 10:00:07 am reply quote

re: #25 savage_nation

And start developing that massive oil shale field beneath North Dakota and Montana. NOW

The point at which developing that oil would become cost effective has long been said to be $50 a barrel. Even if you consider the drastic drop in the valuation of the dollar, that point has long since passed. Let's start digging.

42 The Other Les  5/16/08 10:00:40 am reply quote

re: #32 savage_nation

And windpower along their east coast.

Use hydrolysis to generate hydrogen and export it to ... let's not give them ideas...

43 ziggyelman  5/16/08 10:00:49 am reply quote

re: #21 sattv4u2

ANWAR,,,,,,, NOW

GULF OF MEXICO ,,,,, NOW

I really hope and pray the 3 candidates will be pounded on these two topics! I want Americans to hear all three say we need to drive slower, get tiny cars, to deal with China and India becoming the biggest consumers of oil...

44 Petero  5/16/08 10:01:02 am reply quote

Unfortunately, Some think that aiding Saudi in an arms race with Iran is a good idea. Personally I think between Israel and the US we have Iran pretty well covered if we wanted to act on it. Not sure anyone is interested in acting on it though. Looks like we just cant learn from our mistakes. We are always shocked when our former "allies" use our former assistance against us like in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will add Saudi to that list within 10 years, trust me.

45 The Other Les  5/16/08 10:01:27 am reply quote

re: #37 Charles

Seven years after 9/11, we're handing enriched uranium to the country that sponsored and inspired the plot.

This is insane.

It's time to start the Lizard Party. Are you up to running in 2012?

46 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 10:01:28 am
47 unrealizedviewpoint  5/16/08 10:01:34 am reply quote

re: #27 The Other Les

Solar arrays and banks of batteries.

But, that ain't the good stuff. You want our good stuff, we want your good stuff.

So now we need be concerned, focused on preventing this good stuff, in the hands of another unstable dictatorship leaders control, from falling into terrorists hands. We really are in Bizzaro World.

48 brainwizard73  5/16/08 10:01:37 am reply quote

re: #37 Charles

Seven years after 9/11, we're handing enriched uranium to the country that sponsored and inspired the plot.

This is insane.

Clearly you don't understand what is going on. The Saudi's are only interested in peaceful, domestic power production. It isn't like they have a lot of resources themselves...

...uh, wait.

49 Lobosan5  5/16/08 10:01:51 am reply quote

Hit me again...cause it feels soooo good when you stop!

50 Killgore Trout  5/16/08 10:01:53 am reply quote

Don't worry they'll return our uranium in the form of a bomb delivered by Saudis with student visas.

51 Nevergiveup  5/16/08 10:01:56 am reply quote

re: #37 Charles

Seven years after 9/11, we're handing enriched uranium to the country that sponsored and inspired the plot.

This is insane.

You would hope there are some safeguards included in this deal? Hope hum, who keeps saying that? I don't know whether to laugh, cry or get drunk?

52 Noah's Arrrgh  5/16/08 10:02:23 am reply quote

Keep in mind that the enriched uranium is not weapons grade enrichment. It's certainly the Low Enriched Uranium used in commercial light water plants, which is unusable for weapons. Furthermore, I think the idea is to have the whole plant's fuel cycle under the control of the western nations, with the idea that it will slow or prevent them from taking Iran's route to Nuclear Power.

I'm not sure what to think about this, it has it's plusses and minuses, but it is not necessarily crazy.

53 maddogg  5/16/08 10:03:01 am reply quote

What really pisses me off is not the Saudis, its our own government. This mess with fuel prices was predictable, even by the most shortsighted, and our government has done almost nothing, and continues to do almost nothing to encourage any real improvement. And I'm not talking about silly assed band aids like Jimmah tried and ethanol, which will never work. I mean telling the leftist morons who don't give a damn about this country to get screwed and get some nuclear power plants on line, get synfuel on line, allow drilling in a responsible way in areas that have oil. All they do (and Johnny McClueless is included in this group) is talk. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have 2 kids in college, and $4.00/gal+ fuel is gonna hurt bad. Yet, our "leaders" sit around and scratch their overpaid asses and talk about being responsible to the environment, global warming/climate change and all that bullshit.

McCain, you shameless ass.

54 Honorary Yooper  5/16/08 10:03:17 am reply quote

re: #37 Charles

Seven years after 9/11, we're handing enriched uranium to the country that sponsored and inspired the plot.

This is insane.

Charles, insane doesn't begin to describe it.

"Absolutely fucking nuts" comes close.

55 Kosh's Shadow  5/16/08 10:03:31 am reply quote

Protecting the oil fields, that's a good idea.
Enriched uranium? OK, now I have BDS as well.
What did they do? Take the alien mind control device from the Kaaba and hit Bush with it?

I do hope, though, we send them a big fat bill for it tied to the price of oil.

This enriched uranium isn't going to be weapons-grade, (I hope!), but it could still make dirty bombs.

56 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 10:03:34 am
57 ziggyelman  5/16/08 10:03:34 am reply quote

re: #35 abu_garcia

They know, and anybody who deals with commodities knows, that it takes considerable excess of supply to depress prices and they have no intention of doing that. If you think prices are high now, just wait 'til an actual shortage develops.

Ever notice that in the last 5-6 years, every little tropical storm, wave, whathaveyou, causes oil prices to jump? sure didn't seem to happen in the past. And imagine another Katrina at this point!

58 Kenneth  5/16/08 10:03:40 am reply quote

re: #12 Charles

Stop the hysteria folks,

Let's be clear about what is meant by "enriched uranium". Fuel grade uranium is enriched to 5%. Weapons grade uranium is enriched to over 90%. The point of this deal is that the Saudi's won't build their own enrichment process, so they can't take the 5% fuel uranium and make 90% weapons grade EU. This is a good thing.

The real problem is the fact the Saudis may well already have a few nukes. They funded the Pakistani nuclear program. What do you suppose the Pakistanis gave the Saudis in return? Nukes.

59 song_and_dance_man[deleted]  5/16/08 10:04:29 am
60 sattv4u2  5/16/08 10:04:33 am reply quote

re: #43 ziggyelman

I really hope and pray the 3 candidates will be pounded on these two topics! I want Americans to hear all three say we need to drive slower, get tiny cars, to deal with China and India becoming the biggest consumers of oil...

All the more reason to drill in Anwar. We sell to thre Chinese and eliminate the trade deficit in what ,,,, 12-18 MONTHS ?

61 Nevergiveup  5/16/08 10:04:52 am reply quote

re: #58 Kenneth

Stop the hysteria folks,

Let's be clear about what is meant by "enriched uranium". Fuel grade uranium is enriched to 5%. Weapons grade uranium is enriched to over 90%. The point of this deal is that the Saudi's won't build their own enrichment process, so they can't take the 5% fuel uranium and make 90% weapons grade EU. This is a good thing.

The real problem is the fact the Saudis may well already have a few nukes. They funded the Pakistani nuclear program. What do you suppose the Pakistanis gave the Saudis in return? Nukes.

Well that makes me feel better? But you are probably right. That has been reported before.

62 Ringo the Gringo  5/16/08 10:05:10 am reply quote

Do we have any reasons to believe that John McCain will as cozy with the Saudis as Bush has been?

63 Charles  5/16/08 10:05:17 am reply quote

re: #58 Kenneth

Stop the hysteria folks,

Let's be clear about what is meant by "enriched uranium". Fuel grade uranium is enriched to 5%. Weapons grade uranium is enriched to over 90%. The point of this deal is that the Saudi's won't build their own enrichment process, so they can't take the 5% fuel uranium and make 90% weapons grade EU. This is a good thing.

The real problem is the fact the Saudis may well already have a few nukes. They funded the Pakistani nuclear program. What do you suppose the Pakistanis gave the Saudis in return? Nukes.

What makes you think the Saudis won't build their own enrichment process to boost it to weapons grade? They may not be able to use the material as is, but it's a hell of a head start.

64 CyanSnowHawk  5/16/08 10:05:18 am reply quote

re: #6 Charles

We're giving one of the world's most radical, primitive Islamic states the material to make nuclear weapons.

What level is it enriched to? Weapons grade is significantly more enriched than what is needed for power generation.

That fact aside, WTF are we doing giving them anything?

65 Sharmuta  5/16/08 10:05:33 am reply quote

re: #51 Nevergiveup

I don't know whether to laugh, cry or get drunk?

I'm opting for drunk- the laughing and crying will flow naturally from there.

66 The Other Les  5/16/08 10:05:34 am reply quote

re: #39 song_and_dance_man

And even simpler is this.

That was Heinlein's big worry when he wrote Solution Unsatisfactory.

67 unrealizedviewpoint  5/16/08 10:05:35 am reply quote

re: #37 Charles

Seven years after 9/11, we're handing enriched uranium to the country that sponsored and inspired the plot.

This is insane.

Just natural forward diplomatic progress, following the sale of advanced military aircraft and weaponry last year.

/

68 Kosh's Shadow  5/16/08 10:05:35 am reply quote

re: #52 Noah's Arrrgh

Keep in mind that the enriched uranium is not weapons grade enrichment. It's certainly the Low Enriched Uranium used in commercial light water plants, which is unusable for weapons. Furthermore, I think the idea is to have the whole plant's fuel cycle under the control of the western nations, with the idea that it will slow or prevent them from taking Iran's route to Nuclear Power.

I'm not sure what to think about this, it has it's plusses and minuses, but it is not necessarily crazy.

And after it is used in reactors, plutonium can be easily extracted.

69 ORD neighbor  5/16/08 10:06:09 am reply quote

Are we turning into France?
/sarcastic Osiraq reference

70 jcm  5/16/08 10:06:13 am reply quote

re: #25 savage_nation

And start developing that massive oil shale field beneath North Dakota and Montana. NOW

Total Saudi reserves? In the neighborhood of 280 Billion barrels.
North American Oil Sand and Shale? 8 TRILLION barrels.
At current price the extraction is cost effective.
The Bakken find in North Dakota we just announced? 200 Billion Barrels.

Crash program. Drill ANWAR and Bakken. Free of SA in 24 months.
5 years bring sand and shale on line.

WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE WAITING FOR?

71 buzzsawmonkey  5/16/08 10:06:43 am reply quote

re: #37 Charles

Seven years after 9/11, we're handing enriched uranium to the country that sponsored and inspired the plot.

This is insane.

But the President did get a nice sword.

72 Iron Fist[deleted]  5/16/08 10:06:48 am
73 Charles  5/16/08 10:06:55 am reply quote

re: #62 Ringo the Gringo

Do we have any reasons to believe that John McCain will as cozy with the Saudis as Bush has been?

I seriously doubt that John McCain will be any different in this regard.

74 Honorary Yooper  5/16/08 10:07:01 am reply quote

re: #58 Kenneth

True, but low-grade uranium can be used for "dirty bombs". Even if it cannot be used for typical weapons, I still don't think giving them this is a good idea.

As for the Saudis having a few nukes via Pakistan, that could be more trouble. Damn A Q Khan.

75 MandyManners  5/16/08 10:07:08 am reply quote

re: #70 jcm

Total Saudi reserves? In the neighborhood of 280 Billion barrels.
North American Oil Sand and Shale? 8 TRILLION barrels.
At current price the extraction is cost effective.
The Bakken find in North Dakota we just announced? 200 Billion Barrels.

Crash program. Drill ANWAR and Bakken. Free of SA in 24 months.
5 years bring sand and shale on line.

WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE WAITING FOR?

What about the newly discovered rerserves in Brazil?

76 Ringo the Gringo  5/16/08 10:07:19 am reply quote

I wonder if Bush will do the sword dance again?

77 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 10:07:41 am
78 jimmytheclaw  5/16/08 10:08:02 am reply quote

dee dee dee you have just entered the moonbat zone.

my magic 8 ball says this cant be good. what a story to wake up too

79 Killgore Trout  5/16/08 10:08:11 am reply quote

re: #76 Ringo the Gringo

I checked the pics. No sign of sword dancing yet.

80 Ringo the Gringo  5/16/08 10:08:26 am reply quote

re: #73 Charles

I seriously doubt that John McCain will be any different in this regard.

I hope you're wrong, but I think you're right.

81 Kalak  5/16/08 10:09:09 am reply quote

Gee, it'd be nice if we'd build some pebble bed reactors AND USED THAT FUEL OURSELVES FOR ELECTRICAL POWER!

82 stevieray  5/16/08 10:09:45 am reply quote

Fast-tracking the Saudi's nukes to counter Iran?

83 jimmytheclaw  5/16/08 10:09:51 am reply quote

re: #6 Charles

We're giving one of the world's most radical, primitive Islamic states the material to make nuclear weapons.

why not just give em a few nukes. man it is way to early to start drinking

84 song_and_dance_man[deleted]  5/16/08 10:10:08 am
85 BuddyG  5/16/08 10:10:45 am reply quote

Perhaps we're lookin' to ensure Saudi assistance in advanace of war with Iran?
Scary savior faire.

86 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 10:10:49 am
87 Kenneth  5/16/08 10:11:09 am reply quote

re: #63 Charles

They might do try to do that, but the point of this agreement is that they agree not to do it. (Yes, I know, "trust but verify" comes to mind.) Also included in the deal is the arrangement to take the spent fuel away for reprocessing. This is the same sort of deal the US, EU & Russians each offered to the Iranians, only to be refused.

88 ziggyelman  5/16/08 10:11:14 am reply quote

re: #70 jcm

Total Saudi reserves? In the neighborhood of 280 Billion barrels.
North American Oil Sand and Shale? 8 TRILLION barrels.
At current price the extraction is cost effective.
The Bakken find in North Dakota we just announced? 200 Billion Barrels.

Crash program. Drill ANWAR and Bakken. Free of SA in 24 months.
5 years bring sand and shale on line.

WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE WAITING FOR?

Is that true? 8 Trillion Barrels? We all know oil prices are way above what it needed to make it feasible.....is it environmental concerns at this point?

89 unrealizedviewpoint  5/16/08 10:11:48 am reply quote

Okay? What are we missing here? Why is this being done? What's the goal of this administrations actions supplying enriched uranium? Could it simply be they threatened to enrich it themselves and we really have no way of stopping them?

90 Athos  5/16/08 10:11:53 am reply quote

When did common sense get outlawed in DC?

91 Spiritualized  5/16/08 10:12:08 am reply quote

re: #22 gordonshandling

The States should have worked on oil independance (coming the Middle East that is) a long time ago.

That should've been declared on 9/12, the beginning of the end of oil dependency. The U.S. should've started drilling that very day as well as organising exclusive contracts with non-Islamic countries, so that not one dollar goes towards Jihad.

The West has had nearly EIGHT years to get alternatively powered cars on to the road and all we have to show for it is a few crappy hybrids.

Who Killed The Electric Car?

Other countries will buy Saudi oil? Then *accidentally* set fire to their oil fields.

92 stevieray  5/16/08 10:12:09 am reply quote

Damn. I wish I didn't have to go back to work... this subject opens alot of doors better left locked.

93 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 10:12:16 am
94 Iron Fist  5/16/08 10:12:29 am reply quote

Even the radioactive waste from a nuclear reactor could be used in a dirty bomb. Do we, dare we, trust the Saudis to safegard it?

95 The Other Les  5/16/08 10:12:29 am reply quote

re: #88 ziggyelman

Is that true? 8 Trillion Barrels? We all know oil prices are way above what it needed to make it feasible.....is it environmental concerns at this point?

I've come to the conclusion that "environmental concerns" is a nice way to say F**k humanity.

96 Render  5/16/08 10:12:34 am reply quote

Scare mongering.

Similar to the "depleted uranium making people sick" stories.

BETCHA,
R

97 BIGDUKE 6  5/16/08 10:13:11 am reply quote

re: #9 Sharmuta

The insane price of oil is not being created by increased demand;rather its a mess being created by commodities traders and the vise-like grip of oil company monopolies. Speculation & greed not demand is why I am being bent over at the gas pump. So in a sense the Saudis are correct and they sit over in that sh*thole of a country laughing all the way to their swiss banks.

98 ec marm  5/16/08 10:13:12 am reply quote

I was reading an article on breeder reactors recently that said that the enriched uranium could be "tainted" in such a way that it could never be purified for use in a nuclear device. I'm hoping, repeat hoping, that this is the case here.

99 unrealizedviewpoint  5/16/08 10:13:20 am reply quote

re: #85 BuddyG

Perhaps we're lookin' to ensure Saudi assistance in advanace of war with Iran?
Scary savior faire.

Good point. But I'm fairly certain we have their assistance in this matter.

100 Athos  5/16/08 10:13:41 am reply quote

There is clearly a major problem with who we define are our strategic allies and reality.

101 Morganfrost  5/16/08 10:14:04 am reply quote

If we ever send nuclear material over there, it should be delivered by ballistic missile. As to the oil, we need to stop asking them for it, and start compelling them. In light of the fact that we're propping up their worthless monarchy, and preserving what little stability they enjoy in that region at great expense in US treasure and blood, I believe that a 15% tax on all Saudi oil revenues would be reasonable. I'm also pretty sure that the Saudis would agree to it, were the case made strongly enough.

102 ziggyelman  5/16/08 10:14:06 am reply quote

re: #75 MandyManners

What about the newly discovered rerserves in Brazil?

I read somewhere the technology doesn't yet exist to get the oil out....in fact, it's so hot at the depth the oil is, metal melts!

103 buzzsawmonkey  5/16/08 10:14:17 am reply quote

No Uranium For Oil!

104 Kenneth  5/16/08 10:14:48 am reply quote

re: #74 Honorary Yooper

Many other isotopes can be used more effectively than uranium for dirty bombs. If the Saudis wanted to make some dirty bombs, they will have them already. They don't need US uranium fuel rods. The point of this deal is a careful accounting of all uranium delivered & returned for reprocessing.

Trust but verify is a very good principle to apply here.

105 Athos  5/16/08 10:15:01 am reply quote

re: #95 The Other Les

I've come to the conclusion that "environmental concerns" is a nice way to say F**k humanity.

Well, the fascist left does support eugenics.....which is yet another way to say "F**k humanity".

106 Roger  5/16/08 10:15:13 am reply quote

We should be putting the uranium to good use in our own power plants.

107 indythinker  5/16/08 10:15:13 am reply quote

It's starting to look like Bush is selling his country, his party, and his reputation out for his oil buddies.

108 unrealizedviewpoint  5/16/08 10:15:37 am reply quote

re: #103 buzzsawmonkey

No Uranium For Oil!

another rotating title nominee

109 savage_nation[deleted]  5/16/08 10:15:38 am
110 Render  5/16/08 10:15:41 am reply quote

re: #90 Athos

Sometime in the 1780's.

Or, shortly after the DC Beltway was built.

PICK
EM,
R

111 Sunlight  5/16/08 10:15:44 am reply quote

re: #7 The Other Les

They give our politicians and academics money.

Also, since 9/11 we have had a good man as President who lost the birth lottery by being born to an oil soaked family. He says what is in his heart in Israel, but his load is that he's grown up with "Uncle Abdullah" and just can't see the reality of the deatheating gangs in the Middle East. He just can't seem to cross over into the space of facing down people like the Saudis against the wishes of his family and people like Jim Baker. I guess he's done the best he can with it (and has certainly enjoyed the perks of the $$), but I think it will be good to have a leader not tied in knots over the people who raised people flying airliners into office buildings. I hope he doesn't do another war dance with them on this visit.

112 mfarmer1  5/16/08 10:15:46 am reply quote

Bush is shooting for an 80% disapproval rating. The Jimmy Carter of the GOP. November is going to be a bloodbath for Republicans. Deservedly so.

113 experiencedtraveller  5/16/08 10:15:46 am reply quote

re: #81 Kalak

Gee, it'd be nice if we'd build some pebble bed reactors AND USED THAT FUEL OURSELVES FOR ELECTRICAL POWER!

Good idea but have you ever tried to build ANY type of industrial facility in the US? I have. You will need 10,000 man hours of top notch lawyering before you touch a shovel.

114 galloping granny  5/16/08 10:15:55 am reply quote

re: #74 Honorary Yooper

True, but low-grade uranium can be used for "dirty bombs". Even if it cannot be used for typical weapons, I still don't think giving them this is a good idea.

As for the Saudis having a few nukes via Pakistan, that could be more trouble. Damn A Q Khan.

Look, the Saudis already have all kinds of fancy medical equipment that produces radioactive waste which can be used for dirty bombs. Our own hospitals manage to lose track of the stuff fairly regularly, so I suspect that if somebody really wanted to divert the stuff in the Magic Kingdom, that could happen.

Refusing to sell/give them low-grade uranium is not going to do squat as far as preventing them from making a dirty bomb tomorrow if they want one.

115 bulwrk  5/16/08 10:15:58 am reply quote

re: #70 jcm

The just released USGS report estimated technically recoverable oil in the Bakken at between 3 to 4.3 billion barrels.