Could Egypt Go Nuclear?
Egypt's heir apparent to President Hosni Mubarak, his son Gamal, spoke twice this week about Egypt possibly developing nuclear energy technology. The ruling National Democratic Party (NPD) held its annual meeting where this seems to have been the major topic. On the radio this morning I heard an Israel reporter dicusssing this, and he was not happy about the prospect.
Here are some of Mubarak's comments taken from the International Herald Tribune:
It's important to have a future look for the coming 20 years, especially in light of the developments that take place in the oil market in general, and Egypt's economic growth and increase of consumption," Mubarak said when asked about nuclear energy.
In a related article the US Ambassador to Egypt said the United States would consider helping Egypt with this project.
If Egypt, after detailed study on this subject, decides that nuclear power is a positive thing and important for Egypt, we can cooperate in this field. Why not?" (Ambassador) Francis Ricciardone told al-Mehwar television channel.
"We have a program, the Global Nuclear Energy Program. We are ready to supply nuclear technology to friendly states which want to benefit from civilian, peaceful nuclear power," he said, speaking in Arabic.
Egypt has 73 million population and receives the second largest amount of foreign aid from America. Israel, thgought by many to already have a nuclear weapon, receives the most.
To see another Arab state enter the world of nuclear development is a significant development in light of the crisis over Iran's nuclear programs. Many worry at the region becoming destabilized with nuclear technology falling into the wrong hands. We wrote on this subject in an WNP article earlier this year. You might want to review that article for further insight into this story.
