WRMEA, Sept/Oct 2010, Pages 60-61
Waging Peace
Israel's Nuclear Arsenal—Espionage, Opacity and Future
The Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) held an informative panel discussion on "Israel's Nuclear Arsenal: Espionage, Opacity and Future" on July 7, at a fitting venue—the International Spy Museum, in Washington, DC. Panelists tackled the vital questions that mainstream American media choose to ignore: What do newly declassified documents about weapons grade uranium and dual-use technology diversions from the U.S. reveal about the role of espionage in building Israel's secret nuclear arsenal? Did Israel's proposed nuclear weapons sales to apartheid South Africa signal the weapons are still for sale if the partner and price are right? Do FBI and CIA cover-ups of investigations into Israeli nuclear espionage indicate official U.S. government approval or political acquiescence? Did cooperating with Israel's policy of "strategic ambiguity" ever make sense for the United States? Is the era of "nuclear opacity" now coming to an end? Are Israel's nuclear weapons of strategic benefit to the U.S.?
Moderator Jeffrey Blankfort described the devolution of the U.S. position on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)'s international call for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons. He also recounted first-hand experiences with an Anti-Defamation League/apartheid South Africa intelligence agent targeting U.S. activists.
Sasha Polakow-Suransky, editor of Foreign Affairs magazine at the Council on Foreign Relations, reviewed apartheid South African sales of yellow-cake uranium to Israel's military establishment and argued that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) contributed to U.S. policymaking. Polakow-Suransky is author of the 2010 book The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa, which is available from the AET Book Club
Grant F. Smith, director of IRmep and author of the books Spy Trade, America's Defense Line and Foreign Agents, all available from the AET Book Club, explored how collaborating in Israeli "strategic ambiguity" has undermined the rule of law and governance in the United States. He reviewed the newly declassified report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) regarding the 1965 Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation (NUMEC) nuclear diversion case, in which more than 200 pounds of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium vanished from the NUMEC plant in Apollo, Pennsylvania. Most analysts agree the material was clandestinely diverted to Israel for use in its nuclear weapons program, either with or without the acquiescence of the U.S. government.
John J. Mearsheimer, professor of political science and co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago, referenced Israel's 1967 attack on the USSLiberty, the killing of peace and justice activist Rachel Corrie, and Israel's recent assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. "There is no accountability for Israel on any issue," stated the West Point graduate. Mearsheimer, author of The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, and co-author of The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy, also available from the AET Book Club, discussed why Israel acquired a nuclear arsenal and the danger it presents to U.S. interests.
Listeners can download audio files of the "Israel's Nuclear Arsenal" panel presentations, or watch an HD video online by visiting <www.irmep.org>.
—Delinda C. Hanley
