Syrian Nuclear Project

Syrian Nuclear Project

Last month Israel led an air attack on a Syrian site the Israelis thought was a partially constructed nuclear reactor. Both American and Israeli intelligence say the reactor was modeled after one North Korea has used to create its nuclear weapons fuel. Some American and foreign officials think the strike was premature. Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, said the site was a building “related to the military” but was not used. Many details of the strike have been withheld by the Israelis thus far, but as more information becomes known, an accurate assessment on the situation can be made.

In 1981, Israel destroyed the Osirak reactor in Iraq shortly before it would have become operational. The attack was officially condemned by the Reagan administration. The Israelis think it was one of their military’s greatest achievements. Weeks before the Iraq war, President Bush said that the attack set back Iraq’s nuclear program by many years. The same could be true of this latest attack on Syria, except many experts believe the reactor Israel bombed last month was much further from completion. It could have taken years for the reactor to be able to produce bomb-grade plutonium.

Another matter complicating the issue is the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty which Syria has signed. Even though it has vowed not to build nuclear weapons, Syria could still build a nuclear reactor as long as it is used to produce electricity. Syria could even finish building the reactor without having to say anything about it.

Furthering the complication is the possibility that North Korea was helping Syria build the reactor. Some members of the Bush administration have said, behind closed doors, that the U.S. should reconsider its negotiations with North Korea, and its diplomatic strategy toward Syria. The problem is the negotiations with North Korea have been going quite well lately, and it would be a bad thing to mess that up. There is also the possibility that North Korea sold plans to Syria years ago, and Syria is just beginning to use them now.

As one can see, issues in the Middle East are delicate. It seems like if one thing goes good another problem occurs. Talks with North Korea have been going well and now we find out they may be selling their plans. This could have been a premature attack by the Israelis, but Israel probably would not plan an air strike for no reason. Syria’s president came out and said himself that the building was associated with the military. His statement basically throws out the possibility that the reactor being built was for electricity. Right now, the U.S. needs to wait for more details about the bombing, so it can decide its plan of action.

Grade Received: 10/10