Syria and Nukes

[Ya2]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2512380.ece

[Ya2]

40 views and no one replies?

[Nubian Warrior]

here's a reply. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Iranian Guards]

syria has not a nuclear program. they must listen first to iran then they can make decisions.

[Ya2]

syria has not a nuclear program. they must listen first to iran then they can make decisions.

Are you a syrian offical that u know they dont have nukes?

[JEskandari]

It's my replay too.

[Lurker22]

Are you a syrian offical that u know they dont have nukes?

Syria's relationship with North Korean is due to Iran's relationship with NK.

Iran's relationship with NK is far more serious than Syria's "nuclear material" transfer bullcrap.

If Syria has even 1 NK nuke that means Iran has a 3-5 NK nukes.

I think all that NK is doing is transfering its uranium(highly enriched) to Iran and Syria while it shows the world it is a "nuclear free nation".

But I still doubt that NK would transfer its small nuclear weapons inventory to Syria, Iran would be a much safer location and even then its a small chance that NK would make such a move.

[Janbaz]

syria has not a nuclear program. they must listen first to iran then they can make decisions.

Destructive comment.

Iran and Syria are not looking for Nuclear Bomb, they have no reason to do that. The US, and Israeli claimed those are Nuclear material that were shipped to Syria by North Korea, but so far no reply from Syria or Iran in this matter. Some times they don't reply to keep the enemy in still stand. Any how, wait till one of the two country explain the container contents then we can go from there.

[indianguy]

syria has not a nuclear program. they must listen first to iran then they can make decisions.

Nuclear Overview


Syria has a small nuclear program that can be described, at best, as "elemental" to a nuclear fuel cycle program. Most of the program has revolved around research and the production of isotopes for use in medical and agricultural applications. Although Syria does not appear to have ever pursued nuclear weapons, there have been rumors that it considered doing so in the early 1980s. These rumors are mainly based on statements made by high-level Syrian officials and would-be arms suppliers. However, no nuclear weapons program has ever materialized or been initiated. It appears that the Syrian nuclear program continues to be focused solely on civilian nuclear research, based on international cooperation, and set to support a continued domestic aspiration for a nuclear power program.
Assistance to Syria has come from various countries including Belgium, China, Germany, and the former Soviet Union. Additionally, over the years, Syria has solicited proposals from other countries including Argentina, India, and Italy. The International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) has assisted Syria on numerous projects including uranium exploration, uranium extraction from phosphoric acid, isotope production, construction of a cyclotron facility, development of nuclear research laboratories, and preparation for a nuclear power program.

History

Syria signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1969. It took this step to obtain the political and technical benefits that come from signing the treaty. In the aftermath of its losses in the Six Day War, Syria felt that it needed broader support from the international community to guard against Israeli acts of aggression. Additionally, the government wanted to take advantage of technical assistance from the IAEA and its member states that is only available after a state signs the NPT.

In 1979, Syria established its Atomic Energy Commission (AECS) largely to manage IAEA assistance programs and to plan for the eventual development of a nuclear power program. In 1983, the IAEA assisted Syria in establishing an analytical laboratory that was equipped with systems for atomic spectrometry and various other experiments. Five Syrian scientists were trained in Hungary, the United States, Yugoslavia, and Austria as a part of the project. Also in 1983, Syrian and Soviet scientists carried out a joint study on the construction of a nuclear power reactor in Syria. This study was part of an IAEA cooperative assistance project to help Syria understand the requirements for developing and maintaining a nuclear program.

Although Syria has probably never attempted to indigenously build nuclear weapons, there have been rumors that it might be interested in obtaining such weapons to deter an Israeli nuclear weapons threat. In fact, in 1986, when questioned on his opinion of the Israeli nuclear arsenal, Syrian Chief of Staff General Hihmet Al-Siabi suggested that Syria would strive to achieve strategic equality with Israel including nuclear parity.[1]

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Syria began exploring its potential for indigenous nuclear resources. Upon completion of several uranium exploration projects, Syria began experiments to extract uranium from its vast phosphoric rock reserves. In 1986, the IAEA and AECS constructed a micro-plant at the General Phosphate Company Plant in Homs to study the process of uranium extraction from phosphoric acid. The plant would be the forerunner to a commercial plant if Syria obtained a nuclear power reactor and needed fresh fuel regularly. In 1996, Syria began developing a plant to recover uranium from tri-superphosphates using a similar technology. That facility came online in 2001.

In 1991, China started constructing Syria's first research reactor, a 30KW miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR) to be located at the Der Al-Hadjar Nuclear Research Center near Damascus. China provided Syria with approximately 980 grams of 89% enriched U235 to operate the reactor. That facility went critical in 1996 and become fully operational in 1998. The MNSR gives Syria the capability to produce neutrons for nuclear analysis, isotopes for industrial applications, and radioisotopes for training purposes, but is unsuitable for weapons production.

In 1997, the IAEA approved a technical assistance project to provide Syria with a cyclotron facility. It was to be built at the Nuclear Medicine Centre in Damascus. The Cyclon-30 cyclotron, provided by Belgium's Ion Beam Applications, is the same model as the cyclotron in Iran, where it is suspected of being used to enrich uranium. The facility's status is unknown.

In more recent years, Syria has continued to develop its nuclear research facilities and other facilities to help manage its nuclear material. The government has also entered into new cooperation agreements with several countries, most notably Russia. In 1998, the intergovernmental Russia-Syrian Commission on Trade and Scientific and Technical Cooperation signed of a memorandum of cooperation between Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy and the AECS. Part of this accord was an agreement to construct a nuclear research center that would include a 25MW research reactor.

Current Status


Syria's nuclear program remains in the fundamental stages of development, with virtually no fuel cycle facilities in operation. However, there are a number of operating research facilities in Syria, including the Der Al-Hadjar Nuclear Research Center near Damascus, a nuclear analysis laboratory, and the Scientific Research Institute (SRI) in Damascus. The SRI has allegedly taken in Iraqi scientists prior to the recent Gulf War. In December 2002, an Italian newspaper cited an Iraqi officer who asserted that Syria had allowed Iraq to store its weapons of mass destruction in Syria research centers. These allegations were never confirmed.

In 2003, Russian and Syrian officials continued their negotiations for the construction of a nuclear facility that would include a nuclear power plant and a seawater atomic desalination plant. Open sources reported that the Russian Minister of Atomic Energy confirmed that discussions over supplying Syria with a power plant and a desalination plant were taking place. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman refuted the Minatom statement and denied that any discussion had taken place. Consequently, Syria's quest for obtaining a nuclear power plant remains an unanswered question.

In 2004, Syria responded to U.S. and U.K. pressure to relinquish its WMD by declaring that it is prepared to do so when Israel does the same. The United States imposed sanctions in May, citing Syria's pursuit of WMD programs as one of the reasons for this step. A Syria-EU trade accord hurdle was resolved in October with agreement on a WMD clause, subject to final approval by EU foreign ministers. IAEA chief ElBaradei has asserted that there is no reason to believe Syria was a client of A.Q. Khan's nuclear proliferation network.


The head of the Iraq Survey Group Charles Duelfer has exhausted his search for WMD in Iraq. He stated that there is no evidence that WMD were transferred to Syria before the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

In early 2007 Syria announced possible plans to pursue nuclear energy in order to meet increased energy consumption in the country. Syrian officials have stated that nuclear energy could provide a feasible energy alternative in light of concerns of oil depletion and a ten percent annual increase in electricity use.[2] However, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stresses that Syria is not seeking to become a nuclear power, and argues that Damascus’ ultimate aim is a nuclear-free Middle East

http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Syria/Nuclear/index.html

[Bumble Bee]

Syria has no nuclear program. If so then wouldn't it have been much more of an urgency to attack Syria's near finished nuclear program than Iran's 3 year off proigram?

Plus, Israel hit nothing in Syria and because of it have displayed no satellite photos of their "success." They claim that they hit a chemical factory and destroyed a nuclear factory. This is after they said they hit a moblie target, a vehicle heading to Lebanin with supplies. Those are 3 clearly distinct targets, which are just lies, in an attempt to cover their FAILED attack.

[worldleader]

i agree syria has no nuclear program. syria is generally economically weaker too compared to not only israel but on worldwide basis too. it needs to revamp its flailing economy

[JEskandari]

syria needs to rethink its future it has a failed economy failed military old fashion way .this will lead it to more weakness and more reliance on others. it needs to modernise move to the west particulrily europe and usa it should move away from russia all russia sells them is crapy misiles that never work. Syria should stike a deal with israel get most of golan back even if its 60%.

This will give it a booming economy cafes shopping centres and prosperity.

Its friends north korea iran hizbalah are all doomed and it will share their fate if it sticks to them.

common Bashar wake up
I wont think your solution is practicable ,advisable or useful in real world.
Its only wishes of .........

[Byhistory&law]

As all true soldiers know, "huff and puff" governments throughout the world, are greater threats to their own citizens, than their "purported" enemies...,

[Ya2]

Assad: .........

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411523185&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

all the guys who deny it here please start talking about the Irani AA vs Israeli jets cause Syria's AA situation doesn't look good..

[indianguy]

In the early hours of 6 September a number of Israeli jets appeared to enter Syrian air-space from the Mediterranean Sea.

Later unidentified drop tanks, which may have contained fuel from the planes, were found on Turkish soil near the Syrian border, indicating a possible exit route.

Israeli officials have not confirmed the incursion. The Syrian authorities previously said that the aircraft were driven off but that they fired their weaponry into a deserted area.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7021986.stm

Previously, Syrian officials had said only that the IAF warplanes entered the country's airspace, came under fire from anti-aircraft defenses, and dropped munitions and fuel tanks over northeastern Syria to lighten their loads while they fled.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411523185&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The Syrian president also told the BBC that Syria reserves the right to respond to the Israel Air Force's alleged attack last month inside its territory.


Syria denied Sunday that military activity is taking place at the Dir al-Zur research farm, which was the target of the alleged IAF bombing raid in Syria about a month ago, according to a report last week in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

The denial came in the form of a Syrian television broadcast that showed pictures of civilian agricultural research taking place at the site under the auspices of the Arab League.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/908674.html

The Israeli air strike in northern Syria early in September showed Israel's "visceral antipathy towards peace," Syrian President Bashar Assad told the BBC in an interview Monday.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3455322,00.html

Israel is widely believed to have carried out an air raid against Syria on September 6. Some reports suggested that the raid may have targeted a military site linked to the production of weapons of mass destruction while others said it struck Iranian arms bound for the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla movement.One report said the Israeli raid was aimed at testing new Syrian air defenses.

Israel has steadfastly refused to comment or to confirm what sort of operation it carried out, if any.

Diplomats in Damascus say, however, that at least four Israeli warplanes crossed into its territory, and some U.S. officials have linked the raid to Israeli suspicions of secret nuclear cooperation between Syria and North Korea.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0191261020071001?pageNumber=2

www.timesonline.co.uk till now no news regarding Syrian president Interview. even cnn

[Ya2]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3455752,00.html

[Iranian Guards]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3455752,00.html thanks for posting a unreliable zionist website:wub2:

[IR.IRAN]

although it will seem very likely that syria will need nukes, i actually dont think so, iran and syria both have the same intentions and thats peaceful nuclear energy, its a risk for syria to aquire nuclear weapons in many cases, security, economy etc

[Iranian Guards]

syria is Iran`s puppet. they must first get permission of iran, then they can decide.

[IR.IRAN]

syria is Iran`s puppet. they must first get permission of iran, then they can decide.

come on bro dont say that, they are more like close allys.

[Cedric]

syria is Iran`s puppet. they must first get permission of iran, then they can decide.

:roflmao3: Iran aspires to be like the Great Satan and wants to have puppets. Iranians are proud that Syria is their puppet.LOL

.

[IR.IRAN]

:roflmao3: Iran aspires to be like the Great Satan and wants to have puppets. Iranians are proud that Syria is their puppet.LOL

.

smart lad arnt ya:wub2:

[IR.IRAN]

Thread moved to Syria forum

[skhara]

Iran aspires to be like the Great Satan and wants to have puppets.
.

:roflmao3: Clever.

[snc128]

syria is Iran`s puppet. they must first get permission of iran, then they can decide.

what is this? a joke?
very naughty ,indeed ugly:tired1_24: