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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group

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To: Hawkmoon who wrote (106805)	7/21/2003 11:15:32 PM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (1) of 281500

I would agree that N. Korea poses much less of a threat than militant Islam. I also suspect that the possibility of a nuclear sale is smaller than some guess. The North Koreans sell for money, not ideology, which means they weigh cost and benefit to some degree. They know they can get away with missile sales, and they know that a missile customer is likely to be a repeat customer, meaning a lasting revenue stream. A nuke sale would be a one-shot, and if it is used and traced, the cost would be very high. A huge amount would have to be involved to make it worth it. Which is why I believe Saudi Arabia is the nation that has to be dealt with, if they are unable/unwilling to repress and/or reform their Wahhabist clerics. Repressing them would be counterproductive, and reform is highly unlikely. The problem is the absence of any superior alternative to the existing government. Democracy in Saudi Arabia would only get you an Wahabbi theocracy. And Iraq is the key to diminishing Saudi Arabia's power. Ken Pollack has some things to say on this score in the current Foreign Affairs. Don't bet on any significant reduction in Saudi importance any time soon.

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