Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead
On Tuesday, the House Oversight and Reform Committee revealed that, based on the testimony of “multiple” whistleblowers, the Trump Administration has been attempting to rush through a transfer of “highly sensitive U.S. nuclear technology” to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia without Congressional approval in violation of federal law.
Before the Committee’s revelation on Tuesday, we knew that since 2017, the Trump Administration has been in negotiations with the kingdom over a “123 agreement” which would allow American corporations such as Westinghouse to transfer technology to the Saudis for the construction of two nuclear power plants.[1] These agreements are permitted under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, subject to Congressional approval.
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“Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.”
—Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman
This alarming remark from the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia came during an interviewwith the prince which aired on the March 18, 2018 “60 Minutes.”
After Venezuela, Saudi Arabia sits on the largest oil reserves on the planet. Why does it need nuclear power? The Saudis give several reasons. Under his ambitious “Vision 2030”plan, MBS, as the crown prince is known, is out to diversify the Saudi economy and make the kingdom…