The Saudi Chief of Intelligence, speaking to a conference in Bahrain on security issues, spoke of a "nuclear arms race" in the Middle East. He blamed the race on Israel, adding that other Middle Eastern countries added to the "competition" only because they felt threatened by Israel.

Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Azziz addressed a roomfull of prominent officials from as far as Iran, saying, "The fact that Israel has nuclear weapons is the most dangerous threat against Gulf security."

Abdul-Azziz did not mention that motives amongst Israel and its neighbors differ . . .namely in that Israel hasn't openly threatened to wipe any of its neighbors "off the face of the earth", while fundamentalist Islamic political and religious representatives, and most recently the president of Iraq, have said in public that Israel must be annihilated.

The Prince even managed to get in a few stabs at the U.S. policy in the Middle East. Surely those watching around the world would have hoped to hear more constructive conversation about middle east security and the proliferation of nuclear arms in the region, given growing widespread political unrest and instability. As it was, it was an Israel-bashing fest - likely staged for the benefit of the world media.

The full story can be seen at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061208/wl_nm/saudi_security_dc_1