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Old 19th Jan 2012, 20:30
  #337 (permalink)  
COCL2
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: The Chemistry Lab
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Just a comment on Iran signing the non-proliferation treaty.

Back in the days when I was shpiping "sensitive" materials around, it was drummed into us signing such was merely a way of easing access to dual-use materials..
Essentially signing the NPT was regarded as simply a means to an end, and did not imply that the countries involved would comply with the NPT. They'd just get the technology - and then redirect it in contravention of the treaty.

Now if I remember correctly, the following are the countries we had to take extra care with to ensure dual-use materials (nuclear, chemical and rocketry) were controlled (irrespective of whatever they had signed) :

North Korea
South Korea
South Africa
Israel
India
Pakistan
Libya
Syria
Iraq
Iran
These were the "rogue" - or potential rogue - states.
.
So who is left?
South Korea and Israel aren't going to do anything without the USA agreeing.
China is keeping the lid on North Korea
South Africa is pretty much out of the scene due to industrial decline since "equality"
India seems to keep its intention to itself, but certainly doesn't do much sabre rattling. They don't seem likely to start lobbing missiles around - they know there's too much to lose
Libya and Iraq have both been - for now - industrially neutralised and don't represent a proliferation risk

Who does that leave from the ten?
Pakistan - currently stable, but if theres a military coup then anything could happen.
Syria - currently in the throes of civil war.
Iran
These are the only "rogue states" which have not had their risk factor curtailed or controlled in one way or another
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