Hypocritical US: Absolutely No Shame

U.S. could help Egypt with nuclear program, ambassador says

CAIRO, Egypt President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday called for Egypt to pursue nuclear energy, as the U.S ambassador said Washington would be willing to help its Mideast ally develop a peaceful program.

Mubarak echoed a call made earlier this week by his son, Gamal, who many believe is being groomed to succeed his father. The proposal surprised some, who saw it as a jab at the United States, which is locked in a confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program. Washington claims Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies.

"We must increase our exploitation of new energy sources, including the peaceful uses of nuclear energy," President Mubarak said in a televised speech at the closing session of a three-day conference of his ruling National Democratic Party.

"I call for a serious debate (in Egypt), taking into consideration what nuclear tecnology can provide by way of clean, inexpensive energy sources," he said.

He said Egypt was "not starting from zero. We have knowledge of this technology, enabling us to move forward with it."

Egypt has conducted nuclear experiments on a very small scale for the past four decades but they have not included the key process of uranium enrichment, according to the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog. The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a 2005 report that the program did not appear to be aimed at developing weapons.

U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Francis Ricciardone, said the United States had no problem with an Egyptian nuclear program and is ready to supply technology to help.

"There is no comparison between Iran and Egypt in this field. Iran has a nuclear weapons program, but using nuclear power for peaceful means is totally different matter," he told the Egyptian TV station El-Mehwar.

"If Egypt, after detailed study on this subject, decides that nuclear power is a positive thing and important for Egypt, we can cooperate in this field. Why not?" he said.

"We have a program, the Global Nuclear Energy Program. We are ready to supply nuclear technology to friendly states which want to benefit from civilian, peaceful nuclear power," Ricciardone said.

The 42-year-old Gamal Mubarak made the nuclear proposal during a speech on Tuesday at a conference of the ruling National Democratic Party, where he is the deputy secretary general.

At a press conference the following day, he underlined that any program would not be aimed at developing weapons. "Egypt has signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which stipulates that members use nuclear energy for peaceful means," he said.

The call may have had more to do with domestic politics: to establish the younger Mubarak's credentials as a serious politician with a call for an ambitious high-tech program.

By implication, it would also put some distance between him and the United States in Egyptians' eyes, since many here are sympathic with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's stand that Iran has the right to develop nuclear technology despite U.S. pressure.

Egyptian officials have largely remained on the sidelines of international criticism of Iran's nuclear program, which the U.S. has said aims to produce nuclear weapons, although Tehran claims its goal is to generate electricity.

Many in Egypt believe the pro-business Gamal Mubarak is being put on track to succeed his father, whose term ends in 2011. Both Mubaraks have denied any plans for succession, but during the current party conference some members touted the son as a suitable leader.

Original article posted here.