4 ms·

Yes, how awful. Another country trying to get off of fossil fuels. How ever will we cope? In seriousness, how the hell is any of this relevant?

lsaferite 9y ago
Well, under the hyperbolic post I see someone saying that Saudi Arabia going after nuclear power should be viewed with great skepticism, and some amount of trepidation, based off their past and present conduct.
- OmnipotentEntit 9y ago
  Sure, but having nuclear reactors != having nuclear weapons. There are two ways to make nuclear weapons: enrichment and harvesting plutonium from reactors designed to make it. Enrichment is almost certainly not going to be acceptable due to past and present conduct. Harvesting is going to simply not be possible, because it requires a type of reactor designed for the task, and nearly all modern reactors are actively designed against it (known as proliferation resistant reactors). The US and allies won't sell LEU to the Sauds if they know they don't have proliferation resistant reactors. Russia and Pakistan might though. Which is why it's important to lock the Sauds in on proliferation resistant reactors and LEU imports ASAP.
baursak 9y ago
When Iran tries to do the same, all hell breaks loose. Media mindlessly and predictably add "weapons" to any mentions of Iranian nuclear program.
- OmnipotentEntit 9y ago
  To be fair, Iran had an enrichment program that they were actively hiding under a mountain, they were clearly developing for nuclear weapons, because if you have the enrichment capability why wouldn't you? But on the other hand, I see that exactly as the reason we ought to be involved with Iran's nuclear program and actively supporting it.
  - 0xWilliam 9y ago
    source for this?
    - sunir 9y ago
      Did you not hear the amazing tale of Stuxnet? Buckle in. The world has truly became a cyberpunk playland. https://www.wired.com/2014/11/countdown-to-zero-day-stuxnet/ https://www.wired.com/2014/11/countdown-to-zero-day-stuxnet/

lsaferite 9y ago

Well, under the hyperbolic post I see someone saying that Saudi Arabia going after nuclear power should be viewed with great skepticism, and some amount of trepidation, based off their past and present conduct.

OmnipotentEntit 9y ago
Sure, but having nuclear reactors != having nuclear weapons. There are two ways to make nuclear weapons: enrichment and harvesting plutonium from reactors designed to make it. Enrichment is almost certainly not going to be acceptable due to past and present conduct. Harvesting is going to simply not be possible, because it requires a type of reactor designed for the task, and nearly all modern reactors are actively designed against it (known as proliferation resistant reactors). The US and allies won't sell LEU to the Sauds if they know they don't have proliferation resistant reactors. Russia and Pakistan might though. Which is why it's important to lock the Sauds in on proliferation resistant reactors and LEU imports ASAP.

baursak 9y ago

When Iran tries to do the same, all hell breaks loose. Media mindlessly and predictably add "weapons" to any mentions of Iranian nuclear program.

OmnipotentEntit 9y ago
To be fair, Iran had an enrichment program that they were actively hiding under a mountain, they were clearly developing for nuclear weapons, because if you have the enrichment capability why wouldn't you? But on the other hand, I see that exactly as the reason we ought to be involved with Iran's nuclear program and actively supporting it.
- 0xWilliam 9y ago
  source for this?
  - sunir 9y ago
    Did you not hear the amazing tale of Stuxnet? Buckle in. The world has truly became a cyberpunk playland. https://www.wired.com/2014/11/countdown-to-zero-day-stuxnet/ https://www.wired.com/2014/11/countdown-to-zero-day-stuxnet/