Gamal Mubarak 'Proposes' Pursuing Nuclear 'Energy'

Well, this is just great. Now that Iran is 'pursuing' nuclear, ahem, 'energy', other Arab countries start to think that it might be in their best interest to develop nuclear 'energy' as well. Gamal Mubarak, son of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and likely successor of his father said:

"The whole world - I don'tt want to say all, but many developing countries - have proposed and started to execute the issue of alternative energy," he said. "It is time for Egypt to put forth, and the party will put forth, this proposal for discussion about its future energy policies, the issue of alternative energy, including nuclear energy, as one of the alternatives."

He also said in a clear reference to the White House: "We do not accept visions from abroad that try to dissolve the Arab identity and the joint Arab efforts within the framework of the so-called Greater Middle East Initiative."

What's this? Some kind of showing off? Showing that he is not 'intimidated' by Washington either?

Of course, the problem is much deeper than that, as Gaius points out at Blue Crab Boulevard:

The Egyptians are rightfully worried about a nuclear armed new Persian Empire. They do not want to become a province of the Mullah's new territorial ambitions. Experts have been warning about the inevitable nuclear arms race that Iran will touch off with its program. It has already begun. Numerous other states will now begin pursuing them.

A Middle East in which numerous countries are nuclear armed is something we truly cannot afford. This is yet another reason why the West must act united towards Iran. Not only must Iran be prevented from develop nuclear weapons, it must also be made clear that the West is not willing to accept any country in the Middle East to develop them. If the West is too soft regarding Iran, if the West is not willing to take a strong and uncompromising stand, other countries in the region will know that they can get away with it (as well) and will, as a result, ignore demands from the West.
The really sad thing here is that the UN is already backing off from Iran: this sends the signal to every other Middle Eastern country that they not only need to develop nuclear weapons themselves (as to be able to resist Iran), but that they, quite simply, can get away with ignoring the international community.

Talking about opening Pandora's box...

Cross posted at Liberty and Justice