tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post116595772393382835..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: The World's Worst-Kept SecretGeorge Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-1166036393826937852006-12-13T13:59:00.000-05:002006-12-13T13:59:00.000-05:00Mav--most of Israel's early access to nuclear tech...Mav--most of Israel's early access to nuclear technology was provided by the French; by the time we became their primary supporters, the Israelis were on their way, and didn't need technical assistance. However, there is the possibility of some informal transfers during the 1960s. You'll note that comment from our former CIA station chief in Tel Aviv that he often "looked the other way" when it came to the Israeli nuke program.<BR/><BR/>Beans--Testing isn't an absolute necessity, but it certainly helps. There is credible reporting that Israel and South Africa may have conducted some tests in the late 1970s, in the Indian Ocean off the African Coast. We caught one test in 1979, apparently because the weather cleared ahead of schedule. Our ability to detect nuke tests was less exacting in those days, and there's belief that Israel and South Africa may have conducted two more (before 1979) that we missed.<BR/><BR/>Ef Jefe--I think this was a slip of the lip on Olmert's part. However, you can expect some anonmyous "revelations" in the months to come, as Israel provides veiled warnings to Iran.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712369389411084085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-1166023686272260322006-12-13T10:28:00.000-05:002006-12-13T10:28:00.000-05:00I wonder if it was a slip, or if Israel is perhaps...I wonder if it was a slip, or if Israel is perhaps even more alarmed about Iranian nuclear developments than they appear to be ? They look plenty alarmed as is, and rightly so.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it was a "slip," -- an official/not official reminder ?El Jefe Maximohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14661511063910659377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-1166020548934597162006-12-13T09:35:00.000-05:002006-12-13T09:35:00.000-05:00But wouldn't Israel have had to conduct tests like...But wouldn't Israel have had to conduct tests like everybody else? Did she?eatyourbeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10142141654341688097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-1165958397291737152006-12-12T16:19:00.000-05:002006-12-12T16:19:00.000-05:00Didn't Mossad agents "acquire" nuclear material fr...Didn't Mossad agents "acquire" nuclear material from a power plant here in the U.S. during the 1960s or 70s?Themav1977https://www.blogger.com/profile/02175525736667113596noreply@blogger.com