“Is the US government going to think that every Middle East country that OPENLY explores nuclear energy is covertly desiring nuclear weapons?”

If you’re a defense analyst or strategic intelligence guru, the answer would be:

“I get paid to be suspicious when I’ve got nothing to be suspicious about.”

It’s the timing that makes this important, I think. Why haven’t they pursued it before?

I guess a better way to express my point is: if your neighbor (especially if its Iran) has nuclear weapons, you certainly want to at least have nuclear power.

As far as what the US should do about it? I don’t know…panic.

Another possibility might be that these countries understand just how close the world is to running out of oil and don’t intend to be left out in the dark.

If this one of a multitude of reasons why a nuclear Iran is bad, what should the US be doing about it?

If Israel were to sign the NPT, or dismantle their nuclear program, then there would be no need for other countries to develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent.

Nice double-standard!