one kind of mass destruction weapon without taking into account the need of disarmament concerning other forms.” Clearly, these countries consider chemical and biological weapons as an economical alternative to nuclear weapons. They are unwilling to talk of disarmament without linking chemical and biological weapons to nuclear weapons. The rise of chemical and biological weapons in the Middle East has been linked to Israel and France. Israel and France were joint partners in a nuclear warhead development program from 1957 to 1959. France successfully tested a nuclear device in 1960. Israel used its connection with France to obtain a research reactor from France. Israel will neither confirm nor deny that it has nuclear weapons, but for many years Israel was thought to possess between 20 to 25 devices of 20-kiloton size. New evidence suggests that Israel has between 100 and 200 nuclear warheads and can produce thermonuclear devices. Israel also has weapons delivery systems in the form of aircraft, the Lance missile (mobile, 100-kilometer range), and the Jerico 2 missile (mobile, 1500-kilometer range). In an attempt to decrease the number of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, countries in that region have conducted preemptive strikes on nuclear reactors. In September 1980 the Iranians led a strike against an Iraqi reactor at Osarik. The attack damaged the reactor but did not destroy it. The Israelis destroyed the Osarik reactor with an air strike in June 1981. The chemical agent most likely to be used by countries desiring to produce chemical weapons is the nerve agent Tabun. (Refer to tables 1-3 and 1-4 for a description of chemical agents and defenses.) Any country that has the capability of producing organophosphorus pesticides can easily produce Tabun. Other types of nerve agents are more difficult to produce, but could be done with help from industrialized countries. Countries in the Middle East with known or suspected chemical weapons capability include Israel, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iran, and Iraq. EMERGENCE OF THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES Of the emerging Third World countries, Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Syria deserve a special look because of their past hostility toward the United States. More alarming than the past hostility towards the United States is the cavalier attitude of the leaders of Iran, Iraq, and Libya in their use of chemical weapons. Iran Iran has been hostile toward the United States since radical, religious forces overthrew the government in 1979. Iran is an Islamic Republic with ties to the Soviet Union, from whom it buys many of its military weapons. During the 8-year Iraq-Iran war, the United States supported Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in an attempt to topple the Iranian government. In a strange turn of events, the United States asked Iran for support of Operation Desert Shield. Also during 1987 to 1988, U.S. warships ensured freedom of passage to tankers carrying oil through the Persian Gulf. U.S. forces engaged elements of the Iranian navy and attacked Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf. The Iranians have an arsenal of Soviet SS-1 (Scud-B) missiles and would like to develop their surface-to-surface missile capability. Iran wants to purchase the Chinese M-9 missile (600-kilometer range). The Iranians claim they can produce their own version of the SS-1. They have produced a version of the Chinese Type 53 artillery rocket, called the Oghab, that has a 40-kilometer range. Iran is also perfecting an unguided rocket called the Iran 130, which has a range of 130 kilometers. These missiles and rockets can be fitted with chemical warheads as well as conventional warheads. The United States believes Iran has a stockpile of mustard gas and phosgene and may be trying to obtain nerve gas. Iraq Iraq is a Soviet client state in the Middle East. From 1980 to 1990 Iraq built up its military until it became the sixth largest military power in the world. In August 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait. The stated Iraqi reason for the invasion was a policy difference with Kuwait concerning the price and production quota of Kuwaiti oil. The United States intervened on behalf of Saudi Arabia to stop the Iraqi advance short of the Saudi oil fields. Iraq is working to purchase the technology to build nuclear weapons. The customs agents of the United States and England have worked together to slow the Iraqi effort. They recently intercepted a shipment of electronic components, suitable for use in nuclear weapons, bound for Iraq. 1-16