Nuclear Technology, why only criticise countries like N. Korea and Iran when South Africa is also ta

I'm really getting tired of all this Iran and N. Korea having nuclear technology and the end of the world because of that bull that we hear every day on the media. I'm a proud South African. I don't know if the rest of the world is aware of the nuclear technology in South Africa... So I'm going to inform you.

As you all know, SA was reformed in 1994 by becoming a democracy. Just before that happened the old government destroyed SA's entire nuclear arsenal, for they were scared that the new government is going to use them. Not really a big arsenal but enough to severely damage a country like USA.

Now, I believe that everyone knows we have a very unstable government, one that calls themselves ANC ( AFRICAN National Congress). Notice the word AFRICAN. Not South African. Our own president recently made an open statement that Africa is his and America should leave Africa alone.

Doesn't anyone smell a government that wants to conquer ??

Now... South Africa is OPENLY developing nuclear technology. Our government is investing billions into developing the perfect nuclear reactor for power generation ( Called the PBMR... PBMR ). Nuclear fuel plants are being built, nuclear BREEDING reactors are planned. By 2012 we are going to have our first own designed nuclear power plant, the best technology in the world.

I know this because you can find it all over the media, and I'm studying Nuclear Engineering so is part of the project.

But my question to the world is this: WHY is everyone busting Iran and N. Korea about nuclear technology when SA is openly designing nuclear technology, when SA's government is definitely unstable??

The link I gave isn't the right one.... PBMR

Saidar, I'd have to say that one of the reasons that people aren't more aware and/or concerned about South Africa's access to nuclear technology is that your country has never been overtly belligerent about it's development and deployment of nuclear weapons. Of the people who are aware of South Africa's history as a nuclear power, the fact that sticks in most of their heads - speaking as a American, at least - seems to be that, to date, you are the ONLY nation to independently develop and then give up nuclear weapons.

The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor page you linked to is interesting. One of the touted benefits of PBMR design is that it is more difficult to weaponize the nuclear fuel from these reactors than from more traditional designs. The fuel is broken up into small pieces, many of which are individually sealed inside the graphite "pebble" seen on the page you linked to. It's quite a bit more work to obtain the nuclear components of these fuel pebbles for either a dirty bomb or a nuclear bomb compared to an older reactor design.

Do you have a link describing South Africa's intention to build a breeder reactor? That is interesting to hear, and I'd like to read more about it.

As far as your government goes, my impression is that your nation's government is impressively stable, at least compared to other nations in your general neighborhood. You've gone through some of the same teething processes that other countries (like the United States) did in their first few decades of existence, but your political system seems to work and you are holding elections on schedule. Frankly, I think that is something to be proud of.

As for your president, sure, Mbeki is a bit of a nut, especially when it comes to AIDS policy and his (IMHO) paranoia regarding the white minority in South Africa, but as for his "Africa for Africans" policy, I think most people in my country would probably agree; I know I do. Now if America could only start saying and doing the same thing about the other continents...

Until South Africa actively starts to rebuild it's nuclear arsenal, I think the Irans and South Koreas of the world are going to garner most of the outside world's attention. The squeaky wheel gets the grease...

Originally posted by Saidar
But my question to the world is this: WHY is everyone busting Iran and N. Korea about nuclear technology when SA is openly designing nuclear technology, when SA's government is definitely unstable??

Because the USA only picks on countries where the people are not white, do not speak English, and do not worship their God....

Originally posted by Saidar
Not really a big arsenal but enough to severely damage a country like USA.

Really? What kind of damage? Interested to know.

Our own president recently made an open statement that Africa is his and America should leave Africa alone.

Heads up: most entities on this planet say that and if you're indicating that SA has motives of a unified African empire controlled from SA then you to give us mor than that

Doesn't anyone smell a government that wants to conquer ??

Now... South Africa is OPENLY developing nuclear technology. Our government is investing billions into developing the perfect nuclear reactor for power generation ( Called the PBMR... PBMR ). Nuclear fuel plants are being built, nuclear BREEDING reactors are planned. By 2012 we are going to have our first own designed nuclear power plant, the best technology in the world.

Fast Breeder reactors are pet project of every nuclear state; especially now since conventional fuel prices are skyrocketing.

But my question to the world is this: WHY is everyone busting Iran and N. Korea about nuclear technology when SA is openly designing nuclear technology, when SA's government is definitely unstable??

Many reasons, but most definitely, comparing SA and NK/Iran is like comparing apples and oranges.
Maybe I elaborate later.

DD3

Several reasons why US isn't concerned about SA nuclear capabilities:

-They had a nuclear arsenal in the past
-Still a friendly country
-Nuclear power doesn't equal nuclear weapons
-Not openly hostile to US or EU

Originally posted by PhloydPhan
Saidar, I'd have to say that one of the reasons that people aren't more aware and/or concerned about South Africa's access to nuclear technology is that your country has never been overtly belligerent about it's development and deployment of nuclear weapons. Of the people who are aware of South Africa's history as a nuclear power, the fact that sticks in most of their heads - speaking as a American, at least - seems to be that, to date, you are the ONLY nation to independently develop and then give up nuclear weapons.

The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor page you linked to is interesting. One of the touted benefits of PBMR design is that it is more difficult to weaponize the nuclear fuel from these reactors than from more traditional designs. The fuel is broken up into small pieces, many of which are individually sealed inside the graphite "pebble" seen on the page you linked to. It's quite a bit more work to obtain the nuclear components of these fuel pebbles for either a dirty bomb or a nuclear bomb compared to an older reactor design.

Do you have a link describing South Africa's intention to build a breeder reactor? That is interesting to hear, and I'd like to read more about it.

As far as your government goes, my impression is that your nation's government is impressively stable, at least compared to other nations in your general neighborhood. You've gone through some of the same teething processes that other countries (like the United States) did in their first few decades of existence, but your political system seems to work and you are holding elections on schedule. Frankly, I think that is something to be proud of.

As for your president, sure, Mbeki is a bit of a nut, especially when it comes to AIDS policy and his (IMHO) paranoia regarding the white minority in South Africa, but as for his "Africa for Africans" policy, I think most people in my country would probably agree; I know I do. Now if America could only start saying and doing the same thing about the other continents...

Until South Africa actively starts to rebuild it's nuclear arsenal, I think the Irans and South Koreas of the world are going to garner most of the outside world's attention. The squeaky wheel gets the grease...

The breeding reactors are part of the PBMR's design, to extend the lifetime of the fuel that is going to be used. I think you'll find it on their site or by googling it...

I know I'm very proud of the progress that our government HAS MADE, it's something to be proud of! BUT I do think that things are going to get chaotic in the near future, our government is falling apart from inside. The problem is the fact that we have 11 official languages, and the two great cultures in our country is the Zulus and the Xhosa's. They have always been at war with each other, and right now the same thing is happening in our government.
Our government is definitely not stable, I know it appears as if it is but I live in SA and can tell you that it is not.

I don't know if you people know this but many of the terrorists from the Islam world is hiding in our country. About two years ago police closed a factory in Vereeniging that produced parts necessary for nuclear bombs. An entrepreneur owned it and sold the parts directly to terrorists.

All I'm trying to say in this post is that I believe that there are a lot more countries that are MORE capable of nuclear weapons than Iran is right now. Why invade Iran? There must be other reasons for that, reasons not involving nuclear technology.

Originally posted by Barry the Debunker
Several reasons why US isn't concerned about SA nuclear capabilities:

-They had a nuclear arsenal in the past
-Still a friendly country
-Nuclear power doesn't equal nuclear weapons
-Not openly hostile to US or EU

South Africa's government is definitely not a supporter of the west. The majority of the ANC is supportive towards Islam and their countries.

If you want some attention in SA just tell your president to start saying things like "We're going to wipe Israel off the face of the planet". Statements like that, coupled with around 3000 centrifuges, tend to get our attention here in the evil USA. That's the magic number needed to actually make a bomb in 12-18 months.

[edit on 16-8-2008 by unclejessie]

Saidar,

What I've come to realise is that the rest of the world knows pretty much nothing about SA! I've been living in Canada now since last April - and believe you me - they know NOTHING. In fact, they are lead to believe it's a paradise now that apartheid is over, and that everything is hunky dorie! WRONG WRONG WRONG. Proof of that is in comments by people like: WatchNLearn


"Because the USA only picks on countries where the people are not white" (uhmmm - Really?? there's only about 4 million whites left in SA, out an estimated population of 50million - God knows with the Zimbabweans flooding in!)

"do not speak English" (Uhmmm - 11 Official languages including English, but English is far from being the 1st language - VERY far - Try Zulu, Xhosa, North-Sotho, South Sotho, Phedi, etc etc!!)



", and do not worship their God...." (Uhmm, most of the African people do not believe in God - They go to witchdoctors - Inyanga's & Sangomas for medicinal reasons etc. They believe in spirits etc , and 'pray' to them - Not GOD)

Strike 3 for you WatchNLearn! Maybe you should watch and learn? Anyone want to get a real idea of what a crisis SA is in now - go here: www.africancrisis.co.za...

This is not a propaganda site - it tells the truth. How many people here KNOW that the South African Police Force and the Metro Police in SA were shooting at each other 2 months ago?? Yeah - SURE- that's one hellavu stable country!! That's why over 1 million skilled/educated Whites have left in under 10 years.

Wait until the sh*t hits the fan there. It's going to be a genocide like you have no idea. You have the Somali people in the Cape getting knocked off by locals for eg. Hell, they even torched a Zimbabwean man the other - poured petrol on him, and burnt him to death. I suppose "necklacing" will come back soon...and I hear you ask what's that?

Well, take a small car tire, fill it with petrol )as much as you can), then shove it over someones head, around the neck, and let's light them up! Don't believe me? That's what they do.

So, to sum up: The Nationalist Party of old knew that if we left these crackpots with nuclear weapons - they WOULD use them sometime! Just a matter of time. Because they have no regard for human life - I know, I lived there for 30 years - No problem for a kid to to whack a screwdriver through another kid's neck in class and kill him. That's the African way, and that's what they believe. If I am stronger or can bully you to get what I want - I do it. Survival of the fittest.

So, imagine these people with a small nuclear arsenal! This country is in a crisis people! It is NO MEANS stable AT ALL! If they ever go towards weaponisation again - I do not even want to think about that....Zulu vs Xhosa - this time not with assegais, but with Nukes...

Sad sad sad

bloody hell! how do you think they South Africa will host the Soccer world cup? if its half as bad as you say it is then im sure there qwill be trouble.