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