What's Going On Here?
By Mike Bibb
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Tonopah, Arizona is one of the largest in the country and has been producing electricity since 1986. — Wikipedia"Islam is the state religion of Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is called the "home of Islam" as it was the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who united and ruled the Arabian Peninsula.[1] It is the location of the cities of Mecca and Medina, where Muhammad lived and died, and are now the two holiest cities of Islam." — Wikipedia, July 23, 2026.
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President Trump insists "Iran will never have a nuclear bomb."
Now, there's speculation Saudi Arabia might eventually build one.
What?
Last time I checked, both Iran and Saudi Arabia were Arab countries practicing the Islamic religion.
Actually, Saudi Arabia is the original country of Islam and its prophet Muhammad, and contains its two holiest cities.
Christianity, Judaism and other non-Islamic faiths are as compatible with Islam as oil is to uranium.
"Tolerance" is probably the correct word to use, as there is no way they are compatible with Islam. And, even tolerance is a borderline description.
Presently, Saudi Araba may be a good friend and trading partner of the U.S., particularly in the oil industry, but it is still predominately an Islamic country.
With this in mind, why would Washington seriously allow Saudi Araba to develop a nuclear enrichment program knowing that is one of the major steps toward the construction of a nuclear bomb?
"Political scientist and national security expert Robert Pape is warning that the Trump administration's new civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia marks one of the most consequential changes in U.S. nuclear policy in decades.
"The University of Chicago professor, considered a leading expert on the intersection of politics and military conflict, argues the deal effectively places the kingdom on the threshold of becoming a nuclear weapons-capable state while signaling preparations for a broader regional confrontation with Iran.
"Writing in his new Substack series, Pape contends the agreement represents 'a fundamental change in the rules of the nuclear age" because it permits Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without requiring the stringent safeguards Washington has traditionally demanded of its nuclear partners." — NewsmaxWorld, July 23, 2026'
So, what's going on here?
Is this a legitimate news flash, or some kind of "Art of the Deal" demonstration to entice Iran into giving up the fight because one of its neighbors might soon have "The Bomb," too.
Presently — we're told — Israel has nuclear weaponry. Every country bordering Israel is inhabited by Islamic Muslims. Hence, Iran's leaders continue their "Death to the Great Satan" (USA), and "Little Satan" (Israel) frantic chants.
The on-again-off-again, on-again-off-again Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the U.S. has become confusingly redundant to the point no one is taking these diplomatic theatrics seriously.
As a result, Iran shoots off a few missiles and drones at various targets, and the U.S. reacts with a half-billion dollars' worth of carrier launched jet fighters and rockets.
Then, the "Let's talk" pleas immediately follow.
A few days later, the cycle repeats.
I'm not really persuaded these strategies and tactics are working. We've blown up a lot of stuff, but Iran continues to counter with weapons we thought we'd previously destroyed.
Back and forth it goes.
Consequently, it's reaching a point Iran appears it must be being resupplied by outsiders.
Not unheard of. Question is, how are they moving it into the area?
We reply by destroying more targets.
While all this hubbub is going on, info leaks Saudi Arabia is in discussions with the U.S. to construct peaceful, civilian use of nuclear energy.
Nuclear power plants, for example. At least, that's the stated intention.
I missed the school class lectures dealing with nuclear-powered electric plants and nuclear warheads and how they can be used to achieve certain ambitions.
However, I did notice both have the informative "nuclear" in their narratives and, I understand, both require "uranium enrichment" to make the things functional.
Along with a few specific accessories and manufacturing techniques, the enrichment process can be intended for peaceful purposes or military applications.
Another puzzler, Saudi Arabia sits atop one of the world's largest pools of oil. It has so much that it regularly exports millions of barrels of the black liquid to whoever will buy it.
Along with several other oil-rich countries, including Iran, they've organized themselves into an outfit called "OPEC" — Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Today, OPEC members produce about 38% of global oil production — much of it being transported through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persin Gulf — adjacent to Iran.
Which, coincidentally, is where we presently have a large Navy presence patrolling the gulf and offering safe passage for commercial shipping.
Naturally, someone might wonder if Saudi Arabia is pumping and shipping oil every minute of every day, why would it need nuclear power plants to supply its electrical needs to a population of 34 million folks?
Because it can continue to sell more of its oil, instead of using it, while further developing itself into a major world economic player.
Maybe.
It just seems sort of strange Saudi Arabia is asking the United States to help it build power plants, using nuclear fuel, at the same time we're bombing the stuffins' out the Iranians because we don't want them to build nuclear-tipped missiles.
Similar to oil being refined into gasoline, can't nuclear plant fuel be enriched into material used in nuclear bombs?
Apparently, it can: "Yes — under certain conditions, nuclear power plant fuel can be reprocessed to produce materials usable in nuclear weapons, though the process is complex and requires advanced technology.
Uranium enrichment-
Most commercial nuclear reactors use low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, enriched to about 3–5% uranium‑235 (U‑235). This is far below the ~90% enrichment needed for "weapon‑grade" uranium, so it cannot be used directly in a nuclear bomb. However, if a country has mastered uranium enrichment technology, it can reconfigure centrifuges to produce highly enriched uranium (HEU) — above 20% U‑235 — and eventually weapon‑grade uranium above 90%" — Copilot Search, July 24, 2026.
Well, whadaya know, power plant uranium fuel can also be used to make nuclear bombs if done properly.
Humm, I wonder if the Saudi's are thinking the same thing?
Not to worry — I imagine ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and a few other members of the media, will let us know how much we should know, how much we shouldn't know, how much should be deleted, how much is made up, how much is based upon unspecified "credible anonymous sources" and how much we should believe with our own"lyin' eyes!"
That is, if this whole Middle East squabble doesn't spiral completely out of control!!!!
