It would be, in fact, very ominous if Iraq were to be able to get weapon-usable material, hydro-plutonium or highly enriched uranium from abroad.
Mohamed ElbaradeiRead
Israel claims it needs nuclear weapons as a deterrent against any threat to its existence. The Arab world in return feels that this is an imbalanced system; there is a sense of humiliation and impotence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the tension between Israel's security needs and the perceived injustices felt by the Arab world.
Mohamed Elbaradei highlights the complex dynamics of power and vulnerability in the Israel-Arab conflict, where Israel justifies its nuclear arsenal as a necessary deterrent to threats against its existence, while the Arab nations perceive this as an imbalance that fosters feelings of humiliation and powerlessness. This statement underscores the ongoing struggle for security and dignity in geopolitics, revealing how perceptions and narratives shape international relations.
Themes
Nuclear WeaponsDeterrentHumiliationImbalanceExistenceArab WorldIsrael
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about Middle Eastern politics and security.
More from Mohamed Elbaradei
All quotes →Countries that perceive themselves to be vulnerable can be expected to try to redress that vulnerability - and in some cases, they will pursue clandestine weapons programs.
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Egypt needs to catch up with the rest of the world. We need to be free, democratic, and - society where people have the right to live in freedom and dignity.
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I couldn't have imagined that I would live long enough to see Egypt emancipated from decades of repression.
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Psychology is as important as substance. If you treat people with respect, they will go out of their way to accommodate you. If you treat them in a patronizing way, they will go out of their way to make your life difficult.
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The gravest threat faced by the world is of an extremist group getting hold of nuclear weapons or materials.
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