Journal Article - Quarterly Journal: International Security
Revisiting Osirak: Preventive Attacks and Nuclear Proliferation Risks
Summary
Thirty years after the Israeli attack on the Osirak reactor in June 1981 the consequences for Iraq’s nuclear weapons program remain hotly debated. A new history of this program, based on several new Iraqi sources, yields a net assessment of the impact of the Israeli attack that differs from prevailing accounts. The attack had mixed effects: it triggered a covert nuclear weapons program that did not previously exist, while necessitating a more difficult and timeconsuming technical route to developing nuclear weapons. Notwithstanding gross inefficiencies in the ensuing program, a decade later Iraq stood on the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability. This case suggests that preventive attacks can increase the long-term proliferation risk posed by the targeted state.
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For Academic Citation:
Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer, "Revisiting Osirak: Preventive Attacks and Nuclear Proliferation Risks," International Security, Vol. 36, No. 1 (Summer 2011), pp. 101-132
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Summary
Thirty years after the Israeli attack on the Osirak reactor in June 1981 the consequences for Iraq’s nuclear weapons program remain hotly debated. A new history of this program, based on several new Iraqi sources, yields a net assessment of the impact of the Israeli attack that differs from prevailing accounts. The attack had mixed effects: it triggered a covert nuclear weapons program that did not previously exist, while necessitating a more difficult and timeconsuming technical route to developing nuclear weapons. Notwithstanding gross inefficiencies in the ensuing program, a decade later Iraq stood on the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability. This case suggests that preventive attacks can increase the long-term proliferation risk posed by the targeted state.
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via the original publication source.Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer, "Revisiting Osirak: Preventive Attacks and Nuclear Proliferation Risks," International Security, Vol. 36, No. 1 (Summer 2011), pp. 101-132
- Recommended
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- Most Viewed
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The Dueling Nuclear Nightmares Behind the South Korean President’s Alarming Comments
Analysis & Opinions - Arms Control Today
The Cuban Missile Crisis at 60: Six Timeless Lessons for Arms Control
Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Affairs
Was Ukraine Wrong to Give Up Its Nukes?
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
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The Relationship Between Science and Technology
Analysis & Opinions - Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation
50 Years Later, The Legacy of The Paris Peace Accords Isn't One of Peace
Paper - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Ideal Qualities of a Successful Diplomat