No Cause For War In New Iran Report
By Steve Hynd Monday Sep 15, 2008 10:00pm
The International Atomic Energy Agency has just produced it's latest report on Iran's nuclear program. (Full report here in PDF, leaked by US officials as usual.) Mainstream media outlets are going with a US-pushed narrative that centers around increases in the number of centrifuges Iran is operating and around IAEA criticism of Iran for not being forthcoming enough about alleged previous work which may have had military applications. The report is being seen as giving added impetus to calls for more UN sanctions.
A confidential IAEA report said Iran had raised the number of centrifuges enriching uranium by 500 to 3,820 since May and was testing an advanced model able to refine nuclear fuel 2-3 times faster, in continuing defiance of U.N. resolutions.
But a senior U.N. official familiar with IAEA findings said Iran seemed at least two years away from enriching enough uranium for an atomic weapon, if it eventually chose to do so.
"On the issue of possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program, we have arrived at a gridlock. Without Iran's assistance and cooperation, we cannot move forward," said a second senior U.N. official.
... The United States called on Iran to shelve enrichment or face the possibility of more U.N. sanctions, adding to relatively modest punitive measures Tehran has shrugged off.
Britain went further, accusing Iran of showing "contempt for the IAEA by continuing to refuse to respond" to IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei's serious concerns about research with possible military nuclear dimensions.
"We will therefore push hard for further U.N. sanctions in the coming weeks," a British Foreign Office statement said.
Sanctions don't really worry Iran much, though. They have too much that the world needs in the way of oil and gas and have become an important diplomatic lever in containing American unipolar ambitions for Russia and China, both of whom have UN vetos. Neither will vote easily for really effective sanctions.
The best thing about the new IAEA report, though, is that it provides no new cause for war.
All materials and centrifuges are under Agency seal and surveillance and the Agency guarantees no diversion without their knowledge. With that in place, what we have is Iran proceeding with a peaceful program, one sanctioned by the UNSC but explicitly allowed by both the IAEA charter and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. It doesn't matter that Iran could make enough enriched uranium to redirect into bomb production in two years - no matter how much the media is trying to imply otherwise - because they simply cannot do that without enough IAEA foreknowledge to enable preventative steps to be taken. Sanctions are therefore being applied because Iran is defying a UNSC resolution which is entirely based upon Iran abrogating the voluntary additional protocol it had previously agreed to.
Given those circumstances, common knowledge among the world's leaders even if the media and Western hawks like to pretend otherwise, no-one is going to be able to use this IAEA report as justification for a war. Sanctions, yes - war no. The hawks are on their own with no cover, no pretense of international legality.
The IAEA is vigorously defending their position that there's no current smoking gun, too. When the UK's Daily Telegraph ran a report by noted neoconservative shill Con Coughlin that stated Iran had diverted some Hex from the conversion facility as Isfahan, enough to make 6 bombs the IAEA made a swift rebuttal:
"The article, entitled ‘Iran renews nuclear weapons development’ published in [Friday’s] Daily Telegraph by Con Coughlin and Tim Butcher is fictitious,” IAEA Spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said in a statement.
“IAEA inspectors have no indication that any nuclear material is missing from the plant,” reads the statement.
As to the allegations of past weaponization activities, sourced entirely from the MEK's laptop of doom, here's my take on the unspun version of what the IAEA are saying:
"The US won't let us show you the original documents and won't tell us enough about the laptop's very dodgy provenance, but is pressuring us to get you to reveal details which would compromise your non-nuclear national security instead. All for information everyone agrees relates at the very worst to a nascent program that's been dead since 2003."
To which Iran's response is, essentially, "You've got to be kidding us!"
But that response also conveniently hides Iran's other motive - for reasons of face (it's always denied it) Iran doesn't even want to admit to having a dead program.
And so a carefully crafted report gives some ammunition to sanctions - but not a lot, the sanctions won't bite too hard - and none at all as a causus belli. The IAEA has again let the hawks know they're on their own if they want war with Iran. Fully aware that there will be no international mandate for war and that a unilateral attack would become a military disaster as well as shredding America's already tattered reputation, some who have been hawkish in the past are climbing abourd Obama's platform and advocating actual diplomacy.
Five former U.S. secretaries of state said on Monday the next American administration should talk to Iran, a foe President George W. Bush has generally shunned as part of an "axis of evil."
Engaging Iran is important because Washington's military options against Tehran are unsatisfactory, said the diplomats, who worked for Republican and Democratic administrations.
The five -- Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher, James Baker and Henry Kissinger -- all said they favored talking to Iran as part of a strategy to stop Tehran's development of a nuclear weapons program.
"Frankly the military options here are very poor. We don't want to go down that route," said Christopher, who worked for former President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997.
About time. And it really does leave the Bush-McCain "Axis of Warmongering" standing alone.
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Awwwwwww. Old man McCain is probably wetting his depens over this one.
No War with Iran ... John will REALLY be upset over this.
Cue the exploding heads inside the GOP in 5.....4.....3......2......1.....
Like Bush or McCain would wait for an international nod of approval...
"no reason for war in Iran? we don't need no stinking reason"..Bush Doctrine
But..but....we have a war based economy...(a lot of war supplies made in other countries)...but profits come to U.S. big business. Your going to get a hot phone call from Dick Cheney about this.......and a nasty note from McSame.
Nobody wants Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
But nobody wants Pakistan or India or Russia or China or the U.S.A. to have them either.
And nobody raised a stink when these countries went about acquiring them.
So, on what grounds do these nuc'd-to-the-teeth countries strut around moaning and bemoaning
another country acquiring these dumb things - which are an admission ticket to the club run by the big boys.
but... but... "bomb bomb" mccain, bolton the dolt and likud loyalists like lieberman said we had to wage preemptive internationally illegal war of aggression on persia!
i don't get it... something doesn't add up here...
DoD approves sale of bunker buster missiles to Israel
Topics: Political News and commentaries
Let's just call this a component of step one:
The US Department of Defense has notified Congress of a potential sale of 1,000 smart bombs capable of penetrating underground bunkers to Israel, which would likely be used in the event of a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
The notification of the possible sale to Congress was made over the weekend by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the branch of the Pentagon responsible for evaluating foreign military sales.
Congress has 30 days to object the deal.
The deal is valued at $77 million and the principal contractor will be Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The bomb which Israel has asked to procure is called the GBU-39, developed in recent years by the US as a small diameter bomb for low-cost, high-precision and low-collateral damage strikes.
In addition to the bomb, Israel has also asked for 150 mounting carriages, 30 guided test vehicles as well as two instructors to train the Israeli Air Force how to load the missiles on its aircraft.
The GPS-guided GBU-39 is said to be one of the most accurate bombs in the world and when installed on a 250 lb bomb has the same penetration capabilities as a 2000 lb bomb although with only 50 pounds of explosives. At just 5.9 feet long and 285 pounds, the small size of the bomb increases the number of weapons an aircraft can carry therefore raising the number of targets its can attack in a single sortie.
Tests conducted in the US have proven that the bomb is capable of penetrating at least three feet of steel reinforced concrete. The GBU-39 can be used in adverse weather conditions and has a standoff range of more than 60 nautical miles due to pop-out wings.
In its recommendation to Congress, the DSCA wrote that Israel's strategic position was "vital to the United States' interests throughout the Middle East."
But hey, things are going so well with our "allies":
Pakistan troops ordered to open fire on US raiders
By STEPHEN GRAHAM, Associated Press Writer Stephen Graham, Associated Press Writer – Tue Sep 16, 6:34 pm ET
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan's army said Tuesday that its forces have orders to open fire if U.S. troops launch another raid across the Afghan border, raising the stakes in a dispute over how to tackle militant havens in Pakistan's unruly border zone.
Adm. Mike Mullen, the U.S. chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, arrived in Pakistan late Tuesday amid the increased tensions. Mullen planned to meet with top civilian and military leaders to discuss a range of issues, including ways to improve coordination and cooperation along the Pakistan-Afghan border.
http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080916/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan
Let's go kick Iran's butt, we're doing so well on every other front!! War without end......Oceania forever!!
Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 10:
You beat me to it :<[)
bullfrog @ 8:
you are not party to the private corporate business of
cheney/bush and neocon illegal business as i am not.
it's the reichwingneocon bastards and it always adds
up for them......
re: Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 10:
in a related story:
The story that is being sold about Iran's nuclear ambitions is, in my opinion, ludicrous.
Everyone in Iran knows full well that any nuclear strike outside its borders would result in its own annihilation.
The fact that Israel itself possesses hundreds of nuclear weapons is deterrent enough, let alone the fact that various European nations and the US would be willing and able to retaliate.
This story is a farce from the word go. The real aim here is to keep Iran powerless, dependent on foreign nations for its energy needs. That is all.
I guess the lesson is:
I'll have to disagree with you on one point Cernig. Iran is very short of refining capacity and imports large quantities of gasoline. In this respect, at least, they are vulnerable to sanctions.
Eric Hussein in Ottawa @ 14:
russia is flexing muscle as it's own undead empire and as a friend if Iran.
considering how easily they dispatched the US-trained Georgians, do you really think the europeans want a piece of that?
Do you really think the europeans are really prepared for war?
Do you think the europeans want to go to war for the people they left to hitler's rage then exiled to northern Africa?
seeing how in 48 hours or so, the russians showed why they are still to be feared, do you think the europeans will go to war for the boosh crime family after witnessing how all friends of boosh are discarded or betrayed?
Me? I think the europeans are hoping the election will bring in an intelligent leader, instead of an ignorant, hateful, bigoted drunkard.
Peter G @ 16:
the chinese are going to be very helpful.
"The best thing about the new IAEA report, though, is that it provides no new cause for war."
WTF...???? Since when has that stopped the bloodthirsty rethuglicans? Does the runup to Iraq mean nothing? It was all bull shit then, and now it won't mean a thing if Chimpy and Dickhead really want to go out with a bang.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 9:
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
ya think they chose that name on purpose?
Chicken "Hussein" Little - Not! @ 10:
Now now, the coalition of the willing have won a glorious victory. I am authorized to say that the action we are now reporting may well bring the war within measurable distance of its end.
I'll have to disagree with the sentiments expressed above about the possibility of an Iranian nuclear weapons program. If as Cernig pointed out, Iran is awash in oil and natural gas there is precious little reason for them to develop nuclear technology in the face of near universal condemnation. If they wished to build nuclear power plants they only to sign the necessary treaties and they could buy the required technology and sufficiently enriched uranium subject only to international supervision to prevent diversion of materials. Developing their own enrichment technology is highly suspicious since the difference between weapons grade and fuel grade uranium is merely a matter of adding to the enrichment cascade. I have a good deal of faith in the IAEA. They are thorough and competent and I accept their judgment in this matter. The Iranians have suspended what very likely was a weapons program and it now remains only a negotiating chip. I wonder however, if the Israelis are willing to bet their country on that possibility. As CiP points out, the Europeans are unlikely to risk a war in their defense and there is a serious and not unjustified movement to distance the US from its' close relationship with Israel. Isolated and with that threat hanging over their heads I would not be the least bit surprised if Israel took preemptive action as they did with Saddam Hussein.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 18:
I'm sure they'll be every bit as helpful as they've been in Darfur. But what they won't be able to do is provide a lot of gasoline and diesel since that's what they're importing it for themselves.They have their own shortages to consider. Shit disturbing on an epic scale is what I would expect from the Chinese.
Wack:
Iran has nuclear-weapons capability? Since when?
I wonder if any of this has any real significance to the plans of the Bush Admin.
I also wonder what the international community must think of any of the claims of the neocons when trying for harsher sanctions. These war criminals are utterly discredited on almost every level and have not a SHRED of credibility
Peter G @ 22,
You're barking up a couple of wrong trees. Firstly, Iran has exactly the same reason to aquire nuclear power as it first did when Rumsfield sold the Shah their original experimental reactor and advocated Iran turning entirely to nuclear for domestic power generation - that black stuff is more valuable as a source of foreign hard currency than burned at home. That was back when Iran's nuclear program was a good thing. Iran was a dictatorship, but it was an American puppet dictatorship. Same goes for the UAE, Saudis and various other locals with nascent nuclear programs.
Secondly, as the on-again-off-again deliveries of Russian fuel for their program proves, external fuel supplies make you beholden to the supplier. Iran did suggest a year or so ago that its enrichment program be internationalised. That is, that they bring in international partners who could have also verified no diversion while making Iran even more valuable hard currency from selling LEU, currently at a 20 year high price, for power generation abroad . But the Bush administration refused to countenance it.
I would, at least, agree that Israel is the wild card in all this. But the IAEA report makes it much harder even for them. the world is not as it was when they bombed Saddam's reactor and blowback would be far fiercer. After the Iraq invasion and occupation, there's less 'give' in the system than there was.
Regards, C
Peter G,
While I'm thinking about it. You seem to be simultaneously arguing that oil is a weakness in Iran's national security and that Iran has no national security reason to turn away from oil to nuclear power. That's logic befitting a neocon. When the foreign currency earning aspect of a turn to nuclear power is added, your argument really doesn't hold any water at all.
Regards, C
Peter G @ 22:
I think you make good points, but I do not agree with the overall direction of your argument.
I think the ones who are isolated with a threat hanging over their heads are the Iranians. They've been under threat for a long time, and having a nuclear deterrent would make sense, would it not?
I still don't think they're working on one, or that they were working on one. I know that fake plans were floated in their direction, which were accidentally "corrected", and perhaps that's where all the certainty is coming from that they were working on the bomb.
But in any case, I think we'd all be better off if the world stopped beating up on Iran, militarily or rhetorically.
Just my 2 cents. I could be wrong.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 17:
My point is that I don't believe Iran, even if they had a nuclear weapon, would use it, nor would any other *nation* today that possesses one, unless pushed into a military confrontation from which it cannot back down. That's why all of this hawkish talk is dangerous - not because Iran poses an actual threat, but because it can escalate tensions between powers who possess these weapons. As long as those nations are not at war, we're all safer.
On the other hand, I think Pakistan poses a far greater threat than Iran. That they DO have nuclear weapons, and the ISI is having barbecues in the back yard with Al Qaeda.
Now that's something to be concerned about. Why aren't we talking about that?
This has been fascinating but I didn't realize what time it is. Goodnight all.
war is where the money is
i say bomb these are tough times the economy is in trouble
until things turn around we need to bomb iran and maybe even russia
this will stimulate the economy ie lots of jobs
god bless america the land of the free
dont give me any of that socialism
capitalism baby the best economic system in the world
so what if we have to borrow from communists, socialists and kings
a couple of wars will put this economy back in shape
signed
just your average american
lets get the economy booming again.
OK, it's time to be blunt:
Peter G. is just cloaking his loyalty to Israel with his so-called "concerns" for U.S. interests.
The only country threatening anyone in the region is Israel. It has the ONLY capable military in the region, the military hardware and the backing of a superpower who's willing to bend over backwards just to satisfy a small percentage of constituents here in the States.
Those who remember Bush's groveling at the Knesset when he attacked Obama for behaving like a Nazi appeaser know who's in the driver seat regarding the anti-Iran movement.
Don't kid yourself for one second thinking people are gullible enough to buy that old worn out argument.
----- ------- ------- ------- ------- --------
Fact: The U.S. armed Saddam and encouraged him to attack Iran. Millions of Iranians died at the hands of a U.S. sock puppet.
Fact: Israel has violated the airspace and sovereignty of both Iraq and Syria, once in 1981 and last year when Israel bombed an alleged nuclear facility in northern Syria. These are acts of war. Yet, Israel believes its own interests trump international law and overall common decency.
Fact: Israel is in violation of nearly 64 UN resolutions. When the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 Bush cited Saddam's violation of 17 UN resolutions as further justification for said invasion.
Fact: Israel is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran is a signatory.
Fact: Israel has an estimated 400 nuclear warheads plus biological weapons and chemical gas.
Playing the victim card has worked well for Israel over the years, but the jig is up.
In today's world, the MSM can't control the narrative as well as they used to in the last 50+ years.
Oh yeah, because that's the one thing that will stop America going to war....
Having a legitimate reason.
Cernig @ 27:
I am not making that argument. Oil is the only thing keeping the Iranian economy afloat. I merely point out that your assertion that the possession of oil makes them invulnerable to sanctions is wrong. It is the shortage of refining capacity not oil that is a weakness. Nor did I suggest that weakness should be exploited.The political realities in Iran make the best policy one of hands off. Outside pressure will only strengthen the hand of the rather distasteful crew currently running that country. Left to their own devices they will mismanage themselves into a new revolution. Hopefully through the ballot box. I am a also firm believer in diplomacy. I'm sorry to see that you view a different take on the nuclear question somehow makes me a "neocon" but I believe my posting history belies that. As an engineer with more than a passing familiarity with nuclear technology I stand by my assessment with regard to their enrichment program. If they want a nuclear power program it is theirs to buy much more cheaply than developing the technology themselves. All they have to do is play by the rules.
Oh and by the way I quite like your posts even if I don't entirely agree with them.
Another odd thought occurred to me just now. If I'm reading you correctly you believe that Iran has a right to develop nuclear power. I absolutely concur in this because I am convinced that nuclear power will provide a reliable source of power that does not increase greenhouse gases. This is not a popular view on this site and to a lot of people would make us both neocons.
I remember those very days when BUSH publicly said that he "likes being the President." And never really knew what it meant let alone spell the word; but didn't mind it because BUSH I appointed Cheney was going take his hand and do the job for him behind the scene while promising Georgie porgie will take the credit when Cheney (the dart vader)gives him the WORLD. And everybody refer "the President" as some third person other than Laura's husband or Barbara's son only a mother and a wife could ever love.
Schizophrenia, a Psycho-dependency Barbara and Laura from a bad-bad seed delusionally as Imelda Marcos that money will some how solve and bleach everything clean off their family's track of crimes and corruption. SURPRISE? SOBER REALITY is here.
Capital G from the first GEORGE means GREED and GONE. GWB can't wait until his Presidency is dead and GONE. Because that is all that he has accomplished DEAD and GONE. The worse Presidency, the most catastrophic, the most chaotic, the most damaging, the most embarassing, the lowest point since the days of the Great GONE depression.
Gone long enough for the NEXT president to take the slack and fix the mess he will have left behind...he promised that he will leave the "IRAQ" disaster for the next President. He will leave the failed ECONOMY for the next President and will leave the dead to be buried by the next who will kill.....IF....he can just do his final CON JOB of making TAX CUT for the RICH "permanent" and making the national debts paid for by the working class for many generations to come.
It's time to hang BUSH and CHENEY at the ROPE they made.
Vietnam; Iran Contra; S&L; ENRON; WTC; Hallibuton; IRAQ; Blackwater; Indymac; Freddie Mac; Fanny May; AIG (see any pattern? Somebody is making a killing ($$$)out of failures and miseries and down right identity theft)
Bush/Cheney has taken AMERICA's identity and stolen it to make an illegal war that is destroying everything AMERICA is all about. IT IS PIRACY.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAWS THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY? If this Congress does NOT put the LAW in PLACE TO make IMPEACHMENT back-on-the-table then AMERICA must ACT NOW and BREAK THOSE STONEWALLERS.
DON'T ASK CONGRESS!.......DEMAND IT!
As a way to become better informed and knowledgeable regarding American Empire deeper desires and intents one does well to visit Zmag.org/Znet site or TomDispatch.com on a daily basis.
Both sites offering superior insights,sharper counterprevail and actual,genuine counterpoint to bulk of American political media efforts at flinging WashingtonDC propaganda,misdirection and just plain not telling the truth.
If indeed this American Empire wants to span the globe--cripple China,Russia politically and militarily--and keep South America in American Imperial phoney "drug war" chains,political chains and militarism chains--it will take much more intelligence,treasure and conscripted manpower than WashingtonDC so far has demonstrated or confessed to to being capable of.
With recent weeks now showing the soft underbelly of "wild west" American capitalism run amok once again it is clear the American Empire will have to become much smarter and savvy on how it curbs American Capitalism from these wild orgies of fraudulent profit making/taking that Wall St. seems so attracted to at home and abroad.
American Militarism is premised on fraud riddled American idea of China,Russia,India,Pakistan and Iran all being really stupid.
A reckless and dangerous calculation on the part of the American Empire.
Americans either will get smarter and more realistic regarding what American Empire can do or how and where it can do so or there will be greater and more catastrophic examples of the American Debacle in Iraq to follow.
If this American Empire proposes to run multi trillion dollar warmaking/global hegemon budgets and create conscripted manpower pools to fill the cannon fodder bins for American meddling in West Asia,Central Asia,Africa and South America it will require levels of duplicity and misdirection coming out of WashingtonDC that will in the end cause collapse and ruinous backlash.
The American Neo-Cons are not smart enough to do American Empire. The Americans are running out of $$ to prop up American stupidity based greed and avarice. It does come down to smarts and dollars. We have seen since start of year 2001 that Neo-Con Americans and this Imperial WashingtonDC are short on smarts to do American Empire well and simply running out of $$ to do it effectively or in any sustainable way.
This is not a bad outcome for sane Americans when the long view is taken.
This report will be ignored by Bush!
Just like the report that said Iraq had no WMD's
They have better Neo-Con Information and Jesus is on their side!
Bomb, Bomb ,Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran!
Iran still has not crossed the line into doing anything that is illegal or forbidden by law or treaty. If they want to enrich fuel for nuclear energy - as they claim, that is their right. Iran is past peak oil. Like the rest of us, they need to be thinking about what they're going to do when the oil is gone.
Not like this'll change anything. Just ask Hans Blix.
I can hardly wait to be sold another war based on lies that the corporations want for profit and president Palin will want so Jesus will return.
It says "no new cause for war. Doesn't mean that the existing activity could not be construed as cause to attack.
Does anyone really think these assholes care about an IAEA report? They didn't care about them before Gulf War II, why should they now?
Get ready for the "October Surprise". There is no way Cheney can leave office without bombing Iran to boost prices for his military industrial complex pals. The "new" war footing would insure a McCain presidency. It would also (according to political logic) distract from the more immediate fears of a crumbling economy and the coming global depression.
thanks for this great piece. Excellent! amazing not many comments...sad
"no new cause for war" that is not the case for Israel. They will use any excuse and they will more than likely make that excuse up.
Wonder why no one is ever talking about Israel signing the Non Proliferation Treaty and signing an agreement that they will not pre-emptively attack Iran. That just might help Iran relax.
With all of the threats that Israel has thrown towards Iran and their efforts to force the U.S. to attack Iran...if I lived in Iran I would be worried very very worried. Israel is the aggressor!
folks should spread this information
Why would any of this stop Israel from attacking, thus forcing the US into another war? Because the leaders of that country don't really operate inside the framework of international diplomacy. The fact that they bought another thousand or so bunker busters is not very reassuring.
Unfortunately, I still think within the framework of reality. As a result, I look at this report and think that "they" cannot possibly try to pull another fast one on the American people because: 1) they did it once and ruined the GOP brand, 2) most of the American people are against the current illegal war against Iraq, and 3) our troops would be stretched too thin.
Then I remember that they 'create their own reality', and I start to worry!!
Can someone please sell IRAN some nukes so that we can put this charade behind us and balance the power in the Middle East? Hurry up already. I know they don't want one, but they obviously need one to derail our dreams of hegemony in the region.
Israeli Lobby at it once more
The Republican vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin will attend a rally outside the United Nations Monday morning to protest the appearance of Iranian President at the United Nations. The event is being organized once more by a coalition of American Israeli organizations, under the umbrella group the National Coalition to Stop Iran Now, or more appropriately “Israel Lobby Coalition to Destroy Iran Now. The same type rally was created last year when the President of Iran addressed the United Nations.
Israeli Lobby organizations are good at inciting fear, stirring up false hysteria. They used the same techniques prior to inciting Bush Administration to attack Iraq. They are using the same technique once more to create the illusion of fear from Iran's nuclear fuel cycle.
Why Israeli Lobby would not worry about USA and create a rally in front of the USA Congress about the issues affecting this nation? I don't find Iran to be the issue at this time. The issues for USA are poor economy, broken infrastructure, exported professional jobs, lack of medical insurance for many Americans, homelessness, and over burdened borrowing from other nations.
Did USA not sacrifice enough American lives in Iraq? Did we not spend enough borrowed money from other nations in our occupation of Iraq? We could have used the money to upgrade the entire USA rail system, plus rebuild many of our old school systems? Enough is enough.
Peter G,
I said it was neocon logic, not that you were a neocon. I'd need to see more of your thinking before I'd level the second charge. With your clarification, I now see what you were driving at. But you're still putting the cart before the horse. If truly effective sanctions could be applied then their refining capacity would be a weakness, but their possession of oil means there's no shortage of vetos at the UNSC for truly effective sanctions.
As to my own position on nuclear power - I remain somewhat unconvinced due to waste disposal and fiscal viability under a freemarket. But the Iranians appear very convinced for their own good long-term fiscal reasons and in this discussion their own reasons are what count, not mine, as we're talking about their motivations. They've obviously also made the calculation that they won't leave their energy security beholden to a larger power, which costs money short-term but also makes sense by their own lights given that theor supplier is Russia, who doesn't play by the rules. Especially if you assume one of their end goals is to be part of the LEU cartel themselves, dispensing LEU in return for hard cash to nations willing to be nice to them.
Regards, C
Iran is not only quickly developing additional refining capacity, but is also converting its automobiles to use natural gas. Also, no sanctions can prevent smuggling. In fact the Iranian government would welcome gas sanctions since it has been trying to cut state gasoline subsidies, which is why Iranians waste huge amounts of stuff, and much of the heavily subsidized gas gets smuggled out to Pakistan and Turkey and Iraq.
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