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At Large
Waiting for the Bugle
Why are Iran’s nuclear ambitions so hard to understand?
An article I wrote in 2005 contained the following: “… Unfortunately, no matter the appearance of any agreement that might have been arrived at, Iran will not cease its efforts to become capable of being armed with nuclear weapons.” Nothing has changed since then, but the current White House insists on pretending that Iran’s ambition can be restrained by actions short of destruction of its nuclear development facilities.
It is as if no one on the National Security Council staff — or anywhere else in the defense establishment, for that matter — ever read or heard about the speech given in 1988 by Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, then acting as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (among other titles), that called for the construction of a nuclear weapon. Furthermore, this announcement had been approved by the late Imam Ruhollah Khomeini — an important historical precedent.
Rafsanjani’s statement was certainly not a surprise to the American intelligence establishment that had been tracking the Iranian nuclear ambition since the previous decade when the Shah Muhammed Reza Pahlevi was still in power. The Shah’s nuclear power program was begun in the 1970s even though the country’s vast oil and gas reserves were more than adequate to supply fuel for Iran’s electrical power requirements for many generations to come. The West German companies that originally were hired to build the first nuclear power plant at Bushere warned that the site was located in a known seismic fault area. Despite this warning, the project continued on.
Western intelligence at the time firmly believed the Shah’s vaunted nuclear power program would also provide cover for his own longed-for nuclear weapon capability. The ancient Persian dream of once again dominating the entire Middle East was then, as it is now, firmly imbedded in the Iranian psyche. Bolstering this broadly accepted opinion in modern Iran is the centuries old battle in the region for Shia minority supremacy over the majority Sunni. No matter which way one turns, the driving desire of Iranian leadership of all stripes has been to see their country nuclear armed.
It all seems so obvious it is a wonder that the Obama Administration persists in the charade of appearing to think it can stop or even inhibit Iran’s march toward obtaining nuclear weapons. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control has recently published a detailed report utilizing qualifications and projections made available through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This tracking indicates a reasonable estimate of Iranian accumulation of 116kg of the uranium isotope U-235 in its low enriched uranium hexafluoride (UF-6).
It is generally assumed 21.6kg of U-235 is necessary for the creation of a “first generation” implosion bomb. Again using IAEA calculations of a reasonable performance of Iran’s existing centrifuge evolution December 2008 through November 2011, Iran would have accumulated enough U-235 for the weaponizing of five implosion devices.
Some military analysts believe that the Iranians already have acquired enough enriched uranium of a quality to create several World War II Hiroshima-type basic nuclear bombs that can be delivered by air or sea to Israel. In other words, the Iranian military already is effectively nuclear-armed. What now awaits is an even higher grade enrichment and the perfection of placing the finished weapon on top of an adequate missile delivery system.
There are those within the Iranian hierarchy who believe it is tactically important to strike Israel before the Israelis strike Iran. Effectively, therefore, both sides (Israel and Iran) face the same fearful decision as to whether it is better (safer) to strike first and absorb the counter-strike rather than wait for the dubious advantage of being the injured party with a reduced ability to counter.
It should be remembered that Iran wants the “credit” for being the Islamic nation that is strongest against the continued existence of Israel. That has been its principal propaganda theme for the last thirty years. Just last month Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced in a major speech: “The Zionist regime is truly a cancerous tumor in this region and it must be, and will be, cut out.” There doesn’t seem to be much ambiguity in that statement, though Washington has made a considerable effort to ignore the clear portent.
No one would suggest that the Iranian clerical leadership lacks strategic awareness. On the contrary it would appear that threatening declarations such as the one just made by Ayatollah Khamenei are done with full awareness that the Israelis might respond with a preemptive attack or the threat of such. And does that not suggest that the Iranians must already have prepared themselves to launch their own preemption?
It’s logical that in wanting to be the leading opponent of an already nuclear-armed Israel, Iran would of necessity arm itself appropriately. It seems obvious that means as long as Tehran persists in threatening Israel, it must develop its own parallel nuclear weapon capability. Does the Administration really think further economic threats will divert Iran from its self-proclaimed righteous path as the Great Shia Savior opposing satanic Israel?
About the Author
George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.
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Jack in Wi.| 3.9.12 @ 7:07AM
The Sec. Of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the heads of all our 16 intelligence agencies, the head of the National Security Agency and numerous retired military and intelligence people both here and in Isael say that Iran is not building nuclear weapons at this time. The Iranians have signed and are obeying numerous nuclear non proliferation treaties. They are under constant inspection. I am sick of the pack of liars and criminal war mongers who are trying to drag us into a war with Iran which could easily turn into a world war. Pushing for such a war is an international war crime and against all ideas of Christian Just War Doctrine.
MikeBee| 3.9.12 @ 11:38AM
Again, Jack,
You OBVIOUSLY know nothing about Christian Just War doctrine. Christian Just War doctrine allow for preemptive strikes, when the strike will cause less human damage than would be caused by your enemy. I know you think you're the smartest thing around, but, Jack, the claims you make are so provably false, it's almost funny! Keep up the good work, Jack; you teach us at AmSpec every day about the ignorance of liberals.......
Jack in Wi.| 3.9.12 @ 11:59AM
For a war to be just all efforts must be made to avoid it. It can only be defensive or under the threat of imminent attack. All the warmongering has come from Israel and it's supporters in this country. Iran is following her treaty responsiblities in regard to nuclear weapons. Israel onthe other hand threatens the whole world with nuclear genocide, with the Samson Option. The only rogue nuclear powers are Israel which threatens to use them continuely and the USA which actually used them for no good reason.
MikeBee| 3.9.12 @ 12:55PM
Jack,
Wrong again. It is Iran who is ignoring the International community, charging ahead with plans to go nuclear. It has been reported in news sources all over the world that Iran is not following treaty responsibilities. Israel, on the other hand, while having nukes for many, many years, has shown its resolve to peace by never having used them.
It is very obvious to all who read your rampant posts on AmSpec that you hate Jews. Jack; get over your hatred of Jews. You have now added your hatred of the United States. Tell you what, Jack: you love Iran and hate the U.S. so much, why don't you go live there? You can experience the true freedom that they have there, not the slavery that the U.S. promotes. You are allowing your hatred to cloud your vision of history and of reality.
MikeBee| 3.9.12 @ 3:16PM
Jack,
Wrong again, II. Just War can be preemptive. It does NOT have to be only defensive. (Where do you get this crXp from?) Read Catholic theology. Even an atheist like yourself can read. Preemptive wars are considered just wars, if the harm to people is much less than it would be if the other country attacked. This is exactly what would happen if Israel attacked Iran's nuclear capacities. Few would be killed in Iran, as opposed to the multitudes who would be killed if Iran dropped a nuke on Israel.
Jack in Wi.| 3.9.12 @ 4:40PM
Nonsense: This would be a preventive war not a pre-emtive war. Both are forbiden by Christian Just War Doctrine. A pre-emtive war would be if Iran actually had an atomic weapon. a preventive war would be if Iran might at some distant time get a weapon. In that case 50 other nuclear countries could be attacked. Iran has renounced nuclear weapons and their use. It has the perfect right under it's treaties to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes. A Jew like yourself doesn't believe in just war doctrine anyhow. You know nothing of the true facts. There has been no effort to respond to the fact that Iran has on numerous occasions sought peaceful relations with the USA. In 2003 the Iranians offered a full settlement with America. Powell, Rice, and Armitage wanted to start immediate negotiations. Bush, Cheney and the neocons would not let them do it. There must be a sound reason of imminent attack or an actual attack for a war to be Just. The last 2 Popes has stated repeatedly that the war in Iraq was in no way just. That goes double for Iran which could lead to another world war.
markenoff| 3.9.12 @ 4:21PM
So Jack do you want the federal government to use the teachings of the Catholic Church as guidance for public policy? Works for me; I'm against killing unborn human babies for convenience.
Jack in Wi.| 3.9.12 @ 4:47PM
Markenoff: It isn't just Christian Just War Doctrine which forbids this attack. International Law forbids such attacks as well. Lots of Germans were hung after WW2 for fomenting such aggressive wars. Of course most International law on warfare comes out of the Church doctrine on the subject.
Alan Brooks| 3.9.12 @ 6:30PM
I'm starting to see what you see, Jack; they are demonizing Iran as Iran demonizes Israel.
And remember, it was America who installed the Shah- not Israel. Israel can be held culpable for certain events after 1948, but not for 1953; not for Iran.
Not for SAVAK.
Alan Brooks| 3.9.12 @ 9:32PM
Still, Jack, living in Israel is preferable to living in just about any other Mideast nation- a separate issue from what you write about, yet valid nonetheless. I am sure visiting the Mideast is good.. but after things don't go well for the country in question they are going to look for scapegoats, eventually, and then it is time to high tail it home.
sirbourbon| 3.11.12 @ 11:33PM
Jack, they aren't intersted in facts but in beating the war drums.
The media has made it appear that enriching uranium to weapons grade specs is as easy asPaula Dean throwing together few ingredients and baking a cake. It takes years and even then there is no guarantee of success. Too many other processess have to be perfect before an explosion can be achieved and a delivery system capable of delivering the payload to the target is another matter. All very iffy and highly speculative to be basing a war on a nation that in the 1970's was still a reliable ally of the USA. Iran was an ally until the State department and the White House betrayed an ally.
This nation's leaders betrayed the Shah of Iran and put her might behind the present socialists running Iran. Now we are back to war mode threatening war on a country that has no navy to speak of and no ICBM's and no bomb according to the Mossad!
In 2007 under the Bush administration the dept of energy gave 5 Million dollars to Iran to help them with their commerical nuclear facility in Bushehr. This CNN report gives us the story of that assistance we provided Iran. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4lB1Y4ZwfU
Jack in Wi.| 3.11.12 @ 11:47PM
Bourbon: Your sane commets are always welcome. You should make more of them. This site needs some sanity.
Jack in Wi.| 3.9.12 @ 7:12AM
Iran has attacked no one in over 200 years. Israel on the other hand attacks it's neighbors every other week. Israel and its supporters in this country have led this country to bankruptcy fighting it's wars of conquest for the last 10 years. Now they want to triple the price of gasoline in the middle of the worst depression in 80 years. It is time to cut off Israel and the Arabs from all foreign aid and tell them to solve their own problems. If Israel wants a war let it fight it themselves, and pay for it themselves.
Bobloblaw| 3.9.12 @ 8:14AM
""Iran has attacked no one in over 200 years. ""
Past performance is no guarantee of future returns....and oh yes, your daughter gave fellatio to a Jew
Jack in Wi.| 3.9.12 @ 10:26AM
Not that I know boblaw. But I know several gentiles that have gotten same from Jewish girls. It seems that they were bored silly by guys like you.
Occam's Tool| 3.9.12 @ 12:12PM
Well, Jack, considering your head never comes up from a jihadist's crotch, I guess you're the expert on this.
You piece of Nazi scum.
Clint| 3.10.12 @ 3:59AM
More Queer Talk From The Screwball Israel Firster Smear Bund Traitor Bastard Neo-Chickenhawk Coward,Tool Job.
Why Hasn't Your Roughy Puff, Bibi Attacked Iran, Israel Firster,Tool Job ?
Is He Waitin' For A Note From His Mommy ?
Ryan| 3.9.12 @ 8:41AM
Iran sponsors terrorism and militant Islamist elements outside its own borders.
Invasion isn't the only way to attack.
old white guy| 3.9.12 @ 9:44AM
jack. iran says they will wipe israel off the face of the earth. is that threat not adequate. iran has been and continues to develop nukes. they will use them if given the chance. western intelligence is an oxymoron.
Jack in Wi.| 3.9.12 @ 10:24AM
Israel and it's supporters on this site have threatened Iran with nuclear genocide many times. You are a disgraceful bunch. 25000 Jews live peacefully in Iran. There are 25 active synagogues and several hebrew schools. These people are often well to do and well respected. It is the largest Jewish community left in the Muslim world. They could leave at any time for Israel or elsewhere but refuse to do so. Iran has rejected nuclear weapons and their use. It is surrounded by nuclear powers and to claim that they would use one is they had one is ridicoulous. The only nuclear power who acts like a mad dog is Israel. It is time the world put a stop to Israeli agression once and for all. Shalom.
Jill Johnson| 3.11.12 @ 11:20PM
So will you admit you are wrong if Iran DOES get a nuclear weapon?
Jack in Wi.| 3.11.12 @ 11:54PM
And if they have a nuclear weapon what would they do with it? They are surrounded by nuclear weapons. The former head of the Mossad Dagen just said on 60 minutes that Iran is a rational player. That is why they have rejected nuclear weapons and pushed for the whole Mideast to be a nulcear free zone. they know that they would be destroyed if they used it. Thats why they won't. In fact I think they could have had a few already from Pakistan or the old Soviet Union. What can they do with them? The only country who has insane people who thinks that they can use nuclear weapons and survive is the extreme lunatics in Israel. Even most Israeli's know that is true insanity.
Jack in Wi.| 3.9.12 @ 11:52AM
Meir Dagen the recently retired head of the Mossad has called Iran a rational country and not threat to israel. He has been joined by Yucal Diskin the former head of the Shin Bit in calling for no war. Efriam Halevey another former head of the Mossad has said an attack on Iran would be the dumbest thing ever and poison the Middle East for 100 years. Dagen is appearing on 60 minutes this weekend. I know lots of Jews and except for the lunatics here most seem sane and want no more wars. Jews by polling were the largest group of people percentage wise to oppose the war in Iraq.
Occam's Tool| 3.9.12 @ 12:12PM
Amazing how much Jack loves Iranians, isn't it. I guess it's the female genital mutilation that turns him on.
Clint| 3.10.12 @ 4:08AM
The Little, Short, Fat, Agin' Israel Firster Smear Bund Neo-Chickenhawk Coward,Tool Job Attempts To Once More Use Our American Warriors To Do Israel's Fightin' For Them And Piss Away More Of Our American Treasure Policing The Middle East For The Israel Firster Agenda.
Why Hasn't Your Roughy Puff Mancrush, Bibi Attacked Iran ?
You Could Ride A Nuke In On Iran, Like Slim Picken, Tool Job.
Big Tony| 3.9.12 @ 11:18AM
Iran attacked the Embassy Compound of the United States of America which is by international law considered the territory of the United States and was an act of war. Those that forget history are comdemed to repeat it.
nathan| 3.9.12 @ 2:17PM
Do your homework here. You want to talk history let's talk history. The coup against the legally elected prime minister (Mossedegh) in 1953 carried out by Eisenhower with ZERO justification using street thugs to put in power a kleptomaniac human rights abusing street thug, that sir is an act of war and precedes your example by decades. So who attacked who? And maybe the Iranians in this case as you said here "Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it" are doing exactly as you are suggesting? Just a thought. Again, you want to talk history talk history but do your homework, all of it. Selectivity doesn't get it here folks.
Robert| 3.10.12 @ 5:47AM
"kleptomaniac human rights abusing street thug"? Keep obama out of this!
And incidentally, the "legally elected" Mossadegh, lest you selective history buffs conveniently forget, illegally nationalized all the western oil interests in Iran prior to his deposition.
obama learned well (lower case intentional to reflect my esteem for the schmuck)!
albert constantine jr.| 3.10.12 @ 3:00PM
The elevation of the Shah over Mossadegh had nothing to do with the current theocratic regime. It was the replacement of a Soviet oriented leader with a western oriented leader. Had it not taken place, the Soviets would have likely been invading Iran in 1979, instead of Afghanistan, in order to protect its client state from the revolution that produced the current regime.
POST American| 3.9.12 @ 7:29AM
"The US has one FINAL task before
it too is taken down, and RED China
and the UN are brought forward as
'Model for the World' ---'World Enforcer',
and that's to 'bring in' the recalcitrant
Middle East (ie USURY debt serfdom
/ porn/ franchise slums/ GMO and
other EUGENICS ops)."
---A week after Breitbart's 'uncanny'
--'natural'-- death, and just a day away
from Leon 'PAN--NET--US's public
unfold of Globalist TROJAN HORSE
TREASON -----BOTH items now 'managed'
from view by the capstone rectum worshipping
'press'.
---------ENJOY the ride kiddies!
----------------YOU WERE WARNED------------------
Tim the Enchanter| 3.9.12 @ 11:20AM
Huh?
Dick Nome| 3.9.12 @ 11:29AM
Full Moon is out, can't you tell??
Richard Baker| 3.9.12 @ 8:11AM
The Persians have been ruthlessly aggressive for Millenia (read the Old Testament). Ever heard of Cyrus, Xerxes, or Darius? Jack in Wi. seems to think that just leaving the Persians alone will guarantee their docility. Are you really THAT mindless?
Richard Baker| 3.9.12 @ 8:12AM
By the way, Jack. Of course, the Spartan Greeks at Thermopylae were inciting violence, right?
Bobloblaw| 3.9.12 @ 8:13AM
""World War II Hiroshima-type basic nuclear bombs that can be delivered by air or sea to Israel.""
The only way Iran could attack Israel is by missile. By air or sea???LOL. No Iranian plane could make it to Israel and no Iranian nuclear equipped ship could ever make it anywhere close to Israel.
Harry the Horrible| 3.9.12 @ 10:23AM
Yeah, but a truck or cargo container could...
Al Adab| 3.9.12 @ 1:54PM
As could any old fishing boat. That BTW is the danger to American port cities as well.
John - TMF| 3.9.12 @ 4:03PM
Yup, and the pathetic level of post 9/11 inspection of shipping containers is even worse now.
A uranium gun bomb could be loaded in shielded container and shipped to any bond yard, in any port in the country.
At Crecy and Agincourt the cream of French Chivalry fell to lowly Welsh and English yeomen archers with their bows, mallets, short swords and knives. The French armor, useless and constricting.
We will pay for our preoccupation with high technology. We forget that the Little Man bomb was never tested, it just worked. It was constructed with slide rules and common explosives... and delivered by a propeller driven airplane that the Japanese took to be another "pumpkin" drop or weather flight.
We keep looking at Buck Rogers, when we should be re-examining Sun-Tsu.
r/John - TMF
sirbourbon| 3.11.12 @ 11:45PM
The US Department of Energy in 2007 handed a $5million dollar check to two Russian institutes to help Iran develope their nuclear faciltiy in Bushehr province. Bush was still in office in 2007 but he didn't stop the flow of US aid to Iran directed to Iran's nuclear program. Why do you suppose he would allow that to happen? Stupidity or something effected him like village idiot lunacy? Bush was too dumb to figure things out on his own. The policy makers behind the scenes had other motives. Now we see what their motive was - war. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4lB1Y4ZwfU
Richard Baker| 3.9.12 @ 8:23AM
Bobloblaw:
Do you think technology stands still? A staged SCUD or similar in large numbers would be sufficient an area weapon that even the Israeli Arrow defense system couldn't stop them all. Remember, in a country that small a strike by an area weapon with even crude nuclear capability would be disastrous, the decoys notwithstanding. Now, we have lefties arguing that a nuclear strike can't happen. Really?
Herb| 3.9.12 @ 9:04AM
In the news this morning the Defense Department announces its own ongoing preparations for a U.S. (not Israeli) strike against Iran. This is scary.
Wonder if there's something to all that Gog & Magog business in Scripture, after all.
KyMouse| 3.9.12 @ 12:20PM
Yep, Herb, my money's on it. The Bible has been right about the history of the Jewish people for millennia -- driven out of their homeland, scattered around the world, persecuted everywhere, yet returning to that homeland and making it prosper. And the part about nations gathering against it is coming true, too.
That's an astonishing rate of successful predictions -- I should say, prophecies.
Dave Williams| 3.9.12 @ 4:53PM
Oh, please. Jesus himself said that he'd be back before many of the current generation had passed away. (I don't know the exact chapter and verse, but it's in the bible for sure.) Well, we're STILL waiting....those of us who have bought the con, that is.
Nick| 3.9.12 @ 8:04PM
It was no "con," Mr. Williams.
Christ came back in A.D. 70 and laid Jerusalem to waste. Everything He prophesied in Matthew 24 was fulfilled. And, it was 40 years (a generation, in Jewish parlance) later, just as He predicted.
Christ will also be back for the final judgement, to be sure. But, like all prophesy, Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation had their immediate fulfillment in the lifetime of those who heard the prophet. The prophesy was also applicable to an even further future event, beyond the immediate fulfillment.
Hope that clears things up for you.
RCV| 3.10.12 @ 12:37PM
Nick: excellent commentary on the contemporary context of New Testament prophecy. Revelations, especially, was directed primarily at the oppression of Jews in the Holy Land by the Romans, as Pagels (whatever one otherwise thinks of her) new book explains rather compellingly.
Always appreciate your thoughtful and respectful commentary.
William L. Gensert| 3.9.12 @ 9:25AM
Weakness in the face of aggression is the father of war. The coming conflagration will be born of Barack Obama's inability to stand up for the interests of the nation he is supposed to be leading.
Read more of my article: http://www.americanthinker.com.....z1ocscVeWw
John786| 3.9.12 @ 9:55AM
So the Iranians already have the bomb. Does that mean we are in a MAD war games scenario. So therefore an attack is not feasible? lies dammed lies and Zionist propaganda. The US had made serious strategic blunders over the last 10 years if this goes ahead it will be icing on the cake. The war on terror will be seen as mere childs play. Dialogue has no cost. I still believe probably very naively that the US will not make the greatest blunder in its history.
Zombie Reagan| 3.9.12 @ 10:42AM
"Iran is not rational." I guess Pakistan is? I guess Joe Stalin was? I guess North Korea's leaders were?" Iranians do not want to be obliterated by Israel. They are not going to heave a nuke at Tel Aviv or give one to al quaeda. You people are all a bunch of Chicken Littles, also you said the same thing about Iraq. Think you'd learn something from that. Apparently too stupid to learn.
Al Adab| 3.9.12 @ 10:55AM
Persia was a great nation, one of the few in the world, for most of its history. It should not come as a surprise that it seeks to restor its place among the nations of the world.
America, as a young nation, fails often to account for the historical baggage of the nations it deals with. The 2500 year plus history of tension and conflict between the West, the Jews and Perisa must be factored in to any understanding of motivation and goals in dealing with Iran. The nation faces a serious demographic disaster within about fifty years and it should be no surprise that it seeks to restore its position as a regional and world leader before that collapse. The great monuments and ruined cities of its past speak every day to the people of that nation.
Couple that with the unstable leadership currently in charge and we can begin to understand the forces which drive Irans ambition. Tyrants like Achi seek power for its own sake and often destruction for the "glory" of it. While there is an historical imperative behind its current agenda, it is a mistake to expect the leadership to act rationally in its own best interest.
RCV| 3.10.12 @ 12:40PM
Well said in all respects.
RCV| 3.11.12 @ 8:29PM
Al Adab: Contemporary American observers often ignore the historical national impulses that drive nations and their populace which have little to do with ideology. Thus the mistaken notion that the fall of communism and the USSR would curb Russian expansionism, xenophobia and fear of attack from the west, impulses that have driven Russian foreign policy for centuries. Similarly, Chinese hegemony over Tibet and Mongolia and the Korean peninsula will long survive the fall of the Chinese communists rulers because they have long dominated Chinese history. Turkey and Persia will always seek to influence and dominate the Arab lands to their south whether they are ruled by Islamists or Shahs or Sultans. A knowledge of historical relationships among nations is essential to understanding the world today.
Dick Nome| 3.9.12 @ 11:31AM
The mad mullahs want a bomb to blow up infidels. Useful Idiots like Jackov are good support for their 10th century minds.
Al Adab| 3.9.12 @ 12:24PM
Just noticed, we should all thank Amspec webmasters for getting the site back to normal. We spent several weeks complaining, it's time to say THANK YOU.
Thomas| 3.9.12 @ 12:40PM
Ignoring the people who obviously refuse to acknowledge historical truth with regard to Iran since 1979, the important thing to understand here is the problem faced by a nuclear Iran.
If Iran has succeeded in constructing even one thermonuclear device, then the problems associated with a preemptive strike are compounded enormously. And, as the number of those weapons increases and delivery system development progresses, so does the danger of nuclear weapons use in the region.
A second problem is that the government of Iran is heavily factionalized, with the Republican Guard being an almost autonomous organization within that government. It is also one of the more radical factions there. As it is believed that the Guard would have operational control of such weapons, the cause for concern increases yet again. That the current recognized leadership of Iran not only publicly declares that Iran will destroy the State of Israel, but has taken active steps to do so through its sponsorship of anti-Israeli terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah does not lend any credence to the assumption that Iran is interested in non-weaponized nuclear technology.
John786| 3.9.12 @ 1:47PM
Can't you read. They allegedly already have them to give to whomever.
cicero| 3.9.12 @ 5:17PM
A macedonian Muslim friend of mine recently commented to me that "The Persians are crazy, and not to be trusted." There has been nothing in the news for the past 30 years or so that would give the lie to that. At what point does the West begin to believe people when they chant "Death to America"?
Pat| 3.9.12 @ 7:48PM
A few important truths have come down from our Government on this Iran issue. If you plan to vacation in either Iran or Bora Bora this year, choose Bora Bora. If you are running for re-election as president, don’t pick a brand new fight with a different Muslim country. If you are re-elected there is time enough to reassess just how grave the threat of Iran possessing nuclear weapons actually is – there are election year “grave” threats which serve only to distract voters and then there are non-election year “grave” threats which will provide a president plenty of media air-time and a chance to appear “presidential”.
If Israel expresses concern over Iran, appear to listen but, whatever you do, avoid a firm commitment to help. Be nice about it because American Jews and Evangelical Protestants will invariably side with Israel – and this is an election year after all. Think carefully before taking any action or threat of action which would disrupt the flow of Iran’s oil – don’t do something stupid which increases the price of America’s gas during an election year – but don’t appear to be a wuss either. See, this international diplomacy stuff is really quite straightforward for Obama.
POST American| 3.9.12 @ 11:29PM
------------------BOTTOMLESS LINE----------------------
Putting Iran aside for a moment.
"Down thru the ages, governments have
been the absolute leading cause of unnatural
death of peoples. ALLLL the terror we read
about in history have been 'Reigns of Terror'
by governments AGAINST their people.
Last century alone 262 MILLION were murdered
by their governments -----in 'peacetime'.
It's called 'DEMO--cide'. World government,
as its very proponents frankly state, is to be
brought in to begin the 'orderly extermination'
of 90% of mankind by 2100. ----BILLIONS
to be liquidated, thru injections, contminated
foods, water, air, conflicts and 'aggressive'
euthanization. ---BILLIONS! They even have
a word for that ---'GIGA--death'".
Just a little REALITY CHECK one week
after the 'natural' death of Andrew Breitbart
---just days after the unfold of Globalist
TROJAN HORSE TREASON before our very
Congress by Leon 'PAN---NET----uh'.
------DEMO-cide
----------GIGA--death
--------------Globalist TROJAN HORSE TREASON
And now for a BLAST FROM THE PAST
"In the camps you would hear the refrain
---again and again and again --'WHY did we do
NOTHING to stop this when we could? ----WHY?"
-Auchwitz Survivor
As you there rest on your rectum 'bennies'
-----ASK YOURSELVES in the mirror
--------------------------WHY?----------------------------
shane teton | 3.9.12 @ 11:44PM
If Christ is redemptive then that will usurp man's design; if Mohammad is correct the Iranians appear to be pushing for the return of the 12th Imam; if Darwin has a sole corner on things put your trust in Barry, Vlad, Angela, Jintao and the like, but in any event the end is nigh. Sweet dreams...
RCV| 3.10.12 @ 12:42PM
Nothing in Darwin's postulates stands in opposition to the redemptive power of Christ.
ayrnieu| 3.10.12 @ 12:55AM
Meanwhile, a successful nuclear program is a proven get-out-of-threat-of-invasion-free card; only the hopeless or the content or the foolish wouldn't seek it. I bet there are a few (ghosts of) Middle Eastern dictators who realized too late what a mistake it was to trade away their programs for a mess of fleeting good will from the US. I'm dead certain that Iran's leaders learned that lesson vicariously.
So Iran's going to get the bomb. Don't be too shocked when the world doesn't end. I hear - and this is only wisdom older than the Catholic Church, so take it with a grain of salt - that trade and economic entanglement are solid methods of turning enemies into friends.
Bill X| 3.10.12 @ 11:17AM
Iran is our mortal enemy by their choosing. Iran wants to destroy the US and Israel and dominate the middle east. Being nice to an alligator has no effect on the alligator. It will still kill you if it gets the opportunity.
Bill X| 3.10.12 @ 11:15AM
Ahmadinejad has said Israel and the US must be destroyed before the 12th imam can return. I have no doubt that Iran will use at least one weapon on the US. Iran doesn't have ICBMs but they have short range missiles that could be fired from a ship or a submarine. Washington DC or New York or both could be nuked because Obama is determined to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 3.11.12 @ 3:13AM
There are those in our country who believe that all of Israel's enemies must be destroyed to usher in the rapture and the second coming. What they don't understand though is in the traditional Christian view Israel is the Church and the Israelites are Christians (and Jewish converts) not the zionist state of Israel or modern day Jews. I don't know about the 12th Imam or Shia Muslims who want to usher in the "end of days" but I do know that Iran considers itself the "defender of the faith" for Shia Muslims throughout the world and given the number of nuclear weapons Israel has compared to what Iran can make in the near future I can't see that the Ayatollah's who run Iran would want to end Persian civilization as the cost of setting off one nuke in Tel Aviv.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 3.11.12 @ 3:29AM
North Korea has nuclear weapons and we just shake our finger at them. China has nuclear weapons and we'd stick our tails between our legs if they ever decided to take back Taiwan. Why shouldn't the Iranian seek nuclear weapons. They know once they have them a military option is off the table and they can make moves to dominate the Middle East or at least better protect Arab Shia without the prospect of the West getting in the way.
sirbourbon| 3.11.12 @ 11:37PM
If the Iranians have the capability to build a nuke bomb then blame Dubya. Bush gave the Iranians the bomb.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4lB1Y4ZwfU