Iran In The Crosshairs, And Under A Microscope
It's no secret that we're having some to-do with Iran right now. They're developing nuclear weapons, and we're none too happy about it. They deny that they are, but Drudge has the flash report from this morning.
The United States has alleged that Iran has enough uranium gas to make 10 nuclear weapons and has called for new inspections in the Islamic Republic, a diplomat in Vienna told AFP Wednesday.
A senior US official made the claim at a closed-door meeting in Vienna of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the diplomat said.
US ambassador Gregory Schulte told the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors that Iran had failed on every count to meet the watchdog's call for it to suspend uranium enrichment.
Uranium is enriched so it can be used as fuel in a nuclear power reactor or, if enriched further, to make an atomic weapon. Schlulte said Iran had 85 tons of the uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas and said this was enough to make 10 atom bombs, the diplomat reported.
He said there now should be special inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. A copy of his speech was not immediately available.
Now, we could take the Iranians at their word--today--that they're enriching uranium for peaceful purposes. That yes, they're only working towards developing nuclear power. But to do that, we'd have to throw out all that has been stated by Iran up to this point.
--Threatening to wipe Israel off the map.
--Issuing a fatwa stating that Allah and Mohammed would approve of them to make nuclear weapons.
--That it is unfair that other nations may have them, but Iran is forbidden.
--That Pres. Ahmadinejad believes that to usher in the 12th Imam, the Mahdi, he must start a world war; engulfing it in "holy" nuclear fire.
And remember the actions of Iran in the beginning of January showed a blatant disregard for the IAEA and the UN when they broke the seals on their nuclear facilities, and ordered the IAEA to shut down all cameras in those facilities. They have been sending men and munitions into Iraq, backing the terrorists and native insurgency, and engaging our troops. These are not the actions of a nation desiring peace. These are the actions of a nation headed for a serious face-off with the civilized world. And whether they have chosen to accept it or not, they will lose such a confrontation.
But, they are pushing buttons:
Iran threatened the United States with "harm and pain" Wednesday for its role in hauling Tehran before the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program.
But the United States and its European allies said Iran's nuclear intransigence left the world no choice but to seek Security Council action. The council could impose economic and political sanctions on Iran.
The statements were delivered to the 35-member board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is meeting to focus on Tehran's refusal to freeze uranium enrichment.
The White House dismissed the rhetoric out of Tehran.
"I think that provocative statements and actions only further isolate Iran from the rest of the world," White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters traveling with President Bush to hurricane-affected states in the Gulf Coast. "And the international community has spelled out to Iran what it needs to do."
John Bolton, America's ambassador to the United Nations, said Iran's comments showed how much of a menace it was.
"Their threats show why leaving a country like that with a nuclear weapon is so dangerous," he told The Associated Press in a phone call from Washington.
Bolton classified the Iranian comments as "reflecting their determination to acquire weapons."
Wednesday's meeting is in effect the last step before the Security Council begins considering Iran's nuclear activities and international fears they could be misused to make weapons. It began with both Iran and the nations opposing its enrichment plans sticking to their positions.
"The United States has the power to cause harm and pain," said Ali Asghar Soltanieh, a senior Iranian delegate to the IAEA. "But the United States is also susceptible to harm and pain. So if that is the path that the U.S. wishes to choose, let the ball roll."
He did not elaborate but suggested Iran was awaiting additional American moves.
But diplomats accredited to the meeting and in contact with the Iranians said the statement could be a veiled threat to use oil as an economic weapon.
Iran is the second-largest producer within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and a boycott could target Europe, China or India.
At an OPEC meeting in Vienna, Iran petroleum minister Sayed Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh deflected questions about Iran's threat, saying: "Ask the one who said that."
He later sought to ease worries about Iran's oil plans, telling reporters: "So far there's no reason to reduce exports. Iran has no intention whatsoever of reducing its oil exports."
Oil supplies are tight worldwide and prices already are high. Although the United States does not buy oil directly from Iran, any Iranian effort to tighten world supplies would effect oil prices in the United States.
Iran also has leverage with extremists in Iraq, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Islamic militant group Hamas, which won Palestinian elections in January. Both groups are classified by the U.S. State Department as terrorist organizations.
On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld accused Iran of dispatching elements of its Revolutionary Guard to stir trouble inside Iraq.
Iran's statement was unusually harsh, reflecting Tehran's frustration at failing to deflect the threat of Security Council action against it in the coming weeks. Tehran maintains its nuclear program is for generating electricity.
"Our nation has made its decision to fully use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and all have to give in to this decision made by the Iranian nation," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in Iran. "We have made our choice."
Iran also attacked "warmongers in Washington" for what it said was an unjust accusation that Tehran's nuclear intentions were mainly for military use. It also suggested America was vulnerable, despite its strength.
"Surely we are not naive about the United States' ... intention to flex muscles," the statement said. "But we also see the bone fractures underneath."
It also threatened broader retaliation, without being specific, saying Iran "will adapt our policy and adjust our approach to conform with the new exigencies."
Earlier, U.S. delegate Gregory Schulte insisted in comments to the board that "the time has now come for the Security Council to act." He said the 85 tons of feedstock uranium gas already produced by Iran could produce enough material for about 10 nuclear weapons if enriched.
He ticked off Iran's decision to curtail agency inspections, its expanding uranium enrichment program and worrying conclusions by IAEA inspectors that suggest at least past interest in nuclear arms as contributing to "mounting international concerns" about Tehran's nuclear intentions.
Schulte listed Tehran's possession of plans that could only be used to make nuclear warheads, links between its nuclear programs and the military, and its determination to develop a large-scale enrichment program that could be misused to make nuclear arms.
"IAEA inspectors have no doubt this information was expressly intended for the fabrication of nuclear weapons components," Schulte said of documents showing how to form fissile material into warheads.
Separately, France, Germany and Britain, which spearheaded the Feb. 4 IAEA resolution clearing the path for Security Council action, warned that what is known about Iran's enrichment program could represent only "the tip of the iceberg."
"We believe that the time has ... come for the U.N. Security Council to reinforce the authority" of the IAEA and its board, the European statement said.
Russia and China, which have Security Council vetoes, may use them to foil any resolution in that chamber that would meaningfully increase pressure on Iran, their political and economic ally. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing appealed Tuesday for more negotiations and suggested Security Council involvement was not needed.
The Chinese and Russian statements to the board were relatively moderate, said delegates inside the closed meeting. China urged "more time for diplomacy" before any Security Council action, one delegate said on condition of anonymity, quoting from the Chinese statement.
Yes, China and Russia are asking for more time. No surprise there as both nations are still making deals with Iran. China is on the cusp of signing an oil deal that will give them a steady stream of the fossil fuel for years to come. And I need not remind any of our readers that China is in no way possible a solid ally of the United States. Trade partner is one thing; ally is a strong word to use for China in terms of it's relation with America.
The rhetoric emanating from Iran is not the kind that would set people at ease. The more they rattle the saber, the worse this looks. We're not looking for a fight, but we won't hesitate to hold Iran accountable for it's actions, or refusal to comply. To all those out there claiming that we have no right, I contend that we do because no one else will step up. Don't expect Europe, Russia, China, or any other nation to take point on Iran. The world will look to America to act first. It sucks, but that's the way the ball bounces.
They can't be allowed to make nuclear weapons. They have enough materials to construct one, provided they have all the technical know-how. If they don't the timetable is pushed back, but not by much. If the world faisl to act, or it dawdles down this path, Iran could have a working nuclear weapon by year's end, or possibly sooner. That is not chicken little talk there. That's based on analysis of where their program is right now, and the possibility of other nations--Pakistan, to be specific--in assiting them goes up. AQ Khan has helped many nations with their nuclear programs, including North Korea, Iran, and Iraq. Documents uncovered by our intel agencies show that Iran has a solid working relationship with people in the AQ Khan network; the same ones involved with Saddam Hussein on his early stages of nuclear development.
To ignore this growing threat is stupid. To push it off to others is irresponsible. As the last superpower int he world, it falls to us to make sure that Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon, and either attack an ally, or pass a bomb off to a terrorist organization (Hezbollah, anyone?) for detonation on our soil, or Israeli soil. This is coming to a head, and if our allies lose their fortitude in the endeavors to stop Iran, we will have to go forward on our own. The world can't afford to let a regime like Iran have the deadliest weapons conceived by man.
Publius II
It's no secret that we're having some to-do with Iran right now. They're developing nuclear weapons, and we're none too happy about it. They deny that they are, but Drudge has the flash report from this morning.
The United States has alleged that Iran has enough uranium gas to make 10 nuclear weapons and has called for new inspections in the Islamic Republic, a diplomat in Vienna told AFP Wednesday.
A senior US official made the claim at a closed-door meeting in Vienna of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the diplomat said.
US ambassador Gregory Schulte told the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors that Iran had failed on every count to meet the watchdog's call for it to suspend uranium enrichment.
Uranium is enriched so it can be used as fuel in a nuclear power reactor or, if enriched further, to make an atomic weapon. Schlulte said Iran had 85 tons of the uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas and said this was enough to make 10 atom bombs, the diplomat reported.
He said there now should be special inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. A copy of his speech was not immediately available.
Now, we could take the Iranians at their word--today--that they're enriching uranium for peaceful purposes. That yes, they're only working towards developing nuclear power. But to do that, we'd have to throw out all that has been stated by Iran up to this point.
--Threatening to wipe Israel off the map.
--Issuing a fatwa stating that Allah and Mohammed would approve of them to make nuclear weapons.
--That it is unfair that other nations may have them, but Iran is forbidden.
--That Pres. Ahmadinejad believes that to usher in the 12th Imam, the Mahdi, he must start a world war; engulfing it in "holy" nuclear fire.
And remember the actions of Iran in the beginning of January showed a blatant disregard for the IAEA and the UN when they broke the seals on their nuclear facilities, and ordered the IAEA to shut down all cameras in those facilities. They have been sending men and munitions into Iraq, backing the terrorists and native insurgency, and engaging our troops. These are not the actions of a nation desiring peace. These are the actions of a nation headed for a serious face-off with the civilized world. And whether they have chosen to accept it or not, they will lose such a confrontation.
But, they are pushing buttons:
Iran threatened the United States with "harm and pain" Wednesday for its role in hauling Tehran before the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program.
But the United States and its European allies said Iran's nuclear intransigence left the world no choice but to seek Security Council action. The council could impose economic and political sanctions on Iran.
The statements were delivered to the 35-member board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is meeting to focus on Tehran's refusal to freeze uranium enrichment.
The White House dismissed the rhetoric out of Tehran.
"I think that provocative statements and actions only further isolate Iran from the rest of the world," White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters traveling with President Bush to hurricane-affected states in the Gulf Coast. "And the international community has spelled out to Iran what it needs to do."
John Bolton, America's ambassador to the United Nations, said Iran's comments showed how much of a menace it was.
"Their threats show why leaving a country like that with a nuclear weapon is so dangerous," he told The Associated Press in a phone call from Washington.
Bolton classified the Iranian comments as "reflecting their determination to acquire weapons."
Wednesday's meeting is in effect the last step before the Security Council begins considering Iran's nuclear activities and international fears they could be misused to make weapons. It began with both Iran and the nations opposing its enrichment plans sticking to their positions.
"The United States has the power to cause harm and pain," said Ali Asghar Soltanieh, a senior Iranian delegate to the IAEA. "But the United States is also susceptible to harm and pain. So if that is the path that the U.S. wishes to choose, let the ball roll."
He did not elaborate but suggested Iran was awaiting additional American moves.
But diplomats accredited to the meeting and in contact with the Iranians said the statement could be a veiled threat to use oil as an economic weapon.
Iran is the second-largest producer within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and a boycott could target Europe, China or India.
At an OPEC meeting in Vienna, Iran petroleum minister Sayed Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh deflected questions about Iran's threat, saying: "Ask the one who said that."
He later sought to ease worries about Iran's oil plans, telling reporters: "So far there's no reason to reduce exports. Iran has no intention whatsoever of reducing its oil exports."
Oil supplies are tight worldwide and prices already are high. Although the United States does not buy oil directly from Iran, any Iranian effort to tighten world supplies would effect oil prices in the United States.
Iran also has leverage with extremists in Iraq, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Islamic militant group Hamas, which won Palestinian elections in January. Both groups are classified by the U.S. State Department as terrorist organizations.
On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld accused Iran of dispatching elements of its Revolutionary Guard to stir trouble inside Iraq.
Iran's statement was unusually harsh, reflecting Tehran's frustration at failing to deflect the threat of Security Council action against it in the coming weeks. Tehran maintains its nuclear program is for generating electricity.
"Our nation has made its decision to fully use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and all have to give in to this decision made by the Iranian nation," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in Iran. "We have made our choice."
Iran also attacked "warmongers in Washington" for what it said was an unjust accusation that Tehran's nuclear intentions were mainly for military use. It also suggested America was vulnerable, despite its strength.
"Surely we are not naive about the United States' ... intention to flex muscles," the statement said. "But we also see the bone fractures underneath."
It also threatened broader retaliation, without being specific, saying Iran "will adapt our policy and adjust our approach to conform with the new exigencies."
Earlier, U.S. delegate Gregory Schulte insisted in comments to the board that "the time has now come for the Security Council to act." He said the 85 tons of feedstock uranium gas already produced by Iran could produce enough material for about 10 nuclear weapons if enriched.
He ticked off Iran's decision to curtail agency inspections, its expanding uranium enrichment program and worrying conclusions by IAEA inspectors that suggest at least past interest in nuclear arms as contributing to "mounting international concerns" about Tehran's nuclear intentions.
Schulte listed Tehran's possession of plans that could only be used to make nuclear warheads, links between its nuclear programs and the military, and its determination to develop a large-scale enrichment program that could be misused to make nuclear arms.
"IAEA inspectors have no doubt this information was expressly intended for the fabrication of nuclear weapons components," Schulte said of documents showing how to form fissile material into warheads.
Separately, France, Germany and Britain, which spearheaded the Feb. 4 IAEA resolution clearing the path for Security Council action, warned that what is known about Iran's enrichment program could represent only "the tip of the iceberg."
"We believe that the time has ... come for the U.N. Security Council to reinforce the authority" of the IAEA and its board, the European statement said.
Russia and China, which have Security Council vetoes, may use them to foil any resolution in that chamber that would meaningfully increase pressure on Iran, their political and economic ally. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing appealed Tuesday for more negotiations and suggested Security Council involvement was not needed.
The Chinese and Russian statements to the board were relatively moderate, said delegates inside the closed meeting. China urged "more time for diplomacy" before any Security Council action, one delegate said on condition of anonymity, quoting from the Chinese statement.
Yes, China and Russia are asking for more time. No surprise there as both nations are still making deals with Iran. China is on the cusp of signing an oil deal that will give them a steady stream of the fossil fuel for years to come. And I need not remind any of our readers that China is in no way possible a solid ally of the United States. Trade partner is one thing; ally is a strong word to use for China in terms of it's relation with America.
The rhetoric emanating from Iran is not the kind that would set people at ease. The more they rattle the saber, the worse this looks. We're not looking for a fight, but we won't hesitate to hold Iran accountable for it's actions, or refusal to comply. To all those out there claiming that we have no right, I contend that we do because no one else will step up. Don't expect Europe, Russia, China, or any other nation to take point on Iran. The world will look to America to act first. It sucks, but that's the way the ball bounces.
They can't be allowed to make nuclear weapons. They have enough materials to construct one, provided they have all the technical know-how. If they don't the timetable is pushed back, but not by much. If the world faisl to act, or it dawdles down this path, Iran could have a working nuclear weapon by year's end, or possibly sooner. That is not chicken little talk there. That's based on analysis of where their program is right now, and the possibility of other nations--Pakistan, to be specific--in assiting them goes up. AQ Khan has helped many nations with their nuclear programs, including North Korea, Iran, and Iraq. Documents uncovered by our intel agencies show that Iran has a solid working relationship with people in the AQ Khan network; the same ones involved with Saddam Hussein on his early stages of nuclear development.
To ignore this growing threat is stupid. To push it off to others is irresponsible. As the last superpower int he world, it falls to us to make sure that Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon, and either attack an ally, or pass a bomb off to a terrorist organization (Hezbollah, anyone?) for detonation on our soil, or Israeli soil. This is coming to a head, and if our allies lose their fortitude in the endeavors to stop Iran, we will have to go forward on our own. The world can't afford to let a regime like Iran have the deadliest weapons conceived by man.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 6:44 PM
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