1938 Alert by George Jahn for Associated Press (thanks to Sr. Soph):
VIENNA, Austria - Iran's nuclear project has developed its own version of an advanced centrifuge to churn out enriched uranium much faster than its previous machines, diplomats and experts said Thursday.They said that few of the IR-2 centrifuges were operating and that testing appeared to be in an early phase, with the new machines rotating without processing any uranium gas.
More significant, the officials said, is the fact that Iran appears to have used know-how and equipment bought on the nuclear black market in combination with domestic ingenuity to overcome daunting technical difficulties and create highly advanced centrifuges.
Iran's uranium enrichment work has raised concerns in Washington and other Western capitals because it can produce the radioactive material needed for nuclear bombs. Tehran says it is only pursuing lower-level enrichment to make fuel for atomic reactors that will generate electricity.
Iran is under two sets of U.N. Security Council sanctions for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, which it started developing during nearly two decades of covert nuclear activity built on illicit purchases and revealed only five years ago.
Don't worry about this. Or about the disintegration of Pakistan. Or about the renewal of Al-Qaeda's strength in Pakistan, or the Taliban in Afghanistan. Iraq is the "central theatre" in the "war on terror." And in Iraq we have done great things. It has cost more than a trillion dollars, but think of what has been achieved. That purple-thumbed election. All that American money that has been distributed, by the tens or hundreds of billions, to needy Iraqis, some of which needy Iraqis are now enjoying much-deserved retirements in southern France, or in Belgravia and Mayfair in London, or possibly in apartments on the Avenue Foch, in comforting Paris (hell, some may even have stayed in the neighborhood, for example in high-rise Dubai). It has raised military morale in the American army so high, that 15,000 captains have decided things are going so swimmingly that their services are no longer needed, and have quit the army. And there is the same story with the Reserves, and the National Guard -- what with all the "success" in Iraq, so many people, of the kind the Reserves and National Guard naturally count on, have decided to get out, or have decided that they do not need to sign up, because the "war on terror" in Iraq -- that "central battlefield" -- is just going so well, what with the surge and all, and those "iron laws of counter-insurgency" that General Petraeus, and Colonel Kilcullen (with his impressive bush-hatted strine), and so even Colonel Nagl has resigned from the army because "his family" wants him too (there's a lot more money to be made now in the consultancy racket -- half of Washington now consists of consultants on "terrorism" and "outreach to Islam" and "reforming Islam" and "counter-insurgency strategies").
How much longer must we endure Tarbaby Iraq? And tarbaby (junior model) Afghansitan? When will those with a grasp of the whole picture be invited to participate? When will the squandering stop?
There seem to be three key fallacies that create a barrier to action aimed at ending Iran's nuclear program by more forceful diplomacy and by force if necessary.
First is the argument that the West should not act unless there is an "imminent danger." Apparently we need to wait until the very moment Iran is about to deploy, or we are premature in a forceful response.
Second is the argument that we should not act unless and until we have conclusive proof through intelligence sources that Iran is in fact developing nukes and imminently likely to deploy them. In other words, we have a burden of proof, which is nearly impossible to meet since this program is wrapped in secrecy. Nonetheless, the left seems to be saying we need to meet such a burden of proof somehow before acting. And, the proof needs to be not that Iran has shown an intent to develop and deploy nuclear weapons, but that the threat is imminent. See fallacy number one.
Third is the argument that if we can have nuclear technology, we are hypocritical or unfair to complain if Iran develops it. This argument seems to be saying that fairness is more important than preservation of our security and more important than common sense.
You will continue to hear all of those arguments for doing nothing more than talking, and nothing more than offering carrots and dialogue to Iran, to deal with this mounting threat.
Then, once Iran announces its possession of nuclear weapons by successfully testing one, you will hear the argument that we are too late to do anything anyway. But, you will hear, do not worry, we can just deter the Iranians as we have deterred everyone else. However, the only reason deterrence has worked this long is dumb luck plus our good fortune to have enemies who are not pathological and suicidal in their ideology and beliefs.
After Iran gets nukes, why not Saudi Arabia? Turkey? etc.
We seemed determined to sleep-walk our way to oblivion.
Whoever controls the oil, controls the money, and whoever controls the money is going to try to control speech (the media and institutions of higher learning can be bought or bought off), politics, and thought.
We need more political leadership, and need it to be more outspoken, before it is too late. This is no time for risk-avoidance and pulling punches.
developing during nearly two decades of covert nuclear activity built on illicit purchases
the fact they were hiding something a lone should be enough to set off alarm bells, and given how primitive their society is socially and scientifically about the level of being able to build very simple.munitions I.e. a SCUD missilein all likelihood they do not really understand just how powerful an atom bomb is they just know that the USA and Israel there two greatest enemies have it and they want it and believe Allha will lead them to victory, if they have it
"Don't worry about this." Posted by Hugh.
Yes, don't worry. Obama, when elected, is going to have a meeting with the Muslim world, to 'bridge the gap'. Then I presume, he will straighten things out after the 'war mongering' Bush administration is long gone.
Now, he could save some time in finding out what they want before having 'an honest discussion' by reading some Islamic doctrine, listen to just a few rants coming from radical Islam, read some papers and blogs or by golly, even turn on the TV. However, be aware Obama, of what 'honest discussion' is, in the Islamic world. Some education would prep you for that surprise. (Oh, just ask every single former President before you about all the successful gap bridging they were able to accomplish with all those numerous 'honest discussions' over the middle east.)
The west will wait...and wait...and wait...and pontificate, and make excuses, and draw lines in the sand, until Iran or some of their minions "test" an old-fashioned World War II era fission device on a western city. Don't worry about their missile capabilities. There's plenty of room in a tanker or cargo ship to deliver even the bulkiest nuclear device to a western port city.
Sleep well everyone!
Sounder...Since Obama was born a muslim by a muslim father, has a muslim uncle, and a brother who is a Islamic militant/jihadists in Kenya, he went to muslim schools in Pskistan as a child and probably has muslim friends.
Seeing all that, it would be hard to believe that he
is not familiar with Islam. My concern is that he is too familiar with it...
BOMB IRAN'S BOMBS
In the war against terrorism, Obama sides with the terrorists. Let's just be honest about it.
The truth is America is not doing squat to stop Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal for sale to the highest bidding terrorist entity. Iran has made more profit off of oil in the last five years than they ever made before, so they obviously don't have any need for NUCLEAR ENERGY. But oil doesn't make nuclear missiles so oil is no good for warmongering Iran.
We must destroy Iran's nuclear facilities today! We would rather deal with the consequences from their evil allies (Russia, etc.) from this vantage point, than deal with the consequences of a nuclear Al Queda. The more we wait, the dumber we are.
You realize we have completely misunderstood Iran's centrifuges. They are really amusement park rides called "The Centrifuge." So you see, nothing to worry about here. Now, if you all will excuse me, I have a section of the "Super Highway" to guard from all you citizens. I understand a very important shipment of illegals is expected and wouldn't want them delayed.lol
Kevin:
I understand a very important shipment of illegals is expected and wouldn't want them delayed.lol
Hopefully the spare parts we ordered for the flying saucers based in Area 51 will be on the same shipment.
You know how unreliable 'aliens' are. :)
"... in combination with domestic ingenuity ..."
I'm just quaking in my boots here.
Are these the same idiots who burn American flags while wearing Nike shirts? Who shout 'Death to America' and then go home to post about it on their personal computers?
These guys are worse bluffers than Saddam. And look what it got him. Morons.
RalphInfidel:
We were planning on using the boxes with your parts to hide the illegals behind.
As far as the 'alien' issue, please direct all inquires towards Jonathan Frakes.;)
Hugh:"That purple-thumbed election."
Priceless. A trillion bucks for a lot of groovy thumbs? I knew the dollar was weak but........
This isnt turning into a happy bedtime story JihadWatch. Primary cause for concern really ends up with the people who switched off months ago,and due to thier anti Bush illness become jihadi sympathisers overnight.
Someone stop this rock, I want off
It's either them or us people! islam teaches that it is ok to lie and deceive others in the name of islam. If I had my hand on the trigger: Iran, parts of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and most of the middle east for that matter (excluding Israel) would get to taste a nuclear weapon, many nuclear weapons. They will truly understand the destruction such weapons hold. The type of destruction the koran teaches them, they would see first hand. Such horror these weapons bring are what's important and coveted in islamic principles. Those places would be inhabitable for many generations and their hateful culture would cease to exist while the rest of the world would hopefully make sure the evils of islam would stay dead forever.