Feith to 'Post': US action against Iran can't be ruled out

[Tinoire]

Dec. 12, 2004 3:24 | Updated Dec. 12, 2004 16:06

Feith to 'Post': US action against Iran can't be ruled out
By CAROLINE GLICK


Link to JPost article here (it breaks if I post it the simple way)

Douglas Feith
Photo: DOD


The US hopes that Iran will follow Libya's lead in abandoning its nuclear program, but nobody should rule out the possibility of military action against Teheran's nuclear sites if it does not, US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas J. Feith told The Jerusalem Post in an exclusive interview.

Feith stated that the US is now concentrating on "a process to try to get the existing international legal mechanisms – the nonproliferation treaty <and> the International Atomic Energy Agency – to work, to bring the kind of pressure to bear on Iran that would induce the Iranians to follow the path that Libya took in deciding that they were actually better off in abandoning their WMD <weapons of mass destruction> programs."

Feith stressed that the Americans are interested in seeing whether the suspension of uranium-enrichment activities that the Iranians agreed to last month in a deal with France, Germany and Britain "can get turned into a permanent abandonment."

But strikingly, whereas British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw last month ruled out any possibility of military action against Iranian nuclear sites should the diplomatic path lead to failure, Feith said that "I don't think that anybody should be ruling in or ruling out anything while we are conducting diplomacy."

In the wide-ranging interview conducted on Friday, Feith, who will be remaining in his position during US President George W. Bush's second term, told the Post that democratic reform of the Arab world, including in US-allied Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, will be the linchpin of Bush's foreign policy in the next four years.

(snip)

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1102752565828

[BattyDem]

1. I bet they're teaching the Boy Scouts how to drive tanks because ...

we don't have anyone left to invade another country. :eyes:

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. What is that sound coming from the OSP?

I know I've heard it before... hmm, about two years ago.:eyes:

Well, Dougie, what troops will be handling this new shitball of yours? The ones still mired in your last shitball? *Bzzzzzzz!* Wrong answer...:grr:

[The Zanti Regent]

39. Here's a hint...

Buy a Vowel from Vanna...

- - T S - - R C -

We know how incredibly cheap these penny pinching Nazis are, so instead of a draft, they'll just hire 3rd world Hessians from India, China and Africa. Pay 'em $100 a month. No benefits.

Can you say HESSIANS, boys and girls??????????

[AFSCME girl]

4. And away we go...

(again) :mad: Remember, the Fuhr.., er, I mean "president" has a man date...........:eyes:

[radfringe]

35. ok -- so we invade just in time

for it to be the patriotic music and flag waving theme for 2006 midterms

my prediction on the timeline:

---scattered stories between now and June 2005 - will include "connections" between Iran and 9-11, and how Iraq's WMDs are now in Iran

---July - some more sputtering, and a couple of statements opposing the invasion of Iran

---August -- bush* goes on vacation, lapdogs ask about invasion of Iran, WH says 'no plans are on bush*'s desk'

---September -- "new product rolled-out" -- saber rattling and dick-wagging rhetoric ramps up

---October -- bush* claims he's has the right to invade based on Congressional approval of the 2002 resolution authorizing him to invade Iran -- little reported clause in the resolution is twisted to imply congress approved of invading anyone bush* wants. Repugs quickly pass resolution affirming that bush* can invade Iran -- those opposed are beaten with the flag

---November-December -- bush* spits on the UN then claims they won't co-operate so we have to go it alone

---2006 - Jan-Feb: Patriotic flag-waving choruses hit the talkshow circuit/news media. Those opposed are discredited and accused of being unpatriotic

March-April -- bush* invaded Iran

[AFSCME girl]

45. Hi Radfringe...

You've summed it up perfectly! :hi:

P.S. After your timeline plays out, there will be another "Mission Accomplished" moment, I'm sure, when * can walk around with his dick pouched out again! :grr:

[Gyre]

5. Spoken like a true dickweed

Whose first allegiance is to Israel. Fucking mole!

Gyre

[Tinoire]

6. Worst part is this would be devastating for Israel

because Iran hasn't been weakened with crippling sanctions and daily bombings for 10 years like Iraq was.

Nope, Iran won't be going quietly into the night... which is why the Israeli government wanted the US to go after Iran before getting bogged down in Iraq.

I'm so sickened by this. The Israeli peace movement really needs help in getting their message out to stop this madness.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

19. Now hear this... it should clear up any doubts anyone has about

what you have said....

http://www.nccg.org/ezion_geber/judaism2.html
10. A JEWISH DEFECTOR WARNS AMERICA
by Benjamin Friedland

[omulcol]

27. Zionism ...??

4MoronicYears ... it's a good link ... but read up on this one too.

http://www.marxists.de/middleast/brenner/index.htm

[muriel_volestrangler]

38. Wow. Possibly the biggest steaming pile of crap ever linked to from DU

without the linker making any comment on it. Lies, racism and faux-mysticism all wrapped up in a whining "I'm not anti-semitic, I'm just blaming both World Wars on people who call themselves Jewish" disclaimer.

[nolabels]

42. I don't know, really kind of interesting if you ask me

Did you read that later paragraph from the first link?

(snip)
Do you know what Jews do on the Day of Atonement, that you think is so sacred to them? I was one of them. This is not hearsay. I'm not here to be a rabble-rouser. I'm here to give you facts. When, on the Day of Atonement, you walk into a synagogue, you stand up for the very first prayer that you recite. It is the only prayer for which you stand. You repeat three times a short prayer called the Kol Nidre. In that prayer, you enter into an agreement with God Almighty that any oath, vow, or pledge that you may make during the next twelve months shall be null and void. The oath shall not be an oath; the vow shall not be a vow; the pledge shall not be a pledge. They shall have no force or effect. And further, the Talmud teaches that whenever you take an oath, vow, or pledge, you are to remember the Kol Nidre prayer that you recited on the Day of Atonement, and you are exempted from fulfilling them. How much can you depend on their loyalty? You can depend upon their loyalty as much as the Germans depended upon it in 1916. We are going to suffer the same fate as Germany suffered, and for the same reason.
(snip)

I hate it when everybody takes everything so literally. Unless you have several reference points to check things out consider it a lie. When you have references points consider it a story, when it slaps you in the face consider it a fact. When someone elicits an emotional response about anything, you can be sure in the background some other thing that is causing it is not being discussed.

Making peace is not something a cat and mouse practice regularly

[0007]

48. Has anyone heard from

Mordechai Vanunu since his house arrest last month?

The Israel Nuclear Scientist that was jailed for 18 years.

[Tinoire]

51. An Interview with Mordechai Vanunu / August 18, 2004 (Arrested again)

Israeli Nuclear Whistleblower Risks Arrest, Again
An Interview with Mordechai Vanunu
By AMY GOODMAN

Mordechai Vanunu worked as a nuclear technician at Dimona, Israel's secret nuclear installation from 1976 to 1985. He worked there at a time when Israel was insisting it would not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East. What Vanunu discovered is that Israel had secretly developed an extensive nuclear program, hiding its existence from the Israeli people and parliament, and the world.

Vanunu leaked information and photos of Israel's nuclear weapons program to the Sunday Times in London. He was subsequently kidnapped by Israeli spy agency Mossad in Italy and then jailed. He would go on to spend 18 years behind bars including 11 in solitary confinement.

He was released on April 21 under strict government restrictions.

Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman reached Vanunu on his cell phone in East Jerusalem where he has been staying since his release in April. He defied the Israeli government's restriction on speaking with foreigners to talk with us.

The nationally syndicated radio and TV program Democracy Now! aired the first part of its interview with Vanunu on its Aug. 18th broadcast. (The remaining portions of the interview will be aired on Aug. 19th)



Download Aug. 18 show (MP3) || Listen to Real Audio of Pt. I Interview || Download Aug. 19 show (MP3) || Listen to Real Audio of Pt. II of Interview || Watch Real Video of Part II of Interview [br />

Below is a transcript of the first part of the interview.

(snip)

AMY GOODMAN: The Israeli government has called you a traitor. What is your response to that?

MORDECHAI VANUNU: Well, I answer this. When I get out of the prison, I am saying many, many times that I am very glad, happy and proud to reveal its nuclear secrets to all the world and to let all the world to see the stupidity of Israel's nuclear weapons policy and the danger of a nuclear weapons policy in secret by Israel. And I was not a traitor. The real traitors are Israel's government who was behind this nuclear weapons policy for 40 years, and continues. They are betraying the Israeli citizens, and betraying the Arab community, and betraying all of humanity and the world, the human beings of all the world. They are the real traitors.

(snip)

AMY GOODMAN: Can you explain, Mordechai Vanunu, the secrets you feel were most significant for the world to know? You were imprisoned 18 years ago. Can you say what you were trying to reveal to the world?

MORDECHAI VANUNU: Well, it was very open and very clear: the secrets that were published by the Sunday Times in 1986. The main points were: one, the amount of Israel's nuclear weapons, how many Israel had, that no one could predict or know, including the CIA. They were thinking about a number like 10 or 15. But I came out with a number between 150 to 200. Second point is no one here could predict or know that Israel was involved or started producing the hydrogen bomb -- the most advanced and powerful atomic bomb that can kill millions of people. And that has no justification -- no need for Israel's existence. They don't need hydrogen bomb. That was my revelation that was proved, with photos, to all of the world. That was the very important news that I brought to the world.

AMY GOODMAN: And how did you know this?

MORDECHAI VANUNU: I knew that because I worked in the place, in the building where my job was producing the materials for nuclear weapons. My job was to produce plutonium that was used for atomic bomb. I knew how much they produced every day, every year. So I could make out the amount and see exactly how many bombs can they do. I also was producing, working on other materials for the hydrogen bomb. They call it lithium-6 and tritium. I was working on these and the only use for lithium-6 is the hydrogen bomb. And I also take photos of hydrogen bomb, from another part of the building. It was not part of my job, but I succeeded to go and take photos of the hydrogen bomb. My revelation was Israel started producing a neutron bomb. I succeed to take photograph of the model of the neutron bomb. This means Israel was ready to use nuclear weapons in the next war, in 1986 if it had war with Iraq, or Iran or Syria. It could use them against armies. That means the beginning by Israel using atomic bomb.... That was the most dangerous point in the Middle East: Israel, they could have used nuclear weapons like no other state there...

(snip)

AMY GOODMAN: You said that Israel had 100 to 200 atomic bombs and was developing a neutron and hydrogen bomb but at that point didn't have it.

MORDECHAI VANUNU: The hydrogen bomb was started to be built in 1986 or 1985. I took the photo of part of the real hydrogen bomb which was published by the Sunday Times.

AMY GOODMAN: had already made 100 to 200 atomic bombs?

MORDECHAI VANUNU: Yes. They used to produce about 40 kilograms of plutonium each year which is enough for 10 atomic bombs.

(snip)


Very long interesting interview. The rest here: http://www.democracynow.org/static/vanunu.shtml

======================

Vanunu was re-arrested on November 11, 2004

Israeli police re-arrested nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu seven months after he was released from an 18-year jail term for leaking secrets about Israel's nuclear program. He was arrested for allegedly passing on classified information to unnamed international parties.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/11/1540256&mode=thread&tid=25

[daleo]

7. It sounds like they are planning a joint airstrike

I think the Bush administration is fully capable of using nuclear weapons. They may attack Iran's nuclear reactors with conventional airstrikes, then sit back and wait to see if Iran responds with its sunburn missiles on U.S. capital ships. If so, I could see Bush using it as an excuse to use tactical nukes, since an attack on aircraft carriers could result in massive loss of life for the U.S. Navy. That would give him the political cover he needs to go nuclear.

There seems to be an arc of insanity that the Bush administration plans to follow.

[neweurope]

33. I agree as to the nukes. Sombody - Powell I think

though I'm not sure - already said that there would be NO fighting on the ground there.

he didn't say no fighting. They have their plans made up and they're going to act upon them.

:scared: :nuke:

[Maccagirl]

8. Earth to Douglas...

your mission is to make the world SAFER. Look it up in your job description! Will someone please do their civic duty and get that "person" as far away from our national security as possible!!! I am truly frightened and I am no Cassandra.

[cavanaghjam]

20. Actually

in Greek mythology Cassandra's prophecies were always true, and fated to be ever ignored.

[Redleg]

9. We don't have the troops to invade Iran and still occupy Iraq.

Fuck Feith and Rummy and the rest of those fucking idiots. We'll be god-damned lucky the Iranian army doesn't poor across the Iraq frontier and attack us.

[underpants]

11. Hell we don't have the troops to occupy Iraq!

The Guard part is running out within a year.

[Redleg]

14. You are right about that.

We never had enough troops to secure Iraq.

[H2O Man]

13. The idea being proposed

is not an invasion of troops. It is an airstrike on 12 - 16 sites within Iran.

[CatholicEdHead]

16. Iran has made threats

to Israel if any attacks on nuclear sites happen either with Israeli or US aircraft.

This is where the nuclear option by us may actually be a valid option in the eyes of the government.

[belab13]

25. an airstrike will be a success for approximately as long as it takes

the Iranians to figure out they can overwhelm the forces in Iraq and then what do we have? The worlds sympathy and??/


pardon the expression, but the Iranians have already demonstrated their hutzpah.

[belab13]

26. I should elaborate

we will not have the world's sympathy and certainly not my own.

[neweurope]

34. Forget about the world's sympathy.

That song is over.

[The Zanti Regent]

40. BTW--WHO SOLD MISSILES TO IRAN?

BUY A VOWEL...

_ L _ V_ R N _ R T H

Wouldn't it be ironic if the missiles he sold them were used against Israel???????

[Frozen Hamster]

32. Maybe that's the Chimps plan

Iraq is a lose-lose situation. If they manage to hold an election an Islamic fundamentalism regime is the most likely outcome, if they don't hold an election attacks on coalition forces are only going to increase. Maybe the Chimp wants to incite Iran into over-running Iraq, then it it their problem and the US can nuke the shit out of both Iraq and Iran.

[The Zanti Regent]

41. Jesus told him to do it!

Chimp really believes the Revelation shit.

Oh, is that asshole gonna have a problem when Iran nukes Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. How is he gonna explain THAT to the millions of morons who watch Jack and Rexella Van Impe??????

Can you imagine him trying?

"Uh, well, we're still waiting for Jesus and his angels to show up, even though Israel is now contaminated for the next thousand so years...."

[LynnTheDem]

10. We know where they are...there is no doubt...right now they are producing

blah blah blah, blahblah blah. Blah blah blahblah blah...

[underpants]

12. He hasn't been indicted yet?

Why hasn't the Justice department....oh...never mind.

[steve2470]

15. shades of Hermann Goering nt

[VegasWolf]

17. Sure it can. You don't have the resources asshole. n/t

[Pepperbelly]

18. why does this neocon FAILURE punk still have a job? nt

[cavanaghjam]

21. Bigger question -

why hasn't he been promoted like condi babee?

[Just Me]

22. The neoCONfascist imperialists,...are going all the way.

I cry for our children.

:cry:

I beg the rest of humanity to join us against this oppression.

I beg.

We need your help.

I'm serious.

[Zhade]

30. I hear ya, JM. I hear ya.

Man, it's going to SUCK having the world against us.

Oh, wait.

[NuttyFluffers]

36. not really 'us,' just 1/2 of america...

our half, if we play our cards right, can be relatively ok. just move out when the shit hits the fan, move back in when the dust settles. but i will miss the happier times, i still do love my country and its pretty landscape.... having it pock-marked and aflame is not a pretty look.

[selmo7]

23. Voice of the White House

whoever he/she is has been warning in recent weeks about the "chomping at the bit" to go at Iran and on December 8th penned:

"The media is now to run a series of ongoing articles about Iran’s “human rights record” and the potential danger she poses to the “free world” (for this read Israel) We are going to get the recently-emasculated CIA to increase spending to the Iranian dissidents, many of whose leaders are now in safe houses in Washington."

http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a1247.htm

[clem_c_rock]

24. I'm so glad we are a puppet of Uncle Arial

Awe shucks aipac got caught spying. Anyone of you anti-semites has a problem w/ that!?

I love how we want to reward this freak ass country w/ the reopening of the Haifa pipeline.

Glad we could sacrifice our troops for y'all and now you're cheerleading us in to another war.

Oh by the way - here's another few billion's for your trouble. Go buys some more Caterpillers.

[Just Me]

28. Feith is totally imbalanced,...and should get serious psychological help.

He's delivering such horrible damage to humanity,...due to his own serious dysfunction.

This man has no LOVE within him. The hope of humanity DIED within his soul,...long ago. He has no human affection left. I guarantee it requires great energy for him to even embrace a family member, with any feeling.

He is a man who is consumed with this material existence.

He has sold his capacity to BE HUMAN.

[Zhade]

29. It's the Richard Perle-directed JP.

Neocons using their pet publications to push their imperialism. Big surprise.

Btw, so glad to see you back, Tinoire!!!!!!!!

[tedzbear]

31. Here we go again: WMD a no-no for everyone but us.

Iran's nukes will be the reason to reinstate the draft. The propaganda will go like this: We must make America safe from Iran getting the bomb. But we need more troops to invade Iran, so we'll have to reinstate the draft. But it won't be called "the draft." Instead they will call it "patriot enlistment."

[GeorgeGist]

37. PNACkers seem determined to make...

this a very short century for America; as we once wanted to believe it at least.

[imenja]

43. he may want to take over the world

but they can't do it with the current state of the military. China could invade us tomorrow and there is likely not a whole lot we could do about it. Bush has compromised our national security for years to come.

[proudbluestater]

44. American people to Feith -- Drop Dead

NO MORE WARS in the name of the lunatic fringe that now runs this country. nomorewarnomorewarnomorewarnomorewarnomorewarnomorewarnomorewar

[salin]

46. Meanwhile Kristol is calling for attention to... Syria

whoo boy - these folks think that our depleted forces, fighting without propoer equipment - should be able to do double or triple the current task by taking on additional countries.... all without a draft and while cutting taxes further. Delusional.

[LynnTheDem]

47. "Democratic reform" by illegal wars of aggression.

Shows how deeply stupid bushCartel & rightwingntus really are.

[Deja Q]

49. Well, had Kadhaffi been paid enough, maybe Iran would...

Assuming Iran has the weaponary.

ALL of it is purport to me. I don't trust *. I don't trust American media. I don't trust Kadhaffi, he could be playing one side against the other as well - maybe he did get paid a lot and still wants to cause trouble (not likely, but it is a possibility).

It's their game.

[struggle4progress]

50. If so, I want President AWOL personally to lead the troops into battle.

[NNN0LHI]

52. Perhaps Feith should be lowered down on a wire into central Tehran...

...and let him lead the charge? He is such a brave man I am sure he wouldn't want it any other way.

Don