Iran's Nuclear Menace

[drdon326]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/25/opinion/25TUE2.html

Iran has long been suspected of nuclear weapons ambitions, but it came as a shock to learn in recent months that it has been pursuing a clandestine nuclear program for almost two decades. Thanks to tips from Iranian opposition groups, sharp sleuthing by I.A.E.A. inspectors and increasing pressure from Western powers, Iran was finally forced to admit that it had been pursuing both uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing technologies, at a level of sophistication no one dreamed possible. The Iranians contended, implausibly, that these programs were designed for civilian nuclear fuel, but surely there would be no need to conceal and lie about them if they were truly benign. Some experts think Iran could make a bomb in a couple of years if it pressed ahead vigorously.

The three European powers achieved a breakthrough last month when Iran agreed to suspend its enrichment program, sign a protocol allowing tougher international inspections and resolve all questions raised by the I.A.E.A. Now the same three nations are supporting a resolution before the agency's board of governors that would chastise the Iranians for their past misdeeds but would focus on their recent change of attitude as a way to move forward with additional fact-finding and inspections. The United States, which had been pushing for referral to the Security Council, a path that could lead to economic sanctions, agreed yesterday to back off and let the allies' resolution prevail.

The only clear imperative is that Iran must be pressed to reveal all its nuclear activities, past and present, and cooperate wholeheartedly with international inspectors. That can best be done by allowing the I.A.E.A. to continue demanding answers. When the agency's board reconvenes tomorrow, it should pass a resolution condemning Iran's secret programs and demanding that Iran prove that its programs are peaceful. The resolution should include a trigger mechanism to force international action if Iran reverts to stonewalling or deception.
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this is a f/u to previous thread-d

[Metrix]

1. A good policy for the region

The only clear imperative is that Israel must be pressed to reveal all its nuclear activities, past and present, and cooperate wholeheartedly with international inspectors. That can best be done by allowing the I.A.E.A. to continue demanding answers. When the agency's board reconvenes tomorrow, it should pass a resolution condemning Israel's secret programs and demanding that Israel prove that its programs are peaceful. The resolution should include a trigger mechanism to force international action if Israel reverts to stonewalling or deception.

[drdon326]

2. Really ??

Iran parades new missiles daubed with threats to wipe Israel off map

Iran parades new missiles daubed with threats to wipe Israel off map
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1047804,00.html

Iran yesterday defiantly showed off six of its new ballistic missiles daubed with anti-US and anti-Israel slogans in a move sure to reinforce international concern over the nature of its nuclear programme.
At the climax of a military parade marking the outbreak of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, the enormous Shehab-3 missiles were rolled out painted with the messages, "We will crush America under our feet' and "Israel must be wiped off the map."

Iran later announced that it would scale down cooperation with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency. Ali Akbar Salehim, Tehran's envoy to the IAEA, said on state television that Iran had been allowing the agency more oversight than required under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty "to show our goodwill and transparency."

The IAEA has imposed a strict deadline, saying Iran must prove it has no nuclear weapons programme by October 31. Its governing board has also demanded that Iran suspend uranium enrichment ac tivity and open its doors to unfettered inspections. If Tehran fails to comply, the UN security council could decide to impose sanctions.

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[vierundzwanzig]

3. Sure

and Israel bombed Iran and Lebanon and would wipe them off the face of the earth if Fox News and the New York Times (oops - did I just mention them in the same sentence?) could somehow make that palatable enough.

[The Magistrate]

4. Israel Bombed Iran, Sir?

We really are going to have to start selling score-cards around here, so people can keep the players straight.

Israel has never attacked Iran.

[GabysPoppy]

5. Come now sir

What's more important? Facts or agenda.

[drdon326]

6. Could you posslbly explain your post ??

it does seem a little confusing.