Iran: "Too Late" To Stop Nuke Program

President Ahmadinejad Criticizes "Arrogant Policies," Conditions Set By U.S., West

(CBS/AP)  President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that it was "too late" to stop Iran's nuclear program and warned the U.S. and its allies not to push for new U.N. sanctions, comparing his country to a lion sitting quietly in a corner.

"We advise them not to play with the lion's tail," Ahmadinejad said, drawing applause from a room of reporters, Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries at a Tehran news conference.

Asked about Ahmadinejad's comment that it was too late to halt Iran's nuclear push, U.S. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said: "It isn't."

"He could make the decision today to take up the reasonable offer to negotiate with the rest of the world so that Iran can make peaceful nuclear energy and not have a cloud hanging over the country," McCormack said. "The international system is not going to be intimidated by these kinds of threats and this bluff and bluster by the Iranian government."

But shortly after Ahmadinejad's press conference, Iran issued its harshest refutation yet of American demands to release dual citizens held in Iran on espionage charges.

Iran's foreign ministry said American abuses — from prisoner mistreatment at Guantanamo to a UCLA police officer's shocking an
Iranian-American student with a Taser — showed Washington had no
right to criticize Iran's human rights record.

"Instead of offering inefficient suggestions, America should assess its own tactics - secret prisons, mistreatment and even inhuman treatment of prisoners in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said in a statement released by his office.

Iran has detained Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Middle East Program at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars; Kian Tajbakhsh with George Soros' Open Society Institute; journalist Parnaz Azima from the U.S.-funded Radio Farda; and Ali Shakeri, a peace activist and founding board member at the University of California, Irvine, Center for Citizen Peace building.

The Iranian statement referred to three Iranian-Americans charged with espionage and endangering national security, without providing names.

Despite pressure, Iran has only become stronger, Ahmadinejad said at the news conference.

The Iranian president also appeared to dismiss ambitions of using the controversial nuclear program for weapons making.

"What is atomic bomb good for? Thoughts can't be changed by nuclear bomb. Today is the day of thought and logic," he said.

Washington and some of its allies fear Iran is trying to develop atomic weapons in violation of its commitments under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Iran denies the accusations and says the treaty gives it the right to pursue uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes.

Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for direct negotiations with Washington in the nuclear standoff, an offer President Bush's administration refuses to accept until Tehran verifiably halts all enrichment activities.

CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk says "Iranian officials have ratcheted up the pressure for negotiations with more direct threats - while their technology advances."

The U.N. Security Council first imposed sanctions on Iran in December and modestly increased them in March over Iran's refusal to suspend enrichment. The council is now preparing to debate on a third round of punitive measures.

An IAEA report in May provided the potential trigger for another round of sanctions by saying Tehran continued to defy the Security Council ban on enrichment and instead was expanding its activities.

But, Falk says, "with contentious issues creating a rift in the U.S. - Russia relationship, the Bush administration is now going to have to deal with Moscow's problem with missile defense systems before there is likely to be consensus at the U.N. on Iran."

[pwrslm]

As the rockets red glare, eh?

The anti Christ is alive and well, and his minions want nuclear weapons.

[bluestardad]

MULTIPLE INDENPENDENT RESEARCH FACTS ARE THE ENEMY OF BUSH AND HIS CHICKEN HAWK NEOCONS!

THEY SELL OUT AMERICAN SOLDIERS FOR THE POLICY OF ISRAEL! WHO HIDE BEHIND PROBLEMS THEY HAD IN EUROPE 70 YEARS AGO WHEN CONFRONTED!

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF OTHER GOOD PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT DESERVE A VOICE JUST NOT AMERICAN LIVES!

"Gen. William Odom discusses the worst strategic disaster in American history,the war in Iraq: the view of most generals that the war is wrong, the failure of the politicians to see the consequences of their actions, the centrality of the neoconservatives and the Israel lobby in pushing for the Iraq invasion and this surge!

www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/05/1
0/gen-william-odom

EVEN AS AMERICAN MILITARY AID LANDS IN LEBANON, President Bush is funding Al Qaeda in Lebanon with funds from Iraq!

http://www.newyorker.com/
fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hers
h

READ AIPAC BRAG ABOUT THEIR INFLUENCE
ON AMERICAN POLITICIANS!

http://www.aipac.org/for
ms/join_aipacClubs.htm

ITS A SHAME THE AMERICAN INTERPRISE INSTITUTE IS NOT OVER IN IRAQ INSTEAD OF OUR TROOPS! OH YEA THEY SHOULD BE THIS IS ISRAELI POLICY WE ARE EXECUTING AS OUR SOLDIERS ARE BEING EXECUTED!

IRAQI OIL PRODUCTION STILL DOES NOT HAVE METERS ON ITS FACILITIES TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH OIL IS BEING PROCESSED OR SOLD!

[rafterman1]

Hilarious. "We aren't building nuclear weapons. But it's too late to stop."

Huh?

[infidel_us]

Why must we continue to give this lunatic coverage? It's always the SAME THING! There's no new news here! Why do you New York libs insist on platering this ******'s mug all over the web????

[dinkydog1]

Gee, can't understand why they would want nukes. We have made their neighbor Isreal the fourth largest concentration of nuclear and chemical weapons in the world and we complain about Iran's program. Is it any wonder these people hate us?

[neoconrcrazy]

A nuclear Iran is inevitable and from her point of view - necessary.

On her right, nuclear israel operating completely outside international control; on her left Pakistan/India benefiting from big US bucks and a green light for additional nuclear bomb building.

Who in their right mind would not act as Iran is acting?

If - if America would abide by NPT accords and actively pursue de-nuking the world (instead of building new nuke bases in Europe), we may not have reached this impasse.

The do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do, attitude doesn't work anymore.....

[infidel_us]

Is it any wonder these people hate us?
Posted by dinkydog1 at 08:41 AM : Jun 05, 2007

So F*CKING WHAT! Do Israelies strap explosives on themselves and run around blowing up innocent people? Do Israelies claim that, one day, all the world will be under Jewish law - and then set about trying to implement that doctrine??

NO, they don't. Their weapons are a DETERRENT! Get it? Because they live smack dab in the middle of arab-islamo-fascist insanity.

And all you care about is why they "hate us." Pathetic.

[rafterman1]

===The pacifism of today's American liberals is spreading like a disease in our country.===

Yeah, I can just imagine Jesus saying this today.

singinrick, you say the words of Scripture, but you have no idea what they mean. You're just another fake Christian.

The truth (the REAL truth) is that history has shown that when a new country develops nukes (like India and Pakistan), there is an initial condemnation by the world. But eventually, it leads to acceptance and some sort of support for the nuclear program to keep it out of the hands of terrorists. It's happened every time and only once has a country given up their nukes (South Africa). That is the perspective that we are dealing with in terms of an Iranian nuke program.

[infidel_us]

Looks like this propoganda has worked on you, also.
Posted by singinrick at 08:52 AM : Jun 05, 2007

BRAVO! Well said!

[neoconrcrazy]

Looks like this propoganda has worked on you, also.
Posted by singinrick


you've probably not been brain-washed, but certainly bible-washed -

iran is a nation sitting between israel and pakistan both nuclearly armed to the teeth.

if you want a nuclear free world ask israel to comply too with IAEA, ask Bush to re-start NPT, and forget building US nuke bases in Europe.

In this world there are interests and conflicts in interests between nations, not religious wars as you seem to think. You should stick to sunday school bible reading and avoid discussing international issues which you obviously do not fathom.

[crater7]

NUKE-EM ALL?

MAYBE IRAN SHOULD INVITE THE GENERALS TO COME AND INSPECT THEIR PROGRAM? MR. BUSH TOLD THE RUSSIAN'S THAT THERE ARE NO THREAT BY THE AMERICANS INSTALLING MISSILES IN POLAND.
IRAN SAYS THERES NO THREAT TO THE USA, SO, THERE YOU GO. WHATS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE~~~~~~~~` and so on and on and~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[rafterman1]

===and avoid discussing international issues which you obviously do not fathom.===

These fake Christians do not understand all the various issues that go into the many conflicts we face today. They all operate on the same simple premise that our simpleton-in-chief operates on, "you are either with us or against us." Things like cause-effect and history are lost on these people.

[neoconrcrazy]

Their (israeli) weapons are a DETERRENT! Get it?
Posted by infidel_us


A deterrent against what? Syrian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese nukes? You joke.

This week marks the 40th year of israeli occupation and apartheid administration of Palestine. The stolen land and destroyed lives of millions of palestinians.

israel has alot to answer for - she invented modern terrorism by her policy of land-theft. Hamas, Fatah, Hezbollah all were born from occupation. Terror will never cease until the land is returned to its rightful owners.

[rafterman1]

===A deterrent against what? Syrian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese nukes? You joke===

Well, no, Israeli nukes are a deterent. Lebanon showed the limitations of Israeli conventional forces and the Arabs far outnumber Israelis in manpower. Look at it as a small woman having a gun vs a large man with no weapon. In that configuration, they are equally matched and neither side is willing to risk messing too much with the other.

But Iranian nukes destablize that. Israel is a small country and a few nukes could essentially wipe it out. I also believe Israel would show more restaint than Iran in using nukes. In any case, the Iran nuke question will be the biggest issue facing Bush, even bigger than Iraq.

[neoconrcrazy]

Things like cause-effect and history are lost on these people.


Posted by Rafterman1


Agree - problem is these are same chickenhawks who say we should have nuked vietnam - they are a dangerous lot, probably beat their wives and pets too!

Remember Northern Ireland? They tried to say it was Catholics against Protestants. But it was an oppressed people crying for equal treatment who were driven to terror for centuries. Now they've got representation - no more english troops on the streets = no more terror.

[neoconrcrazy]

Well, no, Israeli nukes are a deterent. Lebanon showed the limitations of Israeli conventional forces and the Arabs far outnumber Israelis in manpower.

Posted by Rafterman1

nukes are a deterent for other nukes and that's about all.

do nukes deter terrorism?

israel is occupying over 2 million palestinians. will nukes deter them from demanding freedom?

[grumpas]

The pacifism of today's American liberals is spreading like a disease in our country.
Posted by singinrick

I hope you are right singinrick! Maybe this country will eventually come to it's senses and see the path your anti-christ buddy Bush has taken us down. The only people who are destoying this great country are you neo-con conservative's who think they can cure all the ills of the world with war! They have started two wars now that are both going badly. That our grandchildren are going to be paying for 30 years from now. How many more are you religious nuts going to allow them to start before you get it through your heads these people are evil?????? They don't have your best interests at heart. They are being lead by their overwhelming greed for oil. You can't force feed democracy to people who don't want it...and expect it to turn out good in the end! Get your head out of the bible and grow up!

[notblue]

neoconRcrazy, first of all the threat of the spread of communism was the driving force behind the Viet Nam conflict, the North Vietnamese were not developing Nuclear weapons and had never pledged to wipe a nation off the map. Northern Ireland was the result of the protestants trying to wipe out the Catholics, that conflict goes back hundreds of years. Finally, there are radicals in todays world that would love to kill Americans and Jews on a massive scale, nukes would be the best way to accomplish this goal. Iran is already aiding Americas enemies by providing sophisticated bombs designed to kill American soldiers, what makes you bleieve that once they have nuclear weapons they will stop? The only thing keeping Israel from being wiped off the amp is there own nuclear arsenal, it's fortunate for the militants Israel does not stoop to ther level of barbarism or the radicals and nations harboring them would already be "wiped off the map". For you and people like you ignorance must be bliss, have a happy life, the rest of us will protect you.

[rafterman1]

===israel is occupying over 2 million palestinians. will nukes deter them from demanding freedom?===

I'm not denying that some Israeli policies have invited terrorism. Despite the rantings of the neocons, terrorism doesn't occur in a vacumn. It doesn't occur just because people are evil. It's part of cause-effect. I'm speaking strictly from the nuclear issue. From a survival standpoint, 2 or 3 million Israelis vs 100 million Arabs is not a favorable balance. Israel keeping it's nuke exclusivity is vital IMO.

[mbcsmith]

israel is occupying over 2 million palestinians. will nukes deter them from demanding freedom?



Posted by neoconRcrazy at 09:37 AM : Jun 05, 2007


Probably not, but it insures the survival of Israel from the continued threats of Islamist countries, in particualr Iran.

[rafterman1]

===Rafterman, you are a devout Muslim(as you've admitted on these boards) who supports the ideas Islamic propoganda, like hatred of Israel===

You are a f*cking liar and a very sick individual. Lying is another sin, fake Christian. I noticed you ignored all my posts about defending Israel's nuke program.

Scumbag.

[radiob-2009]

Rafterman1

If I recall correctly the other day you took on tucker on his anti-semitic post on the plot to blow up JFK. Correct me if I am wrong on this. You defended Israel right to exist in that posting as you have done in this one? Correct?

[cbs_oliver]

The Bush administration has made claims against several countries that they are pursuing actions which the Bush administration finds dangerous, and has waged economic war and issued military threats against those countries - and, in the case of Iraq, actually attacked and invaded.

It is usual for the Bush administration to demand that the countries it targets prove that they are not doing some thing. It is, of course, impossible for a country or person to prove that they are not doing something.

The imperial ambitions of the Bush crowd and others like them are a problem and a source of great suffering in the modern world.

It is too bad that they cannot really get their heads around the values that Christ taught and seek to profit from violence and deceit instead.

[cbs_oliver]

The Bush administration has made claims against several countries that they are pursuing actions which the Bush administration finds dangerous, and has waged economic war and issued military threats against those countries - and, in the case of Iraq, actually attacked and invaded.

It is usual for the Bush administration to demand that the countries it targets prove that they are not doing some thing. It is, of course, impossible for a country or person to prove that they are not doing something.

The imperial ambitions of the Bush crowd and others like them are a problem and a source of great suffering in the modern world.

It is too bad that they cannot really get their heads around the values that Christ taught and seek to profit from violence and deceit instead.

[rafterman1]

===If I recall correctly the other day you took on tucker on his anti-semitic post on the plot to blow up JFK. Correct me if I am wrong on this. You defended Israel right to exist in that posting as you have done in this one? Correct?===

Correct. I believe in Israel's right to exist, but I also believe they need to conform reasonably to what is considered acceptable behavior in the world community. They just can't do whatever they want in the name of national security and nor can the US. Or Iran or anybody else.

But it does not matter to people like singinrick, who see the world as simply as Bush sees it. In their world, you are either with Bush or you are a terrorist. There are no other options. If I say that we should be looking at our own behavior too in dealing with terror, to them I might as well be saying death to America.

[markster6]

Perhaps the UN Security Council will hit Iran with severe sanctions like travel restrictions. If that doesn't stop Iran's non-compliance, in 60-90 days the UN Security Council can impose more travel restrictions. Who says the UN isn't effective?

Sorry for the sarcasm.

[infidel_us]

It doesn't occur just because people are evil. It's part of cause-effect. Posted by Rafterman1 at 09:45 AM : Jun 05, 2007

I get it. So, in the case of William "Cold Cash Jefferson (D-LA), he is not REALLY a criminal. I mean, he grew up as a poor farm boy.....he had to endure all that racial strife.....so really, he should get a pass, right? I mean, D*A*M*N......we OWE him!

So with these islamo fascist terrorists who flew jets in to the WTC, well.....I reckon we just had that one a comin', huh?

What a sad excuse for an American and a man. I swear, if these islamo fascists could see you, it would probably embolden them to invade us!

[neoconrcrazy]

The war we are fighting against radical Islam is a religious war.

Posted by singinrick


you really haven't the faintest idea - but simple explainations soothe simple minds....

the real reason for all this is our governments decisions on what constitutes "national interest". On most occasions they have been wrong;

- iran 1953 threw out democratically elected gov and into'd the Shah
- from 1947-2007 permitted israel to occupy and colonize palestinian lands, giving birth to Fatah, Hamas, Hezbollah-
- since 1945 supported tyranical gulf states for oil
- supported, armed, Saddam in his war against iran

and the list goes on till the pot boils over.

God bless simple minds!

[rafterman1]

===What a sad excuse for an American and a man. I swear, if these islamo fascists could see you, it would probably embolden them to invade us===

If you refuse to accept the reality of the world, there is nothing I can do for you. By the way, if the terrorists did see me, they would see me standing at my door with an AR15 and a Gloc 9mm. Let 'em come.

By the way, I'm a good family man who served his country and believes that his country should act honorably. So f*ck you about your "man" comment. Only a coward changes his ideals because he is afraid.

[infidel_us]

By the way, I'm a good family man who served his country and believes that his country should act honorably. So f*ck you about your "man" comment. Only a coward changes his ideals because he is afraid.
Posted by Rafterman1 at 01:33 PM : Jun 05, 2007

LOL....I consider myself f*cked! :) My apologies. I just get sort of passionate about people who make excuses for other's bad behavior - especially to the detrement of the US. Frankly, I don't care what this maniac thinks. He is one notch above insane (like all thes islamo-fascist terrorists). And as far as I'm concerned, the only good one is a dead one!

Do you own the Colt AR15? I recently purchased a Ruger KP95. Since getting out of the navy, I always wanted an AR-15. My "Repel Boarders" station was the flying bridge with an M-16.

[rafterman1]

===LOL....I consider myself f*cked! :) My apologies. I just get sort of passionate about people who make excuses for other's bad behavior - especially to the detrement of the US.===

Fair enough. And yep, an actual Colt, not a knockoff, with a collapsible stock. It's fairly new, so it didn't fall under the federal ban on certain features like that. The 95 is pretty nice too. I got the Gloc from my brother, who's a cop.

[grazinggoat]

"He could make the decision today to take up the reasonable offer to negotiate with the rest of the world so that Iran can make peaceful nuclear energy and not have a cloud hanging over the country," McCormack said. "The international system is not going to be intimidated by these kinds of threats and this bluff and bluster by the Iranian

-This does not sound peace-intentioned... Iran is better watch out.

-Does anyone know what are the negotiation about and what terms and conditions offered? I feel kinda blinded by my ignorance regarding this deal. Can we judge/comment this matter without knowing what has been proposed in the deal?

-On the other hand, Iran has all rights to be protected (self-protected) since no good intentions have filtered from our Walking-Liar toward them. Only the opposite. Unless the USA clearly stipulates with guarantees a non-aggression deal toward Iran, which is far from evident, not with such a Walking-Liar we have in office, we all guess.

[patriotic9]

I can go to the Bible for what's happening in the world. If that bothers you, oh well, it's a free country remember and I choose to place my faith in charge of my life instead of a secular worldview of things.

Singinrick,
unfortunately, it's not a free country yet. Once we get rid of PSYCHOSIS "CHRISTIANITY", then there will be real freedom in United States.
Rightnow, Homosexuals are not free to marry unlike Heterosexual Citizens(Discrimination based on SEXUAL ORIENTAION which is a violation of Human rights), women are not allowed to be TOPLESS in public unlike male citizens (Gender-based Discrimination which is a violation of Human rights), etc.

[toolmangler-2009]

PSYCHOSIS "CHRISTIANITY".
Posted by patriotic9

(from previous post)
The 'World Powers that be' are positioning 'Religion' (ALL Religion) to be outlawed. They are using catch-phrases like 'Phsychosis, Two-faced, Zionist, Christian, Muslim, Radicalized, Child-raping and other forms of fear inducing rhetoric to brand 'Religion' as having no redeeming values. Religion of itself is no threat to the NWO but the fact that it is an 'emotional' tool that differing factions might use to stop the spread of "Man as GOD" on this Planet is enough to make it a chief target of those who wish for "Their wills to be done" without thought of consequenses.
This week the top security people are discussing the new "Tamperproof ID card" to replace our existing social security cards. What will come next? RFID devices implanted in our skin, Retinal scanning, removal of guns from the citizenery?
Somebody should write a book about it, maybe call it by some name that would stick in our memories, like mabbe a date or something. 2004 or 2024 or possily 1984. HHHHHMMMMMMM!!!! that has a certain ring to it!!

[tbweb]

"President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that it was "too late" to stop Iran's nuclear program and warned the U.S. and its allies not to push for new U.N. sanctions, comparing his country to a lion sitting quietly in a corner. "

A lion sitting quietly in the corner? Must be a male lion! Male lions are lazy and don't even hunt! All male lions do is eat first, screw_ and watch the kids and even eat the kids when there is no food! The female lions are the ones that hunt and bring home the bacon! Much like the female women of Islam and Persia who do all the hard work and hunt for their lazy men who mistreat them and screw_ as many female lions as they can. Okay Ahmadinejad, you keep sitting in that corner and soon the female lions of Islam and Persia will get tired of your lazy nuclear seeking assses and hunt and consume you too, and stop eating your kids, thats what male lions do! Why would you even be so stupid as to compare yourself to that? Sitting in the corner! ROTFLMAO