Cheney: Iran Won't Get Nuclear Weapon

U.S. And Other Nations Prepared To Impose "Serious Consequences," Vice President Says

(AP)  The United States and other nations will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said.

"Our country, and the entire international community, cannot stand by as a terror-supporting state fulfills its grandest ambitions," Cheney said in a speech Sunday to the Washington Institute for Near East Studies.

He said Iran's efforts to pursue technology that would allow it to build a nuclear weapon are obvious and that "the regime continues to practice delay and deceit in an obvious effort to buy time."

If Iran continues on its current course, Cheney said the U.S. and other nations are "prepared to impose serious consequences." The vice president made no specific reference to military action.

"We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," he said.

Cheney's words seemed to only escalate the U.S. rhetoric against Iran over the past several days, including President George W. Bush's warning that a nuclear Iran could lead to "World War III."

Cheney said the ultimate goal of the Iranian leadership is to establish itself as the hegemonic force in the Middle East and undermine a free Shiite-majority Iraq as a rival for influence in the Muslim world.

Iran's government seeks "to keep Iraq in a state of weakness to ensure Baghdad does not pose a threat to Tehran," Cheney said.

While he was critical of the Iranian government and President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, he offered praise and words of solidarity to the Iranian people. Iran "is a place of unlimited potential ... and it has the right to be free of tyranny," Cheney said.

Cheney accused of Iran of having a direct role in the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and said the government has "solidified its grip on the country" since coming to power in the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the shah.

The U.S. and some allies accuse Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons and have demanded it halt uranium enrichment, an important step in the production of atomic weapons. Oil-rich Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes including generating electricity.

At a news conference Wednesday, Mr. Bush suggested that if Iran obtained nuclear weapons, it could lead to a new world war.

"I've told people that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them (Iran) from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon," Mr. Bush said.

Mr. Bush's spokeswoman later said the president was making not making any war plans but rather "a rhetorical point."

Also, on Thursday, the top officer in the U.S. military said the U.S. has the resources to attack Iran if needed despite the strains of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said striking Iran is a last resort, and the focus now is on diplomacy to stem Iran's nuclear ambitions, but "there is more than enough reserve to respond" militarily if need be.

The Bush administration's intentions toward Iran have been the subject of debate in Congress.

Last month the Senate approved a resolution urging the State Department to label Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization.

Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat, said he feared the measure could be interpreted as authorizing a military strike in Iran, calling it Cheney's "fondest pipe dream."

[skyk-2009]

Are there still people on this planet who actually think that ANYONE outside of this nation actually speaks to Darth? No one does!! This is the face of pure evil... he''s about as low as one can get without actually dying and going to He11. Sieg Heil Cheney!!

[sleepyric]

I agree with Webb. I get this sick feeling that these idiots will start something as they limp out of office just to stick it to the incoming administration. Makes me sick to my gut.

[slim1h2o]

World War III Now showing,, Coming to a theater near you. Ticket prices (Draft) reduced,, Gas for your car "not included"

[borismrm]

Here we go again! I feel sorry for our nation. We can''t police the whole world.

[barbaraf4]

It''s official: Cheney has declared war on Iran. Too bad he can''t be the first to fight.

[tbweb]

As bad as this seems, an Iran with nukes would probably be worst! Even in a best case scenario if Iran does not use its nukes, Iran will act bolder and increase its hostile rhetoric and terror supporting agenda feeling now that Iran is immune to confrontation because of its nukes. This has lose-lose written all over it! Pick your poison!

[brianbwb-2009]

Amazing how street gangs are better at keeping peace.

Just say what Jaques Chirac said to them, "If you build Nuclear weapons, ces''t la vie, we will have to live with that, but the moment you launch one, you will be instantly incinerated."

[tbweb]

Just say what Jaques Chirac said to them, "If you build Nuclear weapons, ces''''t la vie, we will have to live with that, but the moment you launch one, you will be instantly incinerated."

Posted by brianbwb at 07:58 AM : Oct 22, 2007,,,

Mutually assured destruction only works with sane, rational nations, I really don''t think that logic works with suicide bomber mentality Islamic extremist! The scary thing about Iran is that Iran would probably not care if it was destroyed going after Israel since in my view Iran would now have a suicide bomber mentality on a national scale! Iran is that extreme, that sick and gives one the impression they can''t wait to meet Allah!

[formrusmcsgt]

"Cheney said the ultimate goal of the Iranian leadership is to establish itself as the hegemonic force in the Middle East..."

How''s that for the pot calling the kettle black?

[Ed0719]

As stupid as the Ayatollah of Iran and Amadenijhad are, I think they are less stupid than Cheney or Bush. The blustering of Cheney and Bush only serve to push Iran towards making nuclear weapons. Cheney and Bush are threatening Iran, so Iran does the only thing it can in defense.

Cheney and Bush have not thwarted international terrorism, they have encouraged it by their words and actions.

[formrusmcsgt]

Cheney and Bush have not thwarted international terrorism, they have encouraged it by their words and actions.

Posted by fuziwuzi at 08:08 AM : Oct 22, 2007

Agreed. Saddam had no WMD''s although the administration told the world it had proof that he did and N. Korea DID have nukes. Iraq got invaded and N'' Korea got diplomacy.

Lesson? If you don''t have nukes, we will invade at will. If you Do have nukes, then we''ll talk to you instead.

Cause and effect of the Bush doctrine....

[luvny-2009]

I have never seEn such a bunch of cowboys in my liFe. They ALL need to be behind bars!

[drummer94]

Ahh. And this from the guy who brought you Iraq. Yeah, that was a smart move. I was wondering where waldo was. Don''t forget, Iran can fire 11,000 missles in a minute.

[tnt1954]

peace on earth, goodwill towards communists.
for christ was a communist. his definition of
god was love. love makes babies. therefore
love is the creator. go not into endless genealogies
back to the origin of the species. you''ll go
crazy if you do, thinking of the origin of space
itself. and so forth. your parents made ya.
so that''s love. and christ thought we should
all share and share alike and give all to his
church and then we would all get our fair share
and distribution, like in acts of the apostles,
and ananias and sapphira were killed by the holy
spirit for ''holding out on the Lord''. you see
the soviet union was the real christian country.
they followed christ''s admonitions to the letter,
after the appearance of the madonna in heaven
at fatima, portugal in 1917. her last appearance
and appeal was made on october 13th, 1917.
an appeal for reparation and repentance. has heaven
opened its eyes upon since then? some say they
did at medjugorje. same message, repent, do penance
and reparation. obey the commandments he gave
you. if you love me, keep my commandments. those
were christs'' statements to the gathered crowds.
an itinerant preacher who tried to do good.
the woman at the well, who got living water.
and that water satisfied her forever. an idiom
of love.

[drummer94]

So, just WHO are these "other nations"? The same ones who are so heavily with us in the folly called Iraq? Sarcasm intended.

[formrusmcsgt]

Remember the administration telling us that it had found proof of WMD''s in Iraq?

Everyone knows how that turned out.

Remember the administration telling us that the Iraqi invasion would cost $50 billion dollars?

We''ve already spent 20 times that.

Remember the administration telling us that we would be welcomed as liberators?

It was correct on that one for about 5 minutes.

With it''s atrocious record on being correct on issues of gravity, it has no right to be taken seriously on anything.

[truthheals]

Nobody believes you dickyboy
or your friends.

HumanEvents 01/30/07:
the folks who stampeded us into Iraq are firing pistols in the air again.
At the annual Herzliya Conference, U.S. presidential aspirants, neoconservatives and Israeli hawks were all invoking the Holocaust and warning of the annihilation of the Jews.
Israel''s "Bibi" Netanyahu, who compares Iran''s Ahmadinejad to Hitler, said: "The world that didn''t stop the Holocaust last time can stop it this time. Who will lead the effort against genocide if not us? The world will not stand up on behalf of the Jews if the Jews do not stand up on behalf of the world."
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz: "Iran is the heart of the problem in the Middle East. It is the most urgent threat facing the world, and needs to be dealt with before it''s too late." Mofaz called 2007 "a year of decision."
Richard Perle assured the conference that Bush will attack Iran rather than see it acquire nuclear weapons capabilities.
Newt Gingrich: "(C)itizens who do not wake up every morning and think about possible catastrophic civilian casualties are deluding themselves.

HumanEvents 03/20/07:
Pelosi who quietly agreed to strip out of the funding bill for Iraq a provision that would have required President Bush to seek congressional approval before launching any new war on Iran.
She was "under pressure from conservative members, lobbyists with neoconservative groups, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC),"

[formrusmcsgt]

Considering that the US has had to extend combat tours and reduce time between tours just to cover the boondoggle in Iraq, we basically have only air and naval forces to employ against Iran to back up the administration''s threats.

With only air and naval power available, Iran knows that Cheney, like Bush, is nothing but a blowhard and loves to make threats that can''t be backed up.

And it''s a good thing. We have two unfinished wars on our hands thanks to these clowns. We don''t need a third.....

[forthepeopl1]

If Iran continues on its current course, Cheney said the U.S. and other nations are "prepared to impose serious consequences." The vice president made no specific reference to military action.

"We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," he said.

Cheney''s words seemed to only escalate the U.S. rhetoric against Iran over the past several days, including President George W. Bush''s warning that a nuclear Iran could lead to "World War III."

ITS SO FUNNY TO SEE BUSH/CHENEY SWET OVER THE MESS THEY HAVE PUT AMERICA AND ALL AMERICANS IN. RICE IS ABOUT AS SMART AS MY PIGS,OH SHE IS A PIG I FORGOT.

AND TO CHENEY, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW I WOULD SELL THEM ANYTHING THEY WOULD WANT, WHY , FOR THE SAME REASON YOU AND BUSH DID, MONEY IT ALL FOR MONEY

[camd115]

Am I the only one who finds it odd the U.S. insists Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon when we have 10,000 of them, and so many countries around Iran have one? Iran has never attacked or invaded its neighbors. Israel has on several occasions, but apparently it''s perfectly acceptable for them to have nukes and invade other nations whenever they like. Ridiculous.

*** Cheney, I hope you go to jail for the crimes you have committed.

[simonsez40]

If Cheney''s mouth is open - lies are flying out of it!

[kretos-2009]

cheney is a disaster said Jimmy Carter...

[hillaryin08]

vote for me, vote for me, the islamist are our friends, vote for me and this will all go away.....

[ioweign]

Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said striking Iran is a last resort, and the focus now is on diplomacy to stem Iran''s nuclear ambitions, but "there is more than enough reserve to respond" militarily if need be.

Reserve = Draft

The Good Old Days !!

[hillaryin08]

vote for me, vote for me, the islamist are our friends, vote for me and this will all go away.....

[afmca]

Oh boy, Cheney and the neo-cons plan to kill more Muslims for their christian base .. it must be getting close to an election.

[gkc99]

"Our country, and the entire international community, cannot stand by as a terror-supporting state fulfills its grandest ambitions," Cheney said in a speech Sunday to the Washington Institute for Near East Studies.

Cheney then went on to announce that a site had been selected on the Iraq-Iran border for an immense new U.S. military base, tentatively named the "Richard Cheney Enduring Encampment." It is estimated that close to 100,000 U.S. soldiers, plus an additional 100,000 contractors, such as Blackwater, will be stationed indefinitely at the new base. Defense Department officials refused to either confirm or deny that nuclear weapons will be stored at the base, which will provide security for U.S. oil companies harvesting Iraq''s mineral wealth.

"This is a great day for American" Cheney intoned, "The U.S.A., which is completely dependent upon foreign oil and will be for the foreseeable future, now has a secure source of oil that we can pump out at will. The new Iraqi government has given us permission to extract all the oil we want, as long as we continue to make payments in support of the new Iraqi government."

Cheney dismissed allegations by skeptics that this represented a U.S. imperialist takover of the Middle EAst through terroristic means. However, at least 5000 Iraqi dissenters, arrested by Blackwater personnel, are being held in an undisclosed location for vigorous interrogation.

[missingamerica]

Nukes don''t kill people, people like Cheney people.

[formrusmcsgt]

It really is so sad to see how European leaders demonstrate statemanship and all we show the world is two loony banty roosters who threaten on a daily basis......

[missingamerica]

Nukes don''t kill people, people like Cheney kill people.

Weeee...

[formrusmcsgt]

Bush and Cheney are, indeed, scary. What is even more scary is to see others, like hillaryin08, jowand, et.al., who think this is anything but insanity....

[liberalme]

Well, if Iran does get nuclear weapons, I know where they can put them.

These two nuts in Washington are doing everything in their power to make sure Iran DOES get nuclear weapons.

They want world war 3 and are challenging, threatening and daring Iran.

As I told my kids, it takes 2 to fight, one to start it and the other to keep it going.
They are chomping at the bit in wait.

We have some very dangerous men in Washington.

[grumpas]

What could be worse is George W Bush with Nuclear Weapons to play with!!!!

[mbcsmith]

The LIBS just don''t get it! Libs want to surrender to just about anyone that threatens the U.S. LIBS need to take their heads out of their arses and join the real world. Oh wait, that would violate their party montra of "... criticize and the idiot base will follow." Moveon has your candidates in it''s pocket.

[liberalme]

mbcsmith

We already have exhausted troops that have served several times in Iraq and Afganistan--who''s gonna fight the next war? You???

Perhaps we should institute the draft again, this time for anyone under 45 and insist that anyone in Washington that has kids of "fighting" age should be the first to go, seeing as not many of the repugs have any experience in the military!

[harp1963]

It''s the bullies/idiots of the world like Cheney that supply all of the motivation to countries like Iran to get nukes. Why is it neccessary for this diplomatic *** to publically stand up before the whole world and announce this? If China and Russia decide Iran will get nukes, then Iran will get nukes dear American brothers and sisters. We''re not invincible and we should not be talking trash on a world stage.

[mick7744]

A mad-dog state like Iran cannot be allowed to go nuclear. That sawed-off little creep Ahmedinejad struts around now as if he were 5 feet tall, threatening war and destruction on anyone who tells him no about anything. At this point, Iran probably couldn''t defeat Samoa...how would they carry on once they had nukes?

If only I could reconcile these thoughts as they seem to be agreeing with that OTHER mad dog, Cheney!

[drummer94]

mbcsmith. Perhaps you will go and operate all the robots that are being developed. Kill from afar. That should satisfy your blood-lust.

[mbcsmith]

Posted by liberalme at 09:13 AM : Oct 22, 2007

Waaaahh... The LIBS just cry and moan with no solutions to offer. Woe is me, the LIBS hate alone could defeat these enemies. Instead that hate is pointed at America.

[missingamerica]

The problem with Republicans as "leaders" is they are incapable of grasping the concept of leadership; like children, they want their rewards RIGHT NOW.

Lead by setting an example, by making your Constitution and Bill of Rights into the shining beacons of Democracy that illuminate a land where all peoples have equal rights and economic opportunities?

You suggest such a thing to a Bush, a Cheney, or any of the rest of that PNAC crowd and they can''t get past "But how is that going to bring about one world under the judeo-christian religious system before I die? More importantly, how is that going to put money in my pocket RIGHT NOW?".

They find it to be much easier to try to knock down the low-hanging fruit - and profits - that are within the reach of a rifle butt.

As they run America''s Businesses, so they would run the World.

[liberalme]

Waaaahh... The LIBS just cry and moan with no solutions to offer. Woe is me, the LIBS hate alone could defeat these enemies. Instead that hate is pointed at America.
Posted by mbcsmith

Liberal solution?? If I''m not mistaken, the repugs got us into this war for "weapons of mass destruction", oops no we''re there to "liberate", now all they want to do is start wanother war and the Libs are supposed to come up with a solution???? hahahahahahahaha--you got us into this disgusting situation without a plan--now your crying that the Libs don''t have a solution?

Did someone take your crayons away?

[rowdytexan2]

Somebody ductape this buffoon''s mouth!!!

HE is the problem! NOT the solution! He''s throwing down a gauntlet to these people...he doesn''t want war out of the Middle East until Halliburton gets it''s oil contracts!!!

There is not one person in the world safer by our being in the Middle East. Get real!

There are 100,000+ soldiers over there...not ONE WMD has been found! Not ONE!

[v_1618]

HEY CHENEY .. SHUT THE *** UP.. STUPID CLOWN .
EVERYBODY IN THIS WORLD KNOWS YOU ARE THE DEVIL SO.. YOU SHOULD BE HANG LIKE SADDAM ...

[v_1618]

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY .. WHAT A BLUFF FROM THE BUFFON... HEY CHENEY RUSSIA HAS WARNED YOUR AZZ IDIOT....

[rowdytexan2]

You idiot republicans...SHOW ME A SOLUTION!!! YOU don''t have one!!! Other than goading these people to nuke each other and out military bases...IF they have a nuke!

YOU ARE ABSURD!!!! Where is your LOGIC!!!?

[dgwooster]

The picture of Cheney at the top is a nice touch. He looks like a mad dog.

BTW, didn''t he used to be the voice of reason in the Bush Administration at one time?

[liberalme]

dgwooster,

Than''s his "be afraid, be very afraid" tough look. Actually it''s a sneer I would love the pleasure of wiping off!
The above photo is the REAL Dicky Cheney and it isn''t even haloween yet!

[myidoncbs]

mbcsmith, YOU don''t get it! You can''t make peace by attacking and killing everyone you don''t like. You have to learn to tolerate differences and find some way to get along with others. That is NOT the same as surrender! If you can''t find a way to play nice with your neighbors, the ONLY option left is war, war, war, ... forever!

The USA will NOT survive the nuclear war that Cheney is trying to start. Our troops are exhausted, pushed beyond the breaking point. We''ve hired 180,000 mercenaries just to keep going in Iraq. If we start dropping nukes on Iran, they, and others, WILL RETALIATE. Nuclear bombs will be flying all over the place, including here! That will be the end of the world.

If the countries that now have nuclear weapons would simply get rid of them all, then there wouldn''t be such a strong motivation for all the little countries that we constantly threaten to get their own nukes. They are AFRAID of us, so they want their own nukes. Scare them enough, and they will attack us, just like we went along with the attack on Iraq because we were afraid of their non-existent WMDs. (But OUR WMDs are real!)

Cheney''s dream is TOTAL WORLD CONQUEST by ONE SUPER-POWER. To achieve that, he must destroy most of the world, including the USA. He will continue to live (if you can call it that) in his secret underground bunker, lobbing missiles at the rest of the world for as long as his ungodly, artificial heart keeps on ticking. Damm everyone who supports this madman!

[l8c6]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Osama bin Laden is the "prime suspect" in last Tuesday''s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and the United States wants to capture him , President Bush said Monday. Bush offered some of his most blunt language to date when he was asked if he wanted bin Laden dead. "I want justice," Bush said. "And there''s an old poster out West%u2026 I recall, that said, ''Wanted, Dead or Alive.''"--September 17, 2001 Posted: 8:01 PM EDT (0001 GMT)

"I don''t know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don''t care. It''s not that important. It''s not our priority." - G.W. Bush, 3/13/02 ...


Where''s the credibility? The dollar weakens against the Euro and even latin american nations. U.S. citizens are more bound to the "homeland" and yet thousands of illegal immigrants flood over the borders every day. What a bunch of bull. The gullible would think this administrations words can be trusted.

[jowand]

Real story is not Cheney it''s the Pelosi mouth screw-up with Turkey, it''s being buried by the alphabet media. Biggest foreign policy mistake in years, turning a good ally into an enemy without firing a shot. All done by the power of the, we hate Bush so much, Pelosi and friends big fat mouths. They hate Bush so much and want power so bad they will do anything to get it, this is leadership? Get Pelosi and friend out while there is time, where are the good Democrats???