July 23, 2008
The Prospect Of A Nuclear Iran
Close-Up On Iran's Relationship With Its Neighbors - And What That Means For The Mideast's Future
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Prospect Of A Nuclear Iran
During his visit to Israel, Barack Obama defended his proposal to negotiate with Iran using "big sticks and big carrots." Katie Couric reports.
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Iran
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The U.S. And Iran
Key events in once friendly, now contentious relationship between Washington and Tehran.
It was the shot heard throughout the Middle East - Iran flexing its military muscle with a series of missile tests signaling to its neighbors and the West that it's not backing down in its quest to become a nuclear nation, Couric reports.
Experts warn Iran may be as close as a year away from having enough enriched uranium to produce a nuclear weapon. A constant target of Iran's aggressive rhetoric and threats, Israel knows time is running out.
Ephraim Halevy was the head of MOSSAD, Israel's intelligence agency.
"Is Israel willing to strike militarily if these diplomatic efforts fail?" Couric asked Halevy.
"I think it's important that the Iranians believe this is a possibility," he said. "I think it's extremely important that the credibility of Israel's capabilities should be on the table for Iranians to feel and see. If Israel's back is to the wall... Israel is not going to sit back and just receive whatever it is the Iranians are going to attack with, concerning Israel."
For Israel, keeping weapons from its neighbors is nothing new. In 1981 Israeli forces targeted and successfully bombed Saddam Hussein's nuclear reactor Osirak. And in September of 2007, they launched a pre-emptive strike on a suspected nuclear facility in northern Syria.
But Iran has learned from its neighbors' mistakes. Experts say they've developed underground enrichment facilities that are spread out and well hidden - raising questions about the possible success of a conventional strike.
The fear of Iran's increased nuclear capabilities has prompted the United States to radically switch gears and, for the first time in 30 years, actually sit at the same table with European and Iranian representatives.
Some view this as a major concession to what many consider a rogue government; others see it as the only way forward.
"So you approve of this switch from isolating Iran to engaging the country?" Couric asked Halevy.
"I believe one has to open up a channel of dialogue with Iran for one of two reasons: Either in order to exhaust the possibility of a diplomatic solution or because I believe that this is an essential prerequisite before going to war," he said.
For the people of Israel, hostile neighbors come with the territory. It has become part of the national psyche - one that understands the need to be pre-emptive.
Two years ago northern Israel became a major target in the Lebanon War, where for one month, Hezbollah rockets rained down on the port city of Haifa.
"It was the first time in our history that this city was under attack," said Haifa mayor Yona Yahav. "A hundred rockets hit the residential area. I was ... so shocked that here, if this is going to continue this way, the whole city is going to be killed."
Mira Carasenti, a resident of Haifa, will never forget that morning.
"The rocket came through from there," Carasenti said, pointing. "From the third floor straight to our floor, to our house."
Yet the Carasentis were fortunate because their enemy only had a crude Katyusha rocket. What they fear now is an enemy that may be only months away from having the most dangerous weapon of all.
"With all the reality here - in Haifa and Israel - I think what will happen; we are here; we are very strong nation," Carasenti said.
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one thing is for sure..they dont need a delivery system..they have millions of poison souls that would ''walk it to manhattan"
What we don''t need is religious fanatics with nukular weapons running around threatening other countries. I meant the United States of Amerikkka.
Don''t forget Russia and China are quietly watching all of this play out and don''t be certain they wouldn''t step in on Iran''s side. Then we''d really have a fight on our hands.
What we don''''t need is religious fanatics with nukular weapons running around threatening other countries. I meant the United States of Amerikkka.
Posted by noloyalisti at 07:25 PM : Jul 23, 2008"
Be afraid, lefties, be very afraid. The life you enjoy and America you know will be gone with the lame policies and inexperience of Obumbadumba.
We don''t need a chickenhawk that threatens to be tough AND is willing to try to buy off a rogue nuclear state. He will crumple and go the easy route. Then, we lose the money, Iran will USE that money develop their nuclear capability, and Israel will be destroyed.
Oh, and be prepared to learn SPANISH!
Some view this as a major concession to what many consider a rogue government; others see it as the only way forward."
I think the Iranians are willing to sit with rogue governments, even the US. Particularly once the moron-in-chief (Mr. Axis-of-Evil, himself) is gone.
7 months ago 16 intelligence agencies said Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program and had not re-started it. You can''t put together a nuclear bomb in the kitchen sink you know.
Another article to build up the fear so Iran can be bombed. Iran is NOT making a nuclear weapon, they have undergone inspections, answered questions. More so than any other country who signed the non-poliferation pact!!
This is a bunch of horsesh*t!!
Get a grip. The biggest thing we have to fear is the possible bombing of a country that does NOT have a nuclear weapon. We did that once in this administration. Look at the disaster that caused.
Do ya really think we need to pay $7.00 at the pump for those non-existent WMD??
As the old saying goes,get them before they get us.
Here are the facts:
The media and Bush Administration have lied and continued to lie about "iran wanting to destroy Israel. This is 100% false. What Ahmenajad said in real honest translation was that "Israel should not exist" (that is your snippet not that "Israel should be destroyed") Futhermore this comment was taken totally out of context, the real comment from Ahmenajad was that "israel should not exist in its current form today, where it occupies illegal territories from the 1967 war and has setup a 1.2 million person prison in the gaza strip."
The fact is he is right, Israel has been engaging in a relatively silent holocaust against the palenstinian, and lebanese peoples. Hamas is the result what happens when you have a totalitarian government subverting your people. like legendary professor Noam Chomsky says "the only way to stop terrorism is to stop sponsoring it" Israel and the US and Turkey have been sponsoring terrorism for decades in the middle east, southeast asia, and latin america.
Iran is the only country in the middle east that was formed from a grassroots democratic revolution, yet our government has repeatedly tried to overthrow them (like when regean gave iraq biologial and chemical weapons and told saddamn to attack Iran in the 7 year war)
Secondly Iran has not attacked anyone in over 250 years.
Third they have repeatedly tried to talk to Bush but he has refused every time
The UAEA inspector has been allowed to inspect and install cameras in all of their governmental facilities and has repeatedly said that "there is no indication Iran is trying to develop a weapon"
Iran is has signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (israel has not)
The media and zionists are trying to once again spread propaganda in an attempt to pull the US into another illegal war!!
The only problem with the Iranian democracy is they overthrew a puppet dictator that we installed
People in our country need to stop being brainwashed, and start getting the facts otherwise these corrupt politicans on both sides of the fence will continue to exploit our country!
But the second a bomb is tested (underground), the whole world will know.
At that point it will be both legitamate and safe to attack them. It will be legitimate because at that point they have actually violated something, while right now they haven''t. And it will be safe because there is no way they can go from an underground test to a missile-load in immediately.
But talking about attacking them now is just rediculas. People will die for no reason. It will be worse than Iraq.
That''s the IAEA.
Iran is part of it. They''re a member of the IAEA, meaning they allow that agency to visit their nuclear facilities to make sure they''re not making nuclear bombs.
Israel is not part of it because they keep arguing they cannot trust anyone as if we still were living in the 1930''s.
Iran did keep its nuclear program secret and did not want to be part of the IAEA but all that happened during its 8 year war with Iraq when they were trying to bluff each other about their offensive capabilities.
Iran is therefore very upset they''re being accused by the very country that has nuclear weapons and has reacted with strong words. Israel then uses this show of anger as more evidence of Iran''s bad intentions.
Israel needs to cool it off and become a signatory to the IAEA.
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Let''s rephrase that: "For the people of Israel, hostile neighbors come with the territory Israel steals and tries to ethnically cleanse."
This article is typical Israel-first, America last agit-prop.
If Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, we''re too bogged down in Iraq to do anything about it. Tuff ****** neocons.
lol!
But he didn''t use the words for Israel, Wipe, Off or Map, that''s for sure. But this lie has been repeated so often that it''s now taken on a life of it''s own.
No comments at all? Y''all cool with that? Nobody at CBS has any problem with that?
Time to resign, Katie. I hear there''s a job going at Pravda.
"Israel is the only country in the Middle East to have nuclear weapons".
Israel has never tested nuclear weapons so how do you know they have them? How does ANYONE know they have them?
Even if Israel has built nuclear devices, the Israelis THEMSELVES cannot know if they have nuclear bombs until they`ve tested at least one of them.
Pakistan didn`t know if it had nuclear weapons without testing them and the first device they tested was a dud.
Taken in this context, and presenting only a small degree of empathy to the question, Israel cannot be expected to sit by on its thumbs while Iran proceeds along those stated lines to that stated goal.
Posted by sincityq at 06:28 AM : Jul 24, 2008
But that''s exactly the point: Israel already wiped out historical Palestine out of the map and are now wanting to build another Jewish settlement in the West Bank despite past agreements to not do so.
Over 40% of the land that existing Jewish settlements are built on in the West Bank are on Palestinian private property.
This on top of the 10% of the West Bank that has been taken to increase the size of Jerusalem, and then argue that none of it should be divided.
So Palestinians and their supporters are within their rights to express their desire to do to Israel what Israel has actually done with Palestine.
That''s all there''s to it. No need to get melodramatic just because people get pissed at Israel''s atrocities and crimes and excuse Israel''s nuclear arsenal.
Why Israel''s nuclear facilities are not open for inspection by UN? Another western hypocrasy.
And it is a lie which keeps repeated by western media that Iran''s president has said we will wipe Israel from the face of the earth which you translate as wanting to attack Israel with nuclear weapons. He meant to say sooner or later there sould be a fair referundom in the occupied land involving only the people who had roots there before the occupation to decide what type of country and government they want. If the election is fair, a country with the name of Israel will no longer be on the world map, like yugoslavia. That''s what he meant.
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Posted by kretos_d at 01:57 AM : Jul 24, 2008
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I agree with you 100%. This stupidity MUST stop. We, the people, have the power to stop this before it gets too far and we are all put into concentration camps. This is what they are planning. There are over 500 FEMA internment camps throughout the USA now. If we don''t put a stop to this now it will be too late.
Posted by kiumars55
Which of course would include the Jews and Zionist whose roots are from Judea and Zion before the 7th century invasion and occupation of these lands by the armies from Medina.....
Time for peace. Time to throw out the old and bring in the new.
Dr Paul was right on these issues and America would do will to read his writing''s before the elections before another Neo Con at the helm.
Benny Morris Israeli historian said: Killing of Millions of Iranians by Israeli Nuke is justified. Should we set example and require Israel to eliminate her nuclear bombs?
President Truman said: "Starting an atomic war is totally unthinkable for rational men." [Truman, public Papers].
"Iran ends cooperation with UN nuclear arms probe" reuters
They are building nuclear arms..have no doubt on that.
The question remain: Now that Iran have flatly told UN that they will not cooperate and will continue developing....what''s the UN EU US and Israel to do?
Dont say nothing...this lunatic cannot possess the weapons..and Russia is threatening us...because they are the ones financing together with China.
RUssia is thinking of sending nukes to Cuba in retaliation.... any takers?
So Do any of you liberal types know that we give 300 million to the Palestinians every year, and they still CELEBRATE 9/11.
I say cut all carrots from the Middle East. Let the Muslims take care of their own, unless they decide to become considerably more friendly.
But, Obama - he''ll give away the farm.
Dems would have done better nominating
This also brings to mind CNN taking "Iran has a right to nuclear energy" and translating it as "Iran has a right to nuclear weapons". They were forced to apologise, but this BS is part of a larger pattern.
Of the three members of the so-called axis of evil, which one got invaded? The one that was the furthest away from ever getting nukes.
When Israel declares their 100+ nukes to the International Atomic Energy Agency (which Iran is a member of) I will take their proclamations seriously.
Sure - because you said so.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
What''s the matter ? Did the little monkey say something he regrets now, so he has his minions trying to double talk us into believing he never said it.
Then explain this, pig breath...
Washingtonpost.com/ World Leaders Condemn Iranian''s Call to Wipe Israel ''Off the Map''
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/27/AR2005102702221.html
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by samsel3
July 26, 2008 4:02 PM PDT
- Russia has multiple nuclear power plant contracts with Iran. These plants are currently under construction.
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See all 39 CommentsReuters uk January 18, 2008 : " Iran has some awesome colleagues. Russia and China have become guardians of the Iranian economy. They don%u2019t put religion between business and political advantages. The US is sorely lacking in intelligent Foreign Policy. Hitler%u2019s Foreign Policy has been resurrected to serve the needs of an oil agenda and turn the US into the most disrespected and despised world power ".
POSTED: Friday, January 18, 2008
Moscow -- Armed forces will be used if necessary, including preventively and with the use of nuclear weapons, for protection of Russia and its allies, the Russian Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Yuri Baluyevsky said on Saturday.
"We do not intend to attack anybody. But all our partners must realize that for protection of Russia and its allies if necessary armed forces will be used, including preventively, including with the use of nuclear weapons," Baluyevsky was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
Baluyevsky reportedly made the statement at a scientific conference of the Academy of Military Sciences January 19, 2008.