Posted on 11/21/2004 12:47:52 AM PST by FairOpinion
According to one official with access to the material, a “walk-in” source approached US intelligence earlier this month with more than 1,000 pages purported to be Iranian drawings and technical documents, including a nuclear warhead design and modifications to enable Iranian ballistic missiles to delivery an atomic strike. The warhead design is based on implosion and adjustments aimed at fitting the warhead on existing Iranian missiles.
DEBKAfile’s military experts believe the data referred to the Shehab-3 and its improved version, the Shehab-4.
The US official said he would not have revealed this much had not Powell alluded to the intelligence publicly. If the information is confirmed, it would mean the Islamic republic is further along than previously known in developing a nuclear weapon and the means to deliver it.
According to DEBKAfile’s Washington sources, the Pentagon’s most recent game model on military measures to dispose of Iran’s nuclear threat concludes it will be necessary to topple the Islamic republic’s regime at the same time.
The first stage would be a bombing mission against the regime’s primary prop, the Revolutionary Guards.
The second stage would be the destruction of known and probable nuclear sites – a much harder mission given the hundreds of sites known and unknown number and carefully camouflaged underground behind cunning window-dressing. US intelligence estimates as many as 350 sites. It does not have precise knowledge of which are the most important or even which are active.
The most secret section of the latest report the International Atomic Energy Agency’s director Mohammed ElBaradai has drafted on Iran’s nuclear program is also the most embarrassing for the international nuclear watchdog. We reveal exclusively that when inspectors arrived in Iran in mid-May and asked to revisit installations they saw in February or April, they were astonished to find empty spaces. When they questioned their Iranian escorts, they were greeted with blank stares. “What installations?” the officials asked.
According to our sources, US officials involved in the Iranian nuclear issue have no doubt that the installations were not destroyed but removed to secret subterranean sites probably built under military bases scattered around the country and that the Iranians are industriously advancing their forbidden programs.
Five months later, we have discovered one of those clandestine destinations to be the Nour “nuclear suburb” of Tehran.
no fuel to get home
Thanks! It's very pretty. (oops, does sound too girly?)
These weapons and all this combat stuff fascinates me. I learn alot from you guys.
ping
Boy, take a look into those eyes! WOW.
350 targets would take abot 6 hours.
No-brainer. Russia will supply their own enemies with weapons if they can pay for it.
As an old ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare)guy, I don't think you have much to worry about if we decide to take out their submarine fleet.
I take it you don't believe we seeded the waterways near Iran with listening devices and already have the signatures of the subs.
I'd also suggest we get over what appears to be an old code of honor that stated we don't shoot the other countries leaders, officers etc etc..... Put a few of those cruise missles into the enemies palaces and seats of goobermint. They'd do no less if they had the capability....the one they are trying to develop.
Just my opinion of course if it should come to such.
Sounds good to Me and add a few down the pipe a al-jezzra Hq while we are launching
Airman Vanessa Dobos of the 58th Training Squadron poses with a Gatling gun at Kirtland Air Force base in New Mexico August 7, 2002. Dobos is to become the first woman aerial gunner in the USAF, with an assignment to a search and rescue Pave Hawk helicopter, when she graduates from technical training in a few weeks, performing a combat duty that was formerly closed to women.
Agreed on both counts...
350 targets? Yawwwnnnn... I though it might be difficult for our men.
And with a few mullahs as worm-food, he dissidents can take care of the rest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.