Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Secret Services Say Iran is Trying to Assemble a Nuclear Missile
UK Guardian ^ | 1-4-06 | Ian Cobain and Ian Traynor

Posted on 01/03/2006 5:54:28 PM PST by Gribbles141

Document seen by Guardian details web of front companies and middlemen

The Iranian government has been successfully scouring Europe for the sophisticated equipment needed to develop a nuclear bomb, according to the latest western intelligence assessment of the country's weapons programmes. Scientists in Tehran are also shopping for parts for a new ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe, with "import requests and acquisitions ... registered almost daily", the report seen by the Guardian concludes.

The 55-page intelligence assessment, dated July 1 2005, draws upon material gathered by British, French, German and Belgian agencies and has been used to brief European government ministers and to warn leading industrialists of the need for vigilance when exporting equipment or expertise to so-called rogue states. It concludes that Syria and Pakistan have also been buying technology and chemicals needed to develop rocket programmes and to enrich uranium. It outlines the role played by Russia in the escalating Middle East arms build-up, and examines the part that dozens of Chinese front companies have played in North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

The leak of the intelligence report may signal a growing frustration at Iran's refusal to bow to western demands that it abandon its programme to produce fuel for a Russian-built nuclear reactor due to come on stream this year. The assessment declares that Iran has developed an extensive web of front companies, official bodies, academic institutes and middlemen dedicated to obtaining - in western Europe and the former Soviet Union - the expertise, training, and equipment for nuclear programmes, missile development, and biological and chemical weapons arsenals. "In addition to sensitive goods, Iran continues intensively to seek the technology and know-how for military applications of all kinds," it says.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: axisofappeasement; axisofevil; eurabia; iran; irannukes; loosenukes; nuclear; wmd; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last
To: putupjob

Who knows - a little US mission might one day enable Iran to have a litte nuclear mishap with their new toy. Wouldn't that be a shame. If they got their design from the Russians - that would be explanation enough. One day the remains of Chernobyl reactor #4 might be a safer place to be than Iran.


21 posted on 01/03/2006 7:29:18 PM PST by H.Akston (It's all about property rights)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: H.Akston
Wrong. I sometimes get very tired of the "Kill them all let God sort it out" attitude which appears here whenever serious questions of foreign policy come up.

The overwhelming majority (80%) of Iranians are pro-American and anti-Mullah.

There will be a blocade of Iran, with (until the NYT discloses it) a covert war by the intelligence and special forces services of several countries (US, UK, Austrailia to be sure, but also Saudia Arabia, Kuwait and the Gulf States - the Israelis need not apply - their presence would be harmful) to overthrow the Mullahs and install a "democratic" (non-Mullah gov't).

We DO have a certain experience doing this in Latin America...

22 posted on 01/03/2006 7:33:42 PM PST by Philistone (Turning lead into gold...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: H.Akston

"Iran will be incinerated with every megaton in our arsenal that Jimmy Carter wanted to eliminate."


Not to go off-topic, but naming a nuclear-missile-carrying submarine the USS Jimmy Carter is the height of irony, don't you think? Hell, use it for your above military action to really "come full circle"!!


23 posted on 01/03/2006 7:36:37 PM PST by Blzbba ("Shop Smart. Shop S-Mart" - Ashe, Housewares)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Gribbles141

I thought the Europeans were going to handle Iran their way, in comparison to how Bush handled Iraq.

Iraq is now a democracy and Iran is building nukes. The French and Germans sure showed Bush a thing or two.


24 posted on 01/03/2006 7:40:53 PM PST by joonbug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: windcliff

If Iran wants a nuclear missile so bad, can't we send them one via "air mail".


25 posted on 01/04/2006 1:57:27 AM PST by I Drive Too Fast
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gribbles141

Here we go again. Is this intelligence trustworthy?


26 posted on 01/04/2006 1:59:43 AM PST by Pro-Bush (We protect Korea's border better than our own!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pro-Bush
Is this intelligence trustworthy?

What intelligence?

27 posted on 01/04/2006 2:14:47 AM PST by ASA Vet (Those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Blzbba
"come full circle"!!

That's all the USS Carter will be able to do. The rudder is welded solid so the ship can only go left.

28 posted on 01/04/2006 2:17:03 AM PST by ASA Vet (Those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: ottersnot
I'm thinking France and Germany. They are the biggest whores of hypocrisy when it comes to arming our enemies.

Pakistan, Syria and N. Korea.

29 posted on 01/04/2006 2:18:51 AM PST by Cementjungle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: ASA Vet

Well, we can't afford to lose another Powell.


30 posted on 01/04/2006 2:20:37 AM PST by Pro-Bush (We protect Korea's border better than our own!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: SICSEMPERTYRANNUS

Yeah, that's the plick.


31 posted on 01/04/2006 3:28:14 AM PST by TADSLOS (Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Pro-Bush

Me Oui.....Of course it is!
We are sub-contracting it to the Belgians and the French for Gods sake!
The Dems will love it


32 posted on 01/04/2006 5:33:00 AM PST by colonialhk (sooprize sooprize sooprize)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: ASA Vet

"That's all the USS Carter will be able to do. The rudder is welded solid so the ship can only go left."


Now that's funny!


33 posted on 01/04/2006 6:11:12 AM PST by Blzbba ("Shop Smart. Shop S-Mart" - Ashe, Housewares)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Ninian Dryhope

"I did not need a secret report to tell me that. I even know where that nuclear missile will be aimed. Israel."

Not necessarily. It could also be used to blackmail Europe to increase their support of the Palestinians. It could also be used to ensure that Europe stays on the sidelines in a future Arab/Israeli war. For example, denying US landing rights to military aircraft we might use to support Israel.


34 posted on 01/04/2006 6:17:15 AM PST by DugwayDuke (Stupidity can be a self-correcting problem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Gribbles141

Luckily, the assembly instructions are written in Korean...

35 posted on 01/04/2006 6:37:18 AM PST by Jonah Hex ("Life's a beta, then you die." - overheard in City of Villains)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gribbles141

i wonder if the guardian has handed over ALL the material???Knowing where they stand


36 posted on 01/04/2006 6:44:19 AM PST by rang1995 (They will love us when we win)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gribbles141

USS Ronald Reagan Battle group sails today--HEAR that Mullahs


37 posted on 01/04/2006 6:45:54 AM PST by rang1995 (They will love us when we win)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I Drive Too Fast

LOL I wish.


38 posted on 01/04/2006 7:56:26 AM PST by windcliff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Gribbles141
>Iran is Trying to Assemble a Nuclear Missile

Yes! They're almost done!
Now, they've just got hitch up
the payload to it!

39 posted on 01/04/2006 7:59:44 AM PST by theFIRMbss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson