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State Dept Official: Iran Could Build Nukes in 'Days'
NewsMax ^ | 13 April 2006 | Carl Limbacher

Posted on 04/12/2006 5:03:46 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher

Iran could build a nuclear weapon within "days" once it completes plans to beef up its uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, a State Department official said Wednesday.

"Natanz was constructed to house 50,000 centrifuges," Stephen Rademaker, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, told reporters in Moscow. "Using those 50,000 centrifuges they could produce enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon in 16 days."

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's deputy nuclear chief, Mohammad Saeedi, appeared on Iran's state-run TV network to announce plans for "industrial scale" uranium enrichment involving 54,000 centrifuges at the Natanz facility, according to the Associated Press.

Rademaker, whose stunning "nukes-in-days" prediction was first reported by Bloomberg News, offered his comments in reaction to Saeedi's announcement.

Iran's first successful attempt to enrich uranium, announced Tuesday by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was accomplished with just 164 centrifuges. While it's not clear how quickly Iran could reach the 50,000 centrifuge mark, there are indications that the rogue nation is already much closer than indicated by Tuesday's announcement.

Last August, an exiled Iranian dissident who helped uncover nearly two decades of covert nuclear activity in 2002, told the Associated Press that Iran has already manufactured thousands of centrifuges capable of enriching uranium to weapons grade.

"4,000 centrifuge machines have not been declared to the IAEA," Alireza Jafarzadeh said. "And the regime has kept the production of these machines hidden from the inspectors while the negotiations with the European Union have been going on over the past 21 months."

In Feb. 2003, UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei visited Natanz. He reported that in a nearby building, workers were assembling parts for thousands of centrifuges.

The Natanz facility is buried 75 feet underground and has a reinforced concrete roof, according to GlobalSecurity.org.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; irannukes; nukes; shite
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To: RightWhale
"Iran will go first. Sneak attack like Pearl Harbor during negotiations. Then war will be demanded, and war it will be."

And the Arabs really care about the Palestinians??? Hell no they don't. You Nuke Israel and you will also be nuking the West Bank and Gaza. Arabs do not give a rat's behind about the Palestinians. They never have.
101 posted on 04/13/2006 6:34:30 AM PDT by reagandemo (The battle is near are you ready for the sacrifice?)
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To: carl in alaska
Vote YES on our proposal to convert Iranian nuclear facilities into open-pit aluminum mines.

LOL. I'm with you.

102 posted on 04/13/2006 6:35:25 AM PDT by b4its2late (There are good terrorists.............. DEAD ONES.)
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To: beyond the sea

I've been waiting for the other shoe to fall for a while too.

Things are going downhill.

Watching the Stooges is a good idea. Things are out of our control. What is going to happen will happen. And it isn't going to be good.


103 posted on 04/13/2006 7:00:29 AM PDT by Supernatural (When they come a wull staun ma groon, Staun ma groon al nae be afraid)
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To: Aussie Dasher
This debate is eerily similar to the debate on whether we needed to take action against Iraq and their WMDs. The President has been savaged by the press, both here and abroad, because none have been found ( although that doesn't mean there are none ), so he may be a bit reluctant to make a move on Iran. After all, can he really trust the intelligence estimates he receives?

One thing though. When Secretary Rice was on TV yesterday, she had an expression that clearly indicated extreme concern.

104 posted on 04/13/2006 7:01:18 AM PDT by The Sons of Liberty (Former SAC Trained Killer)
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE

shotgun. I designed one in high school - hey, I was bored. ;)


105 posted on 04/13/2006 7:12:27 AM PDT by patton (Once you steal a firetruck, there's really not much else you can do except go for a joyride.)
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To: goldstategop
Glad we agree.

Our destruction is their goal, not peaceful co-existence. Israel too. they want the Judeo-Christian influence in the world annihilated.

That sets an entirely different table for the Western mind, the survival of our civilization. Europe won't tackle this problem. There are only few left, Poland, Australia, Great Britain.

106 posted on 04/13/2006 7:28:17 AM PDT by ThirstyMan (hysteria: the elixir of the Left that trumps all reason)
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To: Supernatural
Things are out of our control. What is going to happen will happen. And it isn't going to be good.

Let's hope that whatever happens doesn't injure the fish in Laurel Hill Creek.

I'd like to get there some day, Supernatural.

Go Stillers....

107 posted on 04/13/2006 7:34:17 AM PDT by beyond the sea (Oh, for the days when "disrespect" was just a noun.)
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To: Kenny Bunk
My theory and I desperately wish it disproven, is that this just might be the Shi'a Death Wish and their plan to purify Islam by giving Allah a clean slate. The goat-buggering SOBs want us to attack.

I share your theory. We don't comprehend this Muslim mind very well.

These fanatics are zeal without love, very dangerous.

In any case they aren't working to understand us one bit and so our actions need to be determined by our own self preservation, NOT THEIR APPROVAL!!

108 posted on 04/13/2006 7:36:34 AM PDT by ThirstyMan (hysteria: the elixir of the Left that trumps all reason)
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To: beyond the sea
I feel like hiding in the den and watching the Three Stooges.

You mean the 3 network news organizations?

109 posted on 04/13/2006 7:39:27 AM PDT by Mike Darancette (Proud soldier in the American Army of Occupation..)
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To: beyond the sea

I have extra fly rods and gear.

All you need are waders and a fishing license.


110 posted on 04/13/2006 7:40:49 AM PDT by Supernatural (When they come a wull staun ma groon, Staun ma groon al nae be afraid)
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To: Mike Darancette
I feel like hiding in the den and watching the Three Stooges. ............... You mean the 3 network news organizations?

ROFL ..................... but no ........ I need to laugh not agonize.

;-)

111 posted on 04/13/2006 7:42:30 AM PDT by beyond the sea (Oh, for the days when "disrespect" was just a noun.)
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To: Supernatural
All you need are waders and a fishing license.

........... and a cooler.

;-)

112 posted on 04/13/2006 7:43:23 AM PDT by beyond the sea (Oh, for the days when "disrespect" was just a noun.)
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To: beyond the sea
I need to laugh not agonize.

Get some Little Rascal tapes. Seeing kids get along and playing together really helps.

113 posted on 04/13/2006 7:54:23 AM PDT by Mike Darancette (Proud soldier in the American Army of Occupation..)
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To: beyond the sea
It all seems to be coming to a head. I feel like hiding in the den and watching the Three Stooges.

I keep hearing echoes of ancient prophecies that all seem to culminate around these next 6 years - for ex: the Hopi legend that adds that we better have a years supply of living essentials (food, water, heat source) and be off in the williwacks - and that it will take a good ten years to come up out of the mire -

I was raised in the back woods of a northern state - and, I gotta tell ya, I wouldn't mind having a camp and a well stocked cold cellar up there right now)

114 posted on 04/13/2006 8:15:58 AM PDT by maine-iac7 (",,,BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME" Lincoln)
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To: The Sons of Liberty
he may be a bit reluctant to make a move on Iran

I have a gut feeling that we wont take the point on this one.

Israel, the UK, etc - are taking heed on this one - they are in the cross-hairs - in range. They haven't got enough land mass to survive more than one or two strikes -

This time, just maybe, they'll move first - and then we can join.

I'm thinking of starting a business: "Ornaments and oil lamps made from Iranian glass." (kinda like the oil lamp I have made from the volcanic ash from Mt. St. Helens.)

115 posted on 04/13/2006 8:21:27 AM PDT by maine-iac7 (",,,BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME" Lincoln)
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To: maine-iac7
I was raised in the back woods of a northern state - and, I gotta tell ya, I wouldn't mind having a camp and a well stocked cold cellar up there right now)

"a camp and a well stocked cold cellar" ---- I got it here in my northern state.............. you are invited........... bring Catherine Zeta Jones if you can when it is time.

;-)

116 posted on 04/13/2006 9:38:38 AM PDT by beyond the sea (Oh, for the days when "disrespect" was just a noun.)
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To: putupjob

Reading the article is for pussies.


117 posted on 04/13/2006 11:11:16 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: LibWhacker; Cindy; DoctorZIn
What is the latest "profiling" on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? I need a few middle of the night studies on what makes this fella tick....would like to read what Laurie Mylroie has to say about him and the whole Iranian student movement.
118 posted on 04/13/2006 12:25:06 PM PDT by hummingbird (Bloggers killed the Media Stars.)
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To: LibWhacker; Cindy; DoctorZIn
But the Americans may have bought the big lie and believed that he only has a measly 164 centrifuges. So they won't attack just yet, giving him another few weeks or months to build even more bombs.

Wonder how much of whatever was in Iraq has made its way to Iran.....
119 posted on 04/13/2006 12:27:20 PM PDT by hummingbird (Bloggers killed the Media Stars.)
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To: beyond the sea

you got a deal - well, might be a delay on the C Z-J


120 posted on 04/13/2006 12:49:36 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (",,,BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME" Lincoln)
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