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Iran Claims Nuclear Steps in New Worry
NY Times ^
| April 17, 2006
| WILLIAM J. BROAD and DAVID E. SANGER
Posted on 04/17/2006 7:22:14 PM PDT by neverdem
Of all the claims that Iran made last week about its nuclear program, a one-sentence assertion by its president has provoked such surprise and concern among international nuclear inspectors they are planning to confront Tehran about it this week.
The assertion involves Iran's claim that even while it begins to enrich small amounts of uranium, it is pursuing a far more sophisticated way of making atomic fuel that American officials and inspectors say could speed Iran's path to developing a nuclear weapon.
Iran has consistently maintained that it abandoned work on this advanced technology, called the P-2 centrifuge, three years ago. Western analysts long suspected that Iran had a second, secret program based on the black market offerings of the renegade Pakistani nuclear engineer Abdul Qadeer Khan separate from the activity at its main nuclear facility at Natanz. But they had no proof.
Then on Thursday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Tehran was "presently conducting research" on the P-2 centrifuge, boasting that it would quadruple Iran's enrichment powers. The centrifuges are tall, thin machines that spin very fast to enrich, or concentrate, uranium's rare component, uranium 235, which can fuel nuclear reactors or atom bombs.
Mr. Ahmadinejad's statements, and those of other senior Iranian officials, are always viewed with suspicion by American and international nuclear experts, because Iran has, at various times, understated nuclear activities that were later discovered, and overstated its capabilities. Analysts and American intelligence officials, bruised by their experience in Iraq, say they are uncertain whether Mr. Ahmadinejad's claim represents a real technical advance that could accelerate Iran's nuclear agenda, or political rhetoric meant to convince the world of the unstoppability of its atomic program.
European diplomats said a delegation of Iranian officials is due to arrive on Tuesday in Vienna, where the International Atomic...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: abdulqadeerkhan; aqkhan; atomicenergy; atomicweapons; iaea; iran; irannukes; proliferation
1
posted on
04/17/2006 7:22:17 PM PDT
by
neverdem
To: neverdem
I was about to ping you to this post :)
shoulda know'd
2
posted on
04/17/2006 7:27:57 PM PDT
by
King Prout
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT.)
To: neverdem
There are seven important questions here.
The answers to all do not begin with "Yes", "No", "Why" or "If."
The answers all begin with "When"
3
posted on
04/17/2006 7:29:45 PM PDT
by
MindBender26
(Having my own CAR-15 in RVN meant never having to say I was sorry....)
To: neverdem
4
posted on
04/17/2006 7:31:42 PM PDT
by
cmsgop
( I love Scotch. .......Scotchy, Scotch, Scotch)
To: neverdem
BTTT
5
posted on
04/17/2006 7:32:52 PM PDT
by
nopardons
To: neverdem; NormsRevenge
I know this is shallow, but do you remember what the world's leaders were saying in the movie "Independence Day," when the aliens were threatening everything and everyone? "What do you want us to do?" They asked impatiently.
The the alien's adamant, one word reply...
DIE!!!
6
posted on
04/17/2006 8:00:49 PM PDT
by
SierraWasp
(Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know man!!! (or especially Waspman!!!))
To: neverdem
Maybe if Iran claims it will only target blue states, the leftist pukes in this country will take them seriously.
7
posted on
04/17/2006 8:05:28 PM PDT
by
Ron in Acreage
(Liberal Democrats-Party before country, surrender before victory, generous with other peoples money.)
To: neverdem; SJackson; yonif; Simcha7; American in Israel; Slings and Arrows; judicial meanz; ...
8
posted on
04/17/2006 9:16:15 PM PDT
by
Salem
(FREE REPUBLIC - Fighting to win within the Arena of the War of Ideas! So get in the fight!)
To: Salem
Western Politicians are going to do nothing until Iran pops a nuke somewhere. Then they will all turn to us an blame us for not doing anything. I include our own politicians in that group.
Me? I'm stockpiling ammo for the day when I or my children have to take this fight to the streets against radical Hispanic islamo/fascist mullahs.
9
posted on
04/19/2006 1:12:30 PM PDT
by
PsyOp
(The commonwealth is theirs who hold the arms.... - Aristotle.)
To: Salem; All; Alouette; SJackson; Gucho; blackie; Peach; pbrown; Kitty Mittens; DollyCali; LUV W; ...
"Et tell you is coming. Get ready. Et stand of words. War is heating up. Humanity who doesn't reflect of world today is perplexed of its self.
This is not one shot of arrow; infore eto incordinuum is fight of innocent millions of all of humanity. Enemy is here, I cry out loud of my faith; whom will be able to fight was is coming?
Kremlin, Pekin, and many of many have set up traps of you, look outside of box. My words are nothing, politicians e reporters have destroyed this understanding. Eto fore destruction will turn against them.
History comes to hunt humanity of itself. We have stood by you, infore eto we will again, for a last time. Infore when is finished we all humanity of goodness will win. Have hope. Due; nothing is lost."
thank you all
10
posted on
04/20/2006 12:49:32 PM PDT
by
anonymoussierra
(Et salutare tuum da nobis.!!!!)
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