Bush on warpath over UN's shock report on Iran A-bomb (Dubya is Angry!)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 09/07/2003 | Con Coughlin

[Pubbie]

America will tomorrow demand that the United Nations takes urgent action to prevent Iran acquiring the atom bomb as fears mount that Teheran is on course to develop a nuclear weapons capability within two years.

United States officials will make the demand at a special meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna that has been arranged to consider a 10-page report by Mohammed al-Baradei, the agency's director-general, into the state of Iran's nuclear programme.

Washington has already expressed deep concern about the discovery of traces of weapons grade uranium found in soil samples taken from one of Iran's top secret nuclear facilities last July.

In his report, a copy of which has been obtained by The Telegraph, Mr al-Baradei lists serious concerns raised by UN weapons inspectors about the scope of Iran's nuclear programme, which Teheran continues to insist is aimed at developing a nuclear power industry.

Inspectors are particularly concerned about activity at a nuclear complex at Natanz, in central Iran, which has sophisticated equipment for enriching uranium to weapons grade standard.

Even though the complex was built five years ago, the Iranian authorities only confirmed its existence to the IAEA earlier this year after its location was revealed by Iranian exiles.

The report also details the inspectors' concerns about the development of a heavy water facility at Arak, which they believe could help Iran to manufacture weapons grade uranium.

Mr al-Baradei writes in the report's conclusion that "there remain a number of important outstanding issues, particularly with regard to Iran's enrichment programme, that require urgent resolution".

US officials, however, are concerned that Mr al-Baradei, who this year argued in favour of UN inspectors being given more time to locate Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, will try to play down the significance of the recent discoveries made in Iran.

One American closely involved in monitoring Iran's nuclear programme said: "The big difference between Iraq and Iran is that the Iranians now have the ability to develop an atom bomb within two years. The time has come to force the Iranians to come clean about their real intentions."

Although Mr al-Baradei admits that the Iranians have deployed a variety of delaying tactics to prevent UN inspectors gaining access to secret nuclear facilities, he believes that they should be given more time to comply with their obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

American officials fear that many Europeans on the IAEA's 35-member board of governors, some of whose countries have lucrative trade ties with Teheran, will back Mr al-Baradei's position.

[Quanah]

Why exactly is it OK for us to have, develop, manufactuer, and test Nukes, and it's not OK for other Nations to do so?

I guess it's the same thinking that says it's okay for me to have a gun, but not okay for John Lee Malvo to have one.

[Poohbah]

Let's see what Bush talks about tomorrow night, shall we?

I've got a sense that something big is in the wind.

[ovrtaxt]

Why exactly is it OK for us to have, develop, manufactuer, and test Nukes, and it's not OK for other Nations to do so?

Are you really that stupid, or are you just trying to pick a fight?

It's because the US doesn't think it's our mission from Allah to incinerate everybody else on the planet. We actually prefer that everybody else have the freedom of thought to determine their own peaceful destiny, a concept alien to Islam.

[Mo1]

Although Mr al-Baradei admits that the Iranians have deployed a variety of delaying tactics to prevent UN inspectors gaining access to secret nuclear facilities, he believes that they should be given more time to comply with their obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

Isn't he the same idiot that didn't catch the N. Korea's nukes???

[wizardoz]

Why exactly is it OK for us to have, develop, manufactuer, and test Nukes, and it's not OK for other Nations to do so?

OK to whom? To whom are we supposed to justify our decisions?

[arete]

Have we received an intelligence report from Tony Blair on this yet? Always good to have the Brits provide confirmation.

Richard W.

[Mo1]

Be nice if he said "After further discussion, we have decided to withdraw from the United Nations and seek alliances with Countries that want to fight the War on Terror!"
I know -- I am dreaming!

If the UN keeps playing these delaying games regarding Nukes and WMD ... I would not rule that out from happening some day soon

[Lord_Baltar]

I'm probably that stupid, as I usually prefer not to pick a fight...

[Radix]

Honestly, I do not want to have you backing me into a corner and have me saying things that I cannot support due to my not considering them at length.

I am willing to say, however, that I see nothing wrong with kicking the asses of sucky little nations that have proven them selves to be unworthy of respectable treatment.

Are you suggesting that we should actually negotiate terms with the likes of the leaders of Iran and North Korea? Do you really want them to join the elite club of Atomic Powered Nations? Do you understand what that could develop into?

Would you let a proven sex offender near your children? Would you let a homicidal maniac have a gun in a public place? What the hell else is the world's superpower supposed to do?

We should maintain law and order. That makes sense to me. Would you like to have an Islamic fundamentalist state dictating to you what order should be like? Would you like to have a despotic communist rogue murderous bastard ordering you around?

Wake up!

[DB]

Perhaps because Iran is and has been the number one exporter of terrorism for more than a decade?

Hamas with nukes… Nothing to worry about there…

I guess you’re Mr. PC, were all countries and cultures are equal. They’re not.

[wizardoz]

By the way, did you see Destro's remark about countries who have signed the non-proliferation treaty?

[rintense]

Considering it's the Sunday BEFORE 9-11, I find it intriguing that he's speaking before that day, and not on that day. Hmmm...

[wizardoz]

It was post #27, if you didn't see it.

[rightwingextremist1776]

Maybe you can explain this to me, because my Room Temperature IQ is struggling with this. Why exactly is it OK for us to have, develop, manufactuer, and test Nukes, and it's not OK for other Nations to do so?

You MUST be joking right? I think you can answer that one yourself, unless you are truly a MORON.

[Brian S]

Let's see what Bush talks about tomorrow night, shall we?

I've got a sense that something big is in the wind.

Oh Christ...don't tell me the additional $$$ request to Congress will be greater that the $70 billion already rumored? That would be "big"...

[Right_in_Virginia]

Do you know if the President has asked for time on the non-cable stations?

[theriotcat]

I wish I could wright that speech
Out of the UN shut out the frogs and the Germans

[nwrep]

AL Gore hid secreat Russian Deal on Nuclear Aid to Iran

[concerned about politics]

India GETS no money from America-maybe you meant Israel????

I meant the people at the UN. We pay for most of it. 60% I hear.
Isreal? I say give them more. I feel so sorry for them.

[Mo1]

Considering it's the Sunday BEFORE 9-11, I find it intriguing that he's speaking before that day, and not on that day. Hmmm...

9/11 is a day of memorial .. just like Pearl Harbor .. President Bush would never talk about Iraq or Iran on that day.

But I have to admit, this article got my interest up and what he might talk about