Posted on 01/08/2012 8:26:51 AM PST by bkopto
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Iran is laying the groundwork for making nuclear weapons someday, but is not yet building a bomb and called for continued diplomatic and economic pressure to persuade Tehran not to take that step.
As he has previously, Panetta cautioned against a unilateral strike by Israel against Iran's nuclear facilities, saying the action could trigger Iranian retaliation against U.S. forces in the region.
"We have common cause here" with Israel, he said. "And the better approach is for us to work together."
Panetta's remarks on CBS' Face the Nation, which were taped Friday and aired Sunday, reflect the long-held view of the Obama administration that Iran is not yet committed to building a nuclear arsenal, only to creating the industrial and scientific capacity to allow one if its leaders to decide to take that final step.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Iran long ago decided to build nuclear weapons. That much is obvious just by looking at the missile infrastructure they are working on - These delivery systems are expensive and very hard to master so building such missiles only makes sense in the context of nuclear device tipped ICBMs.
Taken as a whole, Iran's military infrastructure development is geared to fielding a nuclear arsenal and the necessary delivery systems. It takes a lot more components than just a bomb to make a credible nuclear arsenal and Iran is pushing forward on all fronts to develop all of the necessary components of a system that can be used as an offensive nuclear first strike capability.
Iran probably has had one or more nuclear explosive devices of one form or another for some time - they just don't have the proper delivery systems to attack with them, and more importantly, they don't yet have enough bombs and delivery systems to discourage a retaliatory strike after they have made an attack.
For example, lets say Iran attacked Israel with a nuclear ICBM. This could provoke a response by the US.
However, if Iran detonated a nuclear device within the US and then announces that they had infiltrated 20 such weapons into the US across the US-Mexico border and hidden them in American cities to destroy those cities if the US did not give into Iran's demands there could be a big problem for the US and would probably keep us from launching a retaliatory strike against Iran.
FWIW, Obama Administration border control policies seem tailor made to facilitate such nuclear bombs being smuggled across the border by Iranian Hezbollah forces know to be working openly in Mexico
Paul Nitze
Leon Panetta is no different than 0bama and we must prepare against HIM too!
What a ship of fools we have for an administration.
He was a neighbor back in the 70’s. He used to ump the Little League games. He hadn’t drunk the koolaid yet. As a matter of fact, he authored a flat tax bill in the late 70’s or early 80’s. He is such a shadow of the person I knew then.
“Panetta’s remarks reflect the long-held view of the Obama administration that Iran is not yet committed to building a nuclear arsenal, only to creating the industrial and scientific capacity to allow one if its leaders decide to take that final step.”
I simply don’t understand Panetta’s logic.
That’s like saying that just because a contractor buys a lot, clears the land, digs a foundation and stockpiles building materials, he isn’t committed to building a house. He’s just getting ready in case the bank approves the loan.
If it walks like a duck.......
Are you saying were perfectly safe as long as muslims can peacefully die in jihad?
Absolutely not.
No Infidel is safe as long as a fundamental Muslim anywhere has the opportunity to kill them.
My definition of a fundamental Muslim is a person who really believes there is only one God (Allah) and Muhammed is his messenger, and has access to the Koran and Hadiths; reads them, and understands the message contained in them. (subjugate convert or kill all non-believers) - tom
Three words:
Worldwide Muslim Caliphate.
They want it.
Yet you seem to be A-OK with Iran acquiring a nuke or 20, as they’ll focus solely on Israel?
What am I missing here?
What am I missing here?
I am not OK with Iran getting a nuke.
I am pointing out Iran will use it on Israel, because Israel is closest to them.
I would think the Israelis would know this, and take preemptive action against Iran, with or without us.-tom.
Your corollary seems to be it’s not in any way our problem, only Israel’s.
Islam is every Infidels problem. If the fundamental Muslims could, they would use nuclear weapons on us. Israel is an easier target.- Tom
We have a clinton Marxist in charge of our military. He is out to destroy our defense capability while beefing up our enemies. Of course they are not Leon’s enemys. The USA is in deep trouble.
Still confused here.
You are acknowledging it is our problem, but asserting we should do nothing about it?
It is our problem. To me it is our biggest problem.
As a country we are slow to realize it because George Bush set us back years after 9-11 by calling Islam a religion of peace.
Obama is an American hater and will allow Islamic cancer to infiltrate this country. What better way to bring America to chaos.
If Romney gets in, he will be slow to respond to the Islamic cancer because he has the same "peaceful" take as Bush on Islam.
Santorum and Gingrich understand the Islamic problem. A Gingrich/Santorum election would be best for the country under the present situation. -Tom
We should do something about it, but because our Commander in Chief is Obama, it is doubtfull anything meaningful will be done by us. Israel may have to act on its own. -tom
A communist is what a communist does.
I think the Islamists would irradiate America far before Israel. If they irradiate America, they get no exposure or fallout. If they irradiate America, they can be sure that there is opposition to invading Iran as Iraq and Afganistan can be used as failed examples.
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