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Massive Explosion Reported at Iran's Fordow Nuclear Facility [plus TXnMA Photo Analysis]
Business Insider Military and Defense ^ | Jan. 28, 2013, 7:03 AM | Robert Johnson

Posted on 01/29/2013 1:35:14 PM PST by TXnMA

Reports of an explosion at Iran's Fordow nuclear facility have surfaced and are being both confirmed and denied by multiple sources.

The Jerusalem Post cites a report by Reza Kahlili that says: “The blast shook facilities within a radius of three miles. Security forces have enforced a no-traffic radius of 15 miles, and the Tehran- Qom highway was shut down for several hours after the blast.” Kahlili's report says the Fordow nuclear facility was severely damaged in an explosion and up to 240 workers trapped inside. The explosion was reportedly confined to the plant, suggesting that if it were an airstrike, it was highly localized. But this possibility is no more or less likely than sabotage, or an accident, assuming the explosion occurred at all.

>SNIP<

Iran's official news agency, says the same thing, with the IRNA, promptly denying the explosion, claiming the news was simply the result of the Western media-fueled "propoganda machine." That might have ended the story there, but The Times of London's Israel correspondent Sheera Frenkel is confirming the incident through her own independent sources: An explosion is believed to have damaged Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, which is being used to enrich uranium, Israeli intelligence officials have told The Times. Sources in Tel Aviv said yesterday that they thought the explosion happened last week. The Israeli Government is investigating reports that it led to extensive structural damage and 200 workers had been trapped inside. One Israeli official said: “We are still in the preliminary stages of understanding what happened and how significant it is.” He did not know, he added, if the explosion was “sabotage or accident”, and refused to comment on reports that Israeli aircraft were seen near the facility at the time of the explosion.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: explosion; fordo; fordow; iran; irannuclear; israel; nucleariran; nuclearplantblast; russia; usa
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The significance of this report is that it includes a satellite photo that, purportedly, includes evidence of an explosion at the facility:

Working on the assumption that the photo is authentic, I will post my own image analysis in comments to follow.

1 posted on 01/29/2013 1:35:22 PM PST by TXnMA
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To: TXnMA

It’s either massive smoke, or Godzilla’s shadow.


2 posted on 01/29/2013 1:37:56 PM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: TXnMA

Well Jay Carney says it aint so, and I believe Jay Carney

Bwaahahahahahahahahha


3 posted on 01/29/2013 1:37:56 PM PST by Venturer
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To: TXnMA

I’d be more inclined to believe the Jerusalem Post than Obama’s press secretary, who I believe was among those to deny this report.


4 posted on 01/29/2013 1:39:18 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: TXnMA

Unusual image. No blast marks or debris, just a hole (deep underground explosion?) No indication of recovery operation.


5 posted on 01/29/2013 1:39:31 PM PST by mnehring
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To: Larry Lucido

Cloud’s shadow.


6 posted on 01/29/2013 1:40:43 PM PST by battlecry
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To: TXnMA

Didn’t happen. Jay Carney said so.


7 posted on 01/29/2013 1:44:02 PM PST by jch10 (Hey GOP! Only Conservatives get my vote.)
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To: Cicero

I would hope the President’s office would have the courtesy to lie about it if they did do it.

Obama: “No I did not blow up that facility, Fordow. Those allegations are false. Now I’ve got to get back to the business of the American people”.
Biden: “What a bunch of Iranian retar..”
Obama: “Joe, on me. Let’s go”.


8 posted on 01/29/2013 1:44:27 PM PST by AppyPappy (You never see a massacre at a gun show.)
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To: TXnMA
Wouldn't an explosion that size be picked up by seismic earthquake sensors?
9 posted on 01/29/2013 1:45:13 PM PST by dblshot (I am John Galt.)
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To: mnehring

That’s what I was thinking. There should be debris visible. Is it because the land scar is not related to the incident? The cloud could be anything.


10 posted on 01/29/2013 1:46:02 PM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt the Constaitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: TXnMA

The surface appears undamaged... roads are intact... there doesn’t appear to be any source or plume of smoke.... I smell photoshop.


11 posted on 01/29/2013 1:46:14 PM PST by Ray76 (Do you reject Obama? And all his works? And all his empty promises?)
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To: TXnMA

The photo is authentic, but the site makes no claims it has evidence of an explosion.

If you think that area on the left is some sort of crater, it isn’t - it looked the same in 2009.

http://iranpolicycommitteepublishing.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/fordow.jpg


12 posted on 01/29/2013 1:46:44 PM PST by Strategerist
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To: TXnMA

Zooming in, it looks like there is an ordinance entry point bottom center, probably deep penetrater like a MOAB. Facility collapsed in on itself. No activity may indicate fear of radiation.


13 posted on 01/29/2013 1:46:47 PM PST by mnehring
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To: battlecry

Moon Shadow
Cat Stevens

I’m being followed by a moon shadow
Moon shadow moon shadow
Leaping and hopping on a moon shadow
Moon shadow moon shadow
And if I ever lose my hands
Lose my plough, lose my land
Oh, if I ever lose my hands- Oh, if...
I wont have to work no more
And if I ever lose my eyes
If my colours all run dry
And if I ever lose my eyes - Oh,
I won’t have to cry no more
Yes, I’m being followed by a moon shadow
Moon shadow moon shadow
Leaping and hopping on a moonshadow
Moon shadow moon shadow
{ From: http://www.elyrics.net }
And if I ever lose my legs
I won’t moan and I won’t beg
Oh if I ever lose my legs- Oh if...
I won’t have to walk no more
And if I ever lose my mouth
All my teeth, north and south
Yes, if I ever lose my mouth- Oh if...
I won’t have to talk...
Did it take long to find me
I ask the faithful light
Did it take long to find me
And are you going to stay the night
I’m being followed by a moon shadow
Moon shadow moon shadow
Moon shadow moon shadow
Moon shadow moon shadow


14 posted on 01/29/2013 1:47:47 PM PST by Red Badger (Lincoln freed the slaves. Obama just got them ALL back......................)
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To: dblshot
Wouldn't an explosion that size be picked up by seismic earthquake sensors?

Yes. Since it wasn't, it means there wasn't an explosion.

15 posted on 01/29/2013 1:47:47 PM PST by Strategerist
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To: Strategerist

Good find


16 posted on 01/29/2013 1:48:19 PM PST by mnehring
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To: TXnMA

That GBU-57 MOP is quite impressive.
It would be unfortunate for those Muzzies if it just happened to fall off of one of our B-2s.
I’ve heard the attaching straps were underdesigned....


17 posted on 01/29/2013 1:49:00 PM PST by nascarnation (Baraq's economic policy: trickle up poverty)
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To: Strategerist

There appear to be acess roads and ramps into the crater.


18 posted on 01/29/2013 1:49:27 PM PST by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts bolt the Constaitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: TXnMA

There’s extensive smudging, and what appears to be a fingerprint over the installation. Hand of God?


19 posted on 01/29/2013 1:49:28 PM PST by Hardraade (http://junipersec.wordpress.com (Vendetta))
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To: TXnMA

“What difference does it make?”


20 posted on 01/29/2013 1:49:28 PM PST by Proud2BeRight
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