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.

[T Ruth]

Your #129: a cogent post.

[dinok]

"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? "

Yes it is OK.
In case you have not noticed...we are the good guys and they are lunatics bend on making everyone beleive what they think is the correct version of Islam.

Hint...you don't see any other society glorify death, murdering women and kids.

As wako as the French may be, they aren't threatening to use their nukes until everyone is as moraly confused as they are and drink wine.

[dvwjr]

Since the USS Ronald Reagan is a Nimitz-class carrier, I sort of doubt that it will "launch 24 tubes of nuclear warheads" at anyone.

Try to base your fantasy on 'some' facts...


dvwjr

[rmlew]

W: "Ladies and Gentlemen, five minutes ago I gave orders for the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan to launch its 24 tubes of nuclear warheads against the terrorist nation of saudi arabia."
1. The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is an aircraft carrier. It does not of have nuclear ballistic missles.
2. The Trident D5 missle carries up to 7 independently targeted nuclear bombs. One of those lanuched from a Ohio class SSBN would do the job.

[Pubbie]

Welcome to FR.

:)

[Timesink]

Here it comes......"What did Clinton know, and when did he know it?"

Nobody in the "mainstream" media is EVER going to ask that question, not even if a major US city were to take a direct nuclear strike as a result of Clinton-era actions.

[tubavil]

Yes, yes, yes. I was being lazy, didn't want to look up the name of one just to convey a throwaway point.

Kripes, beware of FR fact-checkers! :-)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

If we are the world's lone superpower, then we can and will act like it!

[steveegg]

Roll east.

[Kozak]

That is exactly what we must do. That is what we are obliged to do. We simply must keep this technology from spreading to these rogue states.

My point is it's an impossibility. It's too widespread, too mobile and too profitable. With poor ex Soviet, Pakistani, Chinese, Korean, etc etc etc scientists and technicians in the market, with German, French, Russian, and Chinese companies to make, buy, divert or convert the hardware we can't do it. Containment has failed. We need another plan now. And it better be in place within the next 5 years.

[steveegg]

Welcome to FR. I'm sure that jigsaw (the keeper of Taglinus Freerepublicus, could help out with that tagline.

[Rockitz]

I always viewed Iraq as a stepping stone to our true concern in the region- Iran. Fortunately W saw it the same way.

[ExSoldier]

"I think we should withhold any payments to the UN altogether."

LOL I agree...in fact, I would go further to kick their corrupt and mostly lyin' commie butts off our soil altogether. But then, my nightmare might come true: I once had a dream that the UN fled our country just ahead of a lynch mob and moved in at Vatican City....a sovereign nation sitting inside the Italian City of Rome. Plenty of room there. And I remember reading in the Book of Revelation about how the Anti-Christ shall rise from ROME and all sorts of evil images sear my numbed mind.

[BJungNan]

which Teheran continues to insist is aimed at developing a nuclear power industry.

Sitting on huge oil reserves and they need nukes for power? And we are supposed to beleive that? Why arn't the enviros doing a meltdown over this one?

[glock rocks]

dreamin... or having a good flashback to Ronald Reagan...

sadly, W is still holding his cards with regards to the UN... and, sadly, I think he's in concurrance with them on small arms gun control...

Remember, Nixon opened the door to the red chinese... only a "conservative" can flirt with the evils and get away with it. What's amusing is the left's adherence to the Nazi banner... what's that about? Sheesh, I wish W well, and pray for wisdom, but, well... where's he going now? Estrada down without a scrum, my hope for W was conservative justices... man, I hope the key indicators turn around for the guy or it's gonna be ugly next November. Rove is leading our man down some dangerous real estate.

[woofie]

I suppose this is sexed up too?(scarcasm)

[Conservative Iowan]

"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 have nicely illustrated Ann Coulter's point about liberals from her book, "Treason."

[steveegg]

Sitting on huge oil reserves and they need nukes for power? And we are supposed to beleive that? Why arn't the enviros doing a meltdown over this one?

I could tell you, but the answer to the last question ought to be painfully obvious (hint; who are the two class enemies of Iran?)

[APRPEH]

as we say...

from your mouth to G-d's ears