Iran 'Determined' to Produce Nuclear Weapons

Associated Press ^ | Friday, December 09, 2005 | Associated Press

[Tulsa Ramjet]

WASHINGTON — Iran is closing in on production of nuclear weapons and even U.N. sanctions may not deter the aggressive government in Tehran, a top State Department official said Friday.

Describing the Iranian government as "very aggressive, very determined to develop nuclear weapons," Robert Joseph, undersecretary for arms control and international security, dismissed Iran's contention that it seeks only civilian nuclear power.

"We know this is not the case," Joseph said at the University of Virginia's Miller Center in Charlottesville.

Iran has methodically taken all but one last step to turn out nuclear weapons, he said. "Once they begin to enrich, that is the point of no return."

Negotiations between the European Union and Iran to stop Iran with offers of economic incentives have foundered.

Still, Joseph said the United States was relying on diplomacy to try to deter Iran.

In the meantime, he said, the Bush administration has held off seeking economic sanctions against Iran in the U.N. Security Council in order to solicit the support of Russia and China.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

I'm so glad everyone in our government and the rest of the world is giving so much in-depth commentary and journalistic energy on how and when iran is going to have nuclear weapons, how the russians are selling the missiles so that iran can deliver them, and how the media accurately report how the leader of iran said israel needs to be wiped of the middle eastern map, or moved to europe. All these watchful audiences should be applauded in their perspectives, given a medal, then condemned to hell for their malfeasance of humanity.

Oh, and make sure the Kofi has a good time at the Palestinian UN dinner which showed the state of israel gone of the map.

[FEARED MUTATION]

If it wouldn't be so incredibly tragic I would almost like to let the Dems have their way - a nuclear Iran that naturally nukes Israel, who in return nuke every major city in Iran and every major capital in the Near East. Then we could say - Told you so!

Criminy, the defeat-America crowd is going to give me another heart attack. Because, of course, we can't allow this, but I wouldn't be surprised if our strike costs us the '06 and '08 elections. Which as horrible as that would be, would of course still be far preferable to a nuclear holocaust.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

"...even UN sanctions..." Wow!

[HHKrepublican_2]

U.N. sanctions may not deter the aggressive government in Tehran


Who wudda thunk it!

[My2Cents]

Dittos. And if I hear another Bush Administration official warn Syria that our patience is running out, I think my head will explode. Iraq is a "quagmire" only in the sense that our involvement there, and the noise the MSM and the left have made over our involvement there, seems to have taken the starch out of the President's shorts in regard to facing down real threats.

[Tim Long]

On a similar note (EMP threat):

http://www.hallindseyoracle.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=12171

[Mr. Mojo]

but I wouldn't be surprised if our strike costs us the '06 and '08 elections.

Disagree. Any successful strike on Iran's nuclear capabilities (as long as it doesn't result in "occupation") would send Bush's approval ratings skyrocketing. ...and the GOP would ride the coattails.

[Frank_Discussion]

Hey, Iran really needs to join the modern world - OUTSOURCING. We deliver.

[FEARED MUTATION]

Any successful strike on Iran's nuclear capabilities (as long as it doesn't result in "occupation") would send Bush's approval ratings skyrocketing. ...and the GOP would ride the coattails.

I would like to think so, but I've gotta wonder about the peacenik crowd and their coattails.

[borkrules]

I will lay a substantial portion of the blame for a nuclear Iran at the left's doorstep. Their unpatriotic and anti-American caterwauling (and by "caterwauling" I mean "lies") about the Iraq campaign have effectively tied Bush's hands on how to deal with Iran.

That said, ultimately, Bush will have to decide whether armed confrontation with Iran to take out their nuke capacity is worth the risk and downside. He may have to decide to take the domestic political heat in order to spare the world another North Korea, except this one run by fanatics that expect an afterlife rich with virgins, etc. just for killing infidels. At least the Norks think they need to stay alive to reap the benefits of their perfidy.

[Aquinasfan]

"...even UN sanctions..." Wow!

Yeah. I've even heard that they're considering a tongue-lashing.

[Williams]

Let's apply logic. The worst alleged "lie" going into Iraq was that Iraq was developing nuclear weapons. BECAUSE nuclear weapons are conceded as the one true slam dunk reason to go in.

Logical extension means we all must support military action to prevent a nuclear Iran. This should have been the debate all along, and it is the thing the leftists have been trying to prevent ever since 9-11.

Go back and read early comments by the likes of Clarke and Biden - they were obsessed that we not "repeat our mistake" by "threatening" Syria and Iran.

[Mr. Mojo]

The peaceniks couldn't play their tried-and-true "end the occupation" card in the scenario I mentioned, and it's the only card they have. A successful air-strike and special forces operation against Iran is unassailable politically, especially since Iran's President has clearly and publicly made his nation's intentions known -- they will use nukes if they get them.

[tomahawk]

And if it happens on Pres. Bush's watch, he is a total and abject failure.

Those nukes will be in Al Qaeda's hands in a matter of years.

[FEARED MUTATION]

he is a total and abject failure.

C'mon, he observed Kwanzaa! Not a total failure then! :)

[Tulsa Ramjet]

C'mon, he observed Kwanzaa! Not a total failure then! :)


really? and there was the ramadan thing...hmmmm.
trilateral commission? just kidding.

[billhilly]

Maybe their first bomb will blow up in the garage.

[TheDon]

You can kiss Tel Aviv and New York City goodbye!

[My2Cents]

Well-said.