Posted on 09/30/2006 3:08:21 PM PDT by freedom44
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Haartz
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, former Supreme Leader of Iran, wrote in 1988 that Iranian military leaders were seeking nuclear weapons, according to a letter released Saturday by former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani.
Khomeini reportedly sent the letter to political leaders during the Iran-Iraq War. In it, he describes why he was forced to agree to a cease-fire which, as he described it, was like "drinking poison."
In the letter, he quotes military leaders who had urged him to stop the war unless the army was equipped with advanced weapons systems including fighter planes, helicopters, and laser-guided missiles.
The officers also told him, he wrote, that if Iran wished to win the war and not reach a cease-fire, it should obtain nuclear weapons, a process which could take five years.
This is the first time an official document has come from Iran indicating the country's interest in achieving nuclear capability, a charge the government consistently denies.Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) discovered that Iran began a nuclear program 19 years ago, and since then has violated its international obligations by failing to report its acquisition of materials and equipment used for developing nuclear arms.
Several Iranian news sources have erased sections of the letter in which Khomeini describes what he believes is Iran's need for nuclear weapons. Analysts believe that Rafsanjani timed the release of the letter in order to embarrass Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly denied Iran's intention of pursuing nuclear arms. Ahmadinejad defeated Rafsanjani in the latter's 2005 re-election bid.
A Daily Briefing of Major News Stories on Iran:
"Analysts believe that Rafsanjani timed the release of the letter in order to embarrass Ahmadinejad"
I don't think the Iranian Hitler needs any help making an ass of himself.
"Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) discovered that Iran began a nuclear program 19 years ago, and since then has violated its international obligations by failing to report its acquisition of materials and equipment used for developing nuclear arms."
But how can that be? Amaninajihad said they were seeking nuclear energy, not weapons. Darn rhetoric!
"Several Iranian news sources have erased sections of the letter in which Khomeini describes what he believes is Iran's need for nuclear weapons."
I'm not sure I believe that. You can always trust the media.
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