Will Lula Beat Ahmadinejad to the Bomb?

Weekly Standard ^ | May 19, 2010 | John Rosenthal

[C19fan]

The State Department was reportedly supportive of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva’s visit to Tehran last weekend. An unnamed State Department official was quoted as saying the trip represented “perhaps the last big shot at engagement" in the conflict over the Iranian nuclear program. But one can well wonder whose side Lula is on. This is not only because Lula made a stop in Moscow before travelling to Tehran and that he is reported to have sought there a commitment from Russian president Dimtry Medvedev not to support further Iran sanctions. Nor is it just because Lula also took the opportunity of his supposed “mediation” mission to announce that Brazil was extending over $1 billion in credit to Iran, in order to boost Brazilian exports to the country. Iranian trade official Behrouz Alishiri was quoted as enthusiastically predicting that Brazilian-Iranian trade could increase to $10 billion annually in the years ahead.

[C19fan]

Speculation Brazil has its own cladestine atomic weapons program.

[rrrod]

This was first published in Duh mag.

[Perdogg]

I figured they had already started back on the bomb years ago.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2498147/posts?page=2#2

[Berlin_Freeper]

[rahbert]

what on earth does brazil need a bomb for?

[Cacique]

Brazil's neighbor Argentina developed the entire 7 step cvycle to produce fissile material for weapons in the late 70's. When the Peronists gained power they signed a treaty with the then military in Brazil that neither side would develop nuclear weapons as long as the other side didn't. Both countries are self sufficient in Uranium and other fissile minerals. Argentina has had aa nuclear program since the late 1940's and both have nuclear reactors that could be turned into "breeder" reactors.

If the Brazilians decide to develop weapons with their nuclear material they will start a local arms race. Argentina already has the knowledge and could easily fire up it's dormant nuclear weapons program. This is an utterly stupid move by either country which should be more concerned with the lousy economies and overwhelming poverty within it's borders.

[SunkenCiv]

An unnamed State Department official was quoted as saying the trip represented "perhaps the last big shot at engagement" in the conflict over the Iranian nuclear program. But one can well wonder whose side Lula is on.

but there's no doubt whatsoever whose side the State Department is on. Thanks C19fan.