Posted on 10/07/2011 9:40:45 AM PDT by ventanax5
In a SPIEGEL interview, Olli Heinonen, the former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, offers his first assessment of his 27 years at the global nuclear watchdog. He addresses Iran's nuclear program, his concerns about the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and mistakes made in Fukushima.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Heinonen, if you consider your time as the United Nations' atomic "watchdog," do you look back in anger? Or did you succeed in making the world safer from nuclear bombs?
Heinonen: There are quite a few things I'm proud of. While I was at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we played a significant role in putting Abdul Qadir Khan -- the most dangerous nuclear smuggler of all times -- out of action. But when I think about the nuclear activities of certain states, for instance Iran's nuclear program, I have to say that we allowed ourselves to be placated too often. We should have done more than carrying out our inspections. Yes, with hindsight you could perhaps even say we failed.
SPIEGEL: You sound worried. Is Tehran really on a direct path to becoming a nuclear state?
Heinonen: It's undeniable that Iran's nuclear program is far more advanced than it was in 2003, when the discovery of the Natanz facility brought it to the IAEA's attention. At the time, uranium enrichment tests were being carried out in secret on a small scale. But at the end of 2003, the Iranians admitted they were also planning to set up a heavy-water reactor in Arak to generate plutonium.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Interesting that our politicians either didn’t know this or ignored it, and everyone in our country did know this. Washington is just flat stupid or scared to talk about it.
“Tricked”??????
How do you go about letting an avowed liar “trick” you?
And then have the nerve to claim victim status???
YOU have the responsibility, up front, to ensure the subject nation is providing current, accurate information.
In face it was a result of our efforts with Iraq.
How come I live in a town with <200 people, have a liberal arts degree, largely ignored international politics until 2001, and I wasn’t misled?
UNEXPECTED!
I wonder how he’ll feel after the first billion lives are lost?
Interesting. Hitler “tricked” Neville Chamberlain too. Yet Winston Churchill never fell for that ruse. Apparently some people are more gullible than others.
“How come I live in a town with <200 people, have a liberal arts degree, largely ignored international politics until 2001, and I wasn’t misled?”
1. You have a brain.
2. You’re not afraid to use it.
But inevitably, it’s those who knew better that are left to clean up the mess that would never have happened had they been listened from the start.
“In a SPIEGEL interview, Olli Heinonen, the former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, offers his first assessment of his 27 years at the global nuclear watchdog”
One word describes this guy and the others that worked with him:
Suckers.
Just sayin’...
“..SPIEGEL: And none of this makes sense for a civilian nuclear program?
Heinonen: You don’t need 20% enriched uranium to generate electricity for light bulbs.”..”
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