Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S. does not believe Iran is trying to build nuclear bomb
The Los Angeles Times ^ | February 23, 2012 | Ken Dilanian

Posted on 02/23/2012 8:13:50 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

As U.S. and Israeli officials talk publicly about the prospect of a military strike against Iran's nuclear program, one fact is often overlooked: U.S. intelligence agencies don't believe Iran is actively trying to build an atomic bomb.

A highly classified U.S. intelligence assessment circulated to policymakers early last year largely affirms that view, originally made in 2007. Both reports, known as national intelligence estimates, conclude that Tehran halted efforts to develop and build a nuclear warhead in 2003.

The most recent report, which represents the consensus of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, indicates that Iran is pursuing research that could put it in a position to build a weapon, but that it has not sought to do so.

Although Iran continues to enrich uranium at low levels, U.S. officials say they have not seen evidence that has caused them to significantly revise that judgment. Senior U.S. officials say Israel does not dispute the basic intelligence or analysis....

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: dnc42ndholocaust; dnc4genocide; dncsaysagain; iran; israel; israelsaysneveragain; neveragain; nucleariran; obama; obama42ndholocaust; obama4genocide; obamasaysagain; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last
How reassuring.
1 posted on 02/23/2012 8:13:51 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/believe.wav


2 posted on 02/23/2012 8:18:08 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
1940: Flash!

U.S. does not believe Japan is going to bomb Hawaii.

3 posted on 02/23/2012 8:18:20 PM PST by bunkerhill7 (Bombs in Hawaii??????-?- Who knew?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Wow. Just wow.


4 posted on 02/23/2012 8:18:43 PM PST by null and void (Day 1129 of America's ObamaVacation from reality [Heroes aren't made, Frank, they're cornered...])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Jesus wept.


5 posted on 02/23/2012 8:27:07 PM PST by Shadowstrike (Be polite, Be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

This information was no doubt “leaked” by the administration to a friendly journalist. If this theme (”Iran has not decided to actually build a bomb.) starts getting repeated often by Administration officials, then Obama has made a decision to back off and not risk war. They will then bring incredible pressure on Israel to do likewise.


6 posted on 02/23/2012 8:31:04 PM PST by allendale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet; null and void
It's unclear how much access U.S. intelligence has in Iran

Probably about as much as I do. And I think they are building a bomb.

7 posted on 02/23/2012 8:31:46 PM PST by bigheadfred
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
A highly classified U.S. intelligence assessment circulated to policymakers early last year largely affirms that view, originally made in 2007. Both reports, known as national intelligence estimates, conclude that Tehran halted efforts to develop and build a nuclear warhead in 2003.

What a total and absolute load of Bull Sh-t. If they were not trying to make a nuclear weapon they would welcome any and all inspectors to inspect their installations anytime the inspectors wanted.

Why in the hell would they put these installation in hardened (deep underground) if it was a peaceful program. It is not a peaceful program , and this article is a lie.

The Los Angeles Times is a very friendly paper to Obama. They did not pull this article out of their butts and decide to print it. This article has the Obama administrations finger prints all over it. But the real question is why?

8 posted on 02/23/2012 8:32:57 PM PST by cpdiii (Deckhand, Roughneck, Mud Man, Geologist, Pilot, Pharmacist. THE CONSTITUTION IS WORTH DYING FOR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Reassuring indeed. If “newly recruited informants” tell us that Iran isn’t building weapons, that’s good enough for me.


9 posted on 02/23/2012 8:34:30 PM PST by JimSEA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, insisted Wednesday that Tehran had no intention of producing nuclear weapons. In remarks broadcast on state television, he said that “owning a nuclear weapon is a big sin.”

But he said that “pressure, sanctions and assassinations” would not stop Iran from producing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Well now, nothing to see here folks. Move along.


10 posted on 02/23/2012 8:35:35 PM PST by Carthego delenda est
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

that view, originally made in 2007.

Five years ago? When was the last time
a real inspection of Iran was possible?

Five years was all it took to invade Poland.
Five years was all it took for US to make the bomb.
From scratch!


11 posted on 02/23/2012 8:38:42 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
one fact is often overlooked: U.S. intelligence agencies don't believe Iran is actively trying to build an atomic bomb.

These would be the same US intelligence agencies that didn't believe that the Soviet Union would ever collapse, had no inkling of the 9/11 attacks, thought Saddam was about to go nuclear and took a decade to notice that Osama bin Laden was sitting around watching porn right next to Pakistan's main military academy.

And now they don't think Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb. Somehow I'm not reassured.
12 posted on 02/23/2012 8:40:55 PM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek

Yes, these are the same agencies that were surprised
when Pakistan detonated their first bomb.


13 posted on 02/23/2012 8:42:30 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek; BenLurkin; bunkerhill7; null and void; Shadowstrike; allendale; bigheadfred; ...

Then why are we joining all these other countries in imposing sanctions on Iran? You can’t have it both ways!


14 posted on 02/23/2012 8:47:46 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (You can't invade the US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.~Admiral Yamamoto)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
You can’t have it both ways!

You can if you're a democrat.

15 posted on 02/23/2012 8:50:03 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Why then are Israeli and western states involved in assassinations of nuclear scientists and other covert actions? The intel agencies were in bed with the Clinton admin. also.
Treasonous I say.


16 posted on 02/23/2012 8:52:41 PM PST by roughman ( roughmen stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm (orwell))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
U.S. intelligence agencies don't believe Iran is actively trying to build an atomic bomb.

U.S. intelligencies have been politicized to suit the leading Communist's agenda. (Sorry for being Capt. Obvious.)

17 posted on 02/23/2012 8:52:41 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
It would be interesting to see the HUMINT that supports this belief. Iran for a fact was trying to buy nuclear tech when I was in the know more than 25 years ago. I find it hard to believe that Iran has made no progress in all of this time????

Things that make you go hmmmmm.....

18 posted on 02/23/2012 8:55:46 PM PST by ColdSteelTalon (Light is fading to shadow, and casting its shroud over all we have known...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Yet more sabotage.

Our alleged government, is working against our nation’s future.

It is incredible, the ideological, anti-American left is actually getting away with this.

The lies and agenda, are all so obvious.

Yet they continue, unopposed by those whose job it should be to say clearly “YOU LIE”.

Where are they?


19 posted on 02/23/2012 8:56:01 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network ("The door is open" PALIN 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek
These would be the same US intelligence agencies that didn't believe that the Soviet Union would ever collapse, had no inkling of the 9/11 attacks, thought Saddam was about to go nuclear and took a decade to notice that Osama bin Laden was sitting around watching porn right next to Pakistan's main military academy.

And now they don't think Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb. Somehow I'm not reassured.

Understand where this first came from.

Recall the civil war the CIA was conducting on the Bush administration? Remember Valerie Plame, e.g.?

Bush had strongly claimed that we would not allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon. In 2007, the situation was getting dicey...Iran appeared to be making serious progress...and the Israelis were getting nervous. It seemed there was a very real risk that Bush would be forced to make good on his threat.

And, then, immediately in advance of a visit to the White House by the Israeli PM, the CIA produced a new National Intelligence Estimate.

This was the NIE that first made the claim that Iran was no longer working on a weapon...and had actually dropped the idea in 2003. It pulled the rug right out from under Bush...and Israel. And the contents were leaked to the New York Times -- so that everybody knew there was no longer any basis for attacking Iran. The NIE was composed with this outcome in mind -- the CIA thus assuming effective control of foreign policy.

Who knows what is really going on at Isfahan and Natanz? The Israelis doubtless have a far better idea than the CIA. But having propounded the lie, they now seek to maintain it.

20 posted on 02/23/2012 8:56:43 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance On Parade)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson