Just remember Iraq was supposed to have nukes, too.
"UN asked to show Iran nuclear data" October 16, 2011|By David E. Sanger and Mark Landler, New York Times
WASHINGTON - President Obama is pressing UN nuclear inspectors to release classified intelligence showing that Iran is designing and experimenting with nuclear weapons technology. The president’s push is part of a larger US effort to isolate and increase pressure on Iran after accusing it of plotting to kill Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States.
Related: Iranian Terror Plot Proves to be Lemon
Nothing new there, either.
If the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog group, agrees to publicize the evidence, including new data it has gathered in recent months, it would almost certainly revive a debate that has been dormant during this year’s Arab Spring about how aggressively the United States and its allies, including Israel, should act to halt Iran’s suspected weapons program.
Fancy newspeak for saying another push for war is upon us.
During the longer term, several senior Obama administration officials said in interviews, they are also considering banning financial transactions with Iran’s central bank - a major step opposed by Germany, China, and others - and expanding a ban on the purchase of petroleum products sold by companies controlled by the country’s elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The Revolutionary Guards are also believed to oversee the military side of the nuclear program, and it is the parent of the Quds Force, which Washington has accused of directing the assassination plot.
The proposed sanctions come as the United States confronts skepticism around the world about its allegations that Iran was behind the plot and limited options about what it can do - as well as growing pressure from Republicans and some Democrats in Congress to take tougher action against Iran, with the central bank and the oil industry high on lawmakers’ lists.
Oh, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY!!!!
All of the proposed sanctions carry with them considerable political and economic risks. While Yukiya Amano, the cautious director general of the atomic energy agency, talked publicly in September about publishing some of the most delicate data suggesting Iran worked on nuclear triggers and warheads, officials who have spoken with him say he is concerned that his inspectors could be ejected from Iran, shutting the best, if narrow, window into its nuclear activities.
No, Iran is asking them to come.
Iran proposes new nuclear talks with world powers
Iran invites EU, others to nuclear sites
UN nuclear specialists to visit Iran this month
And the war drums are still beating.
Similarly, China and Russia, among other major Iranian trading partners, have resisted further oil and financial sanctions, saying the goal of isolating Iran is a poor strategy. Even inside the Obama administration, some officials say they fear any crackdown on Iranian oil exports could drive up oil prices when US and European economies are weak. As one senior official put it, “You don’t want to tip the US into a downturn just to punish the Iranians.’’
Oh, yeah?
See: US Senate Cares More About Israel Than America
They don't care about you at the gas pump.
Hell, they are helping the oil companies $hove that nozzle right up the you-know-where at the same time.
Iran has declared that all of the documents suggesting work on how to create a weapon that could fit atop an Iranian missile are “fabrications’’ designed to justify an attack.
You see THAT I BELIEVE!
The country has already been the target of covert attacks, including the assassinations of some nuclear scientists and a computer worm, called Stuxnet, that disabled some of Iran’s nuclear centrifuges.
Related: The Boston Globe's Invisible Ink: Israeli Virus Infects Iran
Iran scientist assassinations serve no end
Israel has kind of been outed, 'eh?
And I don't for one minute believe the CIA and U.S. government were not eager participants.
The last time the atomic energy agency made any evidence public was in early 2008, in a closed presentation to member countries that immediately leaked. That presentation came soon after US intelligence agencies circulated a National Intelligence Estimate that declared Iran had worked extensively on warhead technology until late 2003, when the activity halted.
But apparently the U.S has swung around on that because boom-boom-boom-boom-boom, boom-boom-boom-boom-boom.
I'm sorry, readers; I can barely think to type with the loud banging in the background.
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"UN makes its Iran nuclear case; Report sees signs of work toward atomic device" November 09, 2011|By David E. Sanger and William J. Broad, New York Times
The IAEA report’s detailed revelations are a fascinating role-reversal from 2003, when the United States and Britain claimed Iraq was seeking to rekindle its nuclear program. In that case the IAEA warned that the Bush administration’s case was weak, and that some of the evidence was forged. In the case of Iran, it is the normally cautious agency that is taking the lead....
I lost faith and belief in the UN long ago.
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Related: Russia's Lavrov: Iran report contains nothing new
Think that will stop the insanity?
"UN nuclear agency cites ‘serious concern’ over Iran’s defiance; Resolution ups pressure, but sets no ultimatum" November 18, 2011|By George Jahn, Associated Press
VIENNA - The UN atomic agency’s new resolution on Iran criticizes Tehran’s nuclear defiance but, in a concession to Russia and China, does not set an ultimatum for allowing a probe of its alleged secret work on atomic weapons.
The document, obtained by the Associated Press, is expected to be circulated and voted on today by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation board.
It had been eagerly awaited as a signal of how harshly Iran would be treated for ignoring both IAEA and UN Security Council demands that it stop activities that could be used to make nuclear arms and that it allow the agency to investigate its alleged secret weapons work.
The resolution was also an indication that the six world powers at the forefront of trying to engage Iran on cooperating with the international community on its nuclear program had surmounted a difficult hurdle testing their unity.
The United States and its Western allies - Britain, France, and Germany - had come to the meeting saying they were seeking a tough warning to the Islamic Republic to start cooperating or face renewed referral to the Security Council. But Russia and China were opposed to any harsh criticism or an overt time frame on Iran to act or face further punishment.
I know the grand masters of AmeriKa don't give a shit; however, I'M NOT REALLY UP for a WORLD WAR WITH THOSE GUYS -- who HAVE NUKES -- ESPECIALLY with the EMPIRE EXHAUSTED and OVEREXTENDED!
And on the flip side, I'm REALLY NOT ON BOARD with MY WAR CRIMINAL GOVERNMENT resorting to NUCLEAR WEAPONS as we have in the PAST!
So can you just LEAVE US OUT of this NEXT GO-ROUND of WARS?!?!
THANK YOU!!!!!!
The text shared with the AP reflected compromise on both sides.
The U.S. watered it down so they could get it through and wave it around saying they won and the world is with us, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, we have HEARD IT ALL F***ING BEFORE!!!!!
It expressed “serious concern that Iran continues to defy the requirements and obligations contained in the relevant IAEA Board of Governors and UN Security Council Resolutions.’’ It also spoke of “deep and increasing concern about the unresolved issues regarding the Iranian nuclear program, including those which need to be clarified to exclude the existence of possible military dimensions.’’
Well, they ARE HAVING YOU OVER for TEA!
“Serious concern,’’ and “deep and increasing concern’’ are strong terms in the diplomatic world.
I was wondering what was that stench.
At the same time, the text had no reference to Security Council referral if Tehran remained defiant, although two Western diplomats said that could still happen at the next IAEA meeting in March.
Even though there is no reference to the Security Council, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he was confident a “strong message’’ and a “unified message’’ was going to come out of the Board of Governors.
“We believe that it’s going to send a very clear message to Iran that the Board of Governors and IAEA are very concerned and asking Iran to address those concerns,’’ Toner said.
I would just like to say to the world I'M TIRED of my s***hole government SENDING MESSAGES TO YOU!
In opening comments to the meeting, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano also repeated his concerns “regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program,’’ saying such work may extend into the present.
The West had hoped that an unprecedented detailing of Iran’s alleged secret weapons work contained in a restricted Nov. 8 IAEA report could sway Moscow and Beijing. For the first time, the agency said Iran was suspected of clandestine work that is “specific to nuclear weapons.’’
In comments to the closed meeting made available to reporters, Amano said his agency finds the information to be generally credible.
"Generally?"
“The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device,’’ he said. “It also indicates that, prior to the end of 2003, these activities took place under a structured program, and that some activities may still be ongoing.’’
Some? May?
Amano said he has written Iranian officials proposing that a high-level IAEA mission go to Tehran to try and jump-start his agency’s stalled probe and is awaiting a reply.
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"IAEA passes resolution on Iran; Tried to hide work on nuclear arms, UN agency says" November 19, 2011|By George Jahn, Associated Press
VIENNA - The United States and its Western allies yesterday bluntly accused Iran of deceiving the world by trying to hide work on nuclear arms, as the UN atomic agency passed a resolution criticizing Tehran’s nuclear defiance.
You mean the way Israel did? And is THAT EVER the POT HOLLERING KETTLE coming from LYING, WAR-CRIMINAL, MASS-MURDERING Western governments!
Oh, right, NOTHING NEW HERE!
Iran shot back that the West’s allegations were based on fabricated American, Israeli, British, and French intelligence fed to the International Atomic Energy Agency to try to discredit the Islamic Republic.
That is now the NORM not the EXCEPTION -- if it were ever the norm.
Reflecting its bitterness, Iran’s chief IAEA delegate withdrew an invitation to UN atomic agency experts to visit Tehran and discuss nuclear concerns.
For about a month. Then they said come on back.
Who REALLY WANTS WAR, folks?
WHO has INVADED and LAID WASTE to NATIONS over the past 10 years or so?
WHO told the LIES that LED YOU TO WAR?
He also announced that Tehran was boycotting a meeting next week to explore the possibilities of a Middle East nuclear-free zone that will be attended by Israel and all Arab nations, accusing IAEA chief Yukiya Amano of bias for not focusing on Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal.
I think most people on the planet now see the UN for what it is: a tool of the USraeli empire, to be discarded when it is not useful.
So part of neo-con Perle's plan re: Iraq has been successful: the UN is irrelevant. Only problem is, I now think it always has been.
The unusually tough exchanges were bound to further raise international tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities - even though the Western statements emphasized that the preferred solution was through diplomacy....
The United States dismissed “the hollowness’’ of Iranian claims, asserting that Iran must acknowledge its secret weapons development work....
Even if they are not doing it.
Statements delivered to the IAEA’s 35-nation board by the United States and on behalf of Germany, Britain, and France contained no mention of military action - an option that has not been discounted by either Israel or the United States if Tehran refuses to stop activities that can be used for nuclear weapons....
The blogs are on fire with warnings of a false flag (a nuclear bomb at the Super Bowl? A US carrier sunk in the Gulf?) that will initiate such a course and officially mark the beginning of WWIII in the history books --provided there are any left afterward.
And get this little gem of propaganda pooh-pooh:
A senior diplomat at the meeting told the AP that Iran was particularly unhappy with the success of the West’s tactical move - watering down the language of the resolution in exchange for support from Moscow and Beijing....
Oh, more like pee-pee.
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Related: Iran more active at nuclear-linked site, officials say
Somebody say something?
Yeah, whatever. I know they need power and cancer treatments over there, especially with western sanctions against there oil.
But those Iranians, they are very ingenious.
"Iran says it’s produced first nuclear fuel rod" January 01, 2012|Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press
Iranian scientists have produced the nation’s first nuclear fuel rod, a feat of engineering the West has doubted Tehran capable of, the country’s nuclear agency said Sunday.
The announcement marks another step in Tehran’s efforts to achieve proficiency in the entire nuclear fuel cycle — from exploring uranium ore to producing nuclear fuel — despite U.N. sanctions and measures by the U.S. and others to get it to halt aspects of its atomic work that could provide a possible pathway to weapons production.
To WAR!!
Related: What War with Iran Might Look Like
The Sunburn - Iran's Awesome Nuclear Anti-Ship Missile
Setting the sun on the Empire.
Tehran has long said it is forced to seek a way to manufacture the fuel rods on its own, since the sanctions ban it from buying them on foreign markets. Nuclear fuel rods are tubes containing pellets of enriched uranium that provide fuel for nuclear reactors.
Iran’s atomic energy agency’s website said the first domestically made rod has already been inserted into the core of Tehran’s research nuclear reactor. But it was unclear if the rod contained pellets or was inserted empty, as part of a test....
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Nothing new there, either.
