In the latest indication yet that the US is entering this week’s Iran talks very grudgingly, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly announced today that she doesn’t believe there is any piece of evidence the Iranian government could possibly present which would convince US officials that their civilian nuclear program is “only for peaceful purposes.”
Clinton, who has repeatedly said she doesn’t expect diplomacy to work with Iran, then suggested that the Iranian government could try to “open their entire system” to an extensive investigation, though her focus at this point appears to be finding ways to make the sanctions against Iran more crippling.
The positions in the Obama Administration seemed to be best illustrated by comments made today by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who said it was his “personal opinion that the Iranians have the intention of having nuclear weapons,” while conceding that whether or not they’re actually doing that is “in doubt.”
Which is putting it mildly. Despite the endless list of officials in the Bush and Obama Administrations who have presented Iran’s nuclear weapons program as something known with absolute certainty, top members of the US intelligence community have said as recently as last week that they in fact believe with high confidence that Iran doesn’t have an active nuclear weapons program.
And if administration officials won’t believe their own intelligence reports, or the repeated certifications from the IAEA, it is perhaps not surprising that they won’t believe the Iranian government. Still, it must inevitably beget the question: what incentive does Iran have for providing all this access above and beyond its requirements under the NPT if it won’t be believed anyhow?
Well, gosh darn, if that seasoned diplomat Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of the State Department with the motto "Diplomacy in Action", has said she doesn’t expect diplomacy to work with Iran than I guess it's a lost cause. I guess war is inevitable; let's go kill us some Persians. It'll get Americans' minds off festering domestic problems like housing, jobs and health care, and we all know that Iran is a major threat to our way of life. Thanks, Hillary, for all you do. You and Monica.
Well, gosh darn, if that seasoned diplomat Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of the State Department with the motto "Diplomacy in Action", has said she doesn’t expect diplomacy to work with Iran then I guess it's a lost cause. I guess war is inevitable; let's go kill us some Persians. It'll get Americans' minds off festering domestic problems like housing, jobs and health care, and we all know that Iran is a major threat to our way of life. Thanks, Hillary, for all you do. You and Monica.
Of course, Hillary has been a number one warmonger fro the beginning. Obama the changemaker? I don;t see it happening with the crew he's chozen. Seems like all the US and Israel know is attack and bomb, and even threaten to use nuclear weapons. Can anyone blame Iran for wanting a deterrant'
Honestly, it will be interesting to read Iran's explanation for secreting a nuclear refinement facility under a mountain surrounded by a military base of the Revolutionary Guards. If the base has been in existence for 'years' why hasn't it been activated yet? If Israel and the US, UK and France have known about it — why haven't they made it public? For years, discussions of an Israeli attack on Iran have always referred to an attack on numerous facilities of nuclear significance — multiple sites have been described: Natanz; Isfahan; Arak — and one more small facility would fit in with the previous reports — although its situation within an Iranian military complex does present a perplexing conundrum that may have a simple and satisfactory answer — or not as the case may be.
Peacegeek– Nonsense talk
Why should Iran tell all.
It's none of their business
Did USA/ Canada/France/Dutch/Germans care when they all were funneling nuke materials to Israel? Oh No! Moms was the word.
JFK said no USA nuke missiles to Israel. Gonzo!
LBJ came as President and 3 months Israel got what it wanted. LBJ was not stupid and Iran ain't also!
Why should Iran tell all? Because of the NPT, that's why. If international law is nonsense to Iran, then why did she sign the NPT? The NPT is the one document that separates Iran from Israel — and the Iranians have made far too little use of it.
Iran did tell, on Monday, 21 September. The FedGov didn't start flailing until Friday, 25 September. In any case, the facility is not operational. The NPT requires that signatory nations declare facilities before they bcome operational. The Iranians clearly have done this. As for it being in a secured military compound, well, why not? US nuclear production facilities are protected by military-level security, so why not Iran's?
Iran did tell, on Monday, 21 September. The FedGov didn't start flailing until Friday, 25 September. In any case, the facility is not operational. The NPT requires that signatory nations declare facilities before they become operational. The Iranians clearly have done this. As for it being in a secured military compound, well, why not? US nuclear production facilities are protected by military-level security, so why not Iran's?
At this point, I almost wish Iran would pull out of the NPT and formally announce plans to create a nuclear deterrent.
Given the obvious threat posed by the USraeli Empire, likely the biggest purveyor of violence the world has ever seen, it would actually be irresponsible for the Iranian leadership to not seek a nuclear deterrent.
This way, at least, the debate could focus on the real issue, as to who appointed the Empire as the ultimate arbiter of who gets nuclear weapons and who doesn't.
Well said.
Do you notice how the MSM never says that Israel has about 200 nuclear weapons-probably all aimed at Iran, and that they never signed the NPT, and Iran did and has offered a nuclear free mideast and Israel has refused that? Of course they never report this crucial information. all we get is old style PRAVDA like propaganda.
dear god im glad i don't live in poland!
how will they defend them selves from iran now!?!?
LOL, good one.
TeaceGeeeeck–said–"If international law is nonsense to Iran"–I suggest you mean Israel instead of Iran,if your on the mission of peace ? Shill!
Over 72 UN resolutions againist Israel and none complied. Big O,Zero, Nitta for Iran.
PieceGeek seems to be halfcocked and off tangent,when it comes to the subject of peace for Arabs.
Let's argue the facts dude?
Sounds like she still thinks she's a Senator whose job is to represent her NY constituency. With all this, what is Obama waiting for to attack and invade Iran? Might as well start now before his popularity number slide even further.
Message to Clinton: Nothing FedGov Can Do to Convince Us They Want Peace.