Accusing Iran of working on a nuclear weapon is something done with very little ceremony, its almost a matter of course for most US officials when discussing the nation. So much so, it seems, that they don’t even proof their own reports to make sure they’re internally consistant in that regard.
So it seems a bit strange when the Pentagon made the usual accusations and simultaneously insisted that they haven’t even determined if Iran has decided to make such a weapon.
Iran has been working to expand their civilian nuclear program for quite some time, and it is this program which is being cited exclusively in the claims about Iran’s non-existant “nuclear weapons” ambitions. Yet the IAEA continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear materials from this program, and none of this uranium is being enriched beyond 20 percent, with most only being enriched to 3.5 percent. Nuclear weapons, to compare, would require 90+ percent enriched uranium.
The report also speculates about Iran trying to develop long range missiles that could hit the US, something Iranian officials insist they aren’t even considering. Currently the best Iranian missiles have a range limited to the Middle East and a tiny portion of Southeastern Europe, and the ability to literally cross half the planet to hit the continental US would be an enormous undertaking.
Enormous and perplexing, as the Pentagon simultaneously concludes that Iran would not launch a preemptive attack, citing fears of retaliation. It seems ridiculous, then, to imagine that Iran would be committing so much of their comparatively limited resources to such a long-range offensive weapon.
Neither the nuclear weapons program nor the missiles comes with any specific evidence attached, as usual, and both seem to fall into the category of “sensationalism” from the Pentagon as opposed to actual things Iran might consider.
Believing anything the Pentagon says is like trusting a serial killer while he is sharpening his knive to chop us his next victim.
Iran launched a satellite into orbit last year. To see the real headline in that, you must read between the lines. The satellite they sent into orbit wasn't some huge achievement. In fact, it was very simple. The huge achievement was the booster they used to launch it. Replace the 'satellite' with a nuclear payload, and you have an ICBM. It's exactly the same way the United States and Russia battled it out back in the 50's and 60's. Every nasa mission carrying a man, up until Apollo, went up on an ICBM that had the nuclear payload removed and replaced with a capsule. To say it would require an enormous undertaking for them to hit the U.S. is an enormous understatement.
There is absolutely no point for the Iranians to get involved in an ICBM program directed at the US–it would be, as they obviously see, a complete waste of time and effort. A satellite and space capability is much different, however, as you point out. Just being able to reach orbit, even with very primitive payloads–like a barium cloud–is an enormous defensive capability should the US be lunatic enough to attack Iran.
Without going into detail, it is clear the Iranians have studied the early "Cold War" between the US and the Soviet Union, which, as reluctant as many American jingos are to face it, Khrushchev won in 1957, making SAC and any US first strike obsolete.
I am neither an American nor an Israeli. I am a very uneducated man from one of the 3rd world countries but living in one of the first world countries. I am for being an uneducated person, can not get into my head a few things happening in the world. How Israel is protecting USA interest in middle east? How AIPAC has such trmendous influence on Amrican administration? How most American officials trust whatever the Israel says? The world should have any problem for America and Israel being friends. World has problem only when it is seen that America supports Israrel shamelessly. Even a fool like me will not believe that Iran will try to have Nuclear weapon. What will IRAN do with it?? Iran will not and never dare to attack Israrel not to speak of the USA. I as an uneducated person feel that, Politics should not be made so difficult. Politician all must learn speaking the truth. Tell IRAN , we want to get hold of your oil on this terms and conditions. That will perhps avoid this beating round the bush (Obama) and come to the point straight.
I don't know why this person has chosen to pretend he or she is from a "3rd world" country (surely no-one coming from a developing or newly industrialized country would use this old derogatory word to describe their own home), but it has the unfortunate effect of weakening the author's credibility and relevance.
Saddam Hussein before the First Gulf war spent an enormous amount of money on Big Dictator toys.
But after all he was an American ally, wasn't he, right up to and including the attack on Kuwait?
The Iranians are lot cagier tactically and strategically, and they have a big advantage in being defensive.
Everything coming out of the Pentagon concerning Iran from its allleged nuclear weapons program to its alleged attempt to develop a missle that would have the range to hit the United States is just propaganda for war. The reason the power elite and the warmongers at the Pentagon want another war is as George Orwell wrote:
"War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking into the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses to comfortable, and hence in the longrun to intelligent. Even when weapons of war are not actually destroyed, their manufacture is still a convienient way of expending labor power without producing anything that can be consumed. "
The Fed prints gobs of money then hands its over to the Merchants of Death to manufacture weapons all with the purpose to keep the masses stupid and poor and further secure the political and financial elites stanglehold on power.
Anyone who thinks Iran seriously lusts for war is nuts! I’m sure this is pentagon propaganda for the benefit of the military-industrial interests. They really don’t care that it costs the American public trillions and the lives of their sons & daughters. It’s all about profit; capitalism at its best. Sickening.