Newshoggers Comments
I do plan on doing a lot more studying into Iran and nukes over the next couple of days, at the very least. Viewpoints on this seem to be in two camps of "They have the weapons now," and "They're nowhere close." For full disclosure to you, a lot of my opinions about Iran's nuclear program is based off of some conversations I had with an academic friend about it. He's squarely on the left politically, and also thinks that Iran already has a nuclear bomb or is close to getting one.
There are other factors to consider, too. Maybe Iran is completely bluffing us with disinformation. Foreign Affairs magazine had a report about their economy and the state of their oil industry (I mentioned details once here) which basically says that Iran's oil industry needs $70 billion in repairs over the next 15 years or it will collapse. Iran doesn't have $70 billion and they'll need to raise that money from other nations, like the US.
They sure aren't doing a great job of it, I must say... But if an oil rich nation can't manage an oil industry, could Iran just be blowing smoke about nukes? I can't answer that.
Like Iraq, though, we can probably assume that they have a program, did have a program, or are trying to have a program. And if peons like me know that the way to avoid having your nuclear facilities attacked is to bury them in hundreds of reinforced bunkers, then I'm pretty sure that's what Iran is doing or aims to do.
As for why Iran, with tons of oi, would want nuclear power, simple: When produce right, nuclear power is extremely cheap. The economic hit you take on building nuclear power plants can easily be covered by selling oil rather than using that oil yourself and, though you're getting the oil for free, you aren't making a profit off it.
Hi Tas, and thanks for the response. I definitely disagree with your friend. Here, though, are a couple of basic "primers" from the BBC website which might help your research. A Timeline and a basic issues precis. I can also recommend Dr. Gordon Prather's column at World Net Daily.
Regards, C
Hey,
Israel does nothing without prior approval from their corporate masters in Washington. The one and only reason both Iran and Syria have not been devastated by us at this point in time (Dec 13/05) is because of the tremendous world-wide respect for the Iraqi guerrillas. The US regime fully understands that our military must pacify the Iraqi fighters before securing oil reserves in Iran and creating a puppet state in Syria. Although time is running out for both Iran and Syria, time is also running out for the US. BRIC may be ready to go toe to toe with the US militarily at this point; China in particular is getting close to counter US hegemony in their backyard. Russia is building fences with Islam; India will remain asleep; Brazil is bought and paid for by US corporates. Europe is still a sick man and will follow Washington directions.
Time permitting, Israel is waiting for unconditional Iraqi surrender and then the green light from Washington; if Washington turns the light 'red,' then we will see US military air action in both Iran and Syria. Short term risks are low due to the stiffnecks unable to control themselves in Washington; but they fully understand the long term stakes: who will control known world oil reserves. This question has been asked since US oil peaked in the 70's.
The big unknown is the strength of the Iraqi leaders, both in intellectual and military sophistication. The total lack of US understanding of the depth in the above unknowns frightens the current Washington cabal. We do know that all of the Iraqis that know how to fight are underground.
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