Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Iran *not* working on a nuke

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Mon, 3 Dec 2007, Vern Green wrote:

> Interesting, while the report clearly says that they have shutdown the 
> branch that was working on nuclear weapons, they are still enriching 
> uranium and they are still on track to have enough material to create a 
> bomb in the next ten years or so.
>
> I wonder how easy it is to start the program back up? Are we all 
> comfortable enough knowing that Iran could still build a bomb in ten 
> years, which is the original time frame that was estimated?

Another way to put it is that there is no imminent threat, and if Iran 
ever develops a bomb, they won't do it for a full ten years.  I feel 
pretty safe right now.


> Ultimately, I don't think we are seeing anything new here.

That conclusion suits you and makes you feel better, right?  I mean, how 
else could you come up with that as your conclusion?  Here is the first 
paragraph of the article:

   A new assessment by American intelligence agencies concludes that Iran
   halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains
   frozen, contradicting judgment two years ago that Tehran was working
   relentlessly toward building a nuclear bomb.

Thus, there is a complete turnaround in terms of our intelligence on 
Iran's nuclear program.  It shows that the Iranians were truthful when 
they said that they were working on nuclear energy and not on nuclear 
weapons.

Also from the article:

   The estimate does not say when American intelligence agencies learned
   that the weapons program had been halted, but a statement issued by
   Donald Kerr, the principal director of national intelligence, said the
   document was being made public "since our understanding of Iran's
   capabilities has changed."

Note the use of the word "changed."  Also note that they are not telling 
us when the President was first given the news.  Let me guess -- way the 
hell before I heard about it.  Why then was he so bellicose in his recent 
talk about Iran?  What's wrong with him?

Mike

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