Nuclear supporters routinely deny that weapons proliferation is a problem associated with nuclear power even in the face of explicit statements which say that it is within the MIT study *they* consider definitive.
The case of Iran is a textbook example of the nature of the problem:
- Iran has a right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy to ensure their national national security in the area of energy.
- Iran builds a reactor.
- Iran states it wants to pursue a higher level of energy security and will enrich its own fuel so that no outside entity can use the threat of cutting off Iran's supply of enriched fuel as a lever of coercion.
- Iran builds the enrichment facility and is perfectly within its rights to do so.
- With the ability to enrich its own fuel, Iran acquires the capability to make enrich to produce bomb grade HEU.
- At any point any country can then do as IRan has and kick the IAEA inspectors out and make bombs at their leisure.
- While sanctions can be applied they little more effective at deterrence than is the basic economic disincentive to enrich their own fuel in the first place since is vastly less expensive to buy the fuel from existing enrichment facilities.
- The economic disincentive is the basis of the claims by the nuclear industry that weapons proliferation is not a problem if we dramatically expand the global nuclear fleet. (I kid you not - it is the ultimate expression of confidence in trusting "free market" self-interest to serve the role of regulatory control.
UN can't say Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and is very concerned about NKorea's program
By Edith M. Lederer (CP) – 11 hours ago
The U.N. nuclear chief said Monday he still can't confirm that all aspects of Iran's nuclear program are peaceful, and he expressed serious concern at North Korea's refusal to allow the return of nuclear inspectors.
Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, called on Iran to fully implement all resolutions of the IAEA board of governors and the U.N. Security Council, including demands to suspend uranium enrichment and start negotiations to ease global concerns that it is seeking to make atomic weapons.
Amano also called for "concerted efforts" to resume six-party talks on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program "at an appropriate time." He addressed the General Assembly Monday with his first annual report since he took over the post from Mohamed ElBaradei late last year.
North Korea conducted two nuclear weapons tests in 2006 and 2009, drawing international condemnation and U.N. sanctions and heightening concern that the country is building a nuclear arsenal. The autocratic Asian state has not permitted the Vienna-based watchdog to implement safeguards in the country since December 2002 and no inspectors have been allowed in since April, making it impossible for inspectors to report about its atomic activities...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iAZOOtVK9XSAq0rzuvN60aCk9jcA?docId=5072041
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