Simple Fact- Iran DOES NOT Have Nuclear Weapons

[Jcrowley]

Under the NPT, all Iran is required to do is allow inspections of its nuclear facilities to ensure that no weapons-grade nuclear material is being produced. Any further demands expressed by the US and the UK via the UN are related to geopolitics and are not surprisingly, being rejected by Iran. Just as is the case with Iraq, the US and UK

military-industrial-petroleum-banking conglomerate have economic and strategic interests at stake and are attempting to manipulate the UN Security Council in an effort to pursue an agenda that is mostly hidden from the American and British people, and from other UN members.

Despite the ongoing obfuscation, the three important issues to consider concerning this largely manufactured “crisis” are as follows:

1) Despite three years of inspections by the IAEA, no factual evidence that Iran is developing a clandestine nuclear weapons program has ever been uncovered. In addition, a classified CIA assessment from 2006 described by reporter Seymour Hersh also found “no conclusive evidence...of a secret Iranian nuclear-weapons program.

2) According to the NPT, Iran and any other signatory nation has an “unalienable right” to nuclear technology, including the enrichment process. In 2003 two small uranium samples were found by the IAEA that were enriched to 36 percent (these samples are well above the 4 to 5 percent purity needed for nuclear power, but far below the 90 percent purity required for nuclear weapons. Following this discovery and subsequent investigation period, Iran agreed to suspend enrichment and to the voluntary aspects of the Additional Protocol. After it was determined that the enriched uranium samples found in Iran originated from a discarded Pakistani-sourced centrifuge, Iran considered the IAEA investigation complete and re-started its small enrichment program. Iran remains in compliance with the NPT, despite US media reporting to the contrary.

3) Even if Iran sought to build nuclear bombs, and a clandestine weapons project was initiated in secrecy, the consensus of the US intelligence agencies as outlined in the 2005 National Intelligence Estimate is that Iran could not make enough highly enriched uranium (HEU) fissile material for a bomb until the middle of the next decade (2015). This is likely due to the fact that Iran’s uranium ore is contaminated with molybdenum, a heavy metal that must be removed for HEU production, lest the molybdenum will crash the uranium enrichment cascades. Reportedly only a few advanced nuclear powers, such as the US, Russia, and China have the infrastructure to undertake this process.

You are being lied to, manipulated. See through it. The only other possibility for those who swallow the lies being propagated by the State Department is that there are other motives.

[babylonsister]

1. Simple Fact! - Israel DOES. nt

[originalpckelly]

6. Simple fact: Israel has LIED to the world for YEARS...

and has maintained it has not had nukes.

[babylonsister]

8. Sorry you missed it, but I'm worried that Israel will start this new war and,

with help from us.
I know Israel is perfectly capable, Iran isn't. But I'll bet Iran has more friends at this point than we do.

[originalpckelly]

9. Oh, bablyonsister, no disagreement here...

I understand why you're angry, so am I. I'm on your side. :-)

[michreject]

23. Superior numbers in personnel

Doesn't equate to a superior military fighting force. Superior weaponry and armaments do.

[Prophet 451]

34. Why?

Not denying that Israel has the capacity but why would they want to? What's in it for them other than the continuing hatred of an awful lot of Arabs, many of whom already distrust the Israelis (and yes, in some cases, for good reason)?

[Fridays Child]

2. I'd like to "k and r" this all the way to Capitol Hill...

...and thump it against each and every tin ear in the joint.

[seemslikeadream]

3. You are being lied to, manipulated. See through it.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. K&R

That darned reality again.

[scarletwoman]

5. Bravo! Voted and kicking. Facts are a beautiful thing.

Thanks for posting this.

Yes, we are being lied to an manipulated. And apparently there are *some* people here who are only too happy to help the manipulation to succeed.

sw

[FogerRox]

7. Scream it loud & clear

Thanks Knr

[scarletwoman]

10. Another kick for an important post. (nt)

[Zhade]

11. Kick for the truth!

Seems some of the ignorant supporters of the LAST invasion are falling for this bullshit AGAIN.

Fucking idiots!

[Phrogman]

12. ...unless they've bought one from China, Russia or on the black market

Wouldn't THAT be a big surprize!

[Poll_Blind]

13. K&R for the FACTS, thank you! n/t

PB

[Kablooie]

14. And Sadaam had no WMDs. When did a little thing like that make a difference?

[Strelnikov_]

15. And One Theory On The Agenda Is - Protecting The Petrodollar System

Sanctions supposedly intended to counter a 'rogue' nuclear program can have impacts on other 'undesirable' behavior.

From:

Hysteria Over Iran and a New Cold War with Russia:
Peak Oil, Petrocurrencies and the Emerging Multi-Polar World
By William Clark
December 10, 2006


From the Iranian perspective, the US attempts to cut-off financial transactions utilizing the dollar, euro, yen and pound sterling may have pushed Iran to make the unusual decision to offer oil sales in its own domestic currency. The long-anticipated petroeuro option is far more attractive from a monetary and international trade perspective, since the money supply and liquidity of the Iranian rial is rather limited. On the other hand, from Tehran’s perspective there is logic to this decision, as Iran is trying to circumvent the US dollar and associated banking apparatus. Using the rial as a petrocurrency is likely a purposeful strategy designed to insulate Iran from US attempts to seize its oil revenue by clandestine efforts outside the legal framework of the UN Security Council.

Washington is now attempting to counter this stratagem by blacklisting Iran’s largest bank, Bank Saderat. Washington claims this is necessary to prevent Iran from “abusing” the global banking system, including providing financial support to Hezbollah and Hamas. In a recent interview, US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Robert Kimmitt (pictured) was interviewed by Der Speigel, where he warned European banks to “Be very, very careful with Iran.” <97> The inherent difficulty of Washington’s ongoing strategy was acknowledged in the Der Speigel article with a quote by the president of the Association of German Banks, Klaus-Peter Muller, who stated: “one can hardly expect banks to terminate long-cultivated business relationships based on vague-suspicions.”

The hypocrisy of Washington’s strategy is that the main financiers of Osama bin Laden/Al Qaeda sponsored terrorism have long been wealthy members of the Saudi elite, including former leading Saudi banker Khalid bin Mahfouz. Notably, the Bush administration has not engaged, at least publicly, in any punitive policies towards Osama bin Laden’s powerful Saudi-based financiers. It is too early to know if this smart sanctions plan will work, but it should be noted that futures exchanges assume a free flow of capital across national borders, and this may not be possible if Iran is put under sanctions or the threat thereof. Of course, the US may also wish to create the impression of a looming war against Iran, therefore hindering Iran’s ability to attract foreign capital or promote foreign participation on its oil exchange. In addition, futures exchanges require an efficient banking system. The Iranian currency is not fully convertible, and the establishment of an exchange
that trades international contracts would likely require that the rial become fully convertible.

. . .

Summarizing, if Iran’s oil bourse becomes even moderately successful, Iran and other oil exporting nations will be able to circumvent the petrodollar system that props up US deficit spending. Moreover, if they can set their own price via a Persian Gulf oil marker, they could potentially undercut oil prices set by London and/or New York. Lastly, by offering oil trades in a more valuable and stable currency such as the euro, Iran could siphon off customers from the New York and London exchanges and make them far less powerful in the global political economy. Although not discussed by the US corporate media, as the world’s spare oil capacity evaporates before the onset of Peak Oil, the economic bargaining power of the major oil and gas exporters is inexorably increasing, opening the door to yet other non-dollar petrocurrencies. Russia is actively pursuing this option.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

16. For ANYONE here who thinks either the U.S. or Israel would ever let...

...a little thing like "simple facts" stand between them and their continued aggressive imperialist expansionism -- GUESS AGAIN!!!

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. Iraq still has no WMD.

Not that we were lied to about it or anything.

[oblivious]

18. Iran went even further than the NPT required with the additional protocol and got nothing in return.

[ellisonz]

19. K & R

Even though my own best guess is that Iran is trying for a weapon and is somewhere between 2-10 years away, the shorter is presuming they get outside help or are farther along than we (including France/Germany/EU) think.

If you've got links, post'em.

:kick: :kick:

[magellan]

20. K&R

[leesa]

21. Stop it with the facts...we HATE those things...the leader of Iran is nuts, I say.

[qazplm]

22. questions

1. If you only ned 4-5 percent enrichment for nuclear power, why the 36 percent enrichment if not for something else?

2. no "conclusive" evidence has been found. Ok, but is there any circumstantial evidence?

3. 2015 is an estimate of course. What if it's 2010 instead?

I certainly understand and support the idea that the US is no different than any other nation in pursuing propoganda. However, it seems to me that we aren't the only source of evil in the world, we aren't the only source of propoganda and intrigue in the world, and the US to not exist, and everything else be exactly the same as it is now, Iran would indeed be at or near the top of the list of problem nations. Skepticism is healthy and necessary, but not just of our government, but of Iran's as well.

If you want to make the argument that it hasnt been proven that Iran wants nukes fair enough...but it seems to me to be a bit wrong to claim that you have proven that Iran does not want nukes.

[oblivious]

24. There is no 36% enrichment. The IAEA concluded that Iran was telling the truth about that.

Traces of bomb-grade uranium found two years ago in Iran came from contaminated Pakistani equipment and are not evidence of a clandestine nuclear weapons program, a group of U.S. government experts and other international scientists has determined.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/22/AR2005082201447_pf.html

As to your question about why 36% enrichment? Several operating research reactors around the world use 36% HEU.

[qazplm]

26. again

you didnt answer the rest of my post but my concern is saying it is a "fact" that Iran has no interest in nuclear weapons.

I think that's a bit of a stretch.

[Jcrowley]

29. Didn't say Iran

doesn't want them. Don't know that answer nor do you. But they don't have them. It's a fact.

You're being lied to. Nukes or no nukes isn't even the issue. If Iran got on board the Western Energy Consortium Train this discussion would disappear overnight.

[oblivious]

37. The leadership has said over and over it doesn't want nukes. The IAEA has found no evidence...

...that Iran wants nukes. Iran allowed intrusive inspections starting in 2003 and agreed to suspend uranium enrichment when it did not even have to under the terms of the NPT. Iran did everything possible to prove goodwill. In return it got mocking offers from the EU and US, and threats of attack from the crazies in the US and Israel.

What kind of proof do you want? Promises of eternal servitude?

[Spazito]

25. Facts are a glorious thing!

Thanks for posting this, the simple truth is, sometimes, a rare commodity.

[mod mom]

27. facts-they're so-o-o-o pre-911

[Lone_Star_Dem]

28. Facts are a powerful weapon

But only if people are willing to listen.

K&R

[spanone]

30. Sadly, facts made no difference in the WMD debate.

We invaded Iraq anyway.

:banghead:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

31. Emotions got in the way

I am by no way saying the same thing couldn't happen with Iran.

[shance]

36. Oh yes they do, however it depends on how much citizens participate.

That is key.

Although to the American citizen's credit, we DID participate in droves, in millions, which the media intentionally ignored.

Perhaps we have to become more adament in our protests.

Im sure this will instigate another visit from our friends at Homeland Security, and/or FBI/CIA.

Please clean up the popcorn kernals after you leave.

Thanks!

[Monkeyman]

32. K&R

[Morgana LaFey]

33. Another link

Sorry if this was already posted upthread somewhere --

CIA analysis finds no Iranian nuclear weapons drive: report
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2622548

[salin]

39. one of the speculations per the Negroponte demotion

is because he remained skeptical per analyses around Iran and nukes - that is - he was too skeptical to fit the admin's line. Hard to think as Negroponte as the 'reasonable one' - but these neoscams make formerly rw leaning folks seem reasonable by comparison.

[Morgana LaFey]

40. So true -- about the neocons making other nuts look sane.

The ones we USED to think were nuts. Pat Buchanan is another oft-remarked example.

[shance]

35. You know JC, my thought is if we, who are we to say they can't? Who are we

to be so arrogant, especially in this most peculiar time, to dictate who has what to protect themselves from something that from all accounts, looks like WE CREATED.

Someone help me with this logic, or lack thereof.

[Karenina]

38. Stop Making Sense!

Go listen to some old "Talking Heads" CDs or Mahler's 3rd ( I recommend Chicago). You'll feel better... ;-)

[LSK]

41. Great post, bookmarked