Well, it's about time. The government has finally come out to inform the American people that they were lying (again). In a US intelligence report released last night, the CIA confirmed that they had knowledge that Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003. If anyone is counting, that's essentially all the time that we've accused them of such a program in order to proliferate fear-mongering and support for Israel.
Article here
Of course, little brother Israel isn't too happy about this intelligence report. This was their last solid slice of undue sympathy from the pity pie. Now, they're just a nation that goes to war with its Arab neighbors and cuts off fuel and water supplies to people they colonized 60 years ago, instead of a nation that goes to war with its Arab neighbors and cuts off fuel and water supplies to people they colonized 60 years ago while under threat of nuclear attack.
So naturally, Israel feels the need to shift into damage-control mode. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak seems to lead the front of maintaining the ruse of Goldstein existing in Oceania with statements like, "It seems Iran in 2003 halted for a certain period of time its military nuclear program but as far as we know it has probably since revived it."
Such strong language. "As far as we know it has probably." Doesn't that sound a bit like a third grader maintaining that one of their classmates whom they don't like stole their crayons, even though it was in his own pocket the entire time? Listen, tardo, if the US is finally denying the farce that we've maintained for 4 years, there is no way that it's going to be wrong. None. The US government does not castrate itself on a whim (intentionally).
Barak added, "We can’t allow ourselves to rest just because of an intelligence report from the other side of the earth, even if it is from our greatest friend."
Bitch, please! You know as well as we know that US intelligence does not come from our side of the earth. We have entrenched ourselves so deep into an espionage program that we very well might have a spy plane surveying every inch of the earth (including Antarctica). Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? That was in 1961. Now, we have illegal wiretapping and warrantless searches.
The biggest problem, as I see it, is that this report came far too late. Iran has already suffered two sanctions, and the UNSC is about to pass a third. So, because of a faulty assertion, just like in Iraq, we have starved the Iranian people for political purposes.
And that's not a farce.
The problem with your conclusion about the US Intelligence agency finally coming clean is the fact that it is their duty to lie. Disinformation is something you should suspect every time they make a public statement.
There are negotiations going on. Deals in smoke filled rooms. Suppose the Bush administration wants a certain vote from Iran at todays OPEC meeting. Lowering the price of oil going into the election year could be a part of their strategy to fight for a victor for their party. I don't know, the timing is the only basis for that guess, but I don't believe anything they say. Even when they are admitting one of the earlier lies I KNOW they have a reason.
Have you seen that the Europeans are not buying in either? They are keeping up pressure to stop enrichment.
Yet another reason why I hate our government and all governments. I understand the CIA and all those wacko's lie, but feeding off of people's patriotism is wrong, we did it in Iraq. I think the US realized that if we did go into Iran, that we'd get our ass handed to us by the entire arab community, or they'd help us but hate our government even more than they already do.
Yes, I think Iran and the arab community would kick our ass...
I still say down with the government, or at least make it small like it used to be.
Hardly unexpected, really. It was obvious that we wanted to go into Iran to get rid of whatever his name is. I guess the big cheeses just realized that there was no way that was going to happen and faced with the decision of either looking weak and indecisive or like liars, they picked liars, since most people already think of them like that anyway.
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything."
Friedrich Nietzsche
C'MON! What are you talking about? Iran's president said they would blow Israel off the face of the earth, that the end of Israel was at hand. Oh, and did you forget to add, that while they have ahalted work on their weapons (because they are having trouble making their machinery work) that they could still have a weapon within 3 years! I am sorry, but this has to be one of the most slanted arguements I have ever seen. They have stopped their weapons plans because they had to, not because they don't want to Nuke Israel and Europe, but because they don't have the means at this time to finish the project.
Iran is a threat,
They will be a greater one in 2-3 years,
and you are just as big a threat as they are with your sympathy for these people.
"It's Better To Burn Out Than To Fade Away" -Neil Young
I agree.
I also think that this may be evidence that our policies are working. They are still enriching Uranium; they are still a danger, but at least some of the danger is past.
Iran is not a threat. The US is a threat through sanctions and funding counterrevolutions (against movements toward democracy).
As for his speeches against Israel, he never threatened the country. He only says that Iran does not recognize Israel as a country, and that it is an illegitimate regime, and thus needs to be wiped from the pages of history. He also said, "Just like Hitler, the Zionist regime is just looking for a pretext for launching military attacks...[and] is now acting just like him." Considering that Israel was created for the purpose of being a state for a particular ethnic identity, this statement isn't that far from the truth.
--Mike
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No government would launch a nuclear strike against anyone else. Even if a leader was insane enough to do that, the government on the whole would not be. People in power tend to like being in power and, therefore, would not do something that is essentially gauranteed to have them, at the very least, kicked out of power. If Iran launched a nuclear strike against almost any nation, the whole world would turn against them. Even if it was a controversial nation, like Israel, the amount of nations that would retaliate on the side of Israel would easily sweep the Iranian government out of power.
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything."
Friedrich Nietzsche
Your assertion has held up for 62 years at this point, and the only government to use nuclear weapons was not only confident that they were the only one possesing them, but also feared that the country they attacked was at least fairly close to developing their own. I think the test of time is convincing that retaliation is sufficient to make you correct in most situations.
That same piece of history also demonstrates that if you posses those weapons there is a greatly reduced chance of you being the victim of an unprovoked attack by a foreign government. The only exception to this is Israel, and even in that case the all out attacks ended in 1972, the last attack may have been partialy motivated by comments and speculation that they would have the bomb soon if they didn't already. Since it has become common knowledge (Israel neither confirms or denies) that they have the bomb the conflict has quieted down to primarily terrorist action that cannot be traced to a government.
So why wouldn't everyone want the bomb? Why keep them all from getting it? Obviously the chance of very unusual situations becomes more likely the more chances it is given. Iran is just one more country that wants the bomb. Allowing it just moves the controversy to the next applicant. Resisting nuclear proliferation is a worthy goal even though you may find any specific country to be responsible. Personaly I don't trust any of them.
I don't trust any of them either.... I'd be just as happy if no one has the bomb, but Iran having it doesn't really make the world any more dangerous.
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything."
Friedrich Nietzsche
Just a step in the wrong direction.
In the case of this country they are not exactly Americas freind. Also they have a theocratic government that is at least sympathetic with Terrorists if not working directly with them. A close alliance with people that do wish to use these bombs adds a little to the risk.
If they can delay the spread of the bomb that will allow more effective counter measures to be developed. Balistic missle defences, and detection of radioactive masses. The bomb will spread. There is no putting the genie back into the bottle, and as time goes by a hostile detonation is almost certain to occur. I think almost everyone wants to avoid that, or at least delay it indefinitly.
Like I said in a previous post the public positions, and secret deals do not always jibe. The US and Iran may be closer than either side can admit publicly to a deal.
"Like I said in a previous post the public positions, and secret deals do not always jibe. The US and Iran may be closer than either side can admit publicly to a deal."
I hope that is the case.
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything."
Friedrich Nietzsche
Once again, Bush and his administration have made a huge foreign policy mistake. I never did think Iran was harboring nuclear weapons- although President Ahmadinejad isn't the most trustworthy head of state...