Iran resumes uranium conversion

[Sean]

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/me...ear/index.html

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran has restarted work at a nuclear facility, saying it is for peaceful purposes only, and flatly rejected a European offer aimed at ensuring the nation does not seek nuclear weapons. Monday's moves dealt a double blow to U.S. and European officials who had warned they may bring the issue to the U.N. Security Council if Iran did not agree to sign an agreement restricting its nuclear activities. Hard-line conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office as Iran's president on Wednesday. Though Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has far more power -- and final word in all matters of state -- Ahmadinejad had vowed to defend Iran's right to use nuclear energy for civilian purposes. Iran had suspended its nuclear activities amid heavy international pressure. U.S. and European officials called on Tehran not to resume any such activities until it reached an agreement with negotiators from the EU-3 -- Britain, France, and Germany. But Monday, Iran announced it was restarting the Isfahan facility for uranium conversion -- not uranium enrichment, which the United States and some other countries fear could be part of a covert nuclear weapons program.

Will Europe really be able to stop Iran without the US getting a bit more active in this?

[PatrickHenry]

Sean, the only way Iran can negotiate on nuclear issues is from a position of relative strength. Witness N. Korea. They likely feel their best option is to proceed quickly to a bomb in order to force international respect for their territory. The US has shown that if you aren't nuclear armed, you are a big fat target for your oil. Proliferation isn't the issue. Pakistan spread nuclear knowledge all over the world and got not even a slap on the hands for it. The US is sensitive to the Issue re: Iran because that nation is perceived as an enemy. However an unprovoked attack by Iran on US targets is a remote probability.

[Forseti]

Europe is to far gone to socialism to ever be able to do anything with out the U.S.. By the time they come up with a solution Iran will have nuclear weapons and will be the greatest threat to America in some time. If America does not act the likely hood of terrorist getting a hold of nuclear weapons is greatly increased.

[jose]

The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic targets, including numerous suspected nuclear-weapons-program development sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option. As in the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States. Several senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are reportedly appalled at the implications of what they are doing – that Iran is being set up for an unprovoked nuclear attack – but no one is prepared to damage his career by posing any objections
http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/17450

[monty of ll]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exer...1D43D50C85.htm

Iran Removes U.N. Seals at Atomic Plant

"While it was Iranian workers who removed the seals, the process has taken place under IAEA supervision."


"The IAEA said it will confirm the
removal of the seals. Mindful of playing by international rules, Iran waited for the agency to finish installing surveillance equipment before breaking the seals."

So now what? Will Israel or the U.S. or both pull off a surprise attack on Iran very quickly with IAEA and Russian personnel on site? Or will the U.S. attempt to get a resolution throught the U.N. to stop the work that Iran is insistent on performing now? The U.S. must know that China and Russia are not going to let a resolution pass in the Security Council over Iran's so far peaceful and legal activities. Is the U.S. really in a difficult position inasmuch as if they attack Iran then Iran has the capabilities to get some serious licks in by attacking U.S. troops in Iraq?

If there is an early attack then my hunch is that it would be Israel and that would lend some credibility to the U.S. if Iran attacks U.S. troops in return, even though we all should know that Israel will be acting on behalf of the U.S. If the Iranians do respond then IMO that could result in the U.S. starting a nuclear war against Iran.

Iran must know that now is the opportunity to get their nuclear program up and runnning and there will never be a better opportunity because of the U.S. being proccupied in Iraq with one war already and probably very vulnerable to attack. The U.S. must know that once Iran has succeeded in getting it's program up and running then there will be no opportunity to stop Iran from getting it's nuclear bombs as a deterrant to further interfering by the U.S. in it's affairs.

Opinions on what will happen anyone?

[jose]

If America dropped one or more nukes on Iran how would that affect the world supply of oil?
and would america check which way the wind is blowing first
that said i wouldn´t rule out an attack by iswael,blamed on someone else

[PatrickHenry]

Israel is the US proxy. Iran understands as much, very clearly, but the US media and public won't.

A first strike by Israel on Iran will likely be countered by Iranian missile strikes against US military targets in the Persian Gulf. I hate to think what would happen after, but I can't imagine Iran allowing an unprovoked attack by Israel to go unanswered.

[monty of ll]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Israel is the US proxy. Iran understands as much, very clearly, but the US media and public won't. A first strike by Israel on Iran will likely be countered by Iranian missile strikes against US military targets in the Persian Gulf. I hate to think what would happen after, but I can't imagine Iran allowing an unprovoked attack by Israel to go unanswered.

I'm sure that they won't Patrick. And I think that what would happen after that is the U.S. would take out Teheran with a nuke to end the war quickly. If Iran was successful in taking out a portion of the U.S. fleet in the Gulf then the U.S. would have no other choice.

But what would happen after that is what I am worried about most of all. For these reasons it appears that the U.S. is powerless to do anything at the moment to stop Iran, other than diplomatic means through the U.N. Ha, Bolton is just the guy to deal with this!

I wonder, should the Bush admin. have known that this would be the eventual outcome of getting rid of Saddam and letting the huge Shiite majorities of Iran and Iraq come to power? I also have to wonder if Saddam knew that this would be the eventual outcome. It seems that he probably could have but in any case, holding his country together had to have been his primary objective.

I think the U.S. is going to change their tune quickly now and stop bashing on the U.N., the only body that has the capacity to bail their asses out of this mess. Wonder what China and Russia are going to want for their cooperation!

[jose]

Why do Americans feel the need to care what Iran does in its own country?

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: jose Why do Americans feel the need to care what Iran does in its own country?

Let's distinguish between "Americans" and the US hegemonists of Washington DC, please.

Americans don't care about Iran unless they are told to by their psychological masters, the mass media. The hegemonists of the US Empire want every nation, but especially oil-rich nations, to do their bidding. An independent nation, and especially one hostile to the US program of world domination, is a nail head that needs pounding down by the hammer of aggression.

[jose]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Let's distinguish between "Americans" and the US hegemonists of Washington DC, please. Americans don't care about Iran unless they are told to by their psychological masters, the mass media. The hegemonists of the US Empire want every nation, but especially oil-rich nations, to do their bidding. An independent nation, and especially one hostile to the US program of world domination, is a nail head that needs pounding down by the hammer of aggression.

Yes of course your right my apoligues to the 98% of Americans. And thanks for making me laugh PH
I lived and worked in Iran for six months, as i also did in USA the folks in both places love thier children too