NO EVIDENCE of Iranian nuclear-weapons program, experts say

[Dover]

Source: Miami Herald

No evidence of Iranian nuclear-weapons program, experts say

WASHINGTON -- Despite President Bush's claims that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons that could trigger ''World War III,'' experts in and out of government say there's no conclusive evidence that Tehran has an active nuclear-weapons program.

Even his own administration appears divided about the immediacy of the threat. While Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney speak of an Iranian weapons program as a fact, Bush's point man on Iran, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, has attempted to ratchet down the rhetoric.

''Iran is seeking a nuclear capability . . . that some people fear might lead to a nuclear-weapons capability,'' Burns said in an interview Oct. 25 on PBS.

''I don't think that anyone right today thinks they're working on a bomb,'' said another U.S. official, who requested anonymity because of the issue's sensitivity.

Outside experts say the operative words are ''right today.'' They say Iran may have been actively seeking to create a nuclear-weapons capacity in the past and still could break out of its current uranium-enrichment program and start a weapons program. They, too, lack definitive proof but cite a great deal of circumstantial evidence.

Bush's rhetoric seems hyperbolic compared with the measured statements by his senior aides and outside experts...cont'd





Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/story/294914.html

---

This conversation sure has a familiar ring....why it was only 2003....
though it seems this time the MSM is not completely onboard.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. looks like the CIA/DOD will just have to create a few more, this time

using farsi instead of english, and using the euro-styled calendar, instead of the US version.

[annabanana]

2. Everyone kindly take not:e:

Officials INSIDE the administration as well as "outside experts" are saying this. Since the Admin Hawks have NO track record in these matters... it would behoove us to listen very carefully to the other voices. . .

[Zorra]

3. Oh, come on, everyone knows Iraq has nuclear weapons!

There's gonna be a mushroom cloud over Peoria if we don't invade immediately - Bu*h and Cheney keep saying so!

Whoops...I meant Iran. Why do I always get them confused?
:sarcasm:

[treestar]

13. And if we don't find them when we invade, we'll know why

They moved them to Syria! :sarcasm:

[Uben]

4. The experts are wrong!

They said Iraq didn't have WMDs and Iraq didn't have anything to do with 9/11,too! So we are now expected to believe them?

[rockybelt]

11. your statement

What color is the sky in your world?
Can you not hear?
Can you not see?
Can you not think?

[Evergreen Emerald]

17. I think it was sarcasm...

and funny too

[Eagle_Eye]

5. Iran just about got one on August 30

The only thing is, I can't remember if the B-52 was loaded with five AGM-129 cruise missiles, or six.

Maybe Iran does have a W-80 warhead. Little george bush would know, he was the one sending the nukes.

[The Wielding Truth]

27. OMG, are you thinking that those loaded missiles that

no one knew how the were shipped across the country are involved in this new charade?
:scared:
Could these evil clucks be so ready to destroy everything?

[Eagle_Eye]

29. It would be my suspicion that if Iran did not produce its atomic bomb on schedule ...

If Iran did not produce its atomic bomb on schedule, certain individuals in high places would see to it that a working bomb was provided to them.

[chill_wind]

6. "Anonymous Experts"---- come out of the shadows NOW, damn it!

"Anonymous experts in Bush's divided administration" kept their jobs and their mouths safely shut the last time too, waiting until long after we massacred thousands of men, women and children to tell the world what they had known all along.

Now is the time for them to openly band together on the world stage. Let Bush **DARE** to try to trash and fire them in numbers as a group with faces and names. It's time for the country and the world to show Bush his gig is over.

[mwb970]

7. Can we get the word out THIS time?

Let's not get fooled again!

[harun]

10. I would like to think not but if you look around at some of the

Iran threads on DU I would have to think the majority of even DU'rs are drinking the kool-aid on this one.

I don't think they are going to go to war though. The B*sh administration is just pushing this as an election year issue hoping to paint Dem's as being pro-Iran.

[rodeodance]

8. pass around esp to all the bush supporters/right wingers

[MissDeeds]

9. Why does the Miami Herald hate 'Mirka?

Why don't they support our troops? Why are they giving aid to the evil-doers? :sarcasm:

How many are really surprised by this?

[HereSince1628]

12. Business types will use the same model as long as it works. Cheney is no different

misdirections, obsfuscation and down right lies worked fine to get the US to attack Iraq.

Cheney is implementing the same plan for Iran.

[lonestarnot]

15. Corporate killers.

[VP505]

14. I don't doubt

that there are some factions within Iran that would like to have a nuclear weapon capability, however I refuse to believe that Bu$hCo is NOT lying about that AGAIN. I would like to see some Democratic Senators stand up and call his bluff on that. I want someone to tell him to his face, preferably on TV in front of everyone that he must provide definitive proof that Iran has been pursuing nuclear weapons of STFU about it. Its way past time to continue to allow this Admin to lie and lie again about that.

[Bitwit1234]

16. BUT BUT ....they are sitting on a large oil field

and that's cheney call. He wants us to believe they Nuclear weapons so he can sweep in collect those candy and flowers. (Did I say they have Oil)

[ohio2007]

18. wait... nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islam . nt

[The Wielding Truth]

28. They are? Where?

[EVDebs]

34. Yeah, look at those fakes in Pakistan ? !

[uppityperson]

19. It could trigger WW3, but who will be the agressor?

My guess is mrbush, using "omg terror terror" will be the one. To clarify, reality doesn't matter to him. He will use this to start WW3. Blackmail.

And yes, I hate reading that headline, deja vue.

[slipslidingaway]

20. Statement by the Iranian Government and visiting EU Foreign

Ministers

21 October 2003

http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaIran/statement_iran21102003.shtml

snip>>

"Dialogue

The Foreign Ministers of Britain, France and Germany welcomed the decisions of the Iranian Government and informed the Iranian authorities that:


Their governments recognise the right of Iran to enjoy peaceful use of nuclear energy in accordance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In their view the Additional Protocol is in no way intended to undermine the sovereignty, national dignity or national security of its State Parties.

In their view full implementation of Iran's decisions, confirmed by the IAEA's Director General, should enable the immediate situation to be resolved by the IAEA Board.

The three governments believe that this will open the way to a dialogue on a basis for longer term co-operation which will provide all parties with satisfactory assurances relating to Iran's nuclear power generation programme. Once international concerns, including those of the three governments, are fully resolved Iran could expect easier access to modern technology and supplies in a range of areas.

They will co-operate with Iran to promote security and stability in the region including the establishment of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations."

[Supersedeas]

39. Could Condi and Cheney be on the wrong side of history....again.

[tekisui]

21. The next war funding bill sent to dickie will be used on Iran.

They have to cut the funds. This money request will cover them though the elections. It will be used to bomb Iran.

Funding Iraq Occupation=Funding Iran Attack.

[Maestro]

22. Here is a quote from the article.

"If conclusive proof exists, however, Bush hasn't revealed it. Nor have four years of IAEA inspections." Boy, this sounds familiar. Nor has he proven his case in Iraq! Oh this angers me to no end. Let's focus on us for once and not on everybody else.

[EVDebs]

35. Uranium enrichment calculator. Iran has between 2000 to 3000 if reports are correct

http://www.fas.org/cgi-bin/ucountdown.pl

[ginnyinWI]

23. either lying or incompetent

Same old story isn't it.

[Baby Snooks]

24. No, no, no....

Just wait. The CIA has yet to determine that there are plans to use enriched uranium to build nuclear weapons with just like Iraq was planning to buy uranium from Niger to enrich and build nuclear weapons with. And no doubt the CIA will determine that *gasp* Iran has weapons of mass destruction as well just like Iraq did. All sorts of nasty things. Some chemical things. Some biological things. No one will be able to really say what exactly the things are because of course that is classified. But they have them. Just like Iraq did. Maybe Iraq shipped its weapons of mass destruction to Iran. That's why we couldn't find them. They were in Iran. After all, we all know Iran was behind 9/11 along with Iraq. If Cheney hasn't said that yet, he will. He's just waiting for the CIA to determine that Iran represents a nuclear threat and has weapons of mass destruction. They're probably waiting for Ahmad Chalabi to provide the documentation. Who is probably waiting for his "paycheck" to clear the bank. Who probably is using the same documentation and just changing Iraq to Iran. At least this time the notations will match the language of the country. Not that anyone at the CIA noticed that the notations on the plans for Iraq's nuclear program were in Farsi. Or perhaps they did and just hoped no one else would notice. Who cares if you can't fool all of the people as long as you can fool Congress? If all else fails, well, they can always claim that Osama bin Laden had been located in Tehran and they just "accidentally" used a nuclear weapon to kill him with. Ooops. At least we won't have to send troops into Tehran. For awhile anyway.

WHY ARE BUSH AND CHENEY STILL IN OFFICE, MADAME SPEAKER????????

WHY ARE YOU STILL IN OFFICE, MADAME SPEAKER????????

[krispos42]

25. Thank God the CIA has undercover agents keeping an eye on them!

Oh, wait, that's right... Bush and Cheney DESTROYED the CIA operation!

So, BushCheney sez we have to go to war with Iran because BushCheney doesn't know if they have a nuclear weapons program... because BushCheney destroyed the operation that would let us know if Iran DID have a nuclear weapons program?

Have I summed it up succinctly enough?

[LWolf]

26. Surprise, surprise.

:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

30. De ja voodoo?

[liberal N proud]

31. Time to dig up some one to "claim" they have the bomb

Either that or we will have to have a terrorist attack and the attackers will be Iranian.


The bu$h regime will come up with something to validate in their little heads, an attack on Iran.

[madeline_con]

32. Maybe there's some footage of Iranians gassing dogs. n/t

[EVDebs]

33. History Channel's program shows the Natanz plant as an underground field of centrifuges

buried under 8 feet of concrete,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3684476&mesg_id=3684558

"The imposition of sanctions by the U.S. triggered a run on the Iranian currency. The week after Clinton acted, the Iranian currency lost one-third its value, falling from 4,000 rials to the dollar to 5,500. Tehran responded by slapping on rigid controls and setting an artificial rate of 3,000 rials to the dollar. The controls caused the market to dry up, driving the economy deeper into recession. The reason for the run on the currency was simple: sanctions scared Iranian businessmen. They worried about what would come next if Tehran persisted in its collision course with Washington....

The Islamic Republic survives simply because there is no credible alternative. Tehran devotes enormous effort to persecuting any opposition. Officially sponsored gangs beat up more mild opponents, while hit squads hunt throughout the world to assassinate harsher critics. Like the regime of the Shah overthrown in the revolution of 1979, it could collapse quickly if any such alternative emerged. However, it could survive another decade or more." from

Can we coexist with Iran ?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2622_v125/ai_19217173

Current rials to the dollar are around 8,884 to the dollar

http://www.x-rates.com/d/IRR/table.html

[Supersedeas]

36. nothing to see here -- the War Drums have started and the GOP/TV Media establishment is on-board

[Mosaic]

37. Propaganda catapults flat against the wall

This is simply all propaganda designed to dupe the public in accepting another illegal war for oil resources, and likud zionist expansion fantasies of the Israelite right wing extremists, the bully boys much like our right wing crazies the KKK, neocons, FoxNews, you get the picture. The right is wrong, the left will win the day with calm logic, facts, and wisdom as always. There will be no snowball effect by BushCo this time as the the country and the world won’t fall for the same tricks leading to violence as it so foolishly did when the facts were “fixed around the policy.”

[Megahurtz]

38. Gladly kicked. n/t