The saber rattling on Iran steps up a notch

[n2doc]

IAEA says foreign expertise has brought Iran to threshold of nuclear capability

By Joby Warrick, Published: November 6

Intelligence provided to U.N. nuclear officials shows that Iran’s government has mastered the critical steps needed to build a nuclear weapon, receiving assistance from foreign scientists to overcome key technical hurdles, according to Western diplomats and nuclear experts briefed on the findings.

Documents and other records provide new details on the role played by a former Soviet weapons scientist who allegedly tutored Iranians over several years on building high-precision detonators of the kind used to trigger a nuclear chain reaction, the officials and experts said. Crucial technology linked to experts in Pakistan and North Korea also helped propel Iran to the threshold of nuclear capability, they added.

The officials, citing secret intelligence provided over several years to the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the records reinforce concerns that Iran continued to conduct weapons-related research after 2003 — when, U.S. intelligence agencies believe, Iranian leaders halted such experiments in response to international and domestic pressures.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog is due to release a report this week laying out its findings on Iran’s efforts to obtain sensitive nuclear technology. Fears that Iran could quickly build an atomic bomb if it chooses to has fueled anti-Iran rhetoric and new threats of military strikes. Some U.S. arms-control groups have cautioned against what they fear could be an overreaction to the report, saying there is still time to persuade Iran to change its behavior.

more

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/iaea-says-foreign-expertise-has-brought-iran-to-threshold-of-nuclear-capability/2011/11/05/gIQAc6hjtM_story.html?hpid=z1

Also:


Iran pressures highlight rare Mideast common ground: Israel and Gulf Arabs


By Associated Press, Published: November 6

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Among the many alliances of convenience in the Middle East, one is so unusual that the partners can barely hint about it publicly: Israel and the Gulf Arab states linked by shared fears over Iran’s nuclear program.

While their deeper disputes on the Palestinians effectively block any strategic breakthroughs, the recent warnings from Israel and the West about military options against Iran invariably draw in the Gulf and its rare meeting of minds with Jerusalem.


The Gulf states — a cornerstone for U.S. diplomatic and military pressure on Iran — are indispensable parts of any effort to confront Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. And even Israel, which has no direct diplomatic outreach to the Gulf, is likely brought into the Gulf-centric policymaking with U.S. envoys acting as go-betweens, experts say.

“I would be surprised if there is no knowledge about the Saudi positions (in Israel) or knowledge in Saudi of the Israeli positions,” said David Menashri, director of the Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University.


more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/iran-pressures-highlight-rare-mideast-common-ground-israel-and-gulf-arabs/2011/11/06/gIQAvwGWsM_story.html

[leveymg]

1. "Round up the usual suspects."

[hootinholler]

12. A.Q.Khan?

:shrug:

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Wars often are started on overreaching games of "Chicken".

If not reeled in, the Iran situation can get out of control very quickly.

[ThomWV]

3. I think its up more than a notch.

I think they are trying to soften us up for accepting a strike by Israel directly on Iranian facilities - soon.

[Old and In the Way]

4. China and Russia are talking about security pact with Iran and Pakistan.

If that occurs, the dynamics of any actions on Iran completely changes. I imagine it will only hasten Israel's timeline to attack. Since when was it deemed acceptable for any nation to take unilateral action on another country who has not made any overt act of aggression on this nation? Will Israel get a UN vote to cover their declaration of war?

[AverageJoe90]

7. Don't think they'll be foolish enough to go thru with it........

At least not the Russians, anyway.

[Yavin4]

5. With Iraq Over and Afghanistan On Its Way Over, the MIC Needs A New War

otherwise there's little justification for a $700 Billion year annual budget in perpetuity.

[truedelphi]

6. Oh, they have that justificiation - two weeks ago, hearings were heard

By various House and Senate panels and commissions, and at these hearings the Military Big Shots were saying that our armed services needed to be modernized! The Military Big Shots want military budget increases of fifteen percent, for starters!

No one on any of these panels spoke up with, "For Pete's sake, give me a break! Far too much of our money goes to the military as it is."

instead, they all accepted that notion.

The other big notion that was accepted was that it costs more to fight a war without Americans "in country" than it does to have them here. So the more troops we pull out of Afghanistan, the bigger budget that is needed!

And again, no one in the House or Senate blinked. By golly, if these "fine officers" who have fattened their lifestyle with excessive kickbacks need more money, let's make sure they have it!

[Yavin4]

10. They Want $805 Billion?!?! A Year?!?!?

My goodness.

[truedelphi]

11. Now, now, you wouldn't want our armed services stuck with

Moldy old equipment? Would you?

I imagine fifteen percent is floated out there and that eventually they will end up with five percent increases.

[Yavin4]

14. I Would Love A Sum Total of the Defense Budgets from Jimmy Carter to Now

I would guess that it's multiple trillions of dollars. And yet, during that time the Soviet Union dissolved, and China is our ally now. So, tell me why in hell do we need to spend $800 billion a year?!?!?!

[truedelphi]

15. I forget the source(s), but I remember when Nine Eleven occurred,

several different defense experts were like, "How is that we have spent over 34 trillions of dollars from Eisenhower on, to protect the nation, and the one day it was needed, the system didn't work?"

However, no one ever used a starting year.

And it is so hard to factor in inflation. For instance, the 155 mm Howitzers that my dad and the platoon he was in had launched against the Third Reich cost our government some $ 300 bucks a piece. And recently some DU'er had posted the information about the "improved, modernized version" of that shell at a cost per item of over 89,000 bucks. How much is inflation, how much is things like smart sensors now being built into the weaponry?

[n2doc]

13. Look! A Terraist! Be verry verry scared!

Isn't feeling safe from the mighty Al Q worth any price?

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. Wag the Dog.

[spanone]

9. wind down one war....gin up another.

that's our pentagon.