Iran is working on that whole Nuke thing too... Axis of Evil sounds about right

[Zen-like Todd]

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/12/12/iran.nuclear/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States has new evidence that Iran is constructing large nuclear facilities that were secret until now, according to senior U.S. officials.

Commercial satellite photographs taken in September show a nuclear facility near the town of Natanz and another one near Arak, the officials said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said its inspectors have not been able to visit those sites.

Knowledgeable U.S. officials say the nuclear facilities are of a type and size that strongly suggest it may be on course to build a nuclear weapon.

Nuclear expert David Albright agrees, citing both the size, and until now, the secrecy of the sites.

"Iran looks like it's building very large nuclear facilities that could be part of an effort to make the material you need to make nuclear weapons," he said.

Albright is head of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), which identified the photographs. ISIS is a non-profit, non-partisan institution that focuses on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.

The satellite picture of the facility near Arak causes particular concern for nuclear experts.

"This is a heavy water plant. It's very similar to other heavy water plants we've seen in areas such as Pakistan, and the important facilities here is this kind of Z-shaped structure," said Corey Hinderstein, also of ISIS.

The large facility at Natanz appears to U.S. intelligence officials to be a uranium enrichment plant and civilian experts agree with that assessment.

"We believe this is a uranium enrichment facility and could be a centrifuge facility," said Hinderstein.

Iran, which has a publicly declared nuclear program at Bushehr that is designed, according to its ambassador to the United Nations, only to produce peaceful nuclear power for electricity.

"I can categorically tell you that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program," said Javad Zarif. "Any facility we have ... if it is dealing with nuclear technology, it is within the purview of our peaceful nuclear program."

A spokesman at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna confirms the agency is seeking access to the two sites and has so far been put off by Iran.

Iranian officials say a trip by senior IAEA officials to Iran is expected in February. IAEA officials say on that trip they want to visit Arak and Natanz.

The IAEA officials also point out that to date nothing that Iran is known to have done has violated international law.

Iranian officials say the United States cannot be trusted on the details of its nuclear program since Washington does not want Iran to have any program -- not even for civilian energy

Revelation of Iran's new plants comes one day after the Bush administration released its strategy to combat weapons of mass destruction. The report warned that any nation using such weapons against the United States or its allies would face massive retaliation, perhaps with nuclear weapons.

[Yomar]

Today, tomorrow, 15 years from now, its really only a matter of time before almost every industralized country in the world posseses nuclear weapons, and there isn't a whole lot the anyone can do about it I don't think.

[Sarge]

Gee, looks like Dubya might have actually known what he was talking about, huh? Looks like he's backed up by some intelligence that actually calls a spade a spade, huh? Actually, there is plenty that can be done. We do what Isreal had the kohonas to do in the early 80's, and that is take these places out, and tell these countries that those places are gonna stay out of commission until regimes come to power in those countries that want to act like they have some sense.

[godeatgod]

Good News. One more country to bomb.

[Yomar]

Originally posted by Air Sarge

We do what Isreal had the kohonas to do in the early 80's, and that is take these places out, and tell these countries that those places are gonna stay out of commission until regimes come to power in those countries that want to act like they have some sense.

At this point, I feel like we are just sticking our fingers in a dyke thats about to burst...

[Tarhog]

Lets not bring Ellen Degeneres into this, its a big enough mess as it is.

Sorry, I know it was wrong, but I just couldn't resist.

[Riggo-toni]

This should be no surprise to anyone. Why else would an oil-rich cash-poor nation have been working on a nuclear power program.

I have been saying for some time to friends that Iran will have a bomb before Iraq, and that an Iran with a bomb scares me more than Saddam with a bomb. Saddam at least might be deterred by the threat of retaliation. Iran's mullahs are more likely to pass suitcase nukes on to Hezbollah to drop on Israel, or to smuggle into this country and drop off in lower Manhattan or DC. They just might be deluded enough to believe Allah will reward/protect them for such genocide.

[Johnny Punani2]

Originally posted by Tarhog

Lets not bring Ellen Degeneres into this, its a big enough mess as it is.

No, I think Rosie O'Donnell would be a better fit for a fat dyke who is ready to burst. Have you seen the size of her head? :laugh: