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Gates says Iran has multiple missile attack capability
Venezuela Star Friday 18th June, 2010
United States intelligence sources have determined that Iran could shower Europe with scores of missiles.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said his intelligence units had researched Iran’s ballistic missile capability and had decided Europe would have to deal with "scores or even hundreds of missiles" if Iran decided to attack.
Gates said the intelligence had led to the Obama administration's decision to overhaul missile defences in Europe, in and around its NATO allied countries.
He said the upgraded missile interceptors "would give us the ability to protect our troops, our bases, our facilities and our allies in Europe."
Speaking at a congressional hearing, Gates said that Russia's approach to Iran had been "schizophrenic," pursuing commercial ties while acknowledging that a nuclear-armed Tehran would pose a major security threat.
Gates said he had nevertheless sought to allay Russian concerns about the new US approach to European missile defences by playing down the system's ability to counter a large-scale attack from Russia.
He said: "Our missile defences do not have the capability to defend against the Russian Federation's large, advanced arsenal. Consequently, US missile defences do not and will not affect Russia's strategic deterrent."
US intelligence agencies were more concerned, he said, about Iran's growing nuclear missile threat, which is why NATO allies intended covering Europe with anti-ballistic missile systems.
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Comments on this story
| By Chad Jab, 06-18-10, 06:46 AM |
Iran could attack Europe with mighty force says GatesThis dude is selling fear without showing even a shred of evidence to prove what he is saying!!!! Without the evidence it is obvious that he is just lying when he is talking this way, trying to justify putting up a missile defense system in Europe. A missile defense system without doubt will make Europe more insecure rather than making Europe more secure like this shrewd hypocrite is saying here. Yes of course, not just Iran but any nation WILL retaliate with whatever means they have at their disposal when attacked without provocation! If European, it is actually very insulting to see how Americans are mocking the Europeans by assuming that stupid Europeans will believe anything and everything that is being told to them by the Americans as the absolute truth without even asking to see any evidence to prove their case!!!! |
| By Anonymous, 06-18-10, 06:56 AM |
| Chad,do not be screaming help,when the crazy president of Iran launch the strike in Europe.Ypu could be somewhre in Europe enjoying your tea wnen the Iranian Missile strike. |
| By registered, 06-20-10, 05:11 PM |
|
bellagiodude;210912: Its is really incredible some of the responses here..
first and fore most if it wasnt for the USA most of you would be in a dictatorship country with no freedoms. The US leads the world because there are no other countries capaible of doing what the US military does. We are always first there when disaster hits... We are first there when a country needs our help. ie Kawait when it was invade by iraq. Show a little graditude for the USA. Oh and just a little trivia... It took the US military 90 days to do what Iran couldnt do in 10 years and that was defeat iraq. Long Live the US and all of here allies truly Gods country!
Just read the slanted articles.
You have found a site that leftists, Islamofacists, Socialist, Marxist, Jew haters, and all around America hating fools gravitate to.
Great place to promote a little bit of truth in an avalanche of lies, half truths and nonsense. |
| By Syed Suhail Khalid, 06-18-10, 06:56 AM |
| Europe first has to ask for evidence. |
| By Pedro Obrero, 06-18-10, 07:00 AM |
Gates says Iran could unleash hundreds of missiles on EuropeYou guys better be sure there are really WMD in Eyeran. Sounds like an Eyeraq deja vu moment, oh, oh, here we go again.
Ahmad and his scientists are processing plutonium but do they have guidance and delivery systems?
I would love it if you guys are wrong, but what if you are right? Who are the folks Ahmad are gonna hit first? Israel, KSA, or Europe? Ahmad is crazy but who is the real puppeteer in Eyeran? |
| By The Diplomat, 06-18-10, 07:18 AM |
World War IIISo what else is new. Armageddon!? |
| By A BLack, 06-18-10, 07:33 AM |
Always Lie to Win A War, No Gut if AloneGuys, please learn history, USA were forced into WW1 but they dont have guts to fight alone, they may won some of the battle but were defeated in IndoChina, Korea, worst in Vietnam, Afghan even they were actually lost in Iraq becaquse it was not a gentleman game with equal strenght. Now they have to seek support from european after failed to get from Russia and China in order to face Iran. Iran is ALONE and never provoke anyone. They have all the right to defence and protect it Sovereignty.
Israelis also has nuke but no one bother.. and he is taking Arabs land piece by piece and kill and attack unarm civillians... actually israelis and american are same kind of people who are fear to fight with an equal strenght.. pitty them..
and pitty and shame the arabs people who doesnt have any guts to safeguard their Sovereignty.. worst when they leave their blood brothers in Gaza and Palestine for slaughtering festival by the Israelis.... |
| By Asianplumb, 06-18-10, 07:55 AM |
Precursor to warThis typical bul**** flows out of Pentagon as part of their ongoing building of a lie with the intent of invading and thieving assets like oil as just like they did in Iraq. This madness should never be allowed to gain wings like the WOMD bulldust stories and the “Hunting for Bin Laden” when their real interset is gas,oil, opium and pipeline grids. Never before in history has a taxpayer funded army gone to war on behalf of the shareholders and directors of multinational oil and gas companies, but it’s the way of the American government now as they are firmly in the grip of a sponsorship deal with these awful faceless giants of commerce. Yes democracy has long been declining in standards and now it’s gone completely and they may as well paint oil co logos on their army vehicles and cut the charade out. |
| By Anonymous, 06-18-10, 07:59 AM |
i dont care!!!!!!get a life people.... |
| By Anonymous, 06-18-10, 08:10 AM |
Gates is selling fear!US military can’t fight alone and so they want to take suckers with them. |
| By Reality cheque, 06-18-10, 08:21 AM |
Balkanize Iran and Pakistan.Unless Mr. Gates respect the human rights and right of self-determination of ethnic minorities of Iran & Pakistan, without
which “Democracy” is uncomplete, he can`t save the lives of
European citizens from missile threats from Iran and elsewhere.
To protect your life and freedom, you must first protect
the freedom of ethnic minorities like Kurds, Azeris, Ahwazis,
Baluchs and let Iran and Pakistan be broken like ex-jogoslovia which was a threat to Europe under Serbian flag.
The same applies to Iran and Pakistan and the ground reality
to break the bones of fascists like Punjabis and Persians shall
result peace in the whole world. |
| By The Fox, 06-18-10, 08:24 AM |
Well what's up DocYou know it aint going to make any difference because if it aint Iran it’ll be some other nutter. As for America she could whipe Iran of the face of the earth now if it wanted to and still be home in time for tea. I would suggest that you all enjoy your life because if some stupid dumb arse launches there will be nothing left to enjoy. For gods sake stop blaming the US for every thing. |
| By Unregistered1, 06-19-10, 12:26 AM |
PropagandaGates get your head out of your arse! The world knows better now to believe this BS, American leaders control the population through fear mongering and mis-information! Bea at 12pm thinks Iran is the bad guy! Iran was a democractic Country with a great future until it leader wouldn’t deal with British and American oil companies. Who overthrew the legal government to install the Shaw a dictator who robbed the Country which resulted in the religeous leadership they now have! Fox we could stop picking on America if it would mind its own business, but it won’t. Americas days are numbered-first being owned by China and the United Em. and run by Israel it has lost its moral base! Sad as it had such potential to do good but choose greed and power and will loose it all! |
| By Anonymous, 06-18-10, 10:21 AM |
| Ruhel, I doubt that you have done or written anything that you claim. You can barely string two sentences together. Is this due to the torture by 'Brain Waves' or simply a lack of them? |
| By Anonymous, 06-18-10, 11:44 AM |
| lol, what he/she said |
| By COMMUNIST!!!!, 06-18-10, 11:54 AM |
GATES IS MISLEADING THE WORLDIRAN KNOWS THAT WARS ARE OBSOLETE BUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE IN VOGUE IS THE AUTO GOVERNANCE A HUMAN SOFTWARE WHICH SHALL MAKE WESTERN GOVERNMENTS INEFFECTIVE AND REDUNDENT |
| By Syed Suhail Khalid, 06-18-10, 01:12 PM |
USA is just cheating again and is up to the same mischief.This Gates is once again lying to the world and to the US families to make them have one more war and have many more of their citizens/relatives be sent to the slaughter houses for very macabre losses of life.
USA is just creating a hype about Iran have nuclear weapons.This is only to get an excuse to occupy Iran and then move on to Russia from the Caspian sea.It cannot do this alone .So it will take the support of other NATO powers(Except Turkey)and open up many fronts around Russia,and then USA will open up the North Korean front too under some pretext and attack Russia from all these places around Russia.When such ids the plan of USA and NATO,USA wouldn’t like Russia to be having a friend like Iran.Iran has the potential to put US and NATO plans against Russia into jeopardy.So this Gates is using all his nerd intelligence to present Iran as an enemy of humanity.But we know who is humanity’s worst enemy! |
| By Anonymous, 06-18-10, 02:17 PM |
If you want to know why things are happening in this wayRead how the white men treated the original people in New Zealand, Australia, America, and Canada. They wiped them out to take their land and still have the guts to preach to people like Iranian not to be agressive despite the fact that Iran has not wage war for thousand’s of year. Can’t blame those ignorant and naive kids in the west, their forefather hide so much of their sins that they don’t even know there was such a thing called slavery in their closet. |
| By demontel, 06-18-10, 02:36 PM |
If you want to know why things are happening in this wayI agree with you anonymous. Gen Jackson, Davy Crocket, Buffalo Bill to name a few are all Indian killers...glorified and honored for the genocide of the Red Indians in the wild west |
| By Anonymous, 06-18-10, 02:54 PM |
| If Iran dores not have a crazy leader like the Iranian president who is the puppet of the Mullahs and trade peacefully with the world at large with out no fear that his neighbors will blast him off.They have problem in Iran because freedom is control by the religious leader of the country.Iran does not need ABommb or missiles that can deliver across the world. The Leaders are power hungary and want to dominate the Persian gulf. |
| By secret slave, 06-18-10, 03:51 PM |
How many fictional books written into accountings?salaam,
Bought at a fictional price index !
feeamanellaah |
| By zeealgje, 06-18-10, 04:02 PM |
ojhegod jezus is or saivor aim not afrait
fhom the nederland,s |
| By bea, 06-18-10, 05:00 PM |
Protect Israel not Europe.Since when is Iran saying it has any plans to nuke Europe since most of those countries buy oil through the black market from these terrorists. It’s Israel and the US they want to hurt. Although I’m sure they would love to blackmail the world with their peaceful nuclear program if they get the chance... |
| By Anonymous, 06-18-10, 05:06 PM |
Ruhel, you gotta take your medications man.The discussions was going so well and then Ruhel forgets to take his medications. |
| By eric siverson, 06-18-10, 05:07 PM |
nuclear IranI understand Russia is building a nuclear reactor for Iran . Even though they say they dont want Iran to have nuclear weapons . Did I read this right ? United States provided Iran with their last nuclear reactor . now we insist they stop enriching uranium . It is kinda confusing trying to keep up with whats going on for me . Or has evreyone lost their mind accept me ? |
| By Not Clueless, 06-18-10, 05:25 PM |
You are as crazy as the President of IranFor all you Israel, USA nasayers... Iran believes we (USA) are the Great Satan, and Israel is the little Satan and have threatened to remove us from existance. Israel has done nothing but try to protect them and their land. Never have they threatened anyone unless they were being threatened. I can’t believe what I’m reading by some of you. You are the gutless ones! Grow some balls as stop giving in like our current Administration. We are now looked at, by other countries, as cowards, because of people like you and your fantasy world that we should all get along. Give yourselves a reality check. That is never going to happen. There are way to many people that want to controll and be the ruler over everything and believe they have the rights to whatever they want. We have to defend ourselves and our land or they will take over. That will never change! It will be very soon if we keep up this way of thinking... Give it time. You will wish we would of stood up and fought for our rights, just like the Israelis are trying to do. God Help you all that think this will end if we stay out of it, or buy into the lies that everyone should all be equal. We are dealing with another Hitler here, even worse. I’m beside myself that so many are feeding right into the trap that is going to ruin us. Mark my words....if our mindsets don’t change, we are all headed for unthinkable times. Hopefully all the believers will be spared before the worst of it begins. |
| By Smitty, 06-18-10, 05:54 PM |
You can't trust any of themThe truth is you cannot trust any of the governments of the world. I am a US citizen, but I know enough to know that I cannot really trust my government - the people who make it to the top in terms of governing, get there primarily because they are willing to do anything to make it into power. They may have started out with altruistic purposes in mind, but they have to compromise time and time again in order to get where they are going. They end up like the other leaders before them; bereft of honesty and full of the brutality it took to get them into office. This is not just true for the United States; it is true for every country on earth; to think any differently is to live in naivety. Human nature is no different if you are in the United States, China, Iran, Russia, etc...; power corrupts.
If I want to know truth about a people, like Iranians for example, I cannot look at the government and its leaders to give me that understanding. I have to come to know the people, and what their hopes and dreams are. I work with an Iranian man whom I truly admire. And I have rarely met a more gentle soul, or someone I would proud to be friends with more than him. But listening to the media, you would think that he must be a mass murderer or a baby killer because he is Iranian. Of course, that is the same picture that the leaders in Iran paint of the Americans, the same picture Israel paints of Arabs, and on and on. The leaders of our countries are not doing the right thing by their people, and they probably never will. Do yourself and the world a big favor and ignore your leaders and think for yourself. When you do this, it is amazing how few differences there are that REALLY matter between the people in different countries. |
| By Solomon, 06-18-10, 07:33 PM |
Trust in GodWell said Smitty. A person is smart...governments are not. |
| By Not Clueless, 06-18-10, 08:03 PM |
AgreeI agree Smitty... I was talking about the so called “leaders” in this world. I don’t believe all Iranians are bad people, I should have specified that, I do believe the leaders of Iran are very dangerous and we need to stand our ground and fight for what we believe in. Yes, power corrupts all, but there was One that never caved to power, He had more power than anyone that has existed here on earth. That should say a lot to many who don’t believe in the Almighty God! |
| By Nabuquduriuzhur, 06-18-10, 09:57 PM |
Always Europe is unpreparedBy all means— ignore the warnings, just as you did with Hitler and many others since! The Shehab 3 can reach most of Europe as it is from current deployments in Iran. it can accept multiple types of warheads. Iran is busily building a base with the Syrians in the Anti-Lebanon Mountain that can attack all of Europe. They are protected by the S-300, which may turn out to be a decent AA system, unlike most Soviet/Russian systems. Want more, a few sites like janes or globalsecurity dot org or debka file. Turkey has abandoned Attaturk and is now following Iran. Of course, as always, Europe will fight to the last American. I wouldn’t count on an incompetent like the U.S. president for much of anything. Such a one is an insult to the faith. |
| By fila, 06-18-10, 10:16 PM |
Well said (not clueless)I agree with you 100% And Ruhel. Is it possible to sit at a keyboard and write such convoluted nonsense without being high on some kind of drugs? |
| By Unregistered 2, 06-19-10, 01:08 AM |
| unregistered1 you are not wrong! |
| By Anonymous, 06-19-10, 02:39 AM |
Wake Up AmericaI know this is going to make lot of people mad. But oh well, It is true that the USA has not won a war since WWII. I think it’s time for USA to step up or step out. I so sick of hearing how the USA is a police force which is true. I think it’s time for the USA to start using real force instead of worrying about what the rest of the world is going to say. To the American people lets grow some balls again. If we are at war let us act like it. There are no rules in war. So why do we care who we kill do they? |
| By amazed, 06-19-10, 04:08 AM |
people never seize to amaze meruhel christy do you not have a better way to comunicate your message to people then that, just what are you trying to say!!!!!!!!!! and too- Not clueless- your right on target with the truth |
| By amazed, 06-19-10, 04:55 AM |
Too FunnyAnonymous-your replys to Ruhel are way to funny |
| By Anonymous, 06-19-10, 07:01 AM |
Some of you are really off! Or maybe doing the Adversary's bidding.Smitty, Solomon, and Not Clueless is playing the devil’s advocate. Trust God? Who is your God? Jahbulun alias Satan, it is! By the way, Solomon was a disgrace to the Maker.
They are preaching ANARCHY! The Maker never preached division and anarchy. When he comes, he will be coming as King of Kings and so there will still be kings on earth at that time.
Good government will lead to a successful nation. Stinking government will lead to a rotten nation. It is the Maker’s rule. The Maker never taught anarchy. You break the Maker’s rule, you pay!
That is all to it! You reap what you sow. The US-UK is decaying today because the majority of its people were complacent, indifferent, and careless to their governents' evil deeds. Worse than that, Freemasonry (satanic worship) and the worship of money deserve the Maker’s wrath.
|
| By bellagiodude, 06-20-10, 08:28 AM |
unbelieveableIts is really incredible some of the responses here..
first and fore most if it wasnt for the USA most of you would be in a dictatorship country with no freedoms. The US leads the world because there are no other countries capaible of doing what the US military does. We are always first there when disaster hits... We are first there when a country needs our help. ie Kawait when it was invade by iraq. Show a little graditude for the USA. Oh and just a little trivia... It took the US military 90 days to do what Iran couldnt do in 10 years and that was defeat iraq. Long Live the US and all of here allies truly Gods country! |
| By nregistered, 06-20-10, 05:09 PM |
Believe it this site is not about the truth but about Propaganda
bellagiodude;210912: Its is really incredible some of the responses here..
first and fore most if it wasnt for the USA most of you would be in a dictatorship country with no freedoms. The US leads the world because there are no other countries capaible of doing what the US military does. We are always first there when disaster hits... We are first there when a country needs our help. ie Kawait when it was invade by iraq. Show a little graditude for the USA. Oh and just a little trivia... It took the US military 90 days to do what Iran couldnt do in 10 years and that was defeat iraq. Long Live the US and all of here allies truly Gods country!
Just read the slanted articles.
You have found a site that leftists, Islamofacists, Socialist, Marxist, Jew haters, and all around America hating fools gravitate to.
Great place to promote a little bit of truth in an avalanche of lies, half truths and nonsense. |
| By registered, 06-20-10, 05:11 PM |
Believe it this site is for propaganda only!
bellagiodude;210912: Its is really incredible some of the responses here..
first and fore most if it wasnt for the USA most of you would be in a dictatorship country with no freedoms. The US leads the world because there are no other countries capaible of doing what the US military does. We are always first there when disaster hits... We are first there when a country needs our help. ie Kawait when it was invade by iraq. Show a little graditude for the USA. Oh and just a little trivia... It took the US military 90 days to do what Iran couldnt do in 10 years and that was defeat iraq. Long Live the US and all of here allies truly Gods country!
Just read the slanted articles you will never find a positive article about America unless it is talking about our Marxist Islamo loving POTUS.
You have found a site that leftists, Islamofacists, Socialist, Marxist, Jew haters, and all around America hating fools gravitate to.
Great place to promote a little bit of truth in an avalanche of lies, half truths and nonsense. |
| By Much Amused, 06-22-10, 07:02 AM |
US IntelligenceBriefly reading an excerpt of this article, I find US intelligence and credibility being used in the same sentence highly amusing. US intelligence is now a facade with government officials sponsored by Big Oil, Big Defence Contractors and Big MNC pulling the strings to fulfill their own agendas. This is the same intelligence that was certain of WMDs in Iraq and Bin Laden in Afghanistan - what a joke that turned out to be.
It seems like this article makes out the Europeans to be some sort of sheep that need corraling by the giant American cowboy for their own protection. What a ploy to sell more useless missile sheild equipment to rich western nations. If I was living in Europe I would find this offensive, as I don’t, its merely amusing. When will Americans grow up and just mind their own business. Iran striking at Europe, that just priceless! |
| By Much Amused, 06-22-10, 07:11 AM |
US IntelligenceBriefly reading an excerpt of this article, I find US intelligence and credibility being used in the same sentence highly amusing. US intelligence is now a facade with government officials sponsored by Big Oil, Big Defence Contractors and Big MNC pulling the strings to fulfill their own agendas. This is the same intelligence that was certain of WMDs in Iraq and Bin Laden in Afghanistan - what a joke that turned out to be.
It seems like this article makes out the Europeans to be some sort of sheep that need corraling by the giant American cowboy for their own protection. What a ploy to sell more useless missile sheild equipment to rich western nations. If I was living in Europe I would find this offensive, as I don’t, its merely amusing. When will Americans grow up and just mind their own business. Iran striking at Europe, that just priceless! |
| By nregistered, 06-22-10, 02:03 PM |
Except WMD AND wmd PRECURSORS WERE found in Iraq by the Tons!
Much Amused;211259: Briefly reading an excerpt of this article, I find US intelligence and credibility being used in the same sentence highly amusing. US intelligence is now a facade with government officials sponsored by Big Oil, Big Defence Contractors and Big MNC pulling the strings to fulfill their own agendas. This is the same intelligence that was certain of WMDs in Iraq and Bin Laden in Afghanistan - what a joke that turned out to be.
It seems like this article makes out the Europeans to be some sort of sheep that need corraling by the giant American cowboy for their own protection. What a ploy to sell more useless missile sheild equipment to rich western nations. If I was living in Europe I would find this offensive, as I don’t, its merely amusing. When will Americans grow up and just mind their own business. Iran striking at Europe, that just priceless!
Quote:
For years, the media and Democrats have sold the public an understanding that Gerorge W. Bush fabricated a story that Saddam Hussein had a WMD program in order to justify invading Iraq, which invasion then becomes “based on a lie."
About 550 metric tons of yellowcake concentrated uranium were recently shipped out of Iraq. It had been part of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear program. That much was recently reported by the Associated Press . I wrote an article for American Thinker that commented on that story the day it appeared.
That yellowcake stockpile pre-dated 1991, and had been under the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency “safeguard” from then until 2003. That was mentioned in the AP article and I mentioned it in the update to my article the day it was published. In fact, American Thinker contributors Douglas Hanson and Rick Moran had written about that yellowcake stockpile years ago here, here and here. Douglas Hanson reported four years ago:
“Professor Norman Dombey, professor of theoretical physics at the University of Sussex, England, has confirmed that Saddam Hussein had more than enough yellowcake uranium to make over 100 nuclear weapons."
The recent AP story was not news with respect to the existence of this stockpile in Iraq to those who follow such things closely. But I’m sure many readers had never been aware of this large stockpile of yellowcake in Iraq at all. This new AP story, and perhaps my article, helped get that information out. As Investor’s Business Daily more recently put it , “Seems to us this should be big news," but “the mainstream media find it inconveniently contradicts the story they have been telling you for years."
Also, this new story reminded even those aware of its existence of what a huge and dangerous stockpile it was. First, it took 37 military flights to ship it from Baghdad to Diego Garcia. Even when not processed into nuclear weapons, it was dangerous in its own right, being radioactive. It could also be used in other methods of spreading radiation short of full nuclear bombs. The AP story explained the logistical nightmare of simply transporting it. It also cited the fear of it falling into the hands of insurgents. That is how dangerous it was when we were in control of it.
However, some readers have noted its “old news” aspect. One wrote the American Thinker as follows.
“Of course there was lots of yellow cake in Iraq . Those news orgs you so dislike reported five years ago on how tons of it was just sitting out in the open in Tawaitha. It was so accessible that the locals were looting the site. Most of the articles at that time were critical of the lack of security from U.S. troops for the former nuclear development site. Please note the word former...it’s pretty important since former was the word you could use in 2000 as well. Anyway, that isn’t news. Neither is the fact that Saddam had delivery mechanisms. However, he did not have an active nuclear weapons program, unless one means the capacity to deliver one or two dirty bombs (which the yellow cake couldn’t be used for, btw, because it is basically an inert compound). But even dirty bombs aren’t a particularly scary threat, since you or I or anyone else could buy materials for dirty bombs at Home Depot. But Saddam just didn’t have the resources to do anything more than that due to IAEA inspections and other international efforts. In fact, he didn’t have any technology or raw materials dating anytime after 1991. He was technologically impotent. Which means the UN’s efforts, so belittled by the Bush administration in the ramp-up to invasion (as well as by revisionist neocon historians...?) had worked exactly as intended. So the “American Thinker” article is really a great example of precisely the distorted sort of ranting that it tries to claim is nobly contrary to popular sentiment but somehow true. But it’s not true. It’s simply bizarre."
I believe the dirty bomb scenario is irrelevant here. Saddam could have had an active program without having anything in production or deliverable at all. A weapon program is not a weapon; it is a program — it means the potential for future weapons. This distinction seems to get lost way too often.
I also believe it is way too naive to think being under IAEA safeguard really means “safe”. First, Saddam continually defied the IAEA as it was; that was a reason for multiple UN resolutions to sanction him. Second, the IAEA got what little respect it did from Saddam because the U.S. was backing it up with about 150,000 troops on the ready nearby. Third, Saddam was using oil-for-food money to bribe away the sanctions and inspection regime (see the Duelfer Report). Fourth, why didn’t the IAEA make Saddam get rid of it? In short, the IAEA was no guarantee that Saddam would keep his hands off that stockpile in the near future, or that he was keeping away from it even then.
But a question remains: Was Saddam’s nuclear weapon program active at the time of our invasion in 2003? As IBD puts it, this yellowcake stockpile “more or less proves Saddam in 2003 had a program on hold for building WMD and that he planned to boot it up again soon."
Is a program that is “on hold” not an “active” program? Does it matter? After all, a “program” is not currently deliverable WMD; it is the potential of future WMD. In turn, a program “on hold” just pushes the date of deliverable WMD a little more into the future. How tightly do you want to time defending yourself against incoming WMD? (To many critics, there just never seems to be a good time. From the time WMD are in development to the time nuclear missiles are inbound, these critics just can’t seem to find an appropriate window of opportunity to defend against them.)
But let me get back to the question of whether Saddam had an active nuclear program in 2003, in the strong sense of the word “active”. The recent AP story on the shipment of the stockpile to Canada does not let us conclude anything one way or the other on that. But that does not mean that Saddam did not have an active WMD program in 2003. Nor does it mean the 550 tons of yellowcake were “safe”, even if under UN “safeguard”. Nor does it mean we had nothing to worry about from Saddam regarding WMD in 2003. It simply means, as it always did, that in 2003 Saddam was sitting on enough yellowcake to make more than 100 nuclear weapons.
While some read the Duelfer Report as conclusive and definitive (meaning no nuclear program in 2003, period), read its “findings” closely. Duelfer states that “Iraq’s ability to reconstitute a nuclear weapons program progressively decayed” after 1991, and the “ISG found no evidence to suggest concerted efforts to restart the program."
A “decayed” ability does not mean non-existent. Finding “no evidence” does not mean no existence. And why would an effort need to be “concerted?" (Always beware of adjectives in executive summaries.) Duelfer also reports “Iraq took steps to conceal key elements of its program." In the nuclear section of the Duelfer report, the word “looted” is found 28 times, as in “U.S. military forces found Al-Athir abandoned and heavily looted. ISG visited and found no evidence of uranium conversion activities."
I do not think it “bizarre” that the Saddam regime, one that had once had WMD programs and deployable chemical weapons (which are WMD), a government that had defied UN inspectors multiple times, and one that “took steps to conceal” its WMD programs, might just clear out evidence of its programs — those areas that were “looted” — once it was likely they would fall into the hands of the U.S. Coalition. As I have said before , Eliot Ness also found “no evidence” in Al Capone’s hotel room.
Frankly, I don’t know for sure what is true. Saddam might have had ready-to-go WMD, but they were hidden or taken to another country by the time our CIA inspectors showed up in Iraq. (Duelfer says “we cannot express a firm view on the possibility that WMD elements were relocated out of Iraq prior to the war.") Saddam might have had active programs, but they were concealed at the time, with the evidence destroyed (“looted”) by March 2003. Or maybe he really did put all his programs on hiatus by 2003. But even Charles Duelfer concluded that Saddam had every intention of getting back into the WMD business as soon as he could end the sanctions regime, which he was busy doing with oil-for-food bribes.
I think it neither illogical nor bizarre to think Saddam had WMD or WMD programs in 2003. I still believe he did, in a “preponderance of the evidence” sense. And I believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he would have been back in the WMD business by now, if not by 2004, had we not invaded.
That he sat on 550 metric tons of yellowcake under UN “safeguard” is about as comforting to me as knowing the convicted child rapist next door has a case of duct tape (dual use, by the way) that the police check up on every week.
The sheer quantity of dual use precursor ingredients was on a scale so vast it is hard to imagine.
This from a man that used Gas on his own people and on Iran.
What do you do with a mad dog but put them down? |
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