If I were a religious man, that'd be my prayer. Unfortunately, I'm a pragmatist. I suspect that the translation is correct and that this particular minister is a fanatic.
They signed the NPT. They're actually sacrificing their safety because they don't want to break the treaty. Their standing military is probably the strongest of all the Arab Nations, and I suspect they're banking on a combination of that and the fact that they know their allies would help if they were attacked (which probably isn't true).

I know they've agreed to the NPT. They've also ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC). (Israel has done none of these things.)

If the NPT were ratified globally, and disarmament was something assured, Iran could rest easy. In other words, Iran has little reason to rest easy in regards to nuclear weapons in the Middle East and Asia.

Amen. I'd feel a lot safer if no one had nukes, especially Israel.

http://www.inteldaily.com/?c=173&a=5479
If you have friends and family in Iran, it would seem now would probably be the time to recommend that they take a vacation outside their country. I'd recommend Europe.

Is this as bad as some are making it out to be, or are they exaggerating? They seriously aren't thinking of going to war with Iran are they?

I asked a similar question in 2003.

Seriously, it's a very distinct possibility.

But is this as big an indication as people are saying? How significant is this "resignation".... really?

I see the Adm. William Fallon resignation as a really bad sign.

I'm with Will, know anybody you like or love who lives in Iran? I suggest advising them to pack their bags while they still can.

For everyone else: Liquidate all you can and put your money into oil and gold stocks, and then eventually shift the portfolio to include alternative energy stocks.

(That is, if it's as serious as it is.)

The Eisenhower nuclear aircraft carrier strike force has departed for stationing off Iran, joining forces already in place there, and loaded to the brim with strike aircraft, Tomahawk missiles, and even nuclear weapons.
When you consider this with the resignation of Fallon, we have probably the clearest indication of an attack that we're going to get.

Didn't Eisenhower overthrow Iran once already? :no:

History really does repeat itself. A democratically elected government is overthrown because it's not bending over for the US. If this time is anything like last time, we'll instal an insane religious leader who we think is our puppet.

Let's see bush has how many months left in office. No wait, make that we have how many months left until the election? So a national crisis and war would play directly into the standard GOP strategy, right? I predict if the Dems don't completely self destruct by, let's say, July... then Iran is screwed, IMHO.

BTW- I spent a month on Diego Gracia, BIOT one week. Still have the t-shirt to prove it.

According to my shirt's front:

Every week is chicken choking week on Diego Gracia

Per it's back:

Diego Gracia- Where men are men and donkey's know it!

Gotta love military humor.

Everyone says Diego is where they keep the Stargate.

I've contacted several people about getting the fuck out. I've also contacted locals about staging massive demonstrations. This Saturday I'll go to the CoS protest and let them know their priorities are all fucked up.

Just tell them they're going into Iran for their antidepressants. :thumbsup:

* * * * *

I'll be keeping my eye on the American media to see if we get the same patterns we've seen with the lead-up to Iraq.

I really hope this fizzles out.

Nope, that would be Guam. I guaranteed the US will never give up it's territory there.

I'm an idiot, what CoS?

Church of Scientology.

China reveals Iran's nuclear secrets to UN
 

Interesting turn of events ... China has been one of Iran's biggest protectors regarding UN investigations for evidence of nuclear weapons development. With the Olympics coming up, is China trying to get a PR bump? With recent crackdowns and abuses in Tibet, have they sold Iran out to divert attention from human rights issues? Are they really so concerned about one of their prominent human-rights activists recently jailed in Iran? Does Iran and China have some 'splainin' to do?

Article from toaday's www.telegraph.co.uk

Written by someone who doesn't understand fission. "High explosives" are not used in nuclear bombs, only a small explosive to propel a bullet into the sphere and generator. Not only that, but gun-triggered fission bombs aren't as efficient as implosion bombs.

As for "dirty bombs"? They don't work. Their danger is a myth. There were numerous studies a few years back that said even the most powerful dirty bomb would have to be detonated, and people would have to stand there for a year for it to have an effect.

This is either a very innapropriate and late Aprtil Fools joke, or really poor reporting.

Relax, willravel, "reporter" McElroy knows who his audience is and he makes up the shit....I mean...he reports the "news" that they want to hear:

More from McElroy:

Whoops....is this a "whopper", or is the US spending a "shitload" of money:
Do we need to get Joe Lieberman to correct the reporting of "expert" on Iraq, Damien McElroy?
The differences in our POVs comes down to the sources we choose for information. If you rely on sources who tell you want you want to hear, Damien McElroy is your kind of "foreign" correspondent!

HOLY CRAP! Poor reporting it is. It'd be insulting to eve call him a journalist. Seems to be more of a partisan, lying hack.

Do you notice a pattern, as far as the reliability of the material that is "furnished" on this forum?

We are what we read......

Wonder how hard it would be to get him to write an article about what an attractive, smart and funny guy I am. And how any woman would be lucky to have me?

Oh! Right, right... his audience... never mind. I think I'd prefer to "drink alone" so to speak.

Crackin me up :thumbsup:

The story may be reported poorly, and the news source may be questionable (please post a list of all approved sources), but the National Enquirer even breaks a real story now and then, and the Chinese are addressing this in the UN.

The story and it's qualities are not so much the point as that an event like this with the Chinese has happened. Since this is the first report that I have seen, I'm sure we'll get better details. The point is, what is China's motivation in coming forward?

I think its remarkable that, given the political bent of this board, the majority still think Iran is developing nukes and is worried about it. The forest for the trees...

You mean the majority DON'T think Iran is developing nukes?

I was referring to the voting results at top.

Well look at that. And by a wide margin, too.

Who is wearing the flaming pants? Damien McElroy, Bush and his neocons, China, or the authors of the US Intelligence community's NIE....the report that the Bush administration scoffed at and secretly challenged for a year before it was released....and still refuses to accept as a reliable estimate of Iran's nuclear weapons development, per Bush and Cheney?

We're spending a record amount of money in the US on intelligence gathering and analysis. Everything that president Cheney disagrees with has to be quadruple checked and then still is suppressed....

.....isn't it possible that the NIE is the most current and accurate assessment, since it is the opposite determination of what Cheney tells us, and he has been correct about....<h2>what ?</h2>

The "Yes" votes are all members of the cult of personality of the thread's author, methinks:
Locobot....whattayou doing on the list?

(Any Investor's Business Daily or WSJ editorials and op-eds regular readers on the list?)

Since Damien McElroy is mentioned, I'm assuming this is a follow-up to the Chinese/Iranian nuke article. Again, the reason the article was posted was to bring attention to China's intentions, not whether the commentary about the event is accurate.

I see that railing on about who authored an article has become the "intellectual response".

Do you understand that the chances of China "hiding" these "secrets" when Cheney intimidated his parallel intelligence assets, as well as the official intelligence community, for a full year, to find something to counter the judgments in the NIE, with the "mission" of discrediting it's determinations, make the chances of anything in McElroy's article, actually being reliable or of any significance, about one in a hundred thousand?

I'll share the secret of how "the rest of us"....who always seem to get it right, get it right. We believe the opposite of whatever Bush, Cheney, and the IBD and WSJ editorial pages are selling. Know what? It works!!!!!

Well, this thread IS over a year old, and the voting's been closed for quite some time, so the poll isn't exactly a good representation of what people think NOW, just what they thought a year ago (or so - I'm not sure when the poll closed). I wonder what a current one would show. I think my vote would be different.

host, it's all possible. I understand your position and I believe there's something to what you're saying. I know you hate the Bush administration, but I don't stop my critique at the administration or political lines. I'm quite certain that there's dirty dealing going on all over the place by our highest leaders from all parties and offices. I find it hard to believe otherwise and ranting on about the evil democrats or republicans is just silly (IMO).

The questions I originally asked are regarding the timing and intent of the Chinese government, not the legitimacy of the article or which Bush conspiracy you want to report on.
- - - - - - edit - - - - - -

OK, here's another article talking about China handing over intelligence about Iran to the IEAI. Hopefully the source is acceptable and the author not perceived as a tool in one of your Bush/Cheney conspiracies.

www.breitbart.com

I pray that one did the trick. If not, try these:

AP: China gave IAEA intel on Iran's nuclear activities
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2...ear-iran_N.htm

Nuclear Watchdog Gets China's Iran Intel
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0408/508290.html

China assists nuclear-arms probe of Iran - Intelligence sent to U.N. as international concern grows, diplomats say
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23918701/

If you don't like those ... then too bad.

Here's the thing. With China's latest revelation, I am leaning towards the idea that Iran had been working on nuclear weapons. I am pretty sure that they were working on them back during the Iran/Iraq war.

The reports of this Chinese revelation do not give a time line.

Water wet, sky blue, Iran wants nukes.

To think otherwise is to bury your head in the sand.

Fixed it for ya.

What do you think about the timing of China's disclosure toward Iran? I may be reading too much here, but perhaps they're trying to improve their image with the west in time for the Olympics?

minitwo... I agree with you about the Olympics thing which I why I am a but suspect of this revelation.

The World: I can't believe China is oppressing those poor Tibetans. And we gave them the Olympics!

China: Hey! Look what we found Iran *is* developing Nukes!

The World: Damn you Iran!

China: *rubs hands together* hehehe

Ha! minitwo ... you saw my post before I edited.! :) I should have left it ...

Yes! ... I thought China was looking a little suspicious on this revelation. With all those pesky Tibetans and what-not ... and just in time for the Olympics!

I do believe Iran wants the nukes, but have no idea on what they are really doing about it ... if anything. My spider senses say they're working hard on this in the shadows.

I don't trust China, they may well be lying.

Iran is still trying to develop nuclear weapons.

The two need not be connected.