"it would take only two to three months to convert the uranium enriched at Qom into weapons-grade material. That means that Iran could have a “breakout” capacity allowing it to quickly produce a weapon when it chose to do so." Washpost
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Does this sound familiar? If you read this editorial closely you will see that the Post does not say that Iran has a nuclear weapons program. It says that Iran has a "drive" towards nuclear weapons. It says that Iranian enrichment is greater than that needed for power generation. It does not say that the enrichment is part of a discrete program for weapos construction. It says that the enriched uranium could be converted to weapons construction. It does not say that the MRBM vehicles are ready to be mated to miniaturized nuclear weapons. It says that they could be. And then there is the extra "boost" to this message provided by Iranian troublemaking in Iraq.
What does this add up to?
IMO, The Washington Post is making propaganda and political warfare in favor of war against Iran. Hey, why not? The same memes worked like a charm with the American sheeple in 2002. Why not use them again? When will we see a re-purposing of Rice's line about the mushroom shaped cloud? pl
Phil
The Israelis have been laundering stories through a variety of media sources about an impending attack on Iran since 1994 - that the usual suspects in Washington are dutifully doing their propaganda jobs is just part of the normal routine. Seriously, is there an Israeli "interest" that John Bolton has NEVER pimped for?
To put it bluntly, Israel is determined to fight Iran to the last American - it certainly has no intention of going there itself - too far, too risky; and it's not as if this isn't well understood in Washington.
Posted by: dan | 23 July 2011 at 12:40 PM
dan,
Boy you hit the nail on the head, and said a mouthful with your "Israel is determined to fight Iran to the last American".
What do you make of the FDIF http://www.fidf.org/ bunch's high dollar fund raisers for the IDF? I wonder how many 'non-donations' those particular donors have made to the USO on behalf of U.S. Military personnel? And just think, the FDIF is 'directed' by a retired Israeli general, openly operating on our U.S. soil.
Posted by: J | 23 July 2011 at 01:14 PM
All:
The Grand Strategy of the United States, formulated by US DoD, calls for the elimination of independent Iranian power. This is the crux of the matter; the nuclear program of Iran is only an excuse as a tool of propaganda - in my opinion.
Until and unless the United States revises her Grand Strategy, this will persist. Thomas Jefferson could be the Iranian President but that will not make any difference.
This is an issue of "Power".
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 23 July 2011 at 10:16 PM
Has anyone here made mention that another purported Iranian nuclear scientist just got offed?
Interested in reading any speculation.
Posted by: Ken Hoop | 24 July 2011 at 03:21 PM
Ken Hoop:
I wonder when some one is the West is going to be "offed" - in your splendid phraseology - in retaliation.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 24 July 2011 at 09:30 PM
Babak
That act will be called "terrorism", scare the public, who will then sing C&W national anthemns to our right to invade Iran.
Posted by: optimax | 25 July 2011 at 12:05 AM