8/31 "There's simply no explanation for the range of Iranian behavior which
we've seen over the years other than that they're pursuing a weapons
capability" -UN Ambassador John Bolton
\_ Stunning analysis!
\_ If the Bush administration plans to bomb Iran regardless of what
Iran does, what motivation does Iran have to listen to them?
Where's the carrot? Does anyone think they're *not* going to
attack Iran eventually, assuming that they can maintain control
of the government, and that there is no impeachment?
\_ I think it's extremely unlikely Dubya will bomb Iran.
This is strategically not the best move for the U.S.
\_ I haven't heard anyone (other than Iran) actually say they believe
Iran _isn't_ going for nukes. I mean, it's the right thing to do,
strategically.
\_ It's one thing to say they're gunning for nukes, it's another
thing to say they they want to conduct activity legal under the
NPT which also puts them closer to breaking out to a nuke
capability if they have to.
\_ Plus the Iranians basically all but running around in their
nuke-patterned underoos and "I'm with the other nuke powers"
t-shirts, doing the "we've got nukes" dance while yelling LA LA
LA WE HAVE NUKES AND YOU CAN'T STOP US. -John
\_ hmm... Israel has the bomb, India has the bomb, Pakistan has
the bomb. AND US/UK/Israel have the track record of
overthrown Iranian government at their whim. And now 80% of
US' deployable force is right across the border.
Having a bomb is actually a sound, defensive policy!
Further, our policy toward NPT is like a football game.
Once you reach the goal line, you actually get rewarded.
\_ Erm, Israel has overthrown the Iranian government when?
\_ ok ok ok, Israel didn't overthrow Iranian government
in 1953, but Israel worked closely with Shah. This
pisses Iranian off even today.
\_ Um, is it that or that they're all Jews.
\_ Iran does best strategically not to go nukes now, but to go
nuclear energy, and use the possibility of breakout as a
deterrent.
\_ Right, and this is where Bolton's statement falls apart.
There _is_ another explanation for the range of Iranian
behavior, and that is that this path is the same you'd need
to follow to get utterly legal nuclear power.
\_ Not quite utterly legal. I think the most recent UN
resolution is legally binding, although I think it's quite
explicit in having further discussions on punishment and
not being an automatic sanction/war pass for member
states. -breakout guy
resolution is legally binding, although I think there are
definitive clauses which say further discussions on
punishment are needed, and not being an automatic
sanction/war pass for member states. -breakout guy
\_ A good point. Let me back up and say that this is a
path to nuclear power that works within the NPT.
\_ Not really.. they're best off to prove they already have them
ASAP, like Pakistan.
\_ I should say "best strategically and also best practically"
\_ I should say "best strategically & also best practically" |