(Israeli PM) Olmert: Iran Close To Atomic Bomb Know-How

[Newsjock]

http://cbs5.com/topstories/topstories_story_141115800.html

JERUSALEM -- Iran is just a few months away from acquiring the technological know-how that will allow it to build an atomic bomb, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

Olmert flew to Washington on Sunday for his first meeting as prime minister with President Bush. The two leaders are expected to discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Olmert told CNN's "Late Edition" that the key issue regarding Iran was not when it builds a nuclear bomb, but rather when it acquires the knowledge they need to manufacture such arms.

"This technological threshold is nearer than we anticipated before. This is because they are already engaged very seriously in enrichment," Olmert said.

"The technological threshold is very close. It can be measured in months rather than years," Olmert added, repeating statements previously made by other senior Israeli officials.

[AnOhioan]

1. Olmert fans the flames that Bush set..

These two make quite a pair.

[drdtroit]

2. Here we go!

:popcorn:

[TomInTib]

3. Now THERE'S a neutral source for ya.

Good to hear this from someone who doesn't have a dog in the fight.

Just tell us what to do, Ehud.

Please.

[notadmblnd]

6. better yet, once he decides what needs to be done

he can take the action instead of having the US do it for him.

[Poll_Blind]

13. Just like the scuds in GW I, if Israel responded it would start WW III.

Better for the US to do it, then, riiiiiiiiight? ;-)

Strange days.

PB

[One Honest Guy]

4. Knowledge is illegal now?

Technological threshold? You mean the same technological threshold US of A crossed in 1940s, you know, 60+ years ago?

[Gregorian]

5. Everyone has the knowledge. It's on the fucking internet.

They want to invade. It has nothing to do with nuclear bombs. It's about oil and world domination.

Venezuela is next.

[Poll_Blind]

15. Yeah, you got that right. "Let freedom Reign!"...Oh lord, what has this..

..nation become?

PB

[tatertop]

7. Start trotting, Olmert! Sounds like ISRAEL should invade NOW!

I like the first set of Olmert's new clown act.

[grytpype]

8. Israel REALLY wants us to attack Iran!

They think it's a great idea.

[MrPrax]

17. Olmert needs something...

Against the backdrop of all this sabre-rattling is the good old fact that Israeli's political system is the most unstable it's been in years--Olmert's coalition is shaky and needs 'war rhetoric' to bolster support...the opposition is made up of Yisrael Beiteinu among others, which favors the massive eviction of the 'arab' population from Israel.

Moreover, the court case from last week didn't, not so surprisingly, get the play one would have thought elsewhere, but nevertheless, makes it difficult to Israel to continue to claim kinship with the western world and it's ideas.

Olmert's comments are just adding to the fact that more 'strange' and dangerous stuff is coming out of Israel at the moment, not Iran.

[Poll_Blind]

9. Olmert: Ahmadinejad is 'psychopath' who 'speaks like Hitler'

Article here.

PB

[Turbineguy]

10. Iran is close?

I'm not too far away myself. I've already got 2 stainless steel salad bowls and some clamps!

[Poll_Blind]

11. Olmert: Iran nukes threaten Western civilization

Article here.

PB

[One Honest Guy]

14. Iran nukes threaten Western civilization?

Well Olmeeuut, then Israel has nothing to worry about.

[Poll_Blind]

12. It reminds me of how Iraq was 5 months away from Atom bomb for 10 years.

Whew!

PB

[Joe Bacon]

16. I'm really scared that Olmert will play the Armageddon card!

I'm really scared to death that Israel will nuke Iran. Olmert thinks he can get away with that, but I fear that there will be sharp and NASTY retaliation from Pakistan, China and Russia. I fear that if Olmert does this, Israel will become THE pariah state in the world and there WILL be nuclear retribution that will blow it off the map, kill millions and leave Jerusalem a radioactive no mans land for years to come.

I wonder how Falwell and Robertson will explain that away, when Israel is destroyed and Jesus pulls a no show...

[Poll_Blind]

18. He'll be here soon to discuss policy with Boosh. We'll see what...

...they agree to then.

PB

[lovuian]

19. Israel this is your problem

Deal with it...

[AX10]

20. If Olmert wants to maintain a (failed) first strike policy based upon...

circumstantial evidence (such as in Iraq), then Israel may go ahead and invade Iran, ON THEIR OWN!!!

[acmavm]

21. Hell, why not be fair about it? If we nuke Iran, we nuke Israel at the

same time. They have nuclear capabilities now, don't they? There's no guess work here. If we kill innocent Iraqis and Iranians, why not just go for the gusto and take out some innocent Israelis too? We can show how impartial we are and be an equal opportunity agressor nation by blowing two problem nations to shit at the same time.

Does that sound fair to everyone? If not, why not? Why should we just murder certain people and not everyone who fits the definition of what makes a rogue nation?

[rpannier]

22. I am increasingly amazed at the sophistication of Iranian Military tech

Six months ago, they were years away -- like 10 years.
Four months ago they were about 3 years away.
in April it was "They could have a bomb within a year."
Now, it's a few short months.

Man...they're kicking our butt when it comes to scientific progress.

[Poll_Blind]

23. Remember when we were "40 minutes" away from Iraq bio-chem attack?

It's just amazing the progress an arguably third-world country can make when it benefits the goals of the NeoCons.

PB

[drduffy]

24. tired of the Israeli government

they could have done much differently all these years. Chomsky is right. I have little sympathy for either Iran's or Israel's government. And as an American am tired of being manipulated. And am very tired of the neocons and their influence in our government.

Delete the Imperium.

oh, the friggin hell with it all. Sometimes I just feel like they all should just have friggin WWIII or IV or whatever and get it the fuck overwith. The world would be a better place without any of us. Maybe the next species along.... a million years from now might be a little bit more deserving of the blessings of mother earth.

[high density]

25. Yeah this is crazy

I happened to catch this Olmert interview while channel surfing and he was hyping up the Iran problem as much as possible. Then he ended up going all wishy-washy when Blitzer (in his typical lame ass way) tried to narrow down what exactly Olmert was talking about doing.

Isreal can take out Mahmoud Ahmadinejad if they want to, but he'll just be replaced by another nutjob tool that is just as bad.

[Spinoza]

26. Yeah, me too.

Why are the Israelis so damned paranoid about Iran having Nukes? Makes no sense at all.

[OKNancy]

27. kick

[rodeodance]

28. Israel: Iran 'months' from making nukes

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/21/iran.nuclear/index.html?section=cnn_topstories&eref=yahoo

Israel: Iran 'months' from making nukes
Prime minister says unilateral action not being considered

Sunday, May 21, 2006; Posted: 11:18 p.m. EDT (03:18 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Iran is only months away from joining the club of nations that can make a nuclear weapon, Israel's prime minister said in a recent interview.

"The technological threshold is very close," Ehud Olmert said on CNN's "Late Edition" in an interview taped Thursday and broadcast Sunday.

"It can be measured by months rather than years."

Asked whether he believes Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would halt his nation's nuclear-enrichment program under international pressure, Olmert said, "I prefer to take the necessary measures to stop it, rather than to find out later that my indifference was so dangerous."

Some observers disagree with Israel's characterization, saying Iran is five to 10 years away from being able to make a nuclear weapon. (Watch Olmert issue Iran warning -- :58 )

[HysteryDiagnosis]

29. Me: Israel posesses nukes for decades, would not be afraid to

use them if needed.

[sutz12]

30. The drumbeat to war continues....

Methinks Israel and BushCo are swapping lies and strategies.

[rodeodance]

31. it is certainly the kind of rhetoric that is NOT needed.

[truthisfreedom]

32. umm... don't they need tens of thousands of centrifuges?

don't those take years to build?

[Javaman]

34. So when to they start dropping the bombs? June 7th??? nt

[Javaman]

33. I guess they need to come after me too...

I read Richard Rhodes book, "the making of the atomic bomb".

[leesa]

35. Liar.