US: Iran Could Have Nuclear Bomb in Four (to Nine) Years

[sabra]

http://voanews.com/english/2006-10-03-voa45.cfm

US: Iran Could Have Nuclear Bomb in Four Years

The top U.S. intelligence official says Iran could have a nuclear weapon within four to nine years, but that it still has time to turn away from that path.

Speaking in his top floor office overlooking the Potomac River, Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte says Iran is determined to get nuclear weapons and will have them soon if not deterred from its current course.

"We do not have any fast facts that could demonstrate to you a particular date by which we are certain Iran will have a nuclear weapon," he said. "But yes, it is our judgment, based on all the information available to us, that Iran is determined to acquire nuclear weapons and, secondly, that they are on a path to achieve that within the next several years. The estimate that we have made is that somewhere between 2010 and 2015 is when we judge Iran is likely to have a nuclear weapon if it continues on its current course.

...

Asked if the intelligence failure on Iraq complicates convincing people of Iran's intentions, Negroponte admits that people do raise that issue, but adds that the intelligence system is much improved.

[Debi]

1. Well we better go to war with them right now

Let's have the vote mid-October 2006 shall we? :puke:

[merh]

2. At the rate the bastards in charge are destroying our nation,

we won't be around to have to worry about Iran's bomb.

:(

[fasttense]

3. And North Korea has Nuclear Bombs right now! n/t

[Megahurtz]

4. US: We already have OUR nuclear weapons.

:sarcasm:

[Demeter]

5. Yeah, Yeah, Whatever---How About Them Pages?

Can you spot a distraction when you see one?

[BattyDem]

6. "Could Have" ... not "Will Have"

I bet there's a whole list of countries that "could have" a nuclear weapon in 4-9 years, but that doesn't mean they will.

Hey assholes ... we can't keep attacking countries for what they MIGHT do. If you're so worried about what they MIGHT do, maybe it's time to try some REAL diplomacy! :eyes:

[bamacrat]

7. Four to Nine Years, both will be after Bitch, and NK's gonna test theirs..

Whats up with that, oh yeah they dont have oil.

[Mythsaje]

8. Yeah, yeah, yeah...

And does this mean they're likely to USE one? Has anyone?

Oh, yeah. WE did.

But no one else.

Why is that, exactly?

[EVDebs]

9. In 1964, many people argued for a pre-emptive strike against China. Wiser

heads prevailed

...

October 2, 2006

What Iranians Least Expect
What if Bush publicly offered to open an embassy in Tehran?.
By Fareed Zakaria
http://www.fareedzakaria.com/articles/articles.html

[Rex]

10. Then I guess it was a mistake to give them the blueprints?

The US gave Iran the instructions on how to make a nuclear bomb. Dumb fucking people running things.

[nashville_brook]

11. don't assume it's dumb. wonder instead what interest that serves...

[Behind the Aegis]

12. And there you have it.

Sadly, most Americans will never see this report or even know about it. They will continue to think that Iran will be nuclear-capable two weeks from Tuesday. The time frame of 4 to 9 years is considerable, given the many things that can change. We know (hope) that Bush will be gone in two (if not sooner, G-d willing), and who knows what Ah-man-I'm-a-nut-job, the current Iranian president, will be doing.

The world has time to act in a diplomatic fashion. I also feel that the world will not sit idly by and let the US provoke an armed response. To be honest, I don't think the American public will buy it this time. This administration keeps losing more and more footing with the "people," including their own.

[xultar]

13. Costa Rica might need one in 4-to 9 years. Who knows what the world

will be like in 4-9 years thanks to W and his fucked up administration.

[Vinca]

14. Message: get the bombs ready. nt

[ConcernedCanuk]

15. So WHAT? - Israel has hundreds, US, China and Russia have THOUSANDS

.
.
.

IF Iran is seeking possession of nukes, it is for a DETERRENT from them big guys -

NK would certainly have been attacked by the US if it didn't have nuclear capability,

And Iraq would NOT have been attacked if it had nuclear capability.

I see no reason to trust the USA to decide who can and cannot have nukes.

USA:

Join the ICC -

Be beholden to the decisions of the United Nations

Take your War-Machine home

Abide by the decisions of the WTO and the IMF

etc, etc,

and just MAYBE

The World will start listening to you again

[KamaAina]

16. The Grand Duchy of Fenwick COULD have nukes in four years

say, if we decided to arm them to the teeth...

[sarcasmo]

17. I nominated this because this is the only move these Idiots have left.

Bombing Iran will make this Foley mess go away, will be the White House line of thinking.

[oblivious]

18. The only real solution is a world free of nuclear weapons.

Any moral country would accept that.

[Anakin Skywalker]

19. Who Are They Gonna Use It On?

I say let the internet gambling sites speculate. Better yet, let sicko Wall Street determine!
Let the market decide, god damn it!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

20. What country COULDN'T have a nuclear bomb in 4-9 years?

Nauru, perhaps?

[HuffleClaw]

21. hell, any midsized CITY could have a nuke, and it wouldn't take that long

making a functional nuke isn't that hard, obtaining the plutonium/uranium is more of a chore. this crap is just that, crap, more useless fear-mongering propaganda.

[GeorgeGist]

22. So could I...

and, like Negroponte, I do not have any fast facts to prove it.