Iran is 10 years from building a Nuclear Bomb (Crisis? What crisis?)

[Modem Butterfly]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/01/AR2005080101453.html

A major U.S. intelligence review has projected that Iran is about a decade away from manufacturing the key ingredient for a nuclear weapon, roughly doubling the previous estimate of five years, according to government sources with firsthand knowledge of the new analysis.

The carefully hedged assessments, which represent consensus among U.S. intelligence agencies, contrast with forceful public statements by the White House. Administration officials have asserted, but have not offered proof, that Tehran is moving determinedly toward a nuclear arsenal. The new estimate could provide more time for diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. President Bush has said that he wants the crisis resolved diplomatically but that "all options are on the table."


The new National Intelligence Estimate includes what the intelligence community views as credible indicators that Iran's military is conducting clandestine work. But the sources said there is no information linking those projects directly to a nuclear weapons program. What is clear is that Iran, mostly through its energy program, is acquiring and mastering technologies that could be diverted to bombmaking.

The estimate expresses uncertainty about whether Iran's ruling clerics have made a decision to build a nuclear arsenal, three U.S. sources said. Still, a senior intelligence official familiar with the findings said that "it is the judgment of the intelligence community that, left to its own devices, Iran is determined to build nuclear weapons."

[wli]

1. i.e. "Iran is interested in building nuclear power plants"

Even uninhabited portions of Antarctica are 10 years away from nuclear weapons by such a standard.

[wakeme2008]

2. Bush is not going to be happy about this report

and after being Iraqed once IMHO both Blair and Congress will not be onboard to another invasion.

[Modem Butterfly]

3. And NO ONE wants to go to war in Iran

After all, that's where Sadaam hid the WMD.




Or maybe that was Syria?

[wakeme2008]

5. I thought it was

Venezuela that Saddam hid the WMD.... :shrug:

[Modem Butterfly]

6. The way this regime is going, they'll tell us they were hidden in...

...CALIFORNIA!

:rofl:

[livvy]

4. Interesting report.

Sounds to me like they have ample time to come to some kind of understanding, that is if a peaceful understanding is what is truly desired.
.....President Bush has said that he wants the crisis resolved diplomatically but that "all options are on the table." It seems to me we've heard that line before. It would be nice, wouldn't it, if the nitwit would for once say what he really means? Of course that would require truth and honesty, not strong suits in the nitwit's personal profile.