A report by William Broad and David Sanger of the New York Times reports the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations said it had discovered an additional 460 lbs. of low enriched uranium, a third more than Iran had previously disclosed. The Agency made its find during its annual physical inventory of nuclear materials at Iran's desert enrichment plant at Natanz. Iran had produced a total of 1,010 kilograms of low enriched uranium.
Those who want war with Iran will try to use this information as a pretext to invade that country and will soon start a fear campaign to sway public opinion. The discrepancy came to light when the report noted that the new total came from the addition of 171 kilograms of new production to 839 kilograms of old production. But the agency had previously reported the old production as 630 kilograms. Iran is actually operating 200 more centrifuges that is used to enrich uranium than listed in the previous agency report and has 1600 more in the wings. The head of the agency, Mohammad ElBaradei said Iran appeared to have made a political decision to do less enrichment than it physically could.
What does all this mean? It means that the agency who is responsible for monitoring the situation is doing its job and disclosing the facts as they know exists in Iran. On the other hand, Israel, Pakistan and India continue their nuclear weapons program without checks and balances from the agency. No one knows what those 3 countries are doing. It should be obvious that the greatest threat to use WMD would come from those countries. Iran, because of its leadership make up, has a more stable government than Israel, Pakistan or India.
The Obama administration and its new foreign policy team will have an opportunity with the right approach to bring the situation under control and prevent another tragic war in that part of the world. The President and world leaders must also call Israel, Pakistan and India to account for their nuclear programs and open them up to inspection like the U.S., British, French, Germany, Iran and other countries who are part of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. If that is not pursued other nations will feel they should be free of constraints to develop WMD.
2 comments :
If Israel's new Prime Minister is Benjamin Natanyahu like it seems it will be, Israel will be a more unstable country and government than it is now. This guy is dangerous for America and for the world.
Perhaps the new administration in Washington will put pressure on world leaders for Israel, Pakistan and India to do just what you suggest. That never happened under Bush but it is time to do so.
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