Jonathan over at our sister site GOP Bloggers brings to our attention this UPI story:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Tehran is planning a nuclear weapons test before the Iranian New Year on March 20, 2006 says a group opposed to the regime in Tehran.
The Foundation for Democracy citing sources in the U.S and Iran offered no further information.
The FDI quotes sources in Iran that the high command of the Revolutionary Guards Air Force have issued new orders to Shahab-3 missile units, ordering them to move mobile missile launchers every 24 hours in view of a potential pre-emptive strike by the U.S. or Israel. The order was issued Tuesday, Jan. 16.
The group says the launchers move only at night, and have been instructed to change their positions "in a radius of 30 to 35 kilometers." Prior to the new orders the Shahab-3 units changed position on a weekly basis. Advance Shahab-3 units have been positioned in Kermanshah and Hamadan province, within striking distance of Israel. Reserve mobile launchers have been moved to Esfahan and Fars province.
A grain of salt is certainly in order here, but one thing is certain: we can't allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. If they are this close, then we'll have to move rather quickly.
Posted by Mark Noonan at January 26, 2006 02:24 AM
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It will not surprise me if there is a Nuclear test by Iran by March. What I'm a little worried about is if there "test" will actually be done by shooting a nuclear missle at Israel.
Time will tell and I'm sure our guys are doing their damndest to confirm what's going on and stop it if at all possible. I am also sure that our friends will continue to try and talk the Iranians to death and hopefully, just maybe, they'll not actually use their nukes. I mean they're reasonable people after all right? :p
Posted by:
Gozer at January 26, 2006 02:32 AM
The US needs to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities as soon as possible.
Posted by: Freedom1 at January 26, 2006 03:06 AM
Freedom,
I wonder, though -
We have in the SPR enough oil to replace Iran's production - even if we only tap into the best part of the SPR - for about 70 days...probably this can be stretched out to three full months.
Do we think Iran can afford to have no oil exports for three months?
We might have massive economic leverage here - so if we were to impose a blockade of Iran, it might bring them to their senses (or provoke a revolution) without actually having to engage in hostitilies.
Posted by: Mark Noonan at January 26, 2006 03:22 AM
"Iran: a ticking nuclear bomb"
by Larry Elder
Townhall.com 1/26/06
Iranian President Mahmoud "the-Holocaust-is-a-myth" Ahmadinejad does not deny his intentions. He stated that Israel should be "wiped off the map." And "God willing, with the force of God behind it, we shall soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism."
The part about wiping Israel off the map received widespread attention. But our mainstream news media seemed less interested in the other part of Ahmadinejad's speech, in which he looked forward to a "world without the United States."
***************************
Clearly, Iran is a threat to the United States of America.
"Do we think Iran can afford to have no oil exports for three months?"
No. The experts I've heard from indicate that Iran's economy could not withstand even a month of no oil exports. Also, the US hasn't bought oil from Iran in 10 years. However, the EU doesn't have the fortitude to impose those economic measures that you mention. They just won't. Neither will Russia or China. So sanctions are a rather moot point-especially if Iran can launch a nuke by March.
The bottom line is, the current Iranian government is a radical Islamic regime run by hardline mullahs and an Islamic zealot for a president. In short, we're not dealing with rational people. Iran's president seems bent on the Islamic messiah. What if Iran's president chooses martyrdom for the entire nation of Iran? Sounds irrational? It is, but then so is suicide bombing and it happens all of the time. Iran's president may decide that taking out Israel-as a tribute to Allah-is worth dying for. He may decide to launch a nuclear missile against Israel knowing full-well that the US would retaliate against Iran. Islam is a terrorist death-cult. We just can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon. We must physically destroy any and all nuclear facilities in Iran.
Posted by: Freedom1 at January 26, 2006 03:56 AM
Stop all these nonsense. Dr. Ahmadinejad (ph.D.)and a Professor is a kind man. According to McLaughlin (in PBS, there is a REAL democracy in Iran (not like ours a MOCK one). George Bush attacked Iraq to remove Saddam who had dared to try to kill his father and that had dared to put the image of his father in walkway of one of the buildings for to humiliate his father (by people's walking on the image--did you see it on CBS several years ago before GW Bush become President?) who had attacked Iraq in 1991.
Iran's crime is its decision to to accept Euro (instead of dollar)for the crude oil it sells to Europeans. Also, its crime is wants to be guarantee its ENERGY independance (for the time it runs out of Oil resources).
We Americans (military industrial complex [MIC]has taken over the control of our economy [warning of President Eisenhover]), after collapse of Soviet Union/Cold war, need to MANUFACTURE a THREAT (doesn't matter it is an absolute lie --like this NEW threat [non-existant]from Iran and this, absolutely, lie NUKE-threat from Iran!!!])to make American people believe it and rationalize this HUGE spending on "DEFENSE" on the back of them and poor people.
Dr. Ahmadinejad says "let us allow a dialogue on Hollocaust to take place AND says let a REFERANDOM (Palesinian people vote to)determine the future of the occupied lands. After the World War II, for WEST to indirectly control the OIL-RICH region, Israel was created there to via the CREATED tension in the region (policy-of-divide-and-control)WEST maintain its (in reality illegitimate/vicious)control over the region.
Iran has been the cradle of arts, sciences/civilization and a peaceful nation.
Please STOP this nonsense. O.K. Iran says "you are not the boss/lord of the world. Threat us like yourself/ with respect and as equal. The "DARK AGES" long gone." Iran says, "living off the back of poor NO more (at the expense of them and the poverty of them)." It says, "US and Europe should NOT by creation of insecurity /terror-on-the-rest-of-the-world)has its security".
Shame on the MIC and arms sale.
Long Live Liberty/Freedom/Democracy
Down with Neo-Fascism/zionism and Immorality
Posted by: Murray Morgan at January 26, 2006 04:58 AM
The fact that we haven't brought in Iranian oil is not important. Oil is fungible, its the overall pool of oil available to the world at any one time that determines prices. That and the expectation of the future availability. Oil is regularly traded so Iranian oil is traded for other oil being produced closer to the consumer.
We could easily block the Straits of Hormuz and bottle up the Gulf to all but our friends. We could expect the Iranians to launch missles at our fleet, which would give us the pretext to retaliate, and take out their Nuclear facilities.
But if we do plan to blockade oil from Iran, we better have restocked our stategic oil reserves first. It is quite likely that other oil producers might repsond by withholding oil and throwing the market into a turmoil (interesting word ehh?) driving up prices for everyone. There is currently a shortage of oil due to increased demand and reduced production.
Rebels in Nigeria have cut the oil lines there and have reduce oil exports as a result.
Chavez is nuts enough to withhold oil exports to the US just to complicate our lives.
Who can predict how the other oil producers would react.
This is one of the principle reasons why Anwar must be opened.
Posted by: phnxbmed at January 26, 2006 07:19 AM
Iran nuke test in March? Are you crazy? If Iran had all the access to technology and raw materials they needed to build a bomb, it would still take them a decade to develope one.
Posted by: Christian Wright at January 26, 2006 07:30 AM
Uggh- Hamas just won the elections in Palestine. Plus this. Looks like things will get worse before they get better.
Posted by: Rich at January 26, 2006 09:07 AM
"Stop all these nonsense. Dr. Ahmadinejad (ph.D.)and a Professor is a kind man"
...“Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury,”
..."Isreal must be wiped off the map." Dr. A
Yeah...real kind...kind of Crazy.
" there is a REAL democracy in Iran (not like ours a MOCK one)"
TEHRAN, Iran May 22, 2005 — Iran's hard-line Guardian Council on Sunday rejected all reformists who registered to run in presidential elections, approving only six out of the 1,010 hopefuls...Associated Press
...so does that mean that Bush and Rove can reject most of the defeatocrats that will be running in November...Not a bad idea this Iranian democracy thing.
"Dr. Ahmadinejad says "let us allow a dialogue on Hollocaust to take place "
so what they're gonna vote to determine if the Hollocaust rally happened, if it dodn't go far enough, or if there should be another one?? Which is it?
"Iran has been the cradle of arts, sciences/civilization and a peaceful nation."
Yes Murray, the opperative verb tense is "has been"
So Murray, which asylum are you posting from? Do they know you're on the computer??
Posted by: phnxbmed at January 26, 2006 09:02 PM
"Uggh- Hamas just won the elections in Palestine. Plus this. Looks like things will get worse before they get better." Posted by: Rich
Way worse. A majority of the Palestinian people have just demonstrated that they support Hamas' terrorism and suicide bombings. A majority of the Palestinian people have chosen to elect those Hamas terrorists to govern them. A majority of the Palestinian people have demonstrated that they want the destruction of the state of Israel and the genocide of Jews. It's a freaking disaster!
The US and the EU need to cut off all financial aid to the Palestinians, immediately.
Israel and the rest of the world know that Hamas wants to destroy Israel and now that Hamas is officially in power, their terrorism towards Israel has just been elevated to open warfare against Israel. Israel should prepare for war.
Posted by: Freedom1 at January 27, 2006 12:54 AM
"A majority of the Palestinian people have just demonstrated that they support Hamas"
And Iraq's latest elections brought to power a political group that is anti-American.
That's democracy for you.
Posted by: Christian Wright at January 27, 2006 07:11 AM
Order Matt and Mark's book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
It will not surprise me if there is a Nuclear test by Iran by March. What I'm a little worried about is if there "test" will actually be done by shooting a nuclear missle at Israel.
Time will tell and I'm sure our guys are doing their damndest to confirm what's going on and stop it if at all possible. I am also sure that our friends will continue to try and talk the Iranians to death and hopefully, just maybe, they'll not actually use their nukes. I mean they're reasonable people after all right? :p
The US needs to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities as soon as possible.
Freedom,
I wonder, though -
We have in the SPR enough oil to replace Iran's production - even if we only tap into the best part of the SPR - for about 70 days...probably this can be stretched out to three full months.
Do we think Iran can afford to have no oil exports for three months?
We might have massive economic leverage here - so if we were to impose a blockade of Iran, it might bring them to their senses (or provoke a revolution) without actually having to engage in hostitilies.
"Iran: a ticking nuclear bomb"
by Larry Elder
Townhall.com 1/26/06
Iranian President Mahmoud "the-Holocaust-is-a-myth" Ahmadinejad does not deny his intentions. He stated that Israel should be "wiped off the map." And "God willing, with the force of God behind it, we shall soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism."
The part about wiping Israel off the map received widespread attention. But our mainstream news media seemed less interested in the other part of Ahmadinejad's speech, in which he looked forward to a "world without the United States."
***************************
Clearly, Iran is a threat to the United States of America.
"Do we think Iran can afford to have no oil exports for three months?"
No. The experts I've heard from indicate that Iran's economy could not withstand even a month of no oil exports. Also, the US hasn't bought oil from Iran in 10 years. However, the EU doesn't have the fortitude to impose those economic measures that you mention. They just won't. Neither will Russia or China. So sanctions are a rather moot point-especially if Iran can launch a nuke by March.
The bottom line is, the current Iranian government is a radical Islamic regime run by hardline mullahs and an Islamic zealot for a president. In short, we're not dealing with rational people. Iran's president seems bent on the Islamic messiah. What if Iran's president chooses martyrdom for the entire nation of Iran? Sounds irrational? It is, but then so is suicide bombing and it happens all of the time. Iran's president may decide that taking out Israel-as a tribute to Allah-is worth dying for. He may decide to launch a nuclear missile against Israel knowing full-well that the US would retaliate against Iran. Islam is a terrorist death-cult. We just can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon. We must physically destroy any and all nuclear facilities in Iran.
Stop all these nonsense. Dr. Ahmadinejad (ph.D.)and a Professor is a kind man. According to McLaughlin (in PBS, there is a REAL democracy in Iran (not like ours a MOCK one). George Bush attacked Iraq to remove Saddam who had dared to try to kill his father and that had dared to put the image of his father in walkway of one of the buildings for to humiliate his father (by people's walking on the image--did you see it on CBS several years ago before GW Bush become President?) who had attacked Iraq in 1991.
Iran's crime is its decision to to accept Euro (instead of dollar)for the crude oil it sells to Europeans. Also, its crime is wants to be guarantee its ENERGY independance (for the time it runs out of Oil resources).
We Americans (military industrial complex [MIC]has taken over the control of our economy [warning of President Eisenhover]), after collapse of Soviet Union/Cold war, need to MANUFACTURE a THREAT (doesn't matter it is an absolute lie --like this NEW threat [non-existant]from Iran and this, absolutely, lie NUKE-threat from Iran!!!])to make American people believe it and rationalize this HUGE spending on "DEFENSE" on the back of them and poor people.
Dr. Ahmadinejad says "let us allow a dialogue on Hollocaust to take place AND says let a REFERANDOM (Palesinian people vote to)determine the future of the occupied lands. After the World War II, for WEST to indirectly control the OIL-RICH region, Israel was created there to via the CREATED tension in the region (policy-of-divide-and-control)WEST maintain its (in reality illegitimate/vicious)control over the region.
Iran has been the cradle of arts, sciences/civilization and a peaceful nation.
Please STOP this nonsense. O.K. Iran says "you are not the boss/lord of the world. Threat us like yourself/ with respect and as equal. The "DARK AGES" long gone." Iran says, "living off the back of poor NO more (at the expense of them and the poverty of them)." It says, "US and Europe should NOT by creation of insecurity /terror-on-the-rest-of-the-world)has its security".
Shame on the MIC and arms sale.
Long Live Liberty/Freedom/Democracy
Down with Neo-Fascism/zionism and Immorality
The fact that we haven't brought in Iranian oil is not important. Oil is fungible, its the overall pool of oil available to the world at any one time that determines prices. That and the expectation of the future availability. Oil is regularly traded so Iranian oil is traded for other oil being produced closer to the consumer.
We could easily block the Straits of Hormuz and bottle up the Gulf to all but our friends. We could expect the Iranians to launch missles at our fleet, which would give us the pretext to retaliate, and take out their Nuclear facilities.
But if we do plan to blockade oil from Iran, we better have restocked our stategic oil reserves first. It is quite likely that other oil producers might repsond by withholding oil and throwing the market into a turmoil (interesting word ehh?) driving up prices for everyone. There is currently a shortage of oil due to increased demand and reduced production.
Rebels in Nigeria have cut the oil lines there and have reduce oil exports as a result.
Chavez is nuts enough to withhold oil exports to the US just to complicate our lives.
Who can predict how the other oil producers would react.
This is one of the principle reasons why Anwar must be opened.
Iran nuke test in March? Are you crazy? If Iran had all the access to technology and raw materials they needed to build a bomb, it would still take them a decade to develope one.
Uggh- Hamas just won the elections in Palestine. Plus this. Looks like things will get worse before they get better.
"Stop all these nonsense. Dr. Ahmadinejad (ph.D.)and a Professor is a kind man"
...“Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury,”
..."Isreal must be wiped off the map." Dr. A
Yeah...real kind...kind of Crazy.
" there is a REAL democracy in Iran (not like ours a MOCK one)"
TEHRAN, Iran May 22, 2005 — Iran's hard-line Guardian Council on Sunday rejected all reformists who registered to run in presidential elections, approving only six out of the 1,010 hopefuls...Associated Press
...so does that mean that Bush and Rove can reject most of the defeatocrats that will be running in November...Not a bad idea this Iranian democracy thing.
"Dr. Ahmadinejad says "let us allow a dialogue on Hollocaust to take place "
so what they're gonna vote to determine if the Hollocaust rally happened, if it dodn't go far enough, or if there should be another one?? Which is it?
"Iran has been the cradle of arts, sciences/civilization and a peaceful nation."
Yes Murray, the opperative verb tense is "has been"
So Murray, which asylum are you posting from? Do they know you're on the computer??
"Uggh- Hamas just won the elections in Palestine. Plus this. Looks like things will get worse before they get better." Posted by: Rich
Way worse. A majority of the Palestinian people have just demonstrated that they support Hamas' terrorism and suicide bombings. A majority of the Palestinian people have chosen to elect those Hamas terrorists to govern them. A majority of the Palestinian people have demonstrated that they want the destruction of the state of Israel and the genocide of Jews. It's a freaking disaster!
The US and the EU need to cut off all financial aid to the Palestinians, immediately.
Israel and the rest of the world know that Hamas wants to destroy Israel and now that Hamas is officially in power, their terrorism towards Israel has just been elevated to open warfare against Israel. Israel should prepare for war.
"A majority of the Palestinian people have just demonstrated that they support Hamas"
And Iraq's latest elections brought to power a political group that is anti-American.
That's democracy for you.