U.S.: Iran halted nuclear weapons development in 2003

#34 isn't mine- Can't you get anything straight--I don't have time to waste chasing your nonsense, plus net time you address me with one of your sub-moronic "Say", I'll dump your trash unopened--You sound like a two year old trying to gain attention--Never has anyone written so much, lacking knowledge, and saying nothing worthwhile--You really ought to concentrate on your fellow Blacks being killed in Sudan and the reprehensible black illegitmacy, welfare and prison incarcerations in the USA--As the auctioneer used to say, you're a Phake, Phony & a Phraud--

You watch too much Fox News. That nonsense about Iran is just one of Dubya's excuses to account for the mayhem there. Nobody ships more armaments than Israel and the US to Third World/ME countries. The Zionists have killed more Pals than the Iranians have US soldiers. Zionists are hardheaded, like Dubya, because the homies with an insurgency will always win out against an occupying force. You don't mention all the Iraqis who lost their lives based on US error with Zionist urging, all of which Zionists now decline to take credit for. The only thing sabotaging Bush's quest for Iraqi and Iranian oil is stupidity. He and Cheney don't give a hoot about Israel or those Muslims; he just dreams about oil. Wake up. Zionists are gonna be left high and dry as the limits of military power are quite evident for all to see; Zionists couldn't handle Hezbollah. Regards.

I wouldn't be too quick to say that train is off the track ole buddy. I wouldn't even say it is stalled. Why aren't you worried more about US unemployment, home foreclosures, natural disasters not tended too, our dying men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan and the US war debt presently financed by CHINA, and a debt which voter's great great great grandchildren can't pay off. Why not worry about the US dollar shrinking like a cheap Walmart suit? You are more concerned with the pariah state of Israel than the US and should make aliyah and be up front and personal. Get used to it, voters aren't gonna deal with more war for your Israel. Therefore, she will have to get her shit together and so will you. The US taxpayer ninny has been sucked dry by Zionists. They can't survive without war and perceived threats. Hooray for Carter, Chomsky, Finkelstein et al telling the truth. No Josh, just BJabber with his "vague" points; get relevant, why don't you. Regards.

When confronted with facts or valid questions, they certainly do go into hiding--All you have to do is lift your nose and read #184, this string, where I clearly state what Beikirch is evading--Same goes for the other characters that I confront--Including Linthwaite, Axel, et al--All you have to do is have a modicum of intelligence to read what's written--You're so busy writing and meddling, you don't have the wits to read properly and understand--You're no expert, you're just a poor malicious joke--

Yeah.Iran froze their nuclear program...They throw freezing cold water on some pipe lines,and called it freezing the program...It's all smoked mirrors to suck inn the willing western countries and Russia,that make cazillions of dollars selling them equipments...I wonder what those idiots w'll say if the "mules" explode a nucledar device,,,

Golly, Ben Jabber, different day, same BS. Everybody goes into hiding according to you. No they don't, they just ignore those "vague" irrelevant points you are always aatempting to make. No Josh, just BJabber today, eh. Regards.

Confusing though, because they consider themselves 'pro-Israeli'.

They are rejoicing that this is a double bluff and contrary to Israel's best interests. How heartwarming their concern is. What good and noble characters.

being one himself. (due to childhood incidents and accidents)

One could call you a coward, who runs away when confronted with facts or questions that you can't evade--

As you remember, you took off like a rabbit after our last interchange--The caption of the Forum was "Shinbet Pushes, etc"--Despite my three queries to you and reminders, you went into hiding--My posts were numbered 50-51-52-- Finish up with the old, so we can continue on with the new-- "#49 Beikirch Name: * BEN JABO City: USA State: I never said that I supported Pollard--If I did, show me where--As long as the Arab Israeli`s are loyal to Israel, they deserve the same rights as the Jewish ones--When we have a traitor like Vanunu, he should be treated as Pollard is, not released after a few years-- I will move, where and when I please--If you will check American History since World War 1, American citizens have served in the French, British & Canadian Armies, still maintaining loyalty to American--Other Americans have served in the IDF, with the same loyalty to America--Now, the question arises, since you`re so busy asking them, where have you served--A short trip to visit a traitor isn?t considered service, it?s called "tourism"--And BTW, I also served in the American Army, Combat Engineers, my serial # was prefixed with "RA"--Contact your local recruiter and find out what the designation indicates--And YOU still have NOT answered my question, you just wrote more gibberish as you evaded--

There is no need to make love to Iran either. Just make fun of their continuous bragging and keep alert AND DON'T HELP THEM MAKE NUCLEAR BOMB like the Germans do. And Israel should stay out of it, PUBLICLY, altogether. Spying in public stinks.

You do not like cluster bombs? Tell the Army of Allah in Lebanon not to use them against Israelis,its best they do not start another war with Israel,especially if they are going to start it by bombing Israeli civillians. They got it back with interest.

There are at least two good reasons for Iran to have a civilian nuclear programme even though they have massive oil reserves: 1) From the moment that a civil servant decides to build a nuclear power station to the moment when it starts generating electricity can take decades. If the doom mongers who keep telling us that the oil is running out are right, any country dependent on oil as a source of energy needs to start looking for an alternative now. There are ministers within the EU who are warning of a European energy crisis in the decades to come, and they are promoting the building of more nuclear power stations. 2) With oil selling at one hundred dollars a barrel, would you want to burn the stuff in your power stations or sell it abroad? I'm not going to pretend that I know whether Iran is building a bomb or not (I'll leave that to other far more astute posters, the ones who also know divine will), but there are good reasons to have a civilian nuclear program.

"Fact is, US military is against war with Iran" I'm sure the Pentagon has carried out extensive Iranian war games and I am equally sure every one led rapidly to a horrific result for America.

David said "Those of you accusing Israel of "warmongering" don`t really understand what it`s like to fear an existential threat." Oh please. Get over yourself already. We all grew up doing nuclear war evacuation drills. And the enemy of ours that stood up in front of the UN and hammered his shoe and told us they would bury us? Well, they actually HAD nukes. They actually COULD wipe us off the face of the earth at any second. So don't pretend that Israel is the only country ever to fear an existential threat. That dog don't hunt here. We've been there, done that, got the tee-shirt, and still survived. If you want to talk about existential threat, there is one country in the mideast that has much more to worry about. They are the last homeland of an ethnic minority, who's enemies have invaded countries around it, and lives under the constant shadow of nuclear obliteration. That's Iran. Not Israel.

Surely they can afford it. Russian mafia, Pakistan, N Korea--would certainly sell. Very likely already done, and they really only need one for Tel Aviv. So why waste all that money to develop a bomb; on the other hand, no reason not to twist everyone's tail pretending to do so.

...so let's hope Israel doesn't get fooled by this denial "spin" coming from who knows where to remove Iran's nuclear program from getting the same treatment as Iraq's "Tamuz" reactor got! (Oh yeah, let's not also forget what happened to Syria's nuclear preparations recently.)

I-A said "The US sanctions have been so effective that not only they stopped the Iranian program. They actually made the program work backwards all the way to 2003 ...... years before the sanctions were imposed. " Damn! Maybe we could use some of those great retro-active sanctions to go back in history and stop the Iraq war from starting also! We really need to study these miracle sanctions closer.

because i knew from the biginning that all it is a fake built in the previous Iraki nuclear danger pattern and by the same people.

model of the 1980's. The Soviet Union oil based economy was brought down to crash not by any UNSC sanctions, but by driving down the price of crude oil, their major export. Just like Iran's now. If this new oil push succeeds, it will bring down both Putin and Chavez, together with the mullahs regime in Iran.

Time and time again US Intelligence has shown itself to be either inept or a lacy of US foreign policy. This is another WMD gaff, that could have led to a nuclear war. When will the US start to realize that the world is not the fantasy it perceives it to be ala Disney World, but a real place. And when bullets fly people die, and don't get up after the director shouts Cut, like in a Hollywood movie.

DON'T BELIEVE IT! TO MAKE CERTAIN ISRAEL WILL NOT BE PREPARED, ITS AHMADINJAD'S PLOY.THIS IS THE NEXT WAR WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PROPHECIED!

"Those of you accusing Israel of "warmongering" don`t really understand what it`s like to fear an existential threat." Existential threat - really? The following is from a Ha'aretz news article dated April 9, 2003. "According to Israel Defense Forces Military Intelligence assessments, Iran will cross the line of no return in another year, at which time it will be able to create fissionable material for bombs. By 2006, it will have operational nuclear weapons." Do people really believe this crap anymore? Maybe they just like being led around by the ring in their nose.

154Ali, but you do believe that Iran will have nukes soon? Right? Indraya and Lakshmi are both convinced, and happy that now Iran Nukes are safe from attack. Are they?

Here I stick my neck out again. Remember these agencies are equal opportunity employers.

And started underground in 2002 or earlier...

I think I like your plagiarized ramblings better. They were at least coherent.

"... nor are there any records of her testing nukes, either above or below ground..." So tell me, why does Israel still refuse to sign the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (a treaty that Israel agreed in principal to sign way back in 1968)?

At the end of the first paragraph of the article, in blue, it tells you how to read the actual report. It is an official report of the National Security Agency USA. What more do you want, you and the other skeptics? If it said Iran had many nuclear missiles aimed at Israel would you take a different tack?

Hey Persian Kitty, Even funnier is your butchering of the English language and your poor spelling! Certainly, you are no rocket scientist. Next time look up the spelling of words that contain more than one syllable. Hahahahahahahaha That was too easy. Almost as easy as the IAF's flawless destruction of the Syrian nuclear plant, which, by the way, Israeli intelligence --not American intelligence-- discovered.

Lieberman serves as the Minister for Strategic Threats. Until now, this has been understood to mean "the Iranian threat". Now that this threat has disappeared before our eyes, Olmert will have to find something else for Lieberman to do. If Olmert does not want to give Lieberman one of the fat and respectable portfolios Kadimah is presently holding, Olmert better find some new threats to fear. As is the case with Bush, a new enemy has to be found quickly, or the entire government will become restless for lack of direction. The simplest way is to wait until Bush defines his new enemy (and I suggested this could be Syria), then have Lieberman be in charge of the threat. It will improve relations with the US. Who needs tensions when one deals with artificial situations?

What is Israel going to now for an "existential threat"? Invent another of course.

You can have a dose of reality racist hate and incitement anytime you want it does not need your convoluted postings to try to create a story.

They have checked out their WMD's on the Kurds and Iranians so they work. They need you to cry for them PADDY.

Mathew, I can't say I approve of you and Greg calling each other names - there's enough ill-will in this poor world of ours as it is - but I must say I agree completely with your analysis. Frankly, Iran scares me, and more to the point, it scares Israel - and it should. Khamenei and Ahmadinejad are neither sane nor trust-worthy. They have all the money to develop and deliver nuclear weapons to Israel, and all the visceral, anti-Semitic hatred to spur them to it. They've stated their evil intentions, and you can be sure they're working every day to follow through on them. What I don't understand is why the EU and Russia are so sanguine about Iranian nukes and missiles. Don't the "leaders" in Brussels and Moscow understand they'll be under the Iranian gun soon as well? Do they think Iran has no political designs on Muslim movements in either region of Europe? Don't they realise they could very well be next in the ayatollahs' cross-hairs? Kind regards.

Quote " I am sorry for you guys. Now you have to come up with another excuse to invade and expand your jewish empire on the ruins of middle east." , Iran terror direct and indirect sounds a valid excuse to send our messengers with all destruction that fall into their power .

The IAEA has been saying all along, just as they did with Iraq, that Iran, like Iraq, is no threat to the USA. It's time the US put their own interests first, not that of Israel. The US is worn down with two wars in the Middle East, which has costs huge loss of life and limb to American service men and women and huge debt. It's time for Israel to make peace, amend their evil ways, and take care of themselves. Americans have had enough.

The view of a true, Israeli Lobbyist. Does it have to be said again? The reason that the US and Russia did not "have at" each other was due to the fact that both had nukes. How much more simple would you like it? Maybe if you think slowly! BTW, it was the "occasional neocon" who caused the devastation in Iraq. Surely you remember the names? As for "one report", it was a combination of the "reports" of 16 agencies, THAT makes it 16 REPORTS! As for your question, the answer is NO. Nobody expects anything resembling "reasonable" from the zionists.

So you have a pipeline to God? Be careful what you wish for, Schlomo. God has wrought vengeance on his chosen ones before, and the way things are going you're due for another visitation.

Pearl and his NEOCON buddies want another WAR.. This will be suicide for Israel...and specially with Iran.... Bush came to his senses and told the Israelis in Annapolis..I am not going to have my legacy tarnished any further..Iraq is enough.. Hadely and company wanted another war, Bush a good man..He put his foot down...

1938--Chamberlain: Peace in our time. 1951--The tooth fairy got my first tooth. 1959--Fidel Castro's government will pass soon. 1980--Saddam is our buddy 2007--Iran halted its nuclear weapons development program in the fall of 2003. Sure and soon Santa Claus is going to bring me presents.....

Dude, you've got some nerve dismissing another so callously! What do you know about the enocomy and global policy? I'd really like to know......very funny....hilarious....nevertheless, thanks!!!!!HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA

Your social illness has effected what little brainpower you may have had--Israel hasn't threatend anyone, nor are there any records of her testing nukes, either above or below ground--Meanwhile, Iran has made numerous threats to wipe out Israel, which are well documented--As you recall, I recommended Penecillin, it might help--

I am sorry for you guys. Now you have to come up with another excuse to invade and expand your jewish empire on the ruins of middle east.

For the faulty intelligence on Iraq & Afghanistan--It wasn't intelligence, it was faulty guesswork--The U.S. is still stuck there because these guys couldn't get their act together--Instead of accurate sources, they seem to use crystal balls and runes--

Now that the Iranian threat has proven to be a farce, Israel can't continue looking at Iran and it must sit down with the Palestinians and give up the lands they stole from the native Arab Palestinians.

I think its obvious that the US doesn't have the money, troops nor the backing at home or abroad to go into Iran and take care of the weapons problem. Now there is a report they can hide behind and force the issue to the Clintons in 09 when Iran is that much closer to the bomb. Be scared. Be very scared.

The Americans have finally realized that listenting to the Zionist jihadis and their agetent in DC will bring them nothing other than death, defeat, humiliation and getting stuck in another quagmire. With their pockets beiing picked by you-know-who. Simply said, the American have waken up. Stay tuned, there's more to come. There are a lot of Scooters.

Greg, one more thing.Kiss your career as an economist, bye.With the second largest oil reserves in the world,it makes no sense to spend billions on energy resources you don't need & at the same time create more hardship.Iran's economy is in a shambles.If the mullahs cared about economics, nuclear power would not be anywhere near the top of its priorities.In fact their nuclear program has cost billions, produced no energy, created new economic sanctions, regional tensions and the threat of a war.The only reason for pursuing nukes is as a means to gain regional power and to destroy Israel (their words, not mine). They also count on naivete. You have shown that brilliantly. Amazing, you are the only person in the world who believes the Iranians AND our national intelligence estimates! Final word, I don't want our children to live under the threat of Islamic fundamentalist nuclear weapons. Thank goodness, you are just a poor dork who can't write well, not in a position of power.

The US Dep't of States wants the State of the Jews to dance faster by Road Map Blues Rythm . Wich means a detailed time table agreement by the end of Bush term . Wich as usual arabs will exploit to change stipulation as pretext for blame , quarrels and contentions in order to murder , kill so to bring the former palestine region under arab control . And for that with the help of such U.S. intelligence report , the US Dep't of States wants to drugg to drowse the State of the Jews` concern about Iran file for the withdrawal from Jewish legal own land of Judea and Samaria may (but in fact will) serve as a magnet for jihadists and a rockets launch pad against Jerusalem West , Tel Aviv beaches ect...Gaza experience stands tall as striking evidence . With regard to the Iran file , there is no doubt that the US has a longer breath and so the US (only for the sake of its Mideast interests point of view) seeks to calm the State of the Jews concerns (cited above) with such U.S. intelligence report , However the State of the Jews assesment cannot ignore the credibility of such U.S. intelligence report especially when compared to Ground Zero Tragedy that the State of the Jews intelligence reports warned about and informed the proper US Authorities . the US can neither underestimate the State of the Jews info from PM Sharon to US about the transfer of Iraq WMD to Syria , Info wich reportedly led to the joint USAF-IAF strike against a nuclear installation at Deir az Zour-Syria. Wich was a crystal clear warning sign to the world from the State of the jews seriousness to decisively deal against such Iran file . Assessment is OK and so was right on target the State of the Jews assessment about the Syria reaction after such reportedly Sep. joint strike , But as any normal democracy would have done so does the State of the Jews takes no chances with regard to its intentions against such Iran file , And neither be swindled by the arab pronounced , downright goal of the arab control of the former palestine region by arabs changing stipulation from speckled to spotted and from ringed to striped as the world is witness thru past agreements . The distinct typical walker from Crawford-Texas must assume its duty against the Iran file and not hand over such responsibilty to the next US Administration . Its his fate , that's his call to correct past US Administration mistakes and US intelligence failures . Who knows but an other joint USAF-IAF operation may lead to better relations and good memories for the future,

Read the report idiot.It explicitly states that they do not know for certain what activities have taken place since 2005.Further, the Iranians, especially their President who openly calls for another Holocaust (while denying the first ever happened), repeatedly announce their intention to become a nuclear power.Moreover, the national intelligence estimates have been reliably wrong.Why is this one correct and the last one wrong?What is the basis of your conclusion?An Iranian nuclear missile that can reach Europe in 1-3 years is a worldwide nightmare.That's the real reason the Saudis went to Annapolis.Even they are smarter than to listen to naive person like you.If we allow Iran to have nukes, millions of Iranians and non-Iranians and Americans may die.There is no better reason to defend ourselves. There is no important issue to our security today.The only thing worse than a strategic bombing of their nuclear facilities is a nuclear weapon in the hands of the Shiite fundamentalist junta

and criticize anyone or anything--To refresh your memory---"I led you by your lying tongue, showed you where and when you tried to deceive--It's how time you fessed up--Nobody can believe you, you indicted and convicted your self with your forked tongue--Pay attention to the last two paragraphs--"#24 Linthwaite - How can anyone believe what u say.? You took a clear cut story, amended it to suit your devious needs, and claimed it was the truth--Nowhere, no place, did the Government forces in Peki'In violate standing orders--I'm enclosing a link to the entire story--Prove to me where you extracted that detail from the story--I can't repost the entire story for lack of space, however, the link will enable you to review it in it's entirely--Just copy and paste the part you claim was included--Emphasis is mine--http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/918498.html PEKI?IN CLASH This is why you can?t be believed or trusted Linthwaite ? I?m enclosing the link to the story?Please review it, in it?s entirety, and show me the part where the Officers defied orders not to open fire?You have a great imagination, once again you?ve proven you like to write, distorting the actual events to suit your purposes?For lack of space, I didn?t post the complete story, gave you the link instead?Now go ahead and show me what you claimed happened?I have emphasized some of the essentials to facilitate your reading what really happened-- ?Some 27 police officers were among the wounded. Police and the Magen David Adom emergency service said that one civilian and one policemen sustained serious injuries in the clashes. Three of the civilians were wounded by live police ammunition. Police defended opening fire on the residents, saying they did so only in self-defense. Koren confirmed that the police used live ammunition in the town, arguing that the officers had found themselves in a ?life-threatening situation

This report is unequivocal in saying that Iran's nuclear WEAPONS program was suspended in 2003. What remains in operation now is clearly a CIVILIAN nuclear program. Which involves, inevitably, the enrichment of uranium. Iran is perfectly entitled to enrich uranium under the terms of the NPT, so long as it is doing so for CIVILIAN purposes. Now, having said this, I read everyone here saying that this report pulls the rug out from under the hawks who want to bomb Iran, and leaves the USA with only greatly increased sanctions. Huh???????? If Iran's nuclear program is purely concerning itself with CIVILIAN power generation then there *is* *no* *justification* *for* *any* *action* *against* *Iran*. None. No military action is justified No sanctions are justified. Iran is allowed to do what this report states that Iran is doing. There is no reason to complain, and there is not reason to sanction.

You are right on target. The mistake started when Bush allowed Antisemite James Baker to machinate policy in Washington. Hence, all the competent people like Rumsfield and the Generals were replaced. And the Islamist intrusions in misguiding Rice can be seen clearly. Meanwhile, the Leftists in Congress have been undermining Bush. It would take another 9/11 to wake them up. Until Israel makes the move to defend herself against existential threat on her made by the fanatical Islamist-Jihadist Ayatollahist regime that is hellbent on the destruction of Israel and is feverishly working on their nukes to accomplish their evil intention on Israel, a 9/11 scenario involving suitcase nuke by Iran and their Islamist-Jihadist tentatacles in the region will most likely happen in Western cities. And that is the price to be paid in the West for accommodating Antisemite and Islamist-Jihadist intrusions in policy making.

Those of you accusing Israel of "warmongering" don't really understand what it's like to fear an existential threat. If Iran's program really is dead, then that's terrific. I have worked in the Israel lobbying community in the U.S., and can tell you no one aside from the occasional neocon really wants to bomb a major regional power that also happens to have a sizable Jewish population. The problem Israel faces is that guessing isn't good enough. One nuclear bomb means extermination. Game over. Meanwhile, their experience with Palestinian terrorism and Iran's own rhetoric has led them to believe their enemies have no problem taking their own lives at the expense of others. Do people reasonably expect a responsible Israeli leader to simply assume one report is good enough, and totally back off its anti-Iran push?

This is a golden opportunity for Iran to start full uranium enrichment for nuclear weapons. The US doesn't have a GUT for A FULL CONFRONTATION. Godspeed, Godbless, IRAN.

well i feel a lot better now knowing that syria was the only middle east arab country building nuclear weapons----good job the iaf stopped syria.sure hope they didnt share any with ahmadinejad before the syrian building was leveled----------i wonder why iran thats not building nukes? has so many facilities connected with its peaceful research buried so deep underground?must be so they dont pollute the air with radioactivity----well they are so thoughtful?

Thank you Steven! What a beautiful post.....indeed it has been waaaay too long for our two nations to interact. Iranian population of 75 Million (of which 70% is under the age of 35) is the most pro-American in the ME - with 87% FOR relations with the US as opposed to the regional ANTI-AMERICAN views of extremes (Saudis, Jordan, Egypt, etc) and even compared to Turkey with almost 90% ANTI-American perception. Let the talks begin and let us ALL see what could come out of civil dialogue!

The National Intelligence Estimate must have come from a bunch of anti-semitic, anti-Israeli, anti-zionist, anti-Jewish, freedom-hating, Islamic moles in the US intelligence agencies. Iran does have a BOMB! It does! It does! It does! Ask any neocon in the US, ask any zionist, ask anyone making money from the arms industry. Ask Santa Claus, he knows, that's why he does not "fly" across Iran. It is also stated in the bible,Acts 9-11 "Thou shalt bomb the crap out of the enemies of the Israelites/Russians/Poles/. Do not and I will kill you all when I come back or, alternatively, arrive for the first time". BUT, just in case. I think that we should all get togeather and collect enough cash to buy them a BOMB, from Israel, they won't miss one from their stack. The only way to protect our "friend" Israel, is to get the Americans to bomb them. The truth is of no consequence, the whole existence of Israel is built on lies, so lets stick to the "tried and true" method.

My compliments to your mother! She must feel very proud of raising such an incredibly humane being....

Peacelover, Israel doesn't WANT a war; unfortunately, she's a paranoid schizophrenic (due, as usual, to childhood incidents, a la Freud), with certain 'world leaders' taunting, rather than helping, calm her paranoia. If you've ever seen Cheech & Chong 'Up in Smoke'....mellow....mellow...melllow.... AAAAARGGGGHHH!!!!!

DO NOT BE PROVOKED by the powerless morons that post here. DO NOT GO IT ALONE. Give us one more year to calm things in Iraq, to free up those forces. Smart Americans know the game being played with this "Intelligence Estimate." It is Iran's last chance. Only leftist Jew-hating idiots purposefully ignore the suicide jihadis who run Iran and their genocidal aspirations, and they have no power in America. Am Yisrael Chai.

Here is what the the peace loving Iranian leadership said. RAFSANJANI SAYS MUSLIMS SHOULD USE NUCLEAR WEAPON AGAINST ISRAEL TEHRAN 14 Dec. (IPS) One of Iran?s most influential ruling cleric called Friday on the Muslim states to use nuclear weapon against Israel, assuring them that while such an attack would annihilate Israel, it would cost them "damages only". "If a day comes when the world of Islam is duly equipped with the arms Israel has in possession, the strategy of colonialism would face a stalemate because application of an atomic bomb would not leave any thing in Israel but the same thing would just produce damages in the Muslim world", Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani told the crowd at the traditional Friday prayers in Tehran. Analysts said not only Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani?s speech was the strongest against Israel, but also this is the first time that a prominent leader of the Islamic Republic openly suggests the use of nuclear weapon against the Jewish State. In a lengthy speech to mark the so-called "International Qods (Jerusalem) Day" celebrated in Iran only, Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani, who, as the Chairman of the Assembly to Discern the Interests of the State, is the Islamic Republic?s number two man after Ayatollah Ali Khameneh?i, said since Israel was an emanation of Western colonialism therefore "in future it will be the interests of colonialism that will determine existence or non-existence of Israel".

Very clearly, this is Iran's last chance before another round of sanctions. Listen to what the guys say. They say sanctions are working. We need more. But they also say Iran could resume bomb work anytime, and that the military option is still on the table. This is diplomacy's last chance.

Will the neoconlets come up with another pressing reason to keep the 'imminent threat' valid? One by one Iran's violations of 'undecent behaviour' have disappeared from the editorials -- the coloured badges, the 'off the map' canard, the holocaust denial and now 'the bomb'. LOL

as distasteful as you may find it, DIME(Dense Inert Metal) is a conventional, but very effective, anti-personnel measure. Just because it works doesn't make it immoral. See, when the bad guy is launching rockets at you from next to a hospital, you get in trouble if you hurt the hospital. DIME is just an attempt to limit collective punishment:-) If the hospital were destroyed, that would be considered collective punishment. I take it you would like your cake, and to eat it as well? I don't blame you, so would I....the best way to do this would be to make it illegal to fire rockets from civilian population centers, schools, hospitals, oil installations, etc. Also, DIME is much better than that other weapon that kills people but leaves buildings standing....remember the 'Neutron Bomb'?

When Israel demolished the iraqui reactor,everybody thought the Israelis were crazy...It took some time for the same everybodys to realize how right Israel was... This time,it's a little harder to do it,but the IAF has the means and the will...

Good point, Iranian American; do you think if we impose harsh enough sanctions against Germany, they'll take the Holocaust back??? Sounds like a new movie.... 'Time-Sanctions'

or maybe it will just have to wait a little longer...

The fact that the Israelis did a vast con job including bricking up doors during an IAEA inspection negates the fact that other countries should not be able to do the same then? Thought not

Since there are no Iranian nuclear weapon program according to UN and US, therefore keeping Iran under any sanctions by UN and/or US is unjustified and without a merit, all sanctions against Iran must be dropped, and followed by negotiation without any pre-condition in regard for normalization of relation between US and Iran, truce at hand, peace out!

Isn't it about time Israel learn to take care of itself????? We've carried Israel on our backs and paid a high enough price for its existance. And quite frankly, we're tired of the guilt tripping.

It's about time Americans wake up, do their own research, and stop being led by the nose by those who would provoke further troubles between our country and Iran. After 25 or more years of not talking with one another, it is time for America and Iran to come to an accommodation with one another, resume diplomatic ties, and stabilize matters in the Gulf region. If this does not conform with the Israeli right-wing's desires, that's just too bad.

weapons.It used chemical weapons in Gaza in Feb.2001 and 180 people were hospitalised with convulsions(BBC Report).A retired israeli air force officer admitted that they used DIME(Dense Inert Metal) in Gaza.It tears the flesh,does not destroy property! People were hospitalised with mangled limbs and injury to their internal organs.And who pray used 4 million cluster bombs on civilian populations?

"My guess is that we will start hearing more about Syria. They support Hizballah and Hamas, so can be portrayed as a legitimate target." - Tosefta (syrian propaganda man) What an idiotic statement of the obvious. Yes we all know that Syria supports Hez and Hamas to cause trouble for Israel. So in return US and Israel will cause trouble for Syria. How about that Mr. Syrian stooge? Peace for peace, not more or less. Golan is Jewish land, you will never get your ugly claws on it again.

All this time, Olmert assures Israelis that US will atatack iran.Others know that like Iraq and syria, when Israel perceives a threat, it has to deal with it alone. So crybaby Olmert runs to Russia and the US-begging for them to do something about Iran. He knows he cannot make a deicison on his own about iran bcause he is incapable. He even tried to block Barak froma attacking Syria. Olmert is tired of fighting and winning so he said. So he lost in Lebanon, lost after withdrawing from GAZA, is conceding land all over the place in return for nothing. Guess what-Israelis and the diaspora are tired of you. They don't want you anymore. Israel is a beautiful country. Have some honor. Stand up, look in the mirror and resign. You are hated by nearly all Jewish people. Take Ramon with you and leave israel. No one voted for your family to decide israel policy. The only reason why you won the PM office was because of sharon.Go join your son in the US. Get out of the PM office.

Steven Hadley of the NSC reportedly said today that this proves that our sanctions have been effective............ The US sanctions have been so effective that not only they stopped the Iranian program. They actually made the program work backwards all the way to 2003 ...... years before the sanctions were imposed. These sanctions are obviously very effective tools of the NSC and should be studied by all interested in national security, foreign affairs and international diplomacy.

CIA announced tonight that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. Somehow this "news" coinsides with the news that Iran stopped shipping weapons to Iraq. I think, this is the Washington's way to say to Israel: we decided not to get involved, you would have take care of yourself. Israel will have to protect itself -- alone -- and soon. No outside help provided.

Admiral Fallon General Abuzaid General Sanchez Jacques Chirac, French President Tzipi Livni, Israeli Foreign Minister (in a secret meetig per Haaretz) Ephraim Halevy, former Chief of Mossad (per Haaretz) All have stated, even if Iran acquired nuclear weapons, it would pose NO THREAT to the State of Israel. Fact is, US military is against war with Iran. The only people wanting war are the desperate warmongers (zionists / neocons) and Dick Cheney.

this is nonsense. iran stopped the research because they already had the technology ready what they need now is the fissionable material in big quantities and this is what they are doing with tens of thousand centrifuges. chris jorge

Golly ---looks like all those Republican, Israeli Lobby influenced saber rattling clowns in our administration can rest writing and speaking their CNN / Fox T.V. screeds, justifications and plans for attacking Teheran.

ROFL

now you sound more like your namesake, Jane Fonda. It's just a shame that the US never took up Iran's offer to negotiate the enrichment issue along with all the other big issues affecting the Mid East when they made it back in 2003. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ article/2006/06/17/AR2006061700727.html

Something happened at Annapolis. Some back office deal was struck whereby the Arabs told Bush to call off the wolves against Iran or Israel is going to die and life in America and in Iraq will be a living hell. Did OPEC assure not to switch to Euro? Was there a deal for Bush to get out of Iraq gracefully? Did the US State Department exercise their disdain for Israel? Did the black widow finally bite? In the end, the report or "deal" is meaningless, like every other deal with the Arabs.

Slowman has been working as censor for a couple of years now and hasn't learned to do his work as fast as other censors. Indeed, he has remained extremely slow and irritates all posters with his slowness. It stands to reason that Slowman is physically challenged and is unable to speed up. Perhaps Haaretz derives some benefit from employing Slowman. It could be that the Welfare Ministry subsidizes Slowman's employment. We the posters do not wish to cause Haaretz extra expenses, but we may be able to offer some suggestions to speed up the process. My suggestion is that instead of one Slowman doing a full time job, Haaretz should hire two Slowmans (sic), each working half time. After every 4 hour shift by a Slowman there should be a regular 8 hour shift by a fully able censor. That censor will be responsible for catching up with all the posts that the preceding Slowman skipped. Our suffering will be reduced this way. I open the forum for discussion and more suggestions by other posters.

it's not as if Iran are about to invade another nation whilst simultaneously attacking its infrastructure via aerial bombardment, fulfilling the aim of sending that nation back into the 'Stone Age', and killing over a thousand civilians many of them women and children.Is it?

The news practically closes the Iran file, as far as Bush may be concerned. No point in attacking Iran if they can hit back in Iraq and elesewhere. Would the Bush ideology of fighting "worldwide terror" just be put to rest? Unlikely. The quest to beat the terrorists gave the main direction to the (failed) Bush presidency. So who has to be the next terror-supporting target? My guess is that we will start hearing more about Syria. They support Hizballah and Hamas, so can be portrayed as a legitimate target. Of course, Syria supports these organizations because they cause trouble for Israel, who is occupying the Syrian Golan, but such fine details don't matter to Bush.

First, the Intelligence community has decided to do what it can to stop the lunatic in the White House from starting another war. Second, the Intelligence community has staked out a position which will allow it to eventually conceal it's submission to the White House during the first decade of the 21st century. Third, I am not surprised by this report. There never was much, if any, valid evidence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program. There certainly was never anything which the Bush junta was willing to present as evidence to the world. As long as the IAEA is monitoring the enrichment of Uranium, then there is NO chance that the monitored facilities will produce Uranium enriched sufficiently to produce a nuclear weapon without sufficient prior notice as to allow for the world to deal with the problem.

There is an actual link to the official NIE i the article. Is the entire US Intel community antisemite?

Freilich's position paper also stated that dialogue and living with Iranian nukes was an option. What drives you to be a compulsive distorter? Why is that?

Boo-hoo-hoo! Israel might not get its fervently-hoped-for war. Cheney will just have to cook the intel better.

Out of thin air, we have a report that Iran stopped it's nuclear bomb building program years ago. How convenient! Now Europe, China, Russia and everyone else if off the hook on the thorny issue of imposing meaningful sanctions against Iran. Now America is off the hook on taking military action against Iran. Leaving Israel alone to confront Iran, which almost certain IS building nuclear bombs. Iran's Mad Mullahs have enjoyed huge gains in prestige and power because of Iran's nuclear bomb program. Do you really think they are going to give it all up? Don't believe this report for a minute.

the intelligence folks are clever, they smell a democratic victory for white house and congress, and ofcouse want to keep thier jobs.

Are you volunteering to go yourself or just our kids in the military? Are you willing to send your kids? Nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought. - Ronald Reagan

...Tehran's decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined ... The US is afraid to attack Iran. Therefore, they need a COVER to justify its cowardness. This a MOVE TO SAVE FACE OF A BANKRUPT REGIME. Go ahead Iran, you shouldn't afraid of anybody to develop nuclear weapons right now.

By the way ARABS have weapons of mass destruction.They worked well on the Kurds and their Iranian brothers. Imagine what they would do to "klab yahuds" if they had the chance. Make your heart swell with pride?

Mr. Slowman, We know, and you yourself know, that you are extremely and awfully slow as a censor. It is a fact which may have a good explanation. Let me mention to you a couple of points which may make you less than so terribly irritating. 1. You can barely service 2-3 forums and have little to no time for the rest. Why put up 6 forums for discussion? All you do is waste people`s time by getting them to write comments which never see the light of day. Do not irritate people and you will be treated better. 2. Do not disappear for hours. Better give posters some hope that you are not lost. Dedicate some 10 minutes every hour to doing your censorship job and then go back to your other chores. You may not be happy about our criticism, but you can reduce the irritation by acting more reasonably. Thank you for your understanding. "The dying, the cripple, the mental, the unwanted, the unloved, they are Jesus in disguise." - Mother Teresa

Hugo Chavez to embrace capitalism... apologizes on nationwide television for offending GW Bush and promises to support Republican candidate in 2008 US presidential race....Pyongyang to stop selling weapons to Arab nations refusing to sign peace treaty with Israel and move their embassy to Jerusalem...Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to build 50 billion dollar Chabad Centers in Median and Mecca... announces new doctrine outlining separation between Mosque and State... Ariel Sharon wakes up from coma...Osama bin Laden discovered studying Judaism full time in Yemenite yeshiva. Described by many as a Godol Hador and Talmid Chacham...

..calm down,have tea,take your meds..you're talking too fast.

Intelligence services are famous for their blunders...Just to cite some:The pakistani nukes,caught all the Western "intelligence services" with their pants down...The Mossad was completely in the dark.when both egypt and syria attacked in 1973...etc.Maybe the 'Intelligence" services are wrong about the iranian nukes to...So,just for the sake of millions of lives at risk,it's better to err on the safe,than bury millions of victims...NUKE THE BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

seriously wtf

Although US intelligence has a poor record predicting WMD, if they turn out to be right this time, it would buy Israel valuable time. Electronic countermeasures and anti-ballistic missile technology are continually improving. If Israel could successfully fend off a nuclear first strike, Iran would then be faced with the prospect of imminent annihilation. If Iran can't succeed with their initial attack, they may not be able to proceed at all. Only if US intelligence is right this time...

Antisemites are trying to cover up on Iran's nuke program. They want Iran to have nukes and try to prevent the Free World from defanging Iran. Unfortunately, they can't fool the whole world. In her book, "World On Fire," Professor Amy Chua tells that after 9/11, former Iran's President Rafsanjani, made a speech at Tehran University and said that a single nuke would do the job of annihilating Israel. The fact is the Ayatollahists are feverishly working on their nukes. And the fanatics are funding, supporting and training Islamist-Jihadist terrorist organizations in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

because the cabal's plans have gone awry.The international community is not buying into the drumbeat of war against Iran.Russia & China are not thrilled about further sanctions.The NAM(Non Aligned Movement)of 180 countries has endorsed Iran's nuclear policy. Now it is time to turn attention to the nuclear program of the only country in the ME that has one,with nukes!

Clearly the Iran and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad must be commended for their truthfulness while the US and Israel should be condemned once again for their continued untruthfulness and wanton attempts to deceive the World community with their anti-Arab rhetoric and lies. Iran has a legitimate right and a logical need to produce nuclear power in order to sell more oil on the open market, and given the West?s continual sanctions, also have a proven need to be self sufficient in the production of nuclear fuel etc.

#1 and similar ideologues--it is more than reflexive, it is more accurately reactionary, to believe that those you don't agree with are knowingly evil and, demonic, even though, admittedly, the image of the neoconservative war monger serves to activate projected and threatening psychic isolation of "the other" as it has since classical modern anti-Semitism, or indeed, other purification mechanims of group reinforcement as with the Inquisition, the Salem witch hysteria, etc. It is no less a "neoconservative" than Elliot Abrams who has labeled attacking Iran military as "crazy"--similar lets-wait-and-see sentiments have been heard from Charles Krauthammer and Victor Hanson (who urged not military action but helping of dissidents). Straw men are uselessly rhetorical targets.

"This the work of Antisemites and Islamist-Jihadists trying to fool Bush and Israel." BOOOHOOOHOOO, they are spoiling my war!!!!!

Israel`s consistently over the years, refused to officially deny or confirm any existence of a Zahal nuclear weapons development program. NOW, how`s that a threat to anyone...-much less lying ???

Chris, there is another factor to consider. One reason why this is being released now could be that we now have Democrat-controlled oversight committees in the US Congress. For the first time under Bush, the US Congress is actually fulfilling it's oversight duty over the US intelligence agencies. The Congress is no longer a rubber-stamp for the Neocons. Expect to hear more balanced information coming from all agencies that are subject to Congressional oversight. It will still have a Republican slant on it, it will just be more balanced.

General Montgomery, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and other famous or infamous men have had standins that can mimic their actions, speech and look like them--The same could be true of Bin Ladin, an actor taking his place--The voice inflections and mannerism are simulated--Your Choo Choo train left the station, nobody on board--So much for your theory and train, both derailed--Now back to tending to your Afro-American's, where your heart should be if you actually had one--- Can we harness your hot air, then there'll be no fuel shortage..??

The news practically closes the Iran file, as far as Bush may be concerned. No point in attacking Iran if they can hit back in Iraq and elesewhere. Would the Bush ideology of fighting "worldwide terror" just be put to rest? Unlikely. The quest to beat the terrorists gave the main direction to the (failed) Bush presidency. So who has to be the next terror-supporting target? My guess is that we will start hearing more about Syria. They support Hizballah and Hamas, so can be portrayed as a legitimate target. Of course, Syria supports these organizations because they cause trouble for Israel, who is occupying the Syrian Golan, but such fine details don't matter to Bush.

The Iranians have killed and maimed thousands of Americans in Iraq. If America bomb the Ayatollahists, it is pay back time. However, with Antisemites and Islamist-Jihadists sticking out their ugly heads once again in sabotaging Bush through lies, leaks and manipulations, it looks like Bush is becoming impotent about the Ayatollah nuke threat. Meanwhile, Iranians are killing and maiming Americans with their IEDs almost daily in Iraq.

Notice all the hedging--Nothing specific, all guesswork--Just who has been allowed to actually observe the work in progress..??--Al Baradei couldn't get near the place with his crew of investigators--The "Guesswork" has been compiled by the same people that have been so wrong before in the Guesstimation of other matters--

The Bush administration & the american intelligence services once again seems to have pulled the rug from under their own feet ! Right now, it appears (to me) that U.S. intelligence is heavily politicised & geared more towards politically correct expediency than seriously competent intelligence work... On the other hand, israeli intelligence is geared towards ensuring Israel`s national survival as priority # 1. -while in too many respects depending on cooperation with, and reliability of, Mossad`s U.S. counterparts ! -U.S. govt. credibility...??? -Shot in the foot, all bets are off for now !!!

And then there is history, which tells us of another tribe, where the paranoid right-wing idiots once felt: "Surrounded by enemies: this was our situation right from the beginning. And we suffered from this like no other country. Surrounded by enemies, this will be our situation in the future. And this is our fortune", Hasse (the president of the `Allgerman association') said in 1907. It was this sense of paranoia, that the `Allgerman association' shared with the power elites of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-era, which became the root cause for the attitude to accept war not only as something unavoidable, but actually to long for war." (translated from: Volker Ullrich: The Nervous Great Power 1871-1918 - Rise and Fall of the German Empire, published in 1999, page 381)

Paranoia is a disturbed thought process characterized by excessive anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs concerning a perceived threat. In the original Greek, paranoia simply means madness (para = outside; nous = mind) and, historically, this characterization was used to describe any delusional state. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia

with the Middle East, Iran & Israel and who know what else, and doesn't give a hoot for the situation of her fellow Afro Americans--70% Illegitimacy rate, high unemployment, and prison population totally out of whack with their proportation of the population, not to mention the many generations that are living on the dole, now knowing how or want to extricate themselves from the situation--BULList displays saccharine concerns for the ME--Of course, she's disappointed that the the train she claimed everyone was being forced to board at Annapolis has been derailed and passengers didn't board of jumped off before it left the station--Her ChooChoo went fizzle--If all her wind could be harnessed, we wouldn't need oil, the hot air would suffice--

"And it suggests that the president has the right strategy: intensified international pressure along with a willingness to negotiate a solution that serves Iranian interests, while ensuring that the world will never have to face a nuclear armed Iran." The tone is getting softer. Some weeks ago, the US and France both openly said that the world might have to prepare for a war against Iran. But now it's different. The Annapolis meeting might have played a role. As a German (nonetheless, I had no choice, blah...) I cannot claim to be a protector of Israel: This is part of the role of the US. An argument which I still want to maintain is the refusal of nuclear power. The idea that the earth we live on, risks to be poisoned again, like after Chernobyl, is unbearable. You had to fear radiation in food and the rain itself. Imprisonment can come through cultural realities, but also by physical ones. If the Iranians can do without nuclear power, this is a plus factor of their civilisation.

This report will unfortunately make it more difficult for Bush to justify a military strike on Iran. Ahmadegenerate has not changed his positon on "wiping out" Israel, and the Iranians will possess the the ability to make a nuclear weapon unless stopped. Israel may need to take unilateral action on this. This report will only embolden the Iranians to keep going full speed ahead to develop a nuke and not make any concessions. They must be very happy. Too bad.

I am sick and tired of hearing lies lies and more deception. That is why I question 9/11 and demand the truth!

How can anyone believe the "official government" version on the event of 9/11? Bush lies.

Why is that then? Just because you disagree with its findings doesn't make it stupid and naive.

Usama bin Laden has died a peaceful death due to an untreated lung complication, the Pakistan Observer reported, citing a Taliban leader who allegedly attended the funeral of the Al Qaeda leader. "The Coalition troops are engaged in a mad search operation but they would never be able to fulfill their cherished goal of getting Usama alive or dead," the source said. Bin Laden, according to the source, was suffering from a serious lung complication and succumbed to the disease in mid-December, in the vicinity of the Tora Bora mountains. The source claimed that bin Laden was laid to rest honorably in his last abode and his grave was made as per his Wahabi belief. About 30 close associates of bin Laden in Al Qaeda, including his most trusted and personal bodyguards, his family members and some "Taliban friends," attended the funeral rites. A volley of bullets was also fired to pay final tribute to the "great leader." The Taliban source who claims to have seen bin Laden's face before burial said "he looked pale ... but calm, relaxed and confident." Asked whether bin Laden had any feelings of remorse before death, the source vehemently said "no." Instead, he said, bin Laden was proud that he succeeded in his mission of igniting awareness amongst Muslims about hegemonistic designs and conspiracies of "pagans" against Islam. Bin Laden, he said, held the view that the sacrifice of a few hundred people in Afghanistan was nothing, as those who laid their lives in creating an atmosphere of resistance will be adequately rewarded by Almighty Allah. When asked where bin Laden was buried, the source said, "I am sure that like other places in Tora Bora, that particular place too must have vanished."

Neo-cons will get their war either way.....remeber Channey...If we don't start a war with Iran, Israel will!!! THEN we will come to her aid right or wrong (as usuall). OR an incident in the sea involving ships would do. Hold your breath, we are not clear yet.

It is really impossible to believe a word that comes out of this administration.

"I would not trust my life on an a unquoted report from an anonymous senior US intelligence official , without more evidence would you?" Didn't believe them prior to Iraq, why should we follow them into Iran? So this latest piece...

Dear Israel, Are you still trying to start a war between America and Iran?

Is this the same intelligence organization that has been looking for Osama for seven years?

Oil at 100$ barrel. They make enough money to fund any project. They're not afraid of anyone. Why would they halt?

Hillary obviously has blackmailed the DNI, probably threatening to have wind up like Vincent Foster or Rabin, if he didn't cave in issue the report she wanted. The DNI knows full well what happens to anyone who crosses the Clintons, and doesn't want to be the next Julius Caesar as Hillary's minions plunge knives into him. And if Bill Clinton hadn't sold Iran all our atomic secrets so they would keep quiet about Hillary being the anti-Christ, Iran wouldn't have nuclear program to set aside in the first place. Just like Clinton really gave Saddam WMD advice and faked it being from St. Ronald of Reagan, Peace Be Unto Him.

The scariest part is that Bush saw the report 12 months ago and yet kept talking about preventing WWIII. That is scary.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/03_12_07_iran_report.pdf

Can you read? It says they stopped in 2003. It does not matter what missles they have or want to have. The whole point of calling for war witn Iran was about stopping WWIII. But it seems Iran has nothing to even think about WWIII. Are you crazy? Can you read? Do you read history at all? Why is it when Iran says something against us they are always considered to be 100% honest, yet when they say something we do not like they are 100% liars??? You have your agenda, so get off your USA ass, get a gun, get a few lunatics like you and go fight them. Stop calling us to do that because you have visions.

You say you are in the USA. The majority of Americans don't want more war. The world does not want more war. What is wrong with you and your warmongering mentality? Are you paranoid? I thought all the paranoid folks were camped out in Israel. Besides, Zionists are asking all warmongering folks on the planet belonging to their clan to make aliyah, however, more folks are leaving Zionist La-La Land than coming in. Those are the smart ones, like you, camped out in the safety of the good ole USA. Say, Zionist Paul Harris caught El-Al and went to Belfast, hmmm. Regards.

...disappointment!The Israeli's were ready to also go in and help the US. Thank God, that there are still people around who are skeptical of US "intelligence". Anyone remember all the vast stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Well, it was a mistake and so what that hundreds of millions have died, and several millions are now refugees. We should bomb Iran anyhow and teach them a lesson.

Seems a bit strange after yesterday's headline news in Haaretz, this little bombshell appears in the same paper the next day. It also appears before a planned meeting where a third round of sanctions against Iran was going to be discussed. Doesn't that seem strange? Iran halted development in 2003 when it was pointed out they were been naughty and the world took notice? Russia have given a golden ticket to iran giving them a face saving way out of enriching any Uranium, there is about to be a EU statement on the matter, and Putin has just won an election by a landslide. And I am not allowed to put forward any conspiracy theories on the matter at all? Yes the stakes are high, but war will cause just as much damage to my middle class western lifestyle just as easily than if there is a nuclear exchange in the Middle East. Which is by no means certain is it?

Intelligence as other data can always be manipulated. It was only the MEK who presented the Iranian program back in 2002. Those politician really think they can fool everybody. At the mean time Iran is developing its capability, has an arsenal of long range missiles (Shihab3, Ghadr1, Ashura, TaePoDong that can hit Paris , and London) as well as a flotilla of Kilo submarines with Stealth capability. 2010, 2015, etc... Iran has now more than 3000 centrifuges in Natanz, closer to 5000. Does that mean that we can relax and wake up in 2010 when the first Nuke will fly toward Paris , London, and Tel Aviv. That's right, I forgot, according to Barak , Israel is working on a more adavanced antimissile system more adavanced than the Arrow, and it will stop 80% of incoming ballistic missiles. WoW !!!!! We are spending billions of dollars to have a 20% probability not to get nuked !!! What about Iranians multiple wareheads missiles? Will it take also 5 years for Iran to make a durty bomb?

interesting analysis but again confirms your obssession with conspiracies - it could just as easily be just another smokescreen. But i guess because you assume that Christians are behind the report that gives it more validity after all they are more loyal to the usa than Jews are...in your bigotted opinion. again it is just people talking and they could all be wrong. what you forget in all your "analysis" is that if iran does launch a nuclear attack on israel - we'll all have armageddon...and the m.east will be a nuclear wasteland... what do you think that'll do to your middle class oil dependent lifestyle ? the stakes Chrissie are not limited to the Jews.

Did they halt it or did the US make a deal to look the other way if Iran stopped shipping weapons to Iraq (causing the lul in violence there thus making Bush look good) hmmmmmmmmm

I saw him having lunch at a greasy spoon in Iowa with Elvis and John F. Kennedy!

I think you might need a visit to Belleview Hospital, it's near you....

...Ok... Q: Why is Iran running 3000 Centrifuges ? for a Civilian Nuclear Program? ( they could buy it cheaper...) This Assessment means that the US has no intention of making sure that Iran does not become a Nuclear Power ... ...After Iran announces it has N-Bombs ...'oops, sorry we goofed! Israel : Please note : YOU ARE ALL ALONE !

Sounds like the same traitors in the CIA who let Iranians walk out of the country with volumes of stolen technical data on the chemistry of the explosive lens in a nuclear weapon.

Few weeks ago FM Livni was on record asserting that the Iranian potential and future nuclear threat is something Israel could live with and adroitly manage. Israel's ministry of defense enbedded journalists (i.e Issacharof) hastened to tell their readers last week that the Annapolis meeting was primarily about the Iranian nuclear threat and about 'getting the Arab states on board' to face the threat behind the US. Now we are told that the threat does not exist into another 8-10 from now. What is Israel going to do absent this diversionary topic. Leave it to the warmongers in Israel and the US- they will concot something PDQ.

you have got to be kidding after all the UN observers, who have verified Iran's attempts to develop the bomb and all the noise raised by various committees and all the threats made by the US (which one can only assume was based on intelligence information) - now all of a sudden, Iran has stopped since 2003. Either way, the US looks like idiots.

If true, this gives the world community time to bring Iran back into the fold of civilized behavior and to avoid entirely the specter of a nuclear armed mullacracy. I say go for full force diplomacy and leave talk of war for another time if at all.

Why do you think Bin Laden is dead? Those recent videos over the past couple years look like him, sound like him and world intelligence indicates it is him talking about current events in his spiels. Regards.

I read Israel wants the US to bomb Iran. Why doesn't Israel bomb Iran, they have bombed everybody else in the neighborhood? So, I read all these posts from Zionists saying let's bomb today, so what is holding you up? You go ahead and attempt to whack Iran while the rest of us wait out the expected justified reprisal and the expected whine when massive casualties are inflicted on warmongers by a country who hasn't attacked anybody. I don't think US voters are behind any of it, esp since the US finally went to the UN with a resolution of their own and Israel prompted vetoed it making it clear they have NO intention of making peace or giving back stolen land. That was just wonderful to encourage the fence sitters to take an appropriate view of the pariah warmongering state. China and the USSR aren't on board and never will be given Zionist history of killing the homies. So, when will all this happen, this bombing? I don't want to miss it on CNN. Good luck!

This is one very fishy story. Unlike Saddam, who had no nuclear program left, the Iranians themselves say proudly they have thousands of centrifuges making as much high grade fissile material as possible for "peaceful purposes", all they while sitting on huge petroleum reserves. The Americans blew it with Saddam, who tried to bluff his way to a bomb and didn't have the balls or brains to stop playing chicken with the Americans. Bush told us "you'll see the proof of WMD" - and of course we know there was none. Now the Americans are saying they're going to stop playing chicken with the Iranians. Yet the Iranians aren't bluffing anybody, except to use the worn out phrase "for peacefule purposes". Betcha none of you readers remember India saying the same thing in the 60's and early 70's. Once they exploded their first nuke, they kept saying the weapons were "for peaceful purposes". Boy are we all dumber than dumb.

So Iran stopped its weapons program..so what. They are an evil Islamo-fascist Nazi state, who hates the Jews. They should be bombed just for that. God wills it!!

In the past the US intelligence misjudged, did not know and failed everywhere. I would not trust what the US is claiming now about nuclear weapons in Iran. The US intelligence is at his best only in movies and in fiction.

This is a joke story, no? Goodbye George, hello Radical Islam.Better hide your teddies,the new dawn is coming.Amen.

Misha said "Seems like the Iranians have sympathizers in the US. Who are these unnamed "senior US intelligence officials"? This is pure propaganda, don`t believe a word of it." If what you said is true, that would mean that George Bush, and Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell would be the "Iranian Sympathizers" you are talking about. The original source material for this news report is an official press release from the United States Office of National Intelligence. For it to be released as an official DNI press release, it has to get Presidential approval. The DNI is the office in charge of US intel organizations, such as the CIA, etc... goto the Department of National Intelligence (dni) official .gov website and follow the link on the home page to the "National Intelligence Estimate Key Judgments: Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities". This isn't the work of Iranian Sympathizers. This is the work of Republicans loyal to President Bush.

No attack on Iran then, either by the United states or Israel. As there is absolutely no justification. Wonder what brought this on? A deal between Iran and the States concerning Iraq is likely. Or is the EU report going to put a proposal to let Russia enrich Iran's Uranium for nuclear power, which Iran is going to accept? As Russia has come up with the goods for the reactor they are building for Iran. Thus allaying Iran's fears about having some wonderfully engineered buildings with absolutely no purpose in life. Fantastic news for the world though.

This the work of Antisemites and Islamist-Jihadists trying to fool Bush and Israel. Israel should rely on her own intelligence as the only reliable source of information on this matter.

In 1990 US intelligence concluded incorrectly that Iraq was not close to acquiring The Bomb, and in 2003 they believed the reverse, that Iraq may have an advanced nuclear program, which also proved false, albeit have the opposite viewpoint. These so-called intelligence experts don't have any direct access to the Iranian nuclear program, which means they're just guessing, like everyone else. Past intelligence estimates have been driven by little more than political expediency, and its entirely possible that this latest assessment is intended to dampen the sense of urgency, and provide the US military with a ready excuse to avoid confrontation with Iran, which is something they are obviously seeking to avoid.

This game has no ends and lots of loops. This was Washington's anwer to yesterdays Haaretz headline.......

Ovadiah ben Avraham asked "Which officials? Which agency? ... Is it just a US inter-agency turf war or personal careerism / showboating?" This is not showboating, this is an official press release from the United States Office of the Director of National Security. It holds the full authority and backing of this office. This office is led by Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, and this report was release to the public on his authority. http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20071203_release.pdf You can end your conspiracy theories. This is very official.

Iran has no nuclear weapons. Iraq had no WMDs. Yet the necon propaganda machine said otherwise. They wouldn't lie just to get the war(s) they want, would they? Paging Leo Strauss.

Manfred said: "I would not trust my life on an a unquoted report from an anonymous senior US intelligence official" There is nothing anonymous about this. It is an official press release from the United States Office of the Director of National Security. It holds the full authority and backing of this office. http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20071203_release.pdf This is no conspiracy. This is the declassification of official US intel.

3000 centrifuges spinning in parallel cascades of 164. Making...guess what,...Atomic Cola, Well done U.S. Intelligence, we all believe you guys. Guess the fellas at the White House have come back to planet earth, no more BS from the Neo Cons. Or is this the prelude for an attack.

...by so-called "intelligence agencies" or so-called "think-tanks"? Whether this story is true or not, and for whatever reason, it seems as though the clamour for war against Iran is dying down. This is an excellent thing.

Of course Israel didn't lie about their nuclear programme either.

If this is true and since no other source can prove otherwise (agencies are the only intelligence we have), isn't it time to hold politicians calling for war with Iran accountable? That would include many Israeli piliticians as well, Netaniyahu being first? Isn't it time to call them liars as they are and stop listening to them???

Yes, let's keep it a secret so lunatics like you can call for war and we can finally get it. Wow, you are crazy.

Americans were wrong regarding North Korea and they are wrong regarding Iran. Americans are afraid to attack Iran, that's it, that's all.

Are you crazy? So when agencies say there are no nukes you still want to go to war? Why don't you buy a gun and go kill a few Iranians you are so scared off by yourself? But stop getting everyone else involved in your lunacy. Wow! You are just sick. And when oil is at 100 dollars, it makes no sense to burn it for electricity, while nuclear is cheaper and cleaner, by the way. You are an idiot.

from "conflictive" property. Like his old man did (did nothing to help!) in 92 with the rebellion against Saddam in Basra or South Vietnam, remember the "last chopper out of Hanoi"? In the end it boils down to unreliable Intelligence and Partnership. Nobody is going to do the job for us and we will have do the job for the "others" because we have to do it for us. The "others" knew it all the time.

Let's see. Iran has the missiles for a nuclear bomb. They've been caught with a design for a nuclear bomb. And now they're in the process of learning how to make highly enrich uranium for a bomb. Many of their programs are highly secretive, and the IAEA says they know less and less about what's going on. The report today changes absolutely nothing. Once they have their highly enriched uranium, it's game over. They must be stopped now.

This is a National Intelligence Estimate, based on the findings of all 16 US intelligence agencies, as was the one 2 years ago. The Times says the change was based on new information. Nothing says an NIE can't be wrong (one of them has to be, since this one is in direct opposition to the one two years ago), but a report like this is a compilation of the best intelligence available to the US at the time.

And if you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn I want to sell you!

Wake up, Israel! Look at the threat posed by Pakistan!

An Israeli lobby group called for the Americans to bomb Iran yesterday. Looks like the State department have decided to shut him up, and any other Jewish think tank who believe that Iran needs to be twatted by the US. What gets really really interesting is the timing of the report, before the sanctions meeting is happening. Facesaving way out for Bush? No need for sanctions as Iran is not developing nuclear weapons? Sorry Russia and China false alarm nothing happening here. Prevents the US asking China and Russia to impose sanctions. Saves Russia and China saying no. Interesting development

Bin Ladin died in 2001.

Iran has the second highest oil reserves in the world. If you trip and fall in Iran, you strike oil. Oil is selling at $100 a barrel. It makes absolutely no sense to have a nuclear program in Iran. It is very expensive, risks war with the USA and is completely unneeded. The mullah-dominated government with a penchant for doomsday want nukes, not nuclear power plants, for military purposes. They produce missiles with 1,200 mile ranges that reach Europe for military purposes. These nukes and missiles are for the purpose of holocausts, not saving at the Teheran gas pumps. It is in the world's interests to stop these messianic mullahs from mass murder in the name of religion.

Pretty strange to publicise such a report, it seems. May be an attempt to bait Iran - which makes me wonder if and how Iran will react to this report. Maybe this is an attempt to catch-22 Iran on the nuke issue. See, as I see it, Iran has a dual approach to this issue: on the one hand Iran denies it is developing weapons, but on the other hand it presents itself in this bold, provocative manner -- maybe this report is meant to force Iran to decide which of these two "diplomatic" paths is more important.

Hopefully, they can now modernize their weapons more, use the oil money to prepare, prepare, prepare....in 10 years they will be even stronger and the nukes will be out..errr I mean their peaceful reactors will be running at full speed. :-p

This needs to be verified, continually. That being said, we shouldn't lionize Ahmanutjob to the nationalists among his people by paying him much attention. Most Iranians would like to re-join the international community. Let's ignore this guy and stop making him "the face of Iran". He's a legend in his own mind- we don't have to share his opinion of himself. Eventually, the people of Iran will give him the boot.

How could it take intelligence agencies over 5 years to decide that Iran stopped nuclear weapon development back in 2003? I would be more willing to believe it if it talked about 2006 but 2003 seems a little far fetched. We've heard numerous intelligence reports since 2003 that said there was evidence for further weapon development. This sounds like yet another inter-department turf war than a conclusive report.

just as the usa was looking for an excuse not to attack . what about irans secret weapons programmes ??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems that some in Washington DC like to put people in constant fear in Israel as well as the United States. The war on terror is 100% bogus created by those that want to get oil.

iran is still a treat to the US and needs to be dealt with. the sooner the war starts the sooner it will end. you cant have a person like the nuts job in iran with the possibility of having nukes. same deal with saddam. if you think they have them, then you go under the assumption that they will use them. its time to nuke iran and show them we mean business. they will not respond knowning that we have many many more nukes to use on them.

I would not trust my life on an a unquoted report from an anonymous senior US intelligence official , without more evidence would you?. I think that deployment of missiles which have a range of 3000 miles plus is more convincing, as is the refusal to abide by the IEAE / UN request to stop enrichment or the hiding of a nuclear program for more than eighteen years.

He knew this but wants a reason to get Iranian oil. He did the same tactic with Iraq. Uranium from Niger

Seems like the Iranians have sympathizers in the US. Who are these unnamed "senior US intelligence officials"? This is pure propaganda, don't believe a word of it.

one week, its 2015. the next week, its 1-2 years. "intelligence" my arse

Without more detail, this story doesn't add anything on which citizens can make decisions. Is it just a US inter-agency turf war or personal careerism / showboating? Is it new HUMINT from inside Iran? It certainly doesn't scan against Iran's recent activities and brinksmanship. Why would Iran take the burden of all the sanctions they are now bearing, if their program is only for energy? If they are desperate for energy, they could be much further along towards that goal by allowing unfettered IAEA inspections. This report doesn't jibe with El-Baradie's report, which concludes that there is some suspicion.

It's a perfect cover now for Iran to restart their programme whilst the west thinks diplomacy worked and everything halted in 2003. A country with hundreds of years worth of Oil in a mad rush for nuclear power? I don't think so.

How will the neocons get their war now?