NEWS: Iran Claims Ready to Prove No Nuke Weapons

In exhange for the West conceding to its right to peaceful nuclear technology and production, Iran is ready to show the rest of the world that it has no intention of pursuing atomic weapons according to a statement from Iran's President Mohammad Khatami on Wednesday. Citing the the fact that nuclear fuel is cheaper to produce domestically, a leading Iranian nuclear expert supported the President's statements.



The article also stated that Khatami has no intentions of giving up the uranium enrichment program and some Iraqi exiles are claiming that the country is yet to reveal the full extent of their nuclear program. Those issues alone would make me a very nervous neighbor.

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Good, I hope they exercise thier right to nuclear energy. I don't care if any anti-Iranians spout off at me, It's everyone's right for peaceful nuclear energy.

Of course they have a right to nuclear power. I have seen the argument many times that they have so much oil, they don't need nuclear power which, to be honest, is a bit lame.
As for the word of exiles, remember all the exiles touted by the intel agencies spouting stories of huge chemical and biological weapons stockpiles in Iraq before the invasion. To be taken with a very large pinch of salt

The problem, of course, is that Iran has been going around having tests the last month or so of long-range ballistic missiles and making sure everyone knows about it. And they don't really need to have long-range missiles, do they? Their number one enemy is currently occupied by the United States and not a military threat. Basically their missiles serve two purposes--to hit NATO forces and Israel. Israel, of course, would be more than happy to be friends with Iran and help them with a peaceful nuclear program if they'd stop funding every terrorists organization in the world. There is more money to be made in economic cooperation. When the Iranian government is calling for the death of Jews 24/7 and giving boatloads of money, intel and support to Hizbollah and Hamas and anyone else in the Jew-killing business, well, you've got to be a little suspicious of them. Also, building missiles to hit NATO forces when you're surrounded by them is a good way to piss of the US. And, also the funding of the terrorists is also a good way to get the world suspicious of your goals. If they sort of cut of the flow of money to Lebannon and Gaza and Iraq and stopped funding terrorists, well, everyone would probably ask how they could help with the peaceful nuclear program. Iran has no business funding mercenary armies around the world unless it has plans on being a regional power. Iran being a regional power conflicts with both our US goals for the region (and US goals are pretty much the final word) and certainly annoying to the Saudis. The whole trying to be a military power in that area thing has got to be dropped. Also, ditching the religious nutters running the show might help legitimize what they are trying to do. Calling everyone infidels tends to make people wary of you (just look at how the US is viewed).

Bottom line, the US has set up shop in their backyard and is not leaving anytime soon. The US calls the shots and Iran really doesn't have much say in the matter. Acting tough with us is suicidal. They might not like it, but that's life. If Bush wins they are either going to have to bend over backwards for the US or they will get bombed. There is no other decision. The notion of sovereignty is pretty much gone and, like every other country trounced by the US, Iran needs to accept reality. They get out of line and we let the Israelis and Iraqis have at them. I think the giving up terrorism, long-range missiles and religious nutters are small prices to pay to keep your country from being bombed and your economy gutted. But they'll stick to their stupid ideology, they'll get rolled by the US, tens of thousands will die needlessly, and they'll still get stuck eating McDonalds, drinking Starbucks and watching reality TV. Empire is coming and there's nothing they can do about it. Better to ask us how much oil we want and if they can franchise our fast food operations now and keep us happy. And, while they are at it, send more Persian chefs our way. They are some great cooks. Good eats.