Spokesman: Iran studying message from U.S. officials(Xinhua)

[Bruce McAuley]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-01/28/content_5665169.htm

Don't know if this has been posted yet, sounds like bad news for the Iranians from the Bush Administration to me.
The tone of the news suggests Bush told them we're coming...
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3357874,00.html
On edit, added another link

Bruce

[regnaD kciN]

1. I'd really like to see better coverage than just an item in "China View"...

...before drawing any conclusions. That story seemed long on assumptions, short on information.

[Bruce McAuley]

2. OK, added link above.

:hi:
I found a few more details, still does not sound like a happy letter from Bush.

Bruce

[peacetalksforall]

3. Three paths to excuses to bomb Iran - and a request

1. Nuclear threats - All along, they have fed us the threat that Iran will soon be ready to launch nuclear weapons - this in spite of a 1 1/2 year old NSC study saying that they won't be ready for 10 years and others saying they could chop off a couple of years if they are very succesful in buying parts.

2. Insurgent meddling in Iraq - totally avoiding the concept that citizens of Iraq and neighbors would want to defend themselves and their neighbors - but, the U.S. thinks it's unfair for Iran to be there - though it is OK for Saudi Arabians, Jordanians, Pakistani's, and Egyptians to be there.

3. Act of war incident - either there will be a Pearl Harbor set-up or something is going to be construed as a deliberate provocation by Iranians.

THEN POW!!!

Aside: Maximum: All out war. Less maximum: Nuclear radiation. Less maximum: Many deaths from the usual bombs our corporations liks us to drop. And a secondary aside: Has anyone ever seen photos of two of the most popular tourist destinations in Iran - Shiraz and Isfahan? Take a look.

A request: Can someone lay out the stages of developing nuclear weapons.

People keep saying that Iran doesn't have other essentials- aluminum tubes and yellow cake. Can someone say more - simply? I need to understand our administration's lie better.

Are we saying they are 'five' years away?

But we're 'invasion-ready' by February or March?

Another request: Isn't there anyone on this planet who can stop this?

As nasty as their leaders are, innocent people don't deserve this.

[Bruce McAuley]

4. Gotta agree...

And from my limited knowledge of nuclear processing, 3,000 centrifuges that may or may not be installed is way less than the 64,000 they need to make anything.
Personally, I'd estimate they're 7 to 10 years away from having enough nuclear material to make either a bomb or a reactor.
Any nuclear folks got better ideas?
Buncha malarkey to start a war or push them around.
We'd LOVE to occupy Kuzestan with all that oil.
Then we'd have most of the reserves in the Middle East under our thumbs.
Iran would fight, though, and the ensuing war would last decades or more.
Not a good scenario unless you're playing "Risk".

Bruce

[formercia]

6. Junior wants the whole Caspian Basin

that way they could set the price wherever they wanted.

[peacetalksforall]

7. Secure pipelines to Israel and Mediterranean - oil and water. nt

[formercia]

5. Junior likes to gamble

chasing his losses by raising with everything in his pot. There are no troops to invade, so all junior has is the carriers to up the ante.

[struggle4progress]

8. deer eyeran: the Baking Comision tolded me to right 2 you. So I am. Hear. So their. -W