U.S. Fails to Deter Iran from Developing Nukes

[Robbien]

WASHINGTON -- Despite its defeat of Iraq, the United States has failed to deter Iran from pursuing its nuclear weapons program.

A study published by the U.S. Army War College has asserted that the U.S. ouster of the regime of Saddam Hussein has led to an acceleration of Iran's nuclear weapons program. The report said neither Iran nor its ally, North Korea, has been swayed to abandon its missile or weapons of mass destruction programs.

"Iran also revealed a potential nuclear program more advanced than most suspected," the report, entitled Bounding the Global War on Terrorism," said. "Neither state seemed in the least bit deterred, although North Korea, under considerable pressure from China, finally entered into multilateral negotiations with as yet unknown results. The administration, however, did not take or even speak of military action against these states in part because of preoccupation with Iraq and in part because military action against Iran, and especially North Korea, would entail far greater difficulties and risks than action against Iraq."

Authored by Jeffrey Record, the report, which the college said does not represent the views of the U.S. Army, said the Bush administration chose to attack Baghdad because of the U.S. assessment that the Iraqi military would quickly collapse. In contrast, the administration has rejected any suggestions to attack neighboring Iran, with a much more powerful military, despite Teheran's huge nuclear and missile programs.

http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2004/april/04_25_2.html

Interesting take. Instead of the ME being cowed, this article states that the ME believes the US is weak since it will only attack its weakest threat.

[54anickel]

1. "Iran nor its ally, North Korea"? WTF, are they allies now? I must have

missed something. I thought NK was based on isolation from the outside. Now I find they are in cahoots with Iran? :shrug: :eyes:

[papau]

2. Economic ally - trade in atomic items

not best buddies!

:-)

[54anickel]

9. Silly me! I was thinking of the more common definition of ally....

not the "member of axis of evil" = ally kind of ally. :silly:

Ally is a very interesting word when used politically, isn't it?

1. To place in a friendly association, as by treaty: Italy allied itself with Germany during World War II.
2. To unite or connect in a personal relationship, as in friendship or marriage.

v. intr.
To enter into an alliance: Several tribes allied to fend off the invaders.
Hey, that sounds just like the Iraqis

n. pl. al·lies
1. One that is allied with another, especially by treaty: entered the war as an ally of France.
2. One in helpful association with another: legislators who are allies on most issues. See Synonyms at partner.
3. Allies
3.a. The nations allied against the Central Powers of Europe during World War I. They were Russia, France, Great Britain, and later many others, including the United States.
3.b. The nations, primarily Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States, allied against the Axis during World War II.
There's the one I'm looking for

[Leilani]

3. North Korea has been selling

nuclear info & materials for a long time.

[rooboy]

5. So has Pakistan...

but did they send the scientist concerned to prison? NOOOOOOOOO....

[mulethree]

13. ICBMs too

Testing of new Korean long range missiles is done in Iran.
I suppose the funding must come from there as well.
Estimates on this newest missile are between 3500 and 6000 kilometer range.

So two countries, with great reasons to hate us, keep developing ICBM nukes, and we're off wasting time in Iraq because they must have WMD and have been known to use them.

Saddam let us wipe out his military and bankrupt his country without ever playing his WMD trump card and we're still more concerned with Iraq than with certifiable maniacs with nuke missiles like Iran, NK and Israel?

Sounds more reasonable to address these missile and nuke programs with a few flight of B-2's with precision bombs than a $50 billion disorganized ABM program and a $500 billion Iraq war.

[maddezmom]

4. "Despite its defeat of Iraq, the United States has failed to deter Iran ..

from pursuing its nuclear weapons program."

The war has not been won...and everyday the US military and gov't looks weaker and more confused. Mission NOT Accomplished.

[central scrutinizer]

10. D'oh

Iran is not stupid - there was an obvious lesson from the Iraq invasion. Besides the oil, Iraq was invaded because it was weak. Unless you want to be next, develop nuclear weapons as soon as possible. Thanks to the neocons, we are a LOT less safer and secure than we were in March 2003. All we need now is for Israel to launch a pre-emptive strike against an Iranian nuclear facility as they did against Iraq in the 80's and the fundies will attain their dream of armageddon.

[louis-t]

12. You hit it RIGHT on the head CS.

Anyone who thinks Libya (who was not on our radar, not an 'axis of evil' member, and had been trying to get back in our good graces since the Clinton Admin) was intimidated into opening up to weapons inspectors because of * f*ck the war president is delusional. Qaddafi is only interested in the financial benefit of turning over his weapons program related activity inklings. Removal of trade sanctions will benefit him immensely. Whether any of the money will ever reach Libyan citizens is another matter.

[Bandit]

6. would entail far greater difficulties and risks than action against Iraq.

Iraq is a cake walk remember so think twice about invading North Korea or Iran. Iraq was rendered defenseless over the ten years of sanctions and bombings and inspections. That was why the bullies picked on it. It could not defend itself and they knew it. Iran on the other hand is capable and so is North Korea. We will not attack a country that can fight back. It isn't the New American way.

[bemildred]

7. Yeah, but Saddam was a sneaky old devil.

He left lot's of unguarded arms dumps around in
case his citizens needed them after he was gone.
Winning the conventional war is just the first
step, and one can expect the invadees to skip it
from here on out and just prepare straightway for
the guerilla resistance.

[shadu]

11. I hope Iran and Syria have lots of hidden arms dumps

I fear they are going to need them.

[Barkley]

8. Great Post!

Gee I wonder why Iran is still pursuing nukes?

From Iran's perspective the region has gotten
a whole lot more dangerous. With the most powerful
country in the world occupying next door and Israel
annexing territories and carrying out assassinations
with the full backing of the U.S. Its no wonder they
haven't abandoned nukes.

Pakistan has 'em.

Thank so much for this post.