Iran says it's willing to talk about nukes but 'enemies' must stop 'pointing the gun'

Vahid Salemi / AP

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, waves to well wishers from his car during an annual rally commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution on Sunday.

 

DUBAI - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday Tehran would not negotiate about its disputed nuclear program under pressure, but would talk to its adversaries if they stopped "pointing the gun.'

In a speech to mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, Ahmadinejad struck a more conciliatory tone than Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who on February 7 rebuffed a U.S. call for direct negotiations on disputes between the two countries. 

Ahmadinejad does not have the authority to authorize negotiations over the nuclear program, which lies with Khamenei. 

"You cannot point a gun at the Iranian nation and then expect them to have negotiations with you," Ahmadinejad said, speaking to a crowd gathered in Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Square. 

His speech, which partly dealt with Iran's policy towards its 'enemies', was carried live on Iranian state television. 

"Talks should not be used as a lever to impose one's opinions.... If you stop pointing the gun at the Iranian nation, I will negotiate (with you) myself," he added. 

The U.S. and some of its allies suspect Iran may be trying to develop atomic weapons capability under the cover of a civilian nuclear energy program, a charge Iran has denied. 

Many believe no nuclear deal is possible without a U.S.-Iranian thaw, requiring direct talks addressing myriad sources of mutual mistrust and hostility lingering since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. 

On the nuclear dispute, Iran has agreed to a new round of talks with world powers in Kazakhstan on February 26. 

Related: Iran's supreme leader rejects Joe Biden's offer of direct talks

Tehran is seeking the lifting of sanctions that have slashed oil exports and helped reduce the value of the Iranian rial by about half in the last year, contributing to higher inflation and weakened purchasing power for ordinary Iranians. 

At schools, in shops, and on the streets of big cities and small towns, daily life plays out in Iran.

Iranians bearing banners saying "Down With U.S.A." and "We are standing until the end" gathered at state-organized mass demonstrations in the capital Tehran and other major cities to mark the anniversary of the ousting of a Western-friendly monarchy in favor of clerical leadership. 

Ahmadinejad did not address the specifics of Iran's nuclear program, or of the planned talks, in his speech on Sunday. He said that Iran would counter the sanctions by increasing its non-oil exports and weaning itself off crude revenues. 

"Today the enemies are trying their utmost to put pressure on the Iranian nation to stop its progress but they will not succeed," he said. 

Last week, the U.S. implemented a measure meant to "lock up" Iranian oil revenues by requiring them to be credited to accounts in countries that buy Iranian crude. 

Supreme leader Khamenei on Thursday slapped down an offer of direct negotiations with the United States, saying negotiations and pressure were incompatible. 

Khamenei was believed to have been replying to remarks by Vice President Joe Biden, who said in a speech in Germany on February 2 that the United States was ready to hold direct talks with Iran if it was serious about negotiations. 

Related:

Iran accused of sending missiles, explosives to insurgents in Yemen

Iran releases video allegedly captured by crashed US spy drone

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

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Obama will say Ok...... Would you like a beer?

  • 9 votes
#1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:43 AM EST

Khomeni can take pig meat/pork but not beer!

When he comes to the US, he needs a camel to drive.

Allah has prohibited beer for Khomenis'

  • 3 votes
#1.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:24 AM EST

Ahmadinejad is a liar and has repeatedly stated Israel and the United States should be incinerated. He is using delay tactics while his nuke teams are working 24/7. Time to turn some sand into glass before it is too late.........

  • 32 votes
#1.2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:32 AM EST

Hardcoffeeat6am

I'm sure with your vast foreign policy experience, you could tell us exactly how President Obama should deal with Iran. Maybe we should go to war with Iran? How much should we borrow from China, like Bush did with Iraq? How many Americans should die? What are you willing to pay for this one? I am all ears.

  • 18 votes
#1.4 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:46 AM EST

Iran says willing to talk about nukes but 'enemies' must stop 'pointing the gun'

That's like the NRA saying they are willing to talk about gun control, provided they do not have to take any responsibility and can continue their lobbyist funding of Republicans in Congress.

  • 7 votes
#1.5 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:48 AM EST

After all these years we're still fighting Middle East battles, last place we were bombed out of Benghazi..

Can't we take a hint..Let Israel deal with them.

  • 9 votes
#1.6 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:52 AM EST

Its funny, or not, but we call this guy a liar, can someone please explain to me why American Politicians are any better? The USA is full of Political Liars yet we stand on our soapbox when it comes to Nations we perceive as immoral or not living the right way. I get Iran is dangerous, I get they are a de-facto Theocracy but what exactly are we doing that is so right? We are occupying other countries, we allow our Corporate Cronies to do business with Countries that we know oppress their citizens. Its just more selective moral ism.

Furthermore we have 35 percent of our Citizens who live off the Government, the IRS can raid my bank account with little more then a letter notifying me of such action.

I for one am tired of this crap, sit down with guy in good faith and see if you can get a deal done. Another war is not the answer, that is unless you're Wall Street. They want the spending, Wars make money, Oil Companies want these wars because it drives up oil prices..

BTW we have enough Nukes to completely destroy the planet..

BS BS BS BS BS

  • 20 votes
#1.7 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:57 AM EST

"We are occupying other countries. We allow our corporate cronies to do business with countries that we know oppress their citizens." That's the way the USA does business, and all under the guise of righteousness. It's no wonder other countries see us as the global threat, trying to strategically take over the world decade by decade, generation by generation. Do we allow other countries to set up base on American soil? How would we react to that? It would be a little unsettling to say the least.

  • 11 votes
#1.8 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:12 AM EST

And just what kind of conversation would we have with Iran? I think we've already had it. It went like this. US: "We need to talk to you about the nuclear weapons that you are developing." Iran: "We are not developing nuclear weapons." US: "You have to stop developing them and let us in there to keep an eye on your nuclear program." Iran: "We are not developing nuclear weapons, so there is nothing for you to observe." End of discussion.

  • 10 votes
#1.9 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:18 AM EST

ItsAboutTime-3704531

That's like the NRA saying they are willing to talk about gun control, provided they do not have to take any responsibility and can continue their lobbyist funding of Republicans in Congress.

it was a nice try but nobody fell for your biased agenda bait... next time, bub

  • 9 votes
#1.10 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:21 AM EST

Ahmadinejad is using the same reasoning that the Israelis use. The Palestinians want to destroy Israel (they point the gun at Israel), so the Israelis refuse to negotiate with them. When and if Hamas and Fatah unite, the question of whether the Palestinians will ever recognize Israel will determine peace or possibly armageddon. I agree with Witchrunner. Discussions will be useless. The Iranian leadership is a council of devils. I can't wait for the oil to run out....especially in Iran.

  • 4 votes
#1.11 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:35 AM EST

Pray tell, Jayfos, what analogy would you use? Not trying to incite anything, just really curious as it seemed a decent analogy to me.

  • 1 vote
#1.13 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:17 AM EST

That analogy would imply that the NRA insists guns don't exist?

  • 5 votes
#1.14 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:39 AM EST

In a speech to mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, Ahmadinejad struck a more conciliatory tone than Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who on February 7 rebuffed a U.S. call for direct negotiations on disputes between the two countries.

Ahmadinejad does not have the authority to authorize negotiations over the nuclear program, which lies with Khamenei.

"You cannot point a gun at the Iranian nation and then expect them to have negotiations with you," Ahmadinejad said, speaking to a crowd gathered in Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Square.

And you cannot point nuclear weapons at Israel and expect them to not react! He doesn’t want to talk……he wants TIME to perfect his nuclear weapons!

Why exactly is President Obama really going to Israel on March 20 and 21?

Obama coming to Israel March 20-21 to pressure Israel not to strike Iran, reports Israeli media

No peace initiative on Obama Israel trip

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/no-peace-initiative-obama-israel-trip-205521651.html

With the visits likely to focus heavily on Iran's nuclear challenge and the civil war threatening to tear Syria apart, White House spokesman Jay Carney played down speculation that new peace initiatives could also feature.

the two leaders have also been at odds over the imminence of the threat from Iran's nuclear program

“The main purpose of US President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel in the spring, is to warn Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu against attacking Iran,”

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=302768

According to the officials, the urgency of the trip is because in his speech to the United Nations in September, Netanyahu had flagged the spring of 2013 as a significant time in the context of the Iranian nuclear threat.

Therefore, they said, Obama is concerned that the prime minister will decide to attack Iran now when he is backed by a new government and can establish a new security cabinet, without Dan Meridor and Benny Begin, two Likud MKs and alleged opponents of such a strike who lost their Knesset seats in the recent elections.

The officials told Army Radio that the US president subsequently decided to transmit a direct message to Netanyahu: "Don't attack Iran, let me handle matters with the Iranians according to my understanding, and if necessary I will take action, we have capabilities that you do not."

‘Obama is coming to tell Netanyahu not to strike Iran’

http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-is-coming-to-tell-netanyahu-not-to-strike-iran/

Ah, the nobel peace prize winner cometh to tell Bibi what to do! Meanwhile, Obama is arming the muslims with more firepower! Bibi, don’t trust the man who speaks with FORK TONGUE!!!

  • 6 votes
#1.15 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:52 AM EST

Unfortunately, I think Israel will have to go it alone. Barry has no intention, nor the clout to stop Iran! Hes just full of hot air! Israel is the “little satan” WE are the Great Satan! They won't listen to us…….we are next on the hit list!

  • 12 votes
#1.16 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:59 AM EST

This pig puppet Iranian prez terrorist is only the spokesman for the equally terrorist ayatollahs and their Islamic Terrorist Revolution in 1979 that has since held the world hostage ,Strong word I know,but I personally saw the results of their 2 massacres and terrorists attacks in Buenas Aires in the 1990's when they blew up 2 buildings.And this is only the tip of the iceburg.They´ve carried out atacks on 6 continents. They lie to the "infidels" and other Muslim countries. They´ve even admmited they now have a nuclear capacity.If the U.S doesn´t set a deadline to attack,than Israel should do it.This is like 193-38 in Nazi Germany .The stakes are too high to give these pathological criminal mass murderers more than 5 minutes.They are brainwashed zombies,and waving their book and mass murdering in the name of a psychotic type of Islam.There is noting more to say to them, open ALL nuclear sites without any conditions and as long as needed to the U.N inspectors.who can arrive without warning and stay as long as necessary.Any monkey business and it won´t be just their prez who is sent to outer space,The whole Islamic Revolution the Rev guard thebrainwashed Hitler type ayatollahs will join the monkies and disappear from the planet and their regime and Revolution will be over--5 minutes and counting....

  • 5 votes
#1.17 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:02 PM EST

Jayfos

it was a nice try but nobody fell for your biased agenda bait... next time, bub

What can I say... When 20 children are murdered by a responsible 'gun owner' assault weapons, I have an agenda. Biased? Nah... The NRA creates a myth that the entire second amendment is going to be taken away. Those lemmings who believe it, then go out and buy as many rounds and guns as they can. The gun manufacturers make a ton of money, the NRA gets increased membership, and more republicans get big fat checks from lobbyists. It's not biased, that's reality.

  • 6 votes
#1.18 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:17 PM EST

The headline certainly presents false hope...

Iran says willing to talk about nukes but 'enemies' must stop 'pointing the gun'

There is no mention of Israel and this is what I had hoped for the most - Iran willing to talk peace with Israel. ...sigh... too much to hope for...

GM Fed and bart...excellent posts.

  • 8 votes
#1.19 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:23 PM EST

GM Chef!! Keep dreaming, there is no hope! You are dealing with extreme islamic terrorists hell bent on the return of the 12th Imam!

  • 5 votes
#1.20 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:44 PM EST

chef & Fedup: I'm staying out of this one. Just wanted to wish you both a belated happy and healthy new year.

  • 2 votes
#1.21 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:42 PM EST

Thanks, Basil. Right back attcha!!! ☺

  • 1 vote
#1.22 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:55 PM EST

chicken! Happy and Healthy New Year to you too!!

  • 1 vote
#1.23 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:59 PM EST

Obama's weak, he'll cave in and relax some sanctions to get the Iranians to the negotiation table, which is exactly what the Iranians want since it will buy them the time necessary to complete their nuclear agenda.

The Iranians are single mindedly focused on possessing nuclear weapons because they feel that's what they need to be taken seriously. Consequently, nothing will prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons but a series of military strikes.

    #1.24 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:25 PM EST

    "Today the enemies are trying their utmost to put pressure on the Iranian nation to stop its progress but they will not succeed," he said.

    So why bother trying to stop them with negotiations. The US is the enemy and they will not listen.

    There are only two ways they can be stopped.

    Either the people (Green party with Western help) revolts and throws the whacko clerics out.

    Or Israel engages in a surgical attack on their nukes. This may take some doing as they are well protected. The Israelis are resourceful, but maybe not enough. And the Israelis could start the job, but it would take Western intervention to finish it. And the less collateral damage the Israelis cause, the better the outcome.

    But either scenario is a long shot. The only thing less likely is that this Administration succeeds in stopping the Iranians nuclear ambitions. This Administration has failed at just about every other Middle East strategy, Iran is the toughest of them all. The Administration's only chance at success lies in Kerry. I am not a Kerry fan, but if he takes the right stance, and creates a bi partisan team at the House and Senate level, he could do it.

    • 1 vote
    #1.25 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:23 PM EST

    Iran needs to be melted

    • 1 vote
    #1.26 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:35 PM EST

    Ahmanutjob's speech and comments mean absolutely nothing, as he has no real power to make or enforce policy. He is only the figurehead/puppet for the regime. The real power behind the throne has already spoken. Khameni wants neither peace nor discussion. Nothing will change until he dies or is overthrown by the Iranian people themselves! Either way, I doubt any change is going to happen in Iran without a lot of innocent people paying a huge price in blood. Khameni and his lunatic clerics will not yeild power without that.

    • 2 votes
    #1.27 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:43 PM EST

    Hey Ed - Why exactly should anyone in Iran have to pay a huge price in blood?

    Iran hasn't attacked anyone. They are happy with the Persian Empire, which was formed thousands of years ago. Iran has the natural resources and would be doing quite well if not for sanctions brought about because of pressure from Jews.

    The world should collectively say, f you Israel, we will trade with whom we please. Americans would be far better off without the sanctions meant to cripple Iran and inflict hardship on her millions of citizens. The price of oil would drop and we would have access to Iranian markets, which would enhance our trade balance. Instead, we base our decisions on the wants of Jews in Israel and the US and end up losing a chance at better lives for our citizens.

    To top it off, we just keep sending the Jews in Israel our tax dollars, so they can enjoy what we might have.

    • 2 votes
    #1.28 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:58 PM EST

    ItsAboutTime-3704531

    Hardcoffeeat6am

    I'm sure with your vast foreign policy experience, you could tell us exactly how President Obama should deal with Iran. Maybe we should go to war with Iran?

    He's just another internet foreign policy expert who has gained his vast experience in this field by reading the news and watching a few Youtube videos.

    It's been proved with 100% certainty by multiple countries that Iran is working on a nuclear weapons program and not for their claimed peaceful use of nuclear energy production. How naive do you need to be to believe that the country with the 4th largest oil reserves and the 2nd largest natural gas reserves needs nuclear power plants to produce electricity?

    Lusitania

    After all these years we're still fighting Middle East battles, last place we were bombed out of Benghazi..

    Can't we take a hint..Let Israel deal with them.

    You willing to sit back and watch a nuclear war break out in the Middle East? Because that's exactly what will happen if we just kick back and let Israel do it's own thing. They are not going to sit there and allow a country that has repeated called for the destruction of Israel to build nukes. The moment they feel they are on their own, they will act and a war will begin. And it will escalate to much more than just Israel vs Iran and when it reaches a point when Israel feels it's in a losing situation, they will use their nukes and millions of people will die. Like it or not, Israel is an ally and we do have treaty obligations. Do we just ignore those?

    Btw, the Benghazi comment was just plain idiotic.

    • 1 vote
    #1.29 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:16 PM EST

    Ralph

    Please try to make an effort to stay on topic here. We are not talking about Israel here. This is about Iran. We all know full well how much you hate Israel and Jews and always have to find some reason to throw them into any discussion.

    My statement above speaks for itself. Any effort by the Iranian people themselves to get rid of the religious leadership will make what is happening in Syria look like child's play, as Khameni and company will try to take as many people as possible down with them. That is the way with religious fanatics. And save the tired old speech about " Iran hasn't attacked anyone." Iran's hands are no more lily white her than ours are. They war by proxy, just as we and other nations do and have done in the past. They have or are supplying arms to the Taliban in Pakistan, Al-Qaida in Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza.

    Either way, as I have already stated, the Iranian government is not worth the price of American blood or ordinance. Let the Iranian people and her neighbors deal with Ahmadinejad, Khameni, and their ilk on their own. When the Iranian people are ready, change will come then and only then. Have a good evening.

    • 2 votes
    #1.30 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:32 PM EST

    Ed Navy Doc

    While an uprising in Iran by the liberal Green Party, the likes of the facebook generation in Egypt would be bloody, the people of Iran need to do something before their country either goes bust or gets obliterated. Yes, the country has used surrogate terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, and may not have attacked anyone DIRECTLY, but indirectly remains the one true nation that supports terrorism. For that the whacko clerics should be forcibly removed, the best method being by the Iranian people. I think the US has to support the liberals in Iran, at the risk of another "forcible planting of the Shah" incident. Otherwise, if the liberals did remove the clerics, they just might end up with the Muslim Brotherhood. You might say the Brotherhood is Sunni while Iran is predominately Shi'ite, but the Brotherhood and Iran share a common client, Hamas. So there is some relationship.

    As to Ralph, he doesn't know the difference between a Jew and a Zionist. I don't think he knows how many Jews are also Iranians living in Iran, or that a large percentage of Iranians have a positive relationship with Jews. It's the clerics that hate Israel.

    • 2 votes
    #1.31 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:25 PM EST

    Lar

    Agree with you 100% on all counts!

    • 2 votes
    #1.32 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:55 PM EST
    Reply

    Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran. Why is that iodot still around. Leave them alone.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:47 AM EST

    "In a speech to mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, Ahmadinejad struck a more conciliatory tone than Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who on February 7 rebuffed a U.S. call for direct negotiations on disputes between the two countries."

    Iran is an example of tenth century desert mindset Islamic mad nuts unlimited!

    What a bunch of cowards?

    These brave fighters against girls, women, minority and unarmed could not put down Sunni Syrian rebellion against their pal, Assad.

    It is better that on their next holy days: they should chain themseles; and slash themselves to death or better hang themselves near their Shiite mosques!

    • 7 votes
    #2.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:09 AM EST

    I'm happy that he is aware that guns are pointing at him - at least he won't be surprised when the triggers are pulled... although he'll still Shiite his pants.

    • 2 votes
    #2.2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:08 PM EST
    Reply

    We would have more success with our government talking to my cat.

    • 11 votes
    Reply#3 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:52 AM EST
    Comment author avatarRalphHExpand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

    Ahmadinejad is correct. We have been pointing a gun at them since the 1990s and still they have no nuclear weapons. The Zionists are paranoid people who have no problem desroying others, in the pursuit of their own goals. All the sanctions are put forth in bills submitted by Jewish Congressmen and women, working hard for Israel.

    '1992:'Israeli parliamentarian Benjamin Netanyahu tells his
    colleagues that Iran is 3 to 5 years from being able to produce a nuclear
    weapon – and that the threat had to be "uprooted by an international front
    headed by the US"'.

    '1992:'Israeli parliamentarian Benjamin Netanyahu tells his
    colleagues that Iran is 3 to 5 years from being able to produce a nuclear
    weapon – and that the threat had to be "uprooted by an international front
    headed by the US"'.

    1995: The New York
    Times conveys the fears of senior US and Israeli officials that "Iran is
    much closer to producing nuclear weapons than previously thought" – about
    five years away – and that Iran’s nuclear bomb is “at the top of the list” of
    dangers in the coming decade. The report speaks of an "acceleration of the
    Iranian nuclear program," claims that Iran "began an intensive
    campaign to develop and acquire nuclear weapons" in 1987, and says Iran
    was "believed" to have recruited scientists from the former Soviet
    Union and Pakistan to advise them.

    June
    2008: Then-US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton predicts that Israel
    will attack Iran before January 2009, taking advantage of a window before the
    next US president came to office.

    May 2009: US Senate
    Foreign Relations Committee reports states: "There is no sign that Iran's
    leaders have ordered up a bomb."

    In a recent interview with CNN, Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey said
    he believed the Iranian regime was a "rational actor" when it comes to the nuclear program. Dempsey said Iran would likely weigh the
    ultimate costs and benefits of building a nuclear weapon before doing so. James
    Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, recently told a Senate panel
    that a decision had not yet been made by the regime in Tehran.

    • 9 votes
    #4 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:55 AM EST

    You forgot to mention Israel bombed Iran in 1981 and destroyed a nuclear reactor. France was helping Iran become a nuclear state, are they still?

    • 1 vote
    #4.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:18 AM EST

    @ralph;

    You can copy and paste opinions all day long. The bottom line is Iran needs to open up and show us all of their programs. They have went underground. If you say you have nothing to hide then you should not hide.

    Proper and safer procedure would be to put the gun down after we see your hands.

    The IAEA is of the opinion that they are up to something other than civilian uses as far as their nuclear program goes.

    • 13 votes
    #4.2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:19 AM EST

    I think "confused" is confusing Iran with Iraq. Israel has bombed all of it's neighbors BUTT, not Iran.

    • 7 votes
    #4.3 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:24 AM EST

    Confussed ... you are confused. It was Iraq, not Iran, where Israel destroyed a nuclear reactor.

    • 8 votes
    #4.4 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:24 AM EST

    If they don't want a bomb, why are they enriching Uranium to 20%? You only need 3-5% enriched Uranium for reactors.

    • 5 votes
    #4.5 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:25 AM EST

    Iran is allowed to enrich to 20% for medical isotopes. Iran has a population of over 60 million people, some of whom require treatment for cancer.

    Iran's enrichment is always monitored, making it impossible to enrich to 97% without the entire international community knowing.

    • 6 votes
    #4.6 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:04 AM EST

    "The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the nuclear watchdog at the heart of the growing Iranian crisis, has been accused by several former senior officials of pro-western bias, over-reliance on unverified intelligence and of sidelining sceptics."

    The IAEA director is just following orders; you are just another bloodthirsty pushover.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/22/nuclear-watchdog-iran-iaea

    • 2 votes
    #4.7 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:22 AM EST

    @#4.2

    If Iran needs to open up and show her nuclear program, so is israel.

    israel refuses any IAEA inspection. What are they hiding.

    What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

    • 6 votes
    #4.8 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:06 PM EST

    Coral Taxi - Iran has complied with all the obligations which they assumed, when they signed the NPT. They opened up their enrichment facilities for the international community to inspect. That alone, means they cannot build a nuclear weapon, because they would not have weapons grade uranium to complete the weapon.

    Iran has no obligation to give Israeli shills a tour of their country. Israel has not permitted anyone to see their enrichment facilities and are not required to show them, because like sneaky little rats, they built their facilities in secret and now refuse to sign the NPT. Israel practices hypocrisy on a massive scale.

    I pointed out statements from our experts stating, that Iran does does not now have a nuclear weapons program.

    That trumps anything you or your Zionist friends on these forums can make, regarding Iran as a threat. Iran is only a threat in the feeble paranoid minds of Zionists and their supporters.

    • 6 votes
    #4.9 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:19 PM EST

    That trumps anything you or your Zionist friends on these forums can make, regarding Iran as a threat. Iran is only a threat in the feeble paranoid minds of Zionists and their supporters.

    However, Israel has not threatened to blow Iran off the face of the planet. If the Iranians want to be believed, they better tone down their rhetoric. Until then, I have far more trust in the Israelis than the Iranians.

    • 4 votes
    #4.10 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:28 PM EST

    You can copy and paste opinions all day long. The bottom line is Iran needs to open up and show us all of their programs. They have went underground. If you say you have nothing to hide then you should not hide.

    Nice try Taxi. Why do you people constantly make up facts. Fordow is under IAEA inspection protocols, and yes if you are building a facility and you are constantly under the overt threat of being bombed you are going to put it underground. So the US complains Fordow is underground and hard for us to bomb if we decidet to, and that's supposed to be a good argument? What a joke. I'm sure the US has plenty of underground facilities.

    The US needs to stay out of any further middle east wars unless we are directly attacked. If Israel wants to get themselves into a war that's their problem and should be theirs alone.

    • 5 votes
    #4.11 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:27 PM EST

    "If Iran needs to open up and show her nuclear program, so is israel." - wrong Israel has not signed a treaty, so they don't have to open-up anything. Iran did sign a treaty, so they have to abide by it, or they can pull out of the treaty, then they wont have to open anything either.

    " if you are building a facility and you are constantly under the overt threat of being bombed you are going to put it underground." - you are disproving your own point here, Iran is under threat for being bombed if and only if what they are building is a nuclear weapon, if whatever they are building is not a weapon, they are not under threat of being bombed and have no reason to hide under ground.

    • 2 votes
    #4.12 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:14 PM EST

    If I understand what many of you believe we should drop atomic bombs on any country that will not do what we say. when I was young they(Iran) created their own democratic government. We did not like the leader so we (USA) fomented a rebellion and replaced their elected government with the shah. And yet you wonder why they hate us. You do realize only 1 and only 1 country has ever drop an atomic bomb on another country. guess who? We have done the same thing in Central America, Viet Nam, Cuba, and Afghanistan. Israel, Afghanistan, India, and the US all have atomic bombs ready to use on Iran if they want. If you want peace you need to talk peace not war. Most people do not respond well to threats.

    • 2 votes
    #4.13 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:59 PM EST

    Ralph H AND Henrich von Dorf? Heil, heil, the gang's all here1

    • 1 vote
    #4.14 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:19 PM EST

    In twenty years many more countries will have nuclear weapons what ever actions we take. We make a lot of noise about countries we don't like but ignore countries we don't consider a threat. Yet. We talk about North Korea but can't do anything without starting WW3. People talk about them violating U.N. rules but those only apply to countries who sign the non proliferation treaty. All Iran would have to do is renounce the treaty and the U.N. would have no legal reason to take any actions against them. Nuclear deterrence has worked for over 60 years, we should rely on that. If Israel feels the need to do more that's their right.

    • 2 votes
    #4.15 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:23 PM EST

    Hey cassandra long time no hear, been in hibernation or hiding ?

    Welcome back to the duel and the game show.

    • 1 vote
    #4.16 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:49 PM EST

    RalphH, you are mistaken, Iran has threatened to destory All it's neighbors and Israel the US repeatedly. If the US are just about any other country got as many missles lobbed at them as Isreal they would have been a war a long time ago. I am thankful they destroyed Iraq's nuclar ambitions years ago, I was hopeing that the US would assist them this time around with Iran.

    • 2 votes
    #4.17 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:56 PM EST

    you are disproving your own point here, Iran is under threat for being bombed if and only if what they are building is a nuclear weapon, if whatever they are building is not a weapon, they are not under threat of being bombed and have no reason to hide under ground.

    Why because you say so? Just because the US and/or Israel or even YOU claim they are building a nuke does not mean they are, and if they aren't that fact does NOT magically stop them from being bombed for it. Your logic is astounding stupid. But hey, warmongers will be warmongers.

    • 2 votes
    #4.18 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:03 PM EST

    300 michael - You don't know what you are talking about. No one in Iran threatened to wipe all of it's neighbors off the planet. That statement is a proved lie and mistranslation.

    Iran has not lobbed one missile at Israel. Not one. America has provided Israel with the means to bomb Iran and destroy their facilities, but Israel is too chicken to actually do the deed. They are yellow cowards who only attack nations with no ability to shoot down their planes.

    Israel has been threatening Iran since 1992, long before the alleged threats from Iran.

    1992: Israeli
    parliamentarian Benjamin Netanyahu tells his colleagues that Iran is 3 to 5
    years from being able to produce a nuclear weapon – and that the threat
    had to be "uprooted by an international front headed by the US."

    1992:
    Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres tells French TV that Iran was set to have
    nuclear warheads by 1999. "Iran is the greatest threat and greatest
    problem in the Middle East," Peres warned, "because it seeks the
    nuclear option while holding a highly dangerous stance of extreme religious
    militancy."

    1992:
    Joseph Alpher, a former official of Israel's Mossad spy agency, says "Iran
    has to be identified as Enemy No. 1.

    1992: Israeli parliamentarian Benjamin Netanyahu tells his colleagues that Iran is 3 to 5 years from being able to produce a nuclear weapon – and that the threat had to be "uprooted by an international front headed by the US."

    1992: Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres tells French TV that Iran was set to have nuclear warheads by 1999. "Iran is the greatest threat and greatest problem in the Middle East," Peres warned, "because it seeks the nuclear option while holding a highly dangerous stance of extreme religious militancy."

    1992: Joseph Alpher, a former official of Israel's Mossad spy agency, says "Iran has to be identified as Enemy No. 1.

    Here we are today, still no nukes. Somebody has been lieing. Note: Ahmadinejad was nowhere to be seen in 1992 and Israel still had the same bellicose posture. They always want some neighboring country destroyed. First it was Iran, then Iraq, then Syria and now its back to Iran. They thought Iran would capitulate after "shock and awe" in Iraq. Wrong!

    • 2 votes
    #4.19 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:12 PM EST
    Reply

    Direct talks are what the president always said he would do if elected president. Still waiting. We must talk regardless . Invite Iran to direct talks in the White house.

    • 6 votes
    Reply#5 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:08 AM EST

    I agree with that.

    Our enemy No. 1 are seventh century desert mindset Sunni Islamic extremism invented, funded and exported by oil rich Sunni rulers and Pakistan.

    To weaken enemy No. 1 and crash oil prices, it is better to remove sanctions on Iranian oil.

    Crashing oil prices will help improve our, British and many oil importing European nations' economies.

    We can talk, talk and talk with these Shiite tenth century desert mindset, Iranian rulers and expect not much from the talks.

    • 1 vote
    #5.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:15 AM EST

    I'm sure the US is open to direct talks. However, the Iranians want the sanctions lifted, first. Stupid. Who would give up their bargaining chips in ADVANCE?

    • 6 votes
    #5.2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:26 AM EST

    The US offered direct talks. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week said no.

    • 5 votes
    #5.3 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:39 PM EST

    Direct talks are not worth much if Khameni tries to bite our hand or spit in it every time we even try. Keep up the sanctions, isolate them, and let them rot. Their government is not worth American lives or ordinance! We can only hope the Iranian people will eventually tire of the lunatics leading them and rise up.

    • 3 votes
    #5.4 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:59 PM EST
    Reply

    Sunni Saudi Arabia, Shiite Iran and many ME Muslim nations are examples of how theocratic rules can ruin nations.

    There are not much sanity in their rules.

    These are rules of the few, for the few and by the few.

    Here Islamic (seventh century Sunni and tenth century Shiite) religion is the foundation of the rule.

    What a disastrous humans invented mess!

    • 2 votes
    Reply#6 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:21 AM EST

    Jonathan, if you changed Sunni Saudi Arabia to Israel you would be right.

      #6.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:28 PM EST

      So, Parker, you've developed a new delusion that Israel is Islamic. Impressive.

      • 2 votes
      #6.2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:15 PM EST
      Reply

      Anyway you look at it Iran will have Nuclear capabilities in 10 years or less. Most of the Middle East will have some from of Nuclear capabilities in 20 years or less.

      • 3 votes
      Reply#7 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:35 AM EST

      Pakis sold stolen nuclear technologies to Iran, N. Korea and Libya's Gadhaffi.

      Iranians can get/buy/steal nukes from Pakis.

      • 6 votes
      #7.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:52 AM EST
      Reply
      zenktinkDeleted

      Tell Iran the pressure will continue and that if we think they have built a nuclear weapon, we will target and destroy with some of OUR nuclear weapons, any location we think they might have the nuke.

        Reply#9 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:00 AM EST

        I fully understand the concept of keeping Iran away from nukes, but on the other hand any leader in that part of the world would be nuts not to try to obtain them.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#10 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:19 AM EST

        Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, was ranked by Forbes as one of the most powerful leaders in the world listed second after Obama. Further, the EU, despite the financial woes of Greece, Portugal, Spain and co., have a lot more disposable money to wield their power around the world until we decrease our deficit. Why don't we just let the European Union deal with Iran, Mali, North Korea and others on the long list of misbehaving countries. How many times did North Korea and Iran made false promises, in the last few decades, stopping their nuclear ambitions only long enough to take our dangling carrot then resume their same path?

        • 1 vote
        Reply#11 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:26 AM EST

        why is it the usa dictates who has or hasnt the right to have nuclear arms when we are the only nation to ever use them?

        • 6 votes
        #12 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:36 AM EST

        No we won't talk...yes we'll talk, but you have to.....F them. They talk too much already and do what they want in the end. A good smash in the teeth would help remind them of that. Bunch of stone age monkeys.

        • 5 votes
        #12.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:34 AM EST

        why is it the usa dictates who has or hasnt the right to have nuclear arms when we are the only nation to ever use them?

        because we rule the world. There is too much money at stake and too many people who need to be fed for us not to. If you don't like it, tough.

        • 3 votes
        #12.2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:52 PM EST

        Because we used it to stop sh&t, not to start sh&t during WW2.

        Because only democracies are strong and wise enough to control their nuclear arsenal. Extremists and fanatics are fairly devoid of self control.

          #12.3 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:42 PM EST

          Because only democracies are strong and wise enough to control their nuclear arsenal. Extremists and fanatics are fairly devoid of self control.

          In other words we should decide who's wise enough to have them? What about North Korea or even Pakistan? We only attempt to impose our will when the target is too weak or they don't have powerful enough allies. Since neither Russia or China is a democracy maybe we should take their nukes.

            #12.4 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:27 PM EST

            With most nations MAD works in principal pretty well. Since USSR, and China have them we need them to counter ballance thier threat. The same goes for India, and Pakastan. Iran North Korea, and a few others don't mind getting blown up if Their God deems it good so that they can have thiere virgins, (with no body what good will it do anyway). The best bet is to prevent them if possible.

            • 1 vote
            #12.5 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:04 PM EST

            Reality, what so many people fail to comprehend is that the issue it is not so much whether said counties have them or not. It is what unstable fundamentalist Islamic regimes like Iran would do with them if they did have them! Iran's immediate neighbors are scared silly at the thought that Iran has or will get the bomb soon.

            • 2 votes
            #12.6 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:06 PM EST

            Ed-NavDoc, Iran is an unstable regime? They have not started a war in over 200 years. How many wars have we been in in the last 100 years? Tell me one country Iran has attacked. Israel has attacked every coutry around it. They are an unstable theocracy that has nuclear weapons. The uranium was stolen from the United States. Quit all the hasbara about Iran.

            • 1 vote
            #12.7 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:39 PM EST

            Parkerjoe

            Yes, Iran is an unstable theocratic regime! And you have used that same tired old remark about "Tell me one country has Iran attacked?" before. You know as well as I do that Iran does what a lot of other counties do or have done in the past, including us. They war by proxy! Iran supplies arms to the Talibani insurgents in Iraq. They supply weapons to Hezbolla in Lebanon, and Palestinians in Gaza. Sorry to let you down, but we are not talking about Israel here so you are off topic. Your hatred of Israel is quite well known on the Vine so save your bigotry and anti-Israel bias for someone who cares and give it a rest! A shame your hatred of Israel will not let you see past the end of your nose.

            • 4 votes
            #12.8 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:07 PM EST

            Ed how come your so pro-Israel? Are you not a US citizen? Israel has been threatening Iran for over 20 years now so it is on subject. Hezbollah was started in 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon and killed thousands of Palestinian refugees, mostly women and children. Hezbollah swore they would never allow that to happen again. Hamas was started by the Israeli Mossad to go against Arafat and the PLO. Try reading a little Ed, knowledge goes a long ways. It actually saves lives.

              #12.9 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:41 PM EST

              ParkerJoe

              When Hamas was created by THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, Israel assessed it as a better choice than Fatah, which was lead by Arafat and had a past of terrorist activity. Eventually, Hamas could not hold back its terrorist activity and realized that winning the street of Palestine meant being terrorist. Israel then withdrew it's support.

              The Middle East changes, and good intelligence is the only way to stay ahead of the game. Remember, Iran and Israel shared some of the best relationships in the past.

              Stop reading just Islamist, Arab publications. A good read is Hamas vs Fatah. I lent it to someone so I can't find it on my bookshelf, forgot who wrote it.

              I would say a US Citizen, such as me, should be supportive of our best ally in the Middle East, Israel. What nationality are you?

              • 2 votes
              #12.10 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:40 PM EST

              add to 12.10

              Today Fatah has evolved into a more reasonable organization, witness the growth of Ramallah vs Gaza City, which is run by Hamas. So Israel is more comfortable dealing with Fatah. While the disputes over land in the West Bank is still ongoing, it is only slivers of land compared to the expansive land that Israel gave back to Egypt Sinai, and Gaza to the Palestinians.

              Sorry to have gone off track on this story about IRAN, but I was just trying to educate ParkerJoe.

              • 2 votes
              #12.11 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:49 PM EST

              Parkerjoe

              I am neither pro Israel nor pro Iran. I am pro America! I am in fact a U.S. citizen, are you? I am willing to bet I am far better versed in history than you are and do far more reading than you do. I also happen to have a undergraduate degree in World History so I will be happy to debate anything you can come up with. You are right about knowledge. When you acquire some, please let me know and then we can talk like adults. I have nothing further to say to you.

              Lar

              Thank you for your well reasoned and well stated comments. When people's insights and comments are clouded by their hatred like those above, it is difficult or next to impossible to reason with or to educate them to reality. I commend your efforts. You have more patience than I do.

              • 2 votes
              #12.12 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:52 PM EST

              save-Because only democracies are strong and wise enough to control their nuclear arsenal.

              Really? While I hate the idea of nuclear weapons in general.You might want to remember that Russia (USSR),and China have had nuclear weapons for a very long time. And yet the only country ever to use nuclear weapons was our own democratic country.

                #12.13 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:56 PM EST

                Uncle Bob,

                As someone who actually lived in USSR I am telling you, you don't want Russia to be the top dog in this world. US, for all it's flaws, is much better.

                • 2 votes
                #12.14 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:33 PM EST

                UncleBob:

                1) The US was provoked into war by a cowardly sneak attack by the Japanese.

                2) The Chinese and Russians have killed far more of their own people in political purges than the US has with 2 small nukes.

                3) The US probably saved more Japanese lives than they killed (many hundreds of thousands MORE Japanese died from conventional bombing than from nukes)

                4) The US saved the lives of countless US soldiers & marines. In the Battle of Okinawa (area of about 800+ square miles, about 12,500 US military dead, about 100,000 Japanese military and another roughly 100,000 Japanese civilians, and it took 82 days. Kyushu the 3rd largest Japanese island is 13,760 square miles and Honshu (the largest) is 88,000 square miles. Picture Okinawa times a hundred.

                5) Had the Axis powers developed nukes first, I'm sure we all know what would have happened.

                • 1 vote
                #12.15 - Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:10 PM EST

                @ Eli100 and paganponderer, I'm not arguing the rightness or wrongness of having one country or the other with nuclear weapons. Remember,I said I don't like nuclear weapons at all. I'm just stating undeniable facts. The USSR for all its faults,had and didn't use its nuclear weapons against anyone. And the only country in history that did use them against another country,was us,the democratic state.For whatever reasons we had,we still used them and the dictatorship's haven't. My point is that no one is holier than thou over the nuclear issue.

                  #12.16 - Mon Feb 11, 2013 4:41 PM EST

                  Doesn't mean we shouldn't STOP Iran from getting nukes, just like just because Native Americans were genocided didn't mean we shouldn't have fought the Nazis.

                  The only reason the dictators haven't is because it might have resulted in a retaliatory strike against USSR or China. And who would China have used them against? OR Russia?

                  Called Mutually Assured Destruction.

                    #12.17 - Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:42 AM EST

                    paganponderer-The only reason the dictators haven't is because it might have resulted in a retaliatory strike against USSR or China.

                    That's true of all countries. The Russians wanted them so we wouldn't use them against them.Before the Chinese got them we used to threaten to use them if we went to war.After they got them we've both been getting a long. Like you said the MAD deterrent worked.

                      #12.18 - Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:37 AM EST

                      And some countries want nukes so they can act badly (i.e. support terrorist groups, etc) without fear of a conventional attack.

                      Should any country that wants nukes get them? How about the Taliban when they ruled Afghanistan?

                        #12.19 - Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:22 AM EST

                        paga... the japanese took the bait that u.s threw at them u.s actually initiated the conflict by a 100% oil embargo on japan. just remeber when the arabs put a 10% oil embargo on u.s how people had to wait hrs to get gas, now imagine a 100% oil embargo on japan. the japanese had no choice but to go for the kill or die.

                          #12.20 - Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:57 PM EST
                          Reply

                          Iran will simply use any 'talks' as an excuse to stall some more, and Iran is the one who has chosen its own enemies by intentionally choosing which nations it insults and threatens. I believe some nation will eventually need to show Tehran exactly what a nuclear device will do when deployed in a populated area -- like Tehran.

                          • 2 votes
                          Reply#13 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:37 AM EST

                          Iran is lying about its nuclear intentions ( weaponry vs electric production). Iran wills and threatens Israel's destruction. Iran sponsors international terrorism. These are facts.

                          We are supposed to deal with them? I thought we didn't deal with terrorists.

                          Nah, my scenario is if we can't keep them from having The bomb we should let them have it without hindrance. They might find it is a big responsibility to have it and will use nukes eventually. Israel will defend itself and WW3 will be on. Then we can have regime changes. Might even be good for the economy. Millions of people will die and we'll "point the finger" at those who wanted to start it all, which is Iran.

                          It will take at least two hundred years for Iran to come back out of the stone age they will put themselves in, if at all being that beautiful Iran will be a nuclear wasteland. Remember how hard core the Japanese were until they got softened by a couple nukes? We can't afford ground wars anymore. It's going to have to be nukes.

                          I'll be seeing WW3.

                          • 3 votes
                          Reply#14 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:47 AM EST

                          save the environment - Those facts you just stated are only facts in your own uninformed mind. With any research at all, you will find there is no evidence Iran wants a nuclear device. They support "freedom fighters", not terrorists.

                          • 2 votes
                          #14.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:22 PM EST

                          Ralph, either you're Iranian supporting their views or you need to put the crack pipe down.

                          • 2 votes
                          #14.2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:26 PM EST

                          The weapons used against our soldiers in the middle east are being supplied via Iran. Ralph, this, and them running around the streets burning American flags and chanting death to USA is why they are under the microscope. If they are able to supply explosives without being directly involved in the war, which I think they are, then this is very scary. Unfortunatly most people believe the best we can do is delay what will eventually happen. It's really a shame cause most people in Iran don't want this anymore than I do, they just live a day to day life and want a safe home for their family. If only the governments would get along like we the people do. If you have ever traveled to other countries you would know what I am talking about.

                          • 2 votes
                          #14.3 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:38 PM EST

                          MinerFortyNiner, Iran does not make AK-47's used in the middle east. Read a little more before you make false statements.

                          • 1 vote
                          #14.4 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:43 PM EST

                          No, they don't make them, they just buy and resell them.

                          • 1 vote
                          #14.5 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:16 PM EST
                          Reply

                          In the movie 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly'--Ugly had it right when he said while bathing and being threatened by a bounty hunter 'Shoot first, talk later'.

                          Something no US President has ever understood.

                          But we the people do.

                          • 3 votes
                          Reply#15 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:50 AM EST

                          Talk nice to us. That is all She is asking. But never talk to a practiced hypocrite who cannot get along with Her neighbors or any person of another faith. Iran has lost any claim to be treated diplomatically when She has made both implicit and explicit threats at other nations. Let Iran act diplomatically in this world before She claims the right to tell anyone how She should be treated.

                          • 5 votes
                          Reply#16 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:40 AM EST

                          The standard yammering trolls all claim Iran is all for nuclear weapons. That war is just a matter of time.

                          They may be right, it may come to that, but the stakes in a (semi-)unilateral intervention are very high. We risk a global destabilization at worst and a local loss of credibility as an agent for peaceful change at least. What are the rewards to accrue from this risk? Will we be sure of removing the WMD? No, not without a wholesale conquest of the Iranian people and years of rooting out all the threads of the nuclear program. Limited precision strikes will set them back as they already have, but likely not cause them to stop.

                          The dark forces of our own Reich Wing and silly movie fans like "gizmowiz" are all too ready to drive us deeper into debt with a new war, all too ready to throw America under the bus to feed their short term political agenda, all too ready to flim flam the citizens with exaggerated claims of how many nearly ready bombs the Iranians might have. Now -- we got lied to by the great chicken hawk Cheney and Bush, his "box 'o rocks" grade lap dog, once before.

                          The sanctions are beginning to punish the Iranians very firmly, some reports of hyper inflation are emerging. Is there anything more we can do?

                          Yes. We could offer to help the Iranians change their program over to Thorium based nuclear power reactions, in addition to perhaps agreeing to let the Russians stock their existing enriched uranium in "escrow" The Thorium nuclear fuel cycle cannot produce a practical path to any weapons grade material, it's just outside the rules of nuclear chemistry, a technical impossibility. Whether or not the Iranians now "want" the bomb, whether or not they can be held to a "trust but verity" protocol, the action to move to the Thorium reactor technology is unequivocal — fission bomb production is no longer an option.

                          Will they do it? Well it's as clear a "red line" as anything based on intelligence estimates of how many fissile piles of Plutonium they might have. It's a less dangerous "red line" than perhaps waiting until they actually test a device — and they must do that test at some point to have any credible nuclear arsenal.

                          Moreover a failure to accept this option pretty much proves that "nuclear energy for power only" is clearly a lie. A lie that is then much clearer to the rest of the world than any case made based on general fear levels or dicey intelligence estimates.

                          • 2 votes
                          Reply#17 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:42 AM EST

                          I wouldn't listen to a word from Iran. This is a country that has started cutting off peoples limbs under public display if they committed a crime. They have said on IsraeliNationalNews that Iran has plans to go into Iraq and take over our "The United States Embassy."

                          • 3 votes
                          Reply#18 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:55 AM EST

                          Now, should only the world's Big Boys have all the big boy toys, and keep them away from the others? Then again, N Korea's Lil Kim like so many of them continue to rattle their sabers. It's the drawing of their blade that'll make the difference.

                            Reply#19 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:05 AM EST

                            Hey, wilsonarden882! Quit using every story for advertising!

                              Reply#20 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:28 AM EST

                              How quiet it is in here with power out now in the NE.

                                Reply#21 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:37 AM EST

                                34 inches in CT - never lost power though

                                  #21.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:50 PM EST
                                  Reply

                                  Ahmadinejad is correct in his saying.

                                  He is more trustworthy than the warmonger nittyahoo.

                                  • 3 votes
                                  Reply#22 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:01 PM EST

                                  Hey Von-Dorf are you mad the Germans did get all the Jews back in the 40`s .

                                  • 2 votes
                                  #22.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 2:10 PM EST

                                  Henrich! You again? You're everywhere against the United States?!

                                  Pro-Chinese, pro-Iran. Tell me how pro-North Korea and pro-Chavez are you? In you mind, does America walks around with a red scaly skin, a bifurcated tail and a pitch fork in the right hand?

                                  Stop sending your money to Al-qaeda, they're going down.

                                  I hope the FBI keeps an eye on you.

                                  • 2 votes
                                  #22.2 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:37 PM EST

                                  why don't you channel your concern on enviromental issues as your name suggests instead of attacking anyone whose views are different to your delusion.

                                  US is wrong politically in her handling on issues relating to China, Iran, N Korea, Cuba, Venezuea and nations that do not toe her line. US is no angel and only work for her own interests. Her blindly support of the zionist rogue state to the detriment of Palestinians causes the resentment of the righteous people across the world.

                                  US's containment of Russia by placing the missile defense shield at Russian door step is also wrong. So that makes me pro-Russia too.

                                  • 2 votes
                                  #22.3 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:12 PM EST

                                  All right Henrich, have it your way.

                                  But if you dislike the United States and you live here I suggest you move out because I don't see how you possibly could be happy staying in this country you perceive as this bad. Good luck to you.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  #22.4 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:07 PM EST

                                  That is a very uneducated suggestion.

                                  Living in one country does not mean you have to agree with everything the government does. There are many people in US share my view on US unlawful involvement in Iraq and Vietnam. Ask yourself are they all anti-america?

                                    #22.5 - Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:18 AM EST

                                    Silly Henrich,

                                    I'm plenty educated, yet a suggestion doesn't have to be educated.

                                    • 1 vote
                                    #22.6 - Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:42 AM EST
                                    Reply

                                    Yes but not by much.....it's a break even thing really

                                      Reply#23 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:07 PM EST

                                      WHO ...

                                      Is

                                      STUPID ENOUGH...

                                      To BELIEVE ANYTHING..Ach-Ma-Dingle Job...Says..?

                                      Who is Stupid Enough..To Believe,,ANYTHING..COMMIE-ander..OBAMA SAYS..?

                                      IRAN will take It's Time..And DEVELOP..Deploy..NUCLEAR...Weapons..

                                      OBAMA ..Will DO NOTHING..To Prevent This...

                                      ISRAEL...IS...ON IT's OWN...

                                      WHEN IRAN..Gets The "BOMBS"...The Mid -East ..CHANGES..FOREVER...

                                      After IRAN Gets The "BOMBS"...EVERYONE's LIFE in THE UNITED STATES..Will Change..FOREVER..

                                      IRAN...EXTREME ISLAMIST CANCER

                                      Despotism

                                      Feudalism

                                      Sexism

                                      Fascism

                                      TERRORISM...

                                      Why Bother with IRAN ?...Your LIVES..as You Know Them..ARE...On -the-Line

                                      • 3 votes
                                      Reply#24 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:08 PM EST

                                      Caps lock is CRUSE CONTROLL for COOL.

                                        #24.1 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:16 PM EST
                                        Reply

                                        Ahmadinejad, needs introduced to Seal Team 6, for a private luncheon.

                                        • 7 votes
                                        Reply#25 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:08 PM EST

                                        Keep your friends close and your enemy closer. Then squash them.

                                          Reply#26 - Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:11 PM EST
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