Unfortunately, it takes only one…

The New York Times

Iran has now produced roughly enough nuclear material to make, with added purification, a single atom bomb, according to nuclear experts analyzing the latest report from global atomic inspectors.

The figures detailing Iran’s progress were contained in a routine update on Wednesday from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been conducting inspections of the country’s main nuclear plant at Natanz. The report concluded that as of early this month, Iran had made 630 kilograms, or about 1,390 pounds, of low-enriched uranium.

Several experts said that was enough for a bomb, but they cautioned that the milestone was mostly symbolic, because Iran would have to take additional steps. Not only would it have to breach its international agreements and kick out the inspectors, but it would also have to further purify the fuel and put it into a warhead design — a technical advance that Western experts are unsure Iran has yet achieved.

“They clearly have enough material for a bomb,” said Richard L. Garwin, a top nuclear physicist who helped invent the hydrogen bomb and has advised Washington for decades. “They know how to do the enrichment. Whether they know how to design a bomb, well, that’s another matter.”

Iran insists that it wants only to fuel reactors for nuclear power. But many Western nations, led by the United States, suspect that its real goal is to gain the ability to make nuclear weapons.

…..

American intelligence agencies have said Iran could make a bomb between 2009 and 2015. A national intelligence estimate made public late last year concluded that around the end of 2003, after long effort, Iran had halted work on an actual weapon. But enriching uranium, and obtaining enough material to build a weapon, is considered the most difficult part of the process.

…..

That uranium has been enriched to the low levels needed to fuel a nuclear reactor. To further purify it to the highly enriched state needed to fuel a nuclear warhead, Iran would have to reconfigure its centrifuges and do a couple months of additional processing, nuclear experts said.

“They have a weapon’s worth,” Thomas B. Cochran, a senior scientist in the nuclear program of the Natural Resources Defense Council, a private group in Washington that tracks atomic arsenals, said in an interview.

He said the amount was suitable for a relatively advanced implosion-type weapon like the one dropped on Nagasaki. Its core, he added, would be about the size of a grapefruit. He said a cruder design would require about twice as much weapon-grade fuel.

“It’s a virtual milestone,” Dr. Cochran said of Iran’s stockpile. It is not an imminent threat, he added, because the further technical work to make fuel for a bomb would tip off inspectors, the United States and other powers about “where they’re going.”

Attack and take out Iran, President Bush.

Please.

Hat Tip: Hot Air Headlines

UPDATE 1: It looks like Drudge Report has copied my headline.

The Jerusalem Post wonders if it is too late to stop Iran.

Schnitt Show

(Reuters) - Iran has test-fired a new type of missile during war games near the Iraqi border, state television said Tuesday, after warning the United States it would respond to any violation of Iranian airspace.

The English-language Press TV said the Iranian-made missile, named as the Samen, was successfully tested Monday by the elite Revolutionary Guards in the western border city of Marivan.

They also tested artillery and rocket launchers, Press TV said on its website.

Iran’s armed forces have staged frequent maneuvers in recent months, coinciding with speculation of possible U.S. or Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic over its disputed nuclear ambitions.

In a move that further heightened tension, Iran in July test-fired nine highly advanced missiles, including one which reportedly could reach Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East.

Iran’s army last Wednesday said U.S. helicopters had been seen flying close to Iran’s border and that it would respond to any violation, a message analysts said seemed directed at U.S. President-elect Barack Obama more than American troops in Iraq.

The November 5 statement followed a cross-border raid last month by U.S. forces into Syria, an action that was condemned by Damascus and Tehran.

The United States and its Western allies suspect Iran is seeking to build atomic bombs, a charge Tehran denies.

Obama, like outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush, has not ruled out military action although he has criticized the outgoing administration for not pushing for more diplomacy and engagement with Iran.

Iran has said it would respond to any attack on its territory by targeting U.S. interests and Washington’s ally Israel, as well as closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for world oil supplies.

Iran is just asking for an ass-whooping.

This follows up nicely with the video about dictators laughing at Barack Obama.

Scoop This has documented extensively Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s threats against Israel. Ahmadinejad verbally threats Israel every week and he has called Israel the “germ of corruption”.

Also, this is not the first time John McCain has attacked Barack Obama on this issue. John McCain contends that Barack Obama does not understand the terrorist threat Iran poses on Israel and the world.

Yet, even when faced with all of these facts, Barack Obama will not admit that he is wrong by stating that he would meet the world’s dictators without preconditions.

It is up to us, the American voters, not to admit Barack Obama into the White House on November 4th.

Hat Tip: Hot Air

FROM DEBKAFILE:

“US intelligence’s amended estimate, that Iran will be ready to build its first bomb just one month after the next US president is sworn in, is disclosed by DEBKAfile’s Washington sources as having been relayed as a guideline to the Middle East teams of both presidential candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.” READ MORE

Could this be one of the “tests” that Biden was talking about? Afterall, McCain and Obama have received breifings from US Intel in order to make the Presidential Transition smoother. Biden, Obama, and McCain should have a pretty good idea of what may be happening in the World within the next “6 months” and from Biden’s recent controversial comments that “Obama would be ‘Tested’”, we have to wonder just how serious some of that intelligence was.

We’ve already talked about the fact that Iran was days away from exploding a dirty bomb off the shore of Israel, what if Obama’s “test” will involve a nuclear armed Iran actually trying to use its weapons to attack the United States or our allies? Will Obama’s ‘unpopular’ response be to not protect us?  Will it be to stay in Iraq even though the Democrats have favored a US defeat if it meant it would get them elected? I’d rather just elect John McCain so we can avoid the ‘international crisis’ alltogether.

Hat Tip: BOMB IRAN

You know that Country we know as “Iran” who’s government a certain Barrack Obama wants to dignify by meeting in direct high level talks without pre-conditions? Well, Iran was recently caught red handed trying to send a dirty bomb to Israel which could’ve killed MANY people. The only setback for Iran it seems, was the unknowing Somali Pirates who hijacked the ship en route to the Suez Canal.

When questioned about the contents of the ship, the Iranian Captain:

"was contacted by cell phone and demanded to disclose the actual nature of the mysterious “powdered cargo” but the captain and his officers were very evasive. Initially they said that the cargo contained “crude oil” but then claimed it contained “minerals.” Following this initial rebuff, the pirates broke open one of the containers and discovered it to be filled with packets of what they said was “a powdery fine sandy soil."

After boarding the ship, all of the pirates who inspected the cargo began to experience “strange illnesses” from symptoms consistent with radiation poisoning.

While US and Israeli Intelligence officials remain silent on this incident, Russian Intelligence says:

“[The Ship] was an enormous floating dirty bomb, intended to detonate after exiting the Suez Canal at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and in proximity to the coastal cities of Israel. The entire cargo of radioactive sand, obtained by Iran from China (the latter buys desperately needed oil from the former) and sealed in containers which, when the charges on the ship are set off after the crew took to the boats, will be blasted high into the air where prevailing winds will push the highly dangerous and radioactive cloud ashore.”

The article also points out that for several months, Israel has been urging a Naval Blockade of Iran. It seems that the Pro-Obama media was too afraid to bring light to the story of Iran’s near attack on Israel which would’ve killed hundreds of thousands of people since it may remind the electorate of Obama’s pre-9/11 thinking in a post 9/11 world. This is coming in light of Biden’s recent gaff where he guaranteed that an Obama win in 2008 will all but guarantee an “international crisis" in order to test the new American President already viewed as weak by countries and terrorist organizations who wish us harm. Maybe it’s just me… but when Biden mentioned the "tests" against Kennedy, I was reminded that Kennedy royally screwed up the bay of pigs and consequently, enabled Russia to threaten us with near annihilation during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I’d rather elect a president who other nations won’t even try to mess with and not one who comes within a week of getting us all killed.

We also have to wonder if Iran, in carrying out such a major attack on Israel, would attempt a simultaneous attack on the United States since either attack would more than assure the obliteration of Iran. They might as well murder as many "infidels" as possible while they’re at it, right? This is a very dangerous world and we simply cannot take a chance with Barrack Obama especially since all indications suggest that he will pursue the type of foreign policy that failed to prevent the tragic events 9/11/01, a day whose lessons the liberals have chosen to forget. We can hope that the fact that Obama’s lead in the biased polls is lower than John Kerry’s (who still lost by over 1 million votes), still indicates a McCain victory but if Obama does become President, I greatly fear for the secure future of the United States and her allies.

Related Story Hat Tips: Directorblue, Free Republic, Prolife Blogs

Early reports say it is a U.S. fighter jet, but that theory is in doubt.

Breaking News…

Developing…

UPDATE 1: Sky News

A US aeroplane has been forced to land in Iran after violating the country’s territory, according to an Iranian news agency.

The agency added that the incursion was unintentional, and those on board were questioned and released.

It said five people were interrogated at an Iranian airport, but allowed to leave the following day after it became clear the incursion had been a mistake.

Reports said the plane was a fighter jet, sparking fears of a confrontation between the two countries.

However, the Pentagon denied that any of its aircraft were missing and it later emerged that the plane was a Falcon passenger jet.

The plane is said to have entered Iranian airspace from Turkey despite repeated warnings by the Islamic Republic Air Force.

Reports from Iran said the jet was flying low in an attempt to slip under Iranian radar, but was made to touch down at an Iranian airport.

The flying crew and passengers, including five members of the US military and three civilians, were released after a day of interrogation revealed that they had violated Iranian airspace unintentionally en route to Afghanistan.

The US Falcon and all those aboard left Iran for Afghanistan after receiving takeoff permission from Iranian authorities.

The Pentagon is denying a U.S. airplane was detained in Iran.

Reuters.com

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon denied on Tuesday an Iranian news report that a U.S. military aircraft had violated Iranian territory and had been forced to land in Iran, saying all American planes were accounted for.

“All aircraft in the region are accounted for and we have no reports of any aircraft landing in Iran,” Lt. Col. Patrick Ryder told reporters.

“I haven’t heard anything like that,” said Pentagon Bryan Whitman.

The Iran news agency reported earlier that a U.S. warplane had violated Iranian territory and had been forced to land in Iran.

Iran knows better than to hold Americans as hostages.

UPDATE 2: The new report is that the plane was a European plane flying with aid, medicine, and other supplies.

UPDATE 3:

The plane forced down was a Hungarian plane filled with aid for people in Afghanistan. After everyone on the plane was questioned, the plane, its cargo, and all on board were allowed to fly to Afghanistan.

Breaking News…

Developing…

UPDATE 1: The Guardian

Developing…

UPDATE 2:

A view of the nuclear enrichment plant of Natanz in central Iran. Photograph: EPA

UPDATE 3:

Israel gave serious thought this spring to launching a military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites but was told by President George W Bush that he would not support it and did not expect to revise that view for the rest of his presidency, senior European diplomatic sources have told the Guardian.

The then prime minister, Ehud Olmert, used the occasion of Bush’s trip to Israel for the 60th anniversary of the state’s founding to raise the issue in a one-on-one meeting on May 14, the sources said. “He took it [the refusal of a US green light] as where they were at the moment, and that the US position was unlikely to change as long as Bush was in office”, they added.

The sources work for a European head of government who met the Israeli leader some time after the Bush visit. Their talks were so sensitive that no note-takers attended, but the European leader subsequently divulged to his officials the highly sensitive contents of what Olmert had told him of Bush’s position.

Bush’s decision to refuse to offer any support for a strike on Iran appeared to be based on two factors, the sources said. One was US concern over Iran’s likely retaliation, which would probably include a wave of attacks on US military and other personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as on shipping in the Persian Gulf.

The other was US anxiety that Israel would not succeed in disabling Iran’s nuclear facilities in a single assault even with the use of dozens of aircraft. It could not mount a series of attacks over several days without risking full-scale war. So the benefits would not outweigh the costs.

If there was any anxiety, then order the U.S. Air Force to help the Israeli Air Force.

Looks like President Bush is going to let the next administration handle Ahmadinejad and Iran.

Perhaps President Bush will change his mind after the results of the election.

UPDATE 4:

Iran has repeatedly said it would react with force to any attack. Some western government analysts believe this could include asking Lebanon’s Shia movement Hizbollah to strike at the US.

“It’s over ten years since Hizbollah’s last terror strike outside Israel, when it hit an Argentine-Israel association building in Buenos Aires [killing 85 people]“, said one official. “There is a large Lebanese diaspora in Canada which must include some Hizbollah supporters. They could slip into the United States and take action”.

Great. Suicide bombers in America.

Not if my Desert Eagle blows their head off, first.

UPDATE 5:

The revelation that Olmert was not merely saber-rattling to try to frighten Iran but considered the option seriously enough to discuss it with Bush shows how concerned Israeli officials had become.

Bush’s refusal to support an attack, and the strong suggestion he would not change his mind, is likely to end speculation that Washington might be preparing an “October surprise” before the US presidential election. Some analysts have argued that Bush would back an Israeli attack in an effort to help John McCain’s campaign by creating an eve-of-poll security crisis.

Others have said that in the case of an Obama victory, the vice-president, Dick Cheney, the main White House hawk, would want to cripple Iran’s nuclear programme in the dying weeks of Bush’s term.

Just because President Bush said “no” to Olmert several months ago does not mean he is totally opposed to the idea. The choice seems to be whether to attack Iran with or without a nuke in their arsenal.

UPDATE 6:

Three weeks after Bush’s red light, on June 2, Israel mounted a massive air exercise covering several hundred miles in the eastern Mediterranean. It involved dozens of warplanes, including F-15s, F-16s and aerial refueling tankers.

The size and scope of the exercise ensured that the US and other nations in the region saw it, said a US official, who estimated the distance was about the same as from Israel to Natanz.

The world noticed and Iran noticed. Israel’s motto is “Never Again”, and they will live up to that promise. Israel knows that they might have to go against Iran alone.

UPDATE 7:

The US announced two weeks ago that it would sell Israel 1,000 bunker-busting bombs. The move was interpreted by some analysts as a consolation prize for Israel after Bush told Olmert of his opposition to an attack on Iran. But it could also enhance Israel’s attack options in case the next US president revives the military option.

The guided bomb unit-39 (GBU-39) has a penetration capacity equivalent to a one-tonne bomb. Israel already has some bunker-busters.

I think it is going to take more than 1,000 bunker-busters to defeat Iran.

This map shows the known areas inside Iran that have nuclear sites.

Civil war!

AKI reports:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are among several Arab leaders considered enemies of Al-Qaeda, according to a new video released by the terror network.

Their names are included on a list of enemies in the video released by Al-Qaeda’s production arm, al-Sahab, on the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini al-Sistani, and leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, are also included on the list.

The video, released by the Arab network, also focuses on relations between Al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups.

Ayman al-Zawahiri, speaking on behalf of Al Qaeda in a new video, says that Al Qaeda is mad because they are “asked” to fight the Christian and Jewish infidels, while Muslim leaders in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other countries negotiate peace with Israel and the West. Al Qaeda claims that Ahmadinejad has “recognized Israel”. Really? Ahmadinejad threatens Israel every week with its forthcoming destruction!

Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader, is on the list. Nasrallah started a war with Israel two years ago! Does Al Qaeda have an official fact check team?

Also, the video also targets Iraq’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Sistani is accused of serving and promoting American interests in Iraq. Or perhaps Sistani is tired of dictatorships and violence wrought on by extremist Islamic groups and politicians.

Hat Tip: Gateway Pundit

haaretz.com

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Friday to keep supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas until the “collapse of Israel.”

The Iranian news agency Khabar quoted Ahmadinejad as telling Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh that Iran views the support of the Palestinian people as part of its religious and national duty and that Iran will stand behind the Palestinian nation “until the big victory feast which is the collapse of the Zionist regime.”

In a phone conversation between the two leaders, the Iranian president said that the continued Hamas resistance against Israel and the group’s achievements would always be “a source of pride for all Muslims.” ran does not acknowledge the sovereignty of Israel and vowed to support Hamas until what Ahmadinejad calls “deliverance from Zionists (Israel).”

Haniyeh, the leader of the Islamist Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, was elected Palestinian prime minister in 2006, but was dismissed in June 2007 by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, after Hamas violently seized control over the Gaza Strip from Abbas’ Palestinian Authority.

I feel as if Ahmadinejad verbally threats Israel every week. These are the types of threats that will lead to Mahmoud have a couple dozen nukes up his ass. Also, five American religious organizations will break bread with Mahmoud in a couple of weeks when Mahmoud visits New York City. Hopefully, the CIA assassinates Mahmoud in a couple of weeks.

DEBKAfile Special Report

September 5, 2008, 12:58 PM (GMT+02:00)

The Russian raid was disclosed by UPI chief editor Arnaud de Borchgrave, who is also on the Washington Times staff, and picked up by the Iranian Fars news agency. The Russian raid of two Georgian airfields, which Tbilisi had allowed Israel to use for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, followed the Georgian offensive against South Ossetia on Aug. 7.

DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources report that flying from S. Georgia over the Caspian Sea to Iran would sharply trim the distance to be spanned by Israeli fighter-bombers, reducing flying time to 3.5 hours. More…