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November 7, 2007

Will Ahmadinejad's Claim Of 3,000 Centrifuges Trigger Israeli Strike ? (Updated)

Topics: Iran

Iran's announcement that it now has 3,000 centrifuges signals an ability to produce the nuclear material needed for a warhead. With Israel having destroyed Saddam Hussein's Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981, and having recently struck a suspected nuclear plant in Syria, there should be little doubt that "as the sole -- if undeclared -- nuclear power in the region," it will not tolerate a nuclear Iran that has said Israel should be "wiped off the map." So no wonder Washington is concerned about a possible (if not likely) strike on Iran by Israel:

A claim by President Ahmadinejad that Iran has 3,000 working uranium-enriching centrifuges sent a tremor across the world yesterday amid fears that Israel would respond by bombing the country's nuclear facilities.

Military sources in Washington said that the existence of such a large number could be a "tipping point", triggering an Israeli air strike. The Pentagon is reluctant to take military action against Iran, but officials say that Israel is a "different matter". Amid the international uproar, British MPs who were to have toured the nuclear facility were backing out of their Iran trip.

Even before President Ahmadinejad's announcement, a US defence official told The Times yesterday: "Israel could do something when they get to around 3,000 working centrifuges. The Pentagon is minded to wait a little longer." US experts say 3,000 machines running for long periods could make enough enriched uranium for an atomic bomb within a year.

Israel responded by serving notice that it would not tolerate a nuclear Iran. "Talks never did, and never will, stop rockets," said Ehud Barak, the Defence Minister, after talks with the security cabinet.

My question is why the Pentagon is reluctant to take military action against a country that has been killing American troops for over a year, with impunity, and who clearly plans to make a nuclear bomb to use in the pursuit of a worldwide Islamic caliphate, by nuclear holocaust, if necessary.

Better to bomb a non-nuclear Iran now than wait for a nuclear Iran to hand out atomic bombs to fanatical Islamic nutjobs around the globe. After all, what's our downside from oblivion, which will surely occur if we wait ?

Posted by Richard at November 7, 2007 11:16 PM

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