KashifAsrar
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US may let Iran build nukes
Bombing Nuclear Sites Ruled Out Due To Lack Of Intelligence Input
Sarah Baxter
Washington: America will have to learn to live with a nuclear Iran, top US intelligence analysts concluded at a secret meeting near Washington last week.
Senior operatives and analysts from the intelligence community were almost unanimous in their view that little could be done to stop Iran acquiring the components for a nuclear bomb, the Sunday Times has learnt.
Bombing Iranââ¬â¢s nuclear facilities was rejected on the grounds that the intelligence needed for successful air strikes was lacking. ââ¬ÅWe only have an imperfect understanding of the extent and location of the Iranian programme,ââ¬Â said one source with knowledge of the meeting. ââ¬ÅEven if we got the order to blow it up, we wouldnââ¬â¢t know how to.ââ¬Â
The White Houseââ¬â¢s earlier enthusiasm for military strikes if all else failed has cooled after warnings from the Pentagon and intelligence analysts that the risk to reward ratio of taking action is too high. At best 80 of the targets are mapped out and then only sketchily. The ââ¬Åcollateral damageââ¬Â to civilians could be considerable, sources say.
ââ¬ÅUnless you can be 100 effective and set the programme back by two decades, youââ¬â¢ll just get a short-term delay in the programme and you may not produce a result that is better than the current one,ââ¬Â an intelligence analyst said. General John Abizaid, commander of US forces in the Middle East, has warned that striking Iran could cripple oil supplies, unleash a ââ¬Åsurrogateââ¬Â terrorist army and lead to missile attacks on Americaââ¬â¢s regional allies. The army is particularly concerned about Iranââ¬â¢s ability to destabilise Iraq.
John Negroponte, director of national intelligence, has told president George W Bush that there is no rush to use force as Iranââ¬â¢s nuclear programme is beset with technical errors. ââ¬ÅHe has been saying, ââ¬ËSlow down, itââ¬â¢s not an immediate problemââ¬â¢,ââ¬Â said Patrick Clawson, an Iran expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has staked her reputation on achieving a negotiated settlement with the help of the ââ¬ÅEU3ââ¬Â nations of Britain, France and Germany. SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON
Senate extends sanctions
The US Congress agreed to extend sanctions on Iran set to expire this weekend that are aimed at choking off funds that could aid Iran in developing nuclear weapons. With Congress scrambling to finish business before heading out to campaign, the Senate approved a bill that matched one the House of Representatives approved on Thursday to keep the sanctions from expiring. The bill would renew economic sanctions for five more years.
Bombing Nuclear Sites Ruled Out Due To Lack Of Intelligence Input
Sarah Baxter
Washington: America will have to learn to live with a nuclear Iran, top US intelligence analysts concluded at a secret meeting near Washington last week.
Senior operatives and analysts from the intelligence community were almost unanimous in their view that little could be done to stop Iran acquiring the components for a nuclear bomb, the Sunday Times has learnt.
Bombing Iranââ¬â¢s nuclear facilities was rejected on the grounds that the intelligence needed for successful air strikes was lacking. ââ¬ÅWe only have an imperfect understanding of the extent and location of the Iranian programme,ââ¬Â said one source with knowledge of the meeting. ââ¬ÅEven if we got the order to blow it up, we wouldnââ¬â¢t know how to.ââ¬Â
The White Houseââ¬â¢s earlier enthusiasm for military strikes if all else failed has cooled after warnings from the Pentagon and intelligence analysts that the risk to reward ratio of taking action is too high. At best 80 of the targets are mapped out and then only sketchily. The ââ¬Åcollateral damageââ¬Â to civilians could be considerable, sources say.
ââ¬ÅUnless you can be 100 effective and set the programme back by two decades, youââ¬â¢ll just get a short-term delay in the programme and you may not produce a result that is better than the current one,ââ¬Â an intelligence analyst said. General John Abizaid, commander of US forces in the Middle East, has warned that striking Iran could cripple oil supplies, unleash a ââ¬Åsurrogateââ¬Â terrorist army and lead to missile attacks on Americaââ¬â¢s regional allies. The army is particularly concerned about Iranââ¬â¢s ability to destabilise Iraq.
John Negroponte, director of national intelligence, has told president George W Bush that there is no rush to use force as Iranââ¬â¢s nuclear programme is beset with technical errors. ââ¬ÅHe has been saying, ââ¬ËSlow down, itââ¬â¢s not an immediate problemââ¬â¢,ââ¬Â said Patrick Clawson, an Iran expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has staked her reputation on achieving a negotiated settlement with the help of the ââ¬ÅEU3ââ¬Â nations of Britain, France and Germany. SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON
Senate extends sanctions
The US Congress agreed to extend sanctions on Iran set to expire this weekend that are aimed at choking off funds that could aid Iran in developing nuclear weapons. With Congress scrambling to finish business before heading out to campaign, the Senate approved a bill that matched one the House of Representatives approved on Thursday to keep the sanctions from expiring. The bill would renew economic sanctions for five more years.
