re: #206 Buck

rawstory.com

Israel military chief: Iran not pursuing nuclear weapon

Israel’s military chief toned down the rhetoric over Iran’s nuclear programme on Wednesday, describing the Iranian leadership as “very rational” and unlikely to take the decision to build a bomb.

Speaking to the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz said Iran was systematically approaching the point at which it would be able to decide on whether to build a bomb, but had not yet made that decision.

“It still hasn’t decided yet whether to go the extra mile,” he said.

Barak, it said, does not categorically oppose 20 percent enrichment of uranium by Iran under complete supervision and is willing to accept 3.5 percent enrichment, while Netanyahu “opposes any enrichment of uranium by Iran.”

Reports of an apparent rift were confirmed by a senior Israeli official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.

“General Gantz is only repeating publicly what military leaders, including his predecessor General Gabi Ashkenazi, have continuously told the politicians in the last few years,” he said.

“Ehud Barak has evolved and seems more moderate. And (Foreign Minister) Avigdor Lieberman recently told Israeli reporters it was necessary to give a chance to the economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure, that we must give it time and not hurry,” he said.

“In fact, the prime minister is somewhat isolated on Iran,” he said.

I liked this comment by Peter No Tail:

First, Iraq had WMDs.
No WMDs, so then Iraq had WMD programs.
No WMD programs, so then Iraq had WMD material.
No WMD material, so then Iraq had WMD-related program activities (whatever that means).

First, Iran had nukes.
No nukes, so then Iran had a nuclear bomb program.
No nuke program, so then Iran was close to developing material for nukes.
Now, Iran [is] systematically approaching the point at which it would be able to decide on whether to build a bomb, but had not yet made that decision. (Whatever that means. i guess it means “Iran does not have nukes BUT they might possibly, sometime in the future, reach a point where they’ll be able decide whether or not to build one.”)

See a pattern?