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April 17, 2006
Iran, who to blame and what action to take?
While we all try to figure out what to do about Iran, the blame game begins. Who is at fault for allowing Iran to get this far with their nuclear program? Tsotne Bakuria in The Washington Times puts the blame on Russia. Others blame Bill Clinton. Blame really doesn't do us any good now, it is ACTION that is needed:
After all, it was the former Soviet Union who is responsible. Today, Russia's reluctance to seriously condemn Iran or threaten the country with economic sanctions is a critical mistake, and one that will surely end in catastrophe.
Russia has been the major supplier of nuclear power technology for Iran. In a halfhearted attempt to appease the West, Russia offered Iran a deal: develop your uranium at our own Russian factories and we'll send it to you when it's done. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad must have had a belly laugh. Russia is indeed acting like Rick in "Casablanca"; shocked, shocked that uranium enrichment is going on in Iran. What did they think Iran needed it for? Electricity? source
Indeed, Russia is Iran's major trading partner, along with China, so they are obviously hesitant to punish Iran. Some interesting facts about Russia's partnership with Iran:
In January 1995, Iran signed a contract with Russia's Atomic Energy Ministry to finish the reactors at Busher, Iran. These reactors could produce up to 180 kilograms yearly of plutonium in their spent fuel. The agreement calls for Russia to complete the first reactor in Busher by December 2006. The contract includes providing a 30/50 megawatt thermal light-water research reactor, 2,000 tons of natural uranium and training about 15 Iranian nuclear scientists yearly. According to the IAEA, Russia is "completing construction of nuclear reactors in Busher and hoping to build many more reactors."
The Russian newspaper Pravda (April 5) declared, "Iran unveils secret super weapons," designed by former Soviet scientists.
Read the rest here
Posted by Debbie at April 17, 2006 9:31 AM
