U.S. ADMITS NO EVIDENCE THAT IRAN WANTS NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Washingtonpost.com has an article today from the AP reporting on head U.S. intelligence personnel testifying to Congress that Iran has not weapons-grade plutonium and that they believe Iran has not decided whether to actually produce any.

The AP reports:

"A top U.S. intelligence official says Iran does not have any highly enriched uranium, the fuel used to power a nuclear warhead.

"Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lt. Gen. Michael Maples says that Iran has not yet made the decision to build a nuclear bomb. Maples is testifying Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee."

I have been writing in the past that the U.S. under Bush has produced no credible evidence that Iran has been developing nuclear weapons. Yes, there has been a lot of speculation and exaggeration, even outright claims that Iran wants nuclear weapons so that it can destroy Israel. But all of it has been propaganda from the war mongers in both Israel and the U.S.

The fact that American intelligence now admits there is no evidence for believing Iran is engaged in nefarious nuclear bombmaking is good information for those of us who suspect that Israel is trying to justify an attack against Iran either by itself or in conjunction with the United States by hyping non-existence "intelligence" around its own war-mongering policy.

This disclosure of U.S. intelligence will make it almost impossible for Israel to proceed to bomb Teheran. But Israel does the unexpected so everyone must remain wary of propaganda emanating either from Israel or AIPAC here in the U.S. that tries to demonize Iran and Iranians for wanting peaceful nuclear power.

ISRAEL PREPARES FOR ATTACK AGAINST IRAN

Instead of telling Israel of its unqualified support, the United States should do everything within its power to prevent Israel from attacking Iran.

The BBC reports that Israel's defense minister has once again said that Israel is thinking of hitting Iran:

"Israel's defence minister has warned of his country's readiness to act against Iran if it feels threatened.
Ehud Barak, speaking in Tel Aviv, said Israel had "proved in the past that it won't hesitate to act when its vital security interests are at stake". "

First of all, there is no hard evidence that Iran is building, or plans to build, facilities to develop nuclear weapons.

Secondly, even if Iran wanted nuclear weapons, why must it be deprived while Israel has in storage some 200 nuclear bombs? Israel never joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty so why should the U.S. and other countries approve of its nuclear arsenal while at the same time saying that Iran would never be permitted to have nuclear weapons?

Thirdly, the only country in the history of the world that has ever dropped nuclear bombs on populations is the United States. The U.S. incinerated over 100 thousand in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Then it turns around and tries to appear virtuous and pure in describing Iran as a world threat. What hypocrisy!

STOP BUSH & CHENEY - NO ATTACK AGAINST IRAN

We need to stop this mad rush to war with Iran. ABC reported yesterday that U.S. military officials are predicting that Israel will bomb Iran within the year. This is craziness. There is no proof that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons. Every country has a right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The CIA and the National Intelligence Estimate reported that there is no evidence that Iran is doing otherwise.

So then, why attack Iran? That's why it is so important to elect leaders who don't try to engage in foreign diplomacy with tanks and missiles. All Bush, Cheney and Olmert know is how to kill "enemies" instead of treating other people with respect and negotiation.

Iran is a great country with a great civilization. To attack Iran would be an even more catastrophic mistake than the foolish and unjustified invasion of Iraq.

EGYPT TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

Al Jazeera.com reports that Egypt under Hosni Mubarak is engaging in building several nuclear power plants.

Writes Al Jazeera:

"Egypt is to build several civilian nuclear power stations around the country. Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, said on Monday that a decree to establish a higher council for the peaceful use of nuclear energy will be issued in the next few days.

""I declare before you the decision to start a programme to build a number of nuclear power stations to generate electricity," Mubarak said."

Egypt once before initiated plans for nuclear technology development but put it aside after the nuclear disaster at Chenobyl.

"The announcement relaunches a nuclear programme that was halted more than 20 years ago.A nuclear energy programme started by Egypt in the 1970s was abandoned in 1986 after the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe.

"Mubarak said the programme will take place "within a framework of transparency and respect of commitments to the nuclear non-proliferation system".

And it appears that George Bush and the United States are putting up no objections to Mubarak's nuclear plans. Consider the difference in U.S. policy towards Iran. Egypt is a moslem nation, mostly Sunni. Iran is a moslem nation, mostly Shia. Both Egypt and Iran have unenlightened attitudes to freedom of the press and individual rights. However, Egypt is much more draconian in its penal and police systems. The U.S. has sent suspected terrorists to Egypt to be interrogated, meaning through methods of torture. Yet the U.S. has no objections to nuclear power developed by Egypt while it threatens to start a world war to keep nuclear power away from Iran.

Writes Al Jazeera:

"Amr el-Kahky, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Cairo, said while the announcement was not wholly unexpected it did come as something of a surprise after 12 months of silence on the nuclear issue.

""Egypt has spoken to the United States about it, and talked to the regional powers here, explaining exactly what they need," he said.

""They need nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes, for energy generation, especially with Egypt's energy needs growing year after year with the ever-growing population".

El-Kahky said that Egypt's population of 76-77 million needs at least 10 per cent increases in power annually.

""This is very demanding and Egypt has to live up to the challenge. The United States has never said no to that, so long as it is peaceful", el-Kahky said."