It's Five Years Off -- Trust Me

The deals were made in unison. Some were obvious, some were not. Some were made by professionals, some were not. All ranks chimed in. The intelligence experts, the not-so-expert, the heretics, the loons, the Left and the Right.

All said this:

Iran will not become a nuclear power or have workable reactors in, at a minimum, five to ten years. Solid.

Iran first said: we only want nuclear power to create energy. Iran now says: we want nuclear power to build atomic warheads.

Hello? This just in:

Four days after sending back a rebellious but politely-couched answer to the West's 'stick and carrot' approach, and five days before the expiration of the UN's ultimatum to halt uranium enrichment, Tehran poured fuel on the fire regarding the issue of its nuclear development with the completion of a heavy water plant.

An official source announced the completion of the heavy water plant on Saturday. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the plant later the same day and issued a relevant statement.

From Reuters:

"No one can deprive a nation of its rights based on its capabilities," Ahmadinejad said in his speech to inaugurate the heavy water project.

The Arak project, once complete, will produce plutonium as a by-product that could be used to make atomic warheads. But the reactor that will produce this is still being built.

Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to master technology to produce nuclear weapons. Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, insists it only wants to produce electricity.

"Iran is not a threat to anybody, not even to the Zionist regime," Ahmadinejad said, using Iran's term for its arch-enemy Israel, which the Islamic Republic does not recognize.

Once again I reiterate: like a nice football move, a quick feint from a great running back, the world took the bait and looked to Hezbollah whilst Iran made good on its promise to become a nuclear regime.

The political shakeout:

The United States has warned of swift action on sanctions. Britain, Germany and France have been less conclusive in public. But Russia and China, both trade partners of Iran, have been unwilling and could veto sanctions in the Security Council.

But let us not forget that France supplied some nuclear componentry to Iran. Russia and China? They couldn't care less for the world opinion as long as they get their requisite share of Iranian petroleum.

And we're worried about World Opinion?

I once wrote this about two years ago: when any nation says it isn't about the oil, well, it's about the oil.

Us too.

I can only hope I perceive the smell of cruise missile propellant and hear the metal clank of guided bombs affixed under the wings of attack fighters.

Israel and the US: do you hear me?

BZ