Today's Article
Iran still does not
possess the essential
material needed to
create a nuclear
weapon, two leading
U.S. intelligence
officers said Tuesday.
possess the essential
material needed to
create a nuclear
weapon, two leading
U.S. intelligence
officers said Tuesday.
The American Spark
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Iran Cannot Yet Make Weapons-Grade Uranium, Say Intel Officials
By Cliff Montgomery - Mar. 13th, 2009
Iran still does not possess the essential material needed to create a nuclear weapon, two leading U.S.
intelligence officers told a Senate panel on Tuesday. This disputes an Israeli official's claim that Iran now has
highly enriched uranium.
Dennis Blair and Lt. Gen. Michael Maples, the U.S. National Intelligence Director and Defense Intelligence
Agency (DIA) Director respectively, stated on Tuesday that Iran only possesses low-enriched uranium, which
cannot fuel a nuclear warhead.
Iran would have to refine its relatively lower grade nuclear material into highly enriched uranium before such a
substance may serve as fuel for a nuclear weapon. Both officials agreed there is no indication that such an
enhancement has occurred.
Their statements contrast with a charge made last week by Israel's leading military intelligence officer, who
claimed that Iran now has the technology to produce atomic weapons.
Israeli Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin's claim may be provocative, but U.S. intelligence estimates contradict it.
American intelligence officials are adamant that Iran cannot possibly produce such a weapon until 2010 at the
earliest, and a number of U.S. analysts add that Iran probably cannot hope to create such a weapon until at
least 2015.
DIA Director Maples told senators that while American and Israeli officials are reviewing the same facts, they
are arriving at vastly different conclusions.
"The Israelis are far more concerned about [a nuclear Iran]," Maples said to the Senate Armed Services
Committee.
Maples' statement may be harsh, but it is almost certainly the heart of the matter. Fear can make even
hardened government officials see things which just aren't there.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Mar. 13th, 2009
Iran still does not possess the essential material needed to create a nuclear weapon, two leading U.S.
intelligence officers told a Senate panel on Tuesday. This disputes an Israeli official's claim that Iran now has
highly enriched uranium.
Dennis Blair and Lt. Gen. Michael Maples, the U.S. National Intelligence Director and Defense Intelligence
Agency (DIA) Director respectively, stated on Tuesday that Iran only possesses low-enriched uranium, which
cannot fuel a nuclear warhead.
Iran would have to refine its relatively lower grade nuclear material into highly enriched uranium before such a
substance may serve as fuel for a nuclear weapon. Both officials agreed there is no indication that such an
enhancement has occurred.
Their statements contrast with a charge made last week by Israel's leading military intelligence officer, who
claimed that Iran now has the technology to produce atomic weapons.
Israeli Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin's claim may be provocative, but U.S. intelligence estimates contradict it.
American intelligence officials are adamant that Iran cannot possibly produce such a weapon until 2010 at the
earliest, and a number of U.S. analysts add that Iran probably cannot hope to create such a weapon until at
least 2015.
DIA Director Maples told senators that while American and Israeli officials are reviewing the same facts, they
are arriving at vastly different conclusions.
"The Israelis are far more concerned about [a nuclear Iran]," Maples said to the Senate Armed Services
Committee.
Maples' statement may be harsh, but it is almost certainly the heart of the matter. Fear can make even
hardened government officials see things which just aren't there.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
Wait, why does an
independent news source
run advertisements? The
Spark answers in its
advertising policy.
independent news source
run advertisements? The
Spark answers in its
advertising policy.
* Please check out our ads--they
help keep this news site running.
Thanks!
help keep this news site running.
Thanks!