Exitles say Iraq has nukes.
Below is a story from an Los Angeles Times story about Iran's alleged "new" missile. What I will do is show you the qualifiers and interesting items in this article. I am not taking issue with the writer, I am just pointing out how amusing the wording is.

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Iran Working on New Missile, Exiles Say

Opposition group says Tehran is developing a weapon that could hit Western Europe and is trying to equip them with illicit warheads.

By John Daniszewski
Times Staff Writer

December 3, 2004

LONDON ? An Iranian opposition group asserted Thursday that the Islamic Republic was developing a new series of missiles with the capability to strike Western Europe, and seeking ways to arm them with chemical or nuclear warheads.Why would Iran want to bomb Western Europe? The writer of this story never tells us. Are we just supposed to assume that Iran hates Western Europe and wants to bomb it?

The National Council of Resistance of Iran, or NCRI, held a news conference at the Parliament building in London to outline what it said Who is NCRI to say? were advanced weapons delivery systems being secretly manufactured by Tehran.

The group has been labeled by the State Department as a front for the Mujahedin Khalq, an armed opposition force, and the two appear on U.S. and European Union lists of terrorist organizations Are we going to take the word of a terrorist organization? because of violent activities against the Iranian government, a charge the NCRI denies. Don't most terrorist organizations deny they are terrorist organizations?

Although the group did not give a precise source or documentation for its accusations In other words they have no proof, organizers pointed out that it first revealed to the world the secret Iranian nuclear sites at Natanz and Arak in August 2002.

A former senior CIA official has told The Times that U.S. authorities closely follow the NCRI's claims, despite its terrorist designation and mixed record for accuracy. Here we get our first look at an anonymous source. Who from the "mixed record" comment appears to be saying that sometimes their information is correct and sometimes it isn't. So which time is this? I don't know. Maybe some more information on when they were right and when they were wrong would help clear this up.

"They obviously got sources within their home country," the ex-official said. I mean this is just an amazing quote. I mean just for obvious reasons, of course they have sources in the country, they
re exiles. Does this remind anyone of a guy named Chalabi?

The group's charges followed a statement made last month by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who said that Washington had unconfirmed intelligence that Iran might be trying to adapt missiles to carry nuclear warheads. I'll tell you who has unconfirmed intelligence! What the hell is this? Isn't unconfirmed intelligence what got us into the mess we are currently in Colin?

The Iranian regime's efforts to obtain long-range missiles and weapons are two wings of a single strategy," the group's spokesman, Ali Safavi, said at the news conference. "Militarily speaking, by obtaining them [missiles] they are trying to put many regions of the world ? most of Europe, I must say ? within their range." Again, why doe Iran want to bomb Europe. Will someone please explain that to me. I mean why are we just assuming this without any reason?

He charged that the religious leadership in Iran was "bent on acquiring long- and medium-range missiles that will carry nuclear and chemical warheads" in order to "prolong their increasingly fragile regime."

He said the state-run Iranian Aerospace Industries Organization had a top-secret Ghadr missile system in development at the Hemmat Missile Industries complex in northeast Tehran. The missile's range is intended to be about 1,550 to 1,875 miles and it will be more maneuverable and quicker to deploy without detection than the Shahab-3 and Shahab-4 missile systems Iran has already developed, Safavi said.

The Iranian government has denied repeatedly that it is developing such missiles. It also has insisted that its nuclear program is for civilian, not military, purposes.

A resolution adopted this week by the International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board sealed a mid-November deal brokered by Britain, France and Germany for Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities and thus avoid referral to the U.N. Security Council, where it could face sanctions. The U.S. has remained skeptical of Iran's pledge.

Safavi said that his group had a vast network inside Iran and that the missile report, which named divisions and individuals involved in the alleged development, was based on "highly placed people within Iran's leadership as well as its various programs." He did not present any documentary evidence. Why does he need to provide evidence? Once again an accusation without documented proof. What is the point of this story if everything they say cannot be proved?

"When you look at the quantity of information we have provided for the last few years, many would agree it has been the most accurate and reliable on Iran's nuclear and missile program," Safavi said.

"Western intelligence agencies have been, by and large So we know some things, like what?, left in the dark with regard to these weapons programs."

The Paris-based NCRI is closely linked to the Mujahedin Khalq, which has claimed responsibility for bombings and armed attacks inside Iran against the theocratic regime. Until the defeat of Saddam Hussein, the guerrilla force had been encouraged by Iraq. Are we going to take the word of a terrorist organization financed by Saddam Hussein? I thought that's who we are supposed to get rid of in Iraq.

Because previous revelations made by the group about Iran's secret uranium-enrichment activities turned out to be true, the Bush administration did not dismiss Thursday's allegations. So they didn't dismiss unconfirmed intelligence about Nukes in Iran. That's the first logical thing in this whole story One official, who declined to be identified, noted that the National Council of Resistance of Iran had no U.S. backing.

The rest of this story is just Scottie ramlbing on. But my main question is what the hell is the story here? Iraqi exiles have people in that country that are telling them stories that may be true or may be false about Iraq's nuclear program? Is that news?

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said the administration's ultimate goal "is that Iran end its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and it's important that they cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency."

McClellan said any questions about weapons sites should be fully investigated by inspectors.

"The IAEA has asked to be able to go in and inspect those sites," McClellan added. "And I think the international community is sending a clear and unified message to Iran that they need to cooperate fully with inspectors, with the IAEA, when it comes to their nuclear weapons programs."

*

Times staff writer Tyler Marshall in Washington and Janet Stobart of The Times' London Bureau contributed to this report.


- posted by Mom/Dad @ 1:58 PM