The concern for an Iranian atom bomb is misplaced, isn't it?

Question

An atom bomb takes high technology and a lengthy development process. Given enriched uranium reactor capability-that bomb is still years off. The real concern is allowing them access to highly radioactive enriched uranium. A couple of pounds of this material, finely divided and released into any world city, would kill hundreds of thousands--and render those areas uninhabitable for a number of years. No explosion is needed, the simple lethality of the highly radioactive materials does the job. Radiation posioning is a very agonizing and nasty way to die. Considering the ties to terrorist groups, the expressed desire to wipe the Israeli regime from the pages of history, the little display they did last week--this concerns me. I personally think allowing Iran nuclear technology should be avoided at all costs. Military action may be a bad choice--doing nothing and allowing it to happen would be a worse choice. Comments?

Saying they are responding to American imperialism is easy, but you made no case, just empty words. America has no imperial designs on the middle east. We simply learned the lessons that the chinese and europeans have already forgotten from the 1930's. Hitler and imperial japan should have been dealt with before they became to strong to cause a major conflageration. The Americans learned this lesson and took out Saddam. That is not imperialism--it is simply hard earned wisdom.

Answer 1

Things to consider are:

Iran has already been caught with samples of uranium enriched to 'weapons grade.'

Iran is currently running centrifuges to enrich uranium - and not letting anybody check to see if this uranium is merely 'commercial grade' or if it is going all the way to 'weapons grade.'

If Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon - all they have to do is let the IAEA verify that what they are doing is legitimate and _all sanctions_ will end. Thus it is in Iran's best interests to cooperate _if_ their program is peaceful.

The next point you have to consider is that a couple of pounds spread over several miles may not even be detectable to sensitive scientific instruments - much less be a health hazard.

BTW - last year when the Israelis and Palestinians were fighting the Muslims killed by Palestinian terrorists were considered to be 'martyrs' by the terrorists. The Iranians think the same way - that those Muslims should be glad to die in a genocidal attack on people of a different religion.

Answer 2

a couple of things to consider: what is irans intent and what are their capibilities. currently the iranians are running 3000 centerfuges in natanz, possibly many more (we dont know because the iaea isnt allowed to observe). these centerfuges purify uranium into the fissionable u235. iran has enriched uranium to leu(low enriched uranium) which is suitable as fuel for reactors, approx 2-5%. to make nuclear explosive it needs to be purified to heu(high enriched uranium)90% .to achieve this all you have to do is make a larger centerfuge cascade or keep running the product through the centerfuges raising the enrichment each time until you achieve 90% . iran is currently technically capable of this and has built a facility at natanz capable of running 50000 centerfuges!!. once enriched the rest of the device is technically easy to develop. its a matter of getting enough u235. so its really just a matter of time.

as far a intent, the fact that amadinijiad opens all his speaches stating that he wishes to hasten the coming of the twelfth imam means that he wants to bring about the day of judgement, the age of chaos!! he has also stated to anyone who cares to listen that israel should be wiped of the face of the earth. how can any logical person assume that he dosnt mean what he says? he also makes these statement with the blessing of the supreme leader(the ayatollah) and the council of experts. oh yeah at the end of every government meeting the participants close with the obligatory "death to israel, death to usa"!. i think intentions are clear for anyone willing to listen.

comparing a nuclear device with a radiological device is not really a comparison. in a radiological device dispersion will never be ideal and can be cleaned up. in a nuclear explosion cities are leveled. look at what a primative low yield device did to heroshima! iran dosnt need to use it themselves, a more likely scenerio is a terrorist group driving a nuclear truck bomb into tel aviv or a group assembling the device in the us. they probably wont test the device for fear of reprisals, but will "test" the device on a city of innocent people, therby giving no prior warning! btw MAD dosnt work with radicals willing to die for their cause.

and thats the big deal, pretty scary!!

Answer 3

My curiosity about an A-bomb dropped on Israel is with it's narrowness and size wouldn't as many Arabs be killed and harmed.

I am in total agreement that these peace loving Muslim countries should not have access to nuclear weapons

Please don't anyone insinuate that they would ever use such a weapon for to associate bombs and Muslims together causes them to get a little out of kilter

Which terrorist organization has the capability to launch a nuclear bomb?

As far as a couple lbs of enriched uranium being sold, shouldn't we be more afraid of Russia?

A country as oil rich as Iran could find a much better alternative fuel source than nuclear technology that leaves a dangerous waste that we are imposing on future generations 25,000 years away. (who do we think we are?)

Answer 4

After world war 2 Russia,Britain and France all started work on the A bomb, why? Because America had it, and had shown the will to use it.
MAD was considered the only defence. Israel has apparently developed nuclear weapons;the UN because of the US VETO on the security council can't do anything about it.
In a world where MAD is the only defence against nuclear attack, no one could blame them for joining the game.
But hey have signed the non proliferation treaty so hypothetically are NOT developing nuclear weapons.
Remember that the CIA and George W Bush have been wrong in the past

Answer 5

they do no longer want electricity they are already promoting electricity to different international locations so as that leaves us with the bomb @Rima, Sahar is a Persian call i assume @elle 990, no person mentioned something approximately Iranians been terrorists @all, capability hasteyee 2 hundred Toman basteiee a million twelve months from now ahmadinejad : guy oraniom bar sareh sofreh melllat miyavaram ke hame az radiation begoozan

Answer 6

Iran having any sort of nuclear power or weaponry is a very bad thing. The country may not use it, but they may sell it to terrorists looking to build a bomb. We can not allow this to happen. That is why I support any military actions against Iran.

Answer 7

If Iran gets nukes, they WILL use them. I'm a military fiction author and found that the only way to prevent a nuke attack is to hit them now and demolish their production lines. An Israeli air strike would be most effective at stopping this theat to Mideast security.

Answer 8

it is about access to materials that could be used in a suitcase nuke- absolutely. Iran with a bomb is easy to deal with. It is who they give or sell nuclear materials to that is the problem. of course if they dont have access to nuclear technology then they cant sell it for those suitcase bombs...

Answer 9

when it comes down to it the isrealis will hit it 1st and if there is more america will most likey bomb it. awsome. the worst would be to sit around and watch it because the iranians will most likly use it against isreal or america, causeing unknown deaed and most likey another war.

Answer 10

If push come to shove, The Israeli's will take care of the probelm. They after all, have the most at stake.