Military Action Against Iran Not Imminent, Says Expert

Philip Bunnell - Talk Radio News Service

Michael Adler, a public policy scholar with the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., today dismissed recent worries of military intervention in response to Iran’s growing nuclear program.

Adler said that the Iranian nuclear crisis is nearing the “endgame,” and that while an agreement is not likely to occur soon, it likely will in the “coming months or years.” Adler added that military action by the West against Iran is “not imminent” and “not on the table.”

Adler also highlighted new data showing that the Iranian nuclear program has been greatly stalled. The expert cited US officials, who have said that the nearly 5,000 spinning centrifuges found in Iran in June of last year, is down to under 4,000. Adler said that this can be credited to the outdated centrifuges that Iran uses, which break down frequently.

According to Adler, with the current levels of low-enriched uranium, the Iranians could one day develop 1-2 atomic bombs. But, Alder said, if Iran was to “kick out international inspectors, and go full bore to raise its uranium stockpile from its low-enriched state to the high level needed to make a bomb, it would take 18 months to two years to make enough of this high-enriched uranium for one weapon.”

Adler suggested that the US strategy going forward should be to try to negotiate with the Iranian government, adding that the Iranians “might deal if their right to enrichment is honored.”

Iranian UN Ambassador: Iran Will Never Bow

In a defiant address in front of the UN Security Council this afternoon, Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said that the sanctions adopted earlier in the day would not prevent Tehran from further developing its nuclear program.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to exercise its inalienable right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and to build on its own scientific advances in developing various peaceful aspects of this technology."said Khazaee.

He argued that the resolution was politically motivated and said his government had consistently demonstrated its opposition to the development and use of weapons of mass destruction, namely through Iran's cooperation with the IAEA, participation in the NPT ( Non-Proliferation Treaty) and a recent fuel swap deal with Brazil and Turkey.

In his address, Khazaee took Washington and London head on, alluding to the UK's colonial past in the Middle East, the US's sale of chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein in the 1980's and the role of both countries in the 2003 Iraq war to discredit their claims about Iran's nuclear aspirations and question their motives.

"I will not dwell on the abuse of this body and the biggest lies of the recent history articulated by still the same powers here when they attempted to justify their invasion of Iraq." said Khazaee, who also accused Permanent Members of The Security Council of "double standards" when it came to Israel's nuclear arsenal. "What is at stake today is the credibility of the Security Council, that has turned into a tool in the toolbox of a few countries who do not hesitate to abuse it when and where their interests require"

Asked about Khazaee's comments, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said she rejected Khazaee's notion of double standards, branding his comments as offensive and inaccurate, and clearly meant to distract from the fact Tehran was in violation of its nuclear obligation.

In the past few weeks, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised on several occasions that any new sanctions on Iran would mean the end of negotiations over its nuclear program, but Rice said the resolution did not mean the end of talks.

"This is a dual track policy, engagement and diplomacy remain very much on table.The purpose of this resolution was not to punish the people of iran, it was to change the calculation of the leadership in Iran, constrain their ability to pursue their nuclear and proliferation activities and persuade them of the wisdom of coming to the negotiating table in earnest"

White House Gaggle With Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Iraq Bombing:
Gibbs said that the administration condemns the violence and that the leaders in Iraq who have moved democracy forward and who have made elections possible are overcoming those who have caused the violence. Gibbs added that the bombers are trying to send a message that most Iraqis won’t hear because they are focused on electing leaders.


Economy/President’s Speech:
Gibbs said that the administration will continue to look at what options there are and will try to help the private sector create more jobs. Gibbs said that the administration will continue to take in ideas. Gibbs said there is no silver bullet, and that 7-8 million jobs have been lost since the start of the recession. Gibbs said the administration wants to target ideas that can move the country positively in the direction of new jobs. He said the recession is “deep in length” and it’s sad to see “how much we’ve fallen.” Gibbs said the possibility that TARP may be $200 billion less, “gives us flexibility.” Gibbs said the administration will try to create twice as many projects, but without twice as much money. “Even shovel ready projects take time to get underway,” he said. If there are things that can be done in terms of using TARP funds to spur small business lending, that is something the administration will look at.


Supreme Court Ruling On Campaign Laws:
Gibbs said this is an important case for the American people and that the administration is concerned about special interests controlling the political process. Gibbs reminded reporters that the President talked about this issue during his campaign. The administration will wait to see if the high court delivers a ruling today.

Oslo:
On whether or not the President will give away his charity money, there is “no clarity yet on the charity,” said Gibbs. The President will also address sending troops into battle as he accepts the Nobel Peace Prize.


Healthcare:
Gibbs was asked about the reimportation of drugs and said the President still supports the reimportation of drugs, but there are safety concerns that still need to be addressed. “Safety is the number one concern,” said Gibbs.


Iran Sanctions:
Asked who will make the decision about Iranian sanctions, Gibbs said the Iranians will, but added, “we’re not at that point.”


Poll Numbers:
Asked about the latest poll numbers, Gibbs dismissed the Gallup numbers at 47%. He called the Gallup daily trend meaningless. Gibbs also said that if he was a patient and Gallup was his doctor, he would get a new doctor.