Another Possibility

Posted by straightlinelogic 9 years, 9 months ago to Government
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This is an excerpt, access the full story from the link above.

What if Iran already has a bomb, or bombs? Military expert Richard Maybury has suggested that several countries may have nuclear weapons that we don’t know about. There are gaps in records tracking the Soviet Union’s bombs when it dissolved. Some of those bombs may have become available on the black market, where they would have undoubtedly commanded sky-high prices. North Korea or Pakistan, both nuclear powers, might sell bombs at the right price, especially if that price including substantial “commissions” to key officials.

At first blush it may appear farfetched, but even Russia or China could sell bombs to Iran. They are chafing at the US’s unipolar view of the world. Iran would use the bomb under only extreme circumstances, and the Russians or Chinese would undoubtedly extract assurances that an Iranian bomb, if detonated, would blow up in London, Washington, or New York, not Moscow or Beijing. The threat would be clear: a detonation in Russia or China would mean the complete destruction of Iran.

Those who dismisses the Iranian agreement with the argument that Iran will eventually breach it should ponder this question: why would Iran go to all the trouble and expense of secretly developing a nuclear bomb, risking detection and war, if they could simply buy bombs, and, better yet, keep them secret? It would be naive to assert that a black market in nuclear arms is impossible. If Iran were a buyer, the detection risk would be minimal: bombs could be put in ostensibly commercial aircraft, flown from Moscow, Beijing, Pyongyang, or Karachi to Tehran, from which they would be transported to and hidden away in some remote, deeply fortified bunker. The Iranians might not have much, if any, launch capability, but they could surely smuggle bombs into the US or Europe for either nuclear blackmail or outright detonation.
SOURCE URL: http://straightlinelogic.com/2015/04/07/another-possibility-by-robert-gore/


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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 9 months ago
    Hello SLL,
    As always a thought provoking examination of the possibilities. A few thoughts: Israel is a small nation and it could be that only one bomb would be necessary for its general annihilation. Considering the rhetoric from Tehran and the radical fearless martyrdom some in power express, is Israel's fear irrational? If Iran is actually not lying about pursuit of peaceful nuclear programs only, then why the secret underground facilities? If they are lying about that how do we trust anything they say or "agree" to? I like Reagan's "trust, but verify" but if there are no spot/unannounced inspections with free unfettered access how do we verify?
    Respectfully,
    O.A..
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    • Posted by 9 years, 9 months ago
      Thanks. I have read from several sources, favorable to the framework, that the inspectors will be maintaining a continuous presence from the beginning to the end of the Iranian nuclear chain. However, it may not be that clear cut; there are still a lot of unresolved details, so that will probably be subject to further negotiations. As for Israel, given some of the Iranian, and much of the rest of the Arab world's rhetoric, its fears are not irrational. I don't think one bomb would wipe it out. However, keep in mind that Israel maintains a submarine launch capability, so even if Iran or another power launched a first strike, Israel could retaliate. For Israel, like every other nuclear power, nuclear retaliation remains the prime deterrant and I'm afraid it will probably stay that way for a long time. Iran may have once wanted to build a bomb, although our own intelligence agencies say they abandoned that goal in 2003. As I acknowledged in my piece, they may wish to retain the rudiments of a nuclear program to serve as the foundation of some later effort to build bombs. However, from their standpoint, I think it's much more rational to buy a bomb, which could be done in secret and not risk some sort of Israeli/US attack that would surely occur if it was discovered that they had reinstituted a bomb program. Given the criminals who run the world's governments, including the nuclear powers, I don't think a sale or sales to Iran can or should be ruled out. That's my straight line logic.
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      • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 9 months ago
        Thank you for the thoughtful reply.
        The thought of someone selling them the bomb is simultaneously all too plausible and terrifying. What is also troubling to me is that the same arguments for a deal with N.Korea were once held up as a viable approach. Somehow it seems futile to try to get that toothpaste back in the tube...
        Regards,
        O.A.
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 9 months ago
    I enjoyed this article.

    If Iran had a few nuclear weapons and they planned to use them as a deterrent, at some point they would tell someone.

    I have never believed Iran's argument about wanting nuclear research for peaceful purposes. If they have no plans to build weapons, they would focus on things like software, biotech, nanotech, and non-nuclear alternative energy because they are more profitable and don't make the world as nervous. Nuclear weapons, though, are a magic bullet. Once you have them, you're in the nuclear club and no one messes with you, even if you act like North Korea. The only reason I see to pay the price of having everyone on your case about nuclear research is the possibility you'll get this magic bullet in the future.

    I do not know enough about this deal to speculate. I do not believe for a moment that President Obama is influenced in the slightest degree by extremist religious ideology, Shia or otherwise. I do think "domestic political considerations are almost always paramount."

    If your speculation is right, will Iran start saber rattling with their handful of nuclear devices?

    Thanks again for the article.
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    • Posted by 9 years, 9 months ago
      Thanks for reading it. I don't Iran will engage in any saber rattling at all. It would far more serve their interest, if they have a bomb, to keep it secret until they feel they need it. Any disclosure could well result in bombing and invasion from Israel and the US. Part of the reason for buying rather and building would be so that they could keep their arsenal secret.
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