It is understood by most of the world that the United Nations, the United States of America, and a number of interested parties have been unsuccessful in stopping Iran's nuclear program. Today's Jerusalem Post posted an interview with former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton regarding Iran going nuclear..
Ambassador Bolton warned that if Russia follows through on its plan to deliver the fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor this weekend, Israel has only a few days to strike the plant. After the fuel is delivered, a strike will trigger widespread radiation throughout the Middle East.
This is playing out as if it were a chess match. By announcing that they will deliver the fuel to Iran this weekend, Russia took any element of surprise away from an Israeli attack. The situation is further complicated by the fact that in addition to the Bushehr reactor, Iran has a number of uranium enrichment plants which are seen as the backbone of its nuclear weapons program. Experts point out that Israel would be more likely to attack these plants than Bushehr. Another part of the calculation is the fact that if Israel attacked the Iranian nuclear weapons program, Russia would quite likely provide Iran with the advanced missile defense system it has promised Iran but has delayed delivering.
I have no idea how this will all play out. I do know that the idea of Iran with nuclear weapons is not good for the prospect of world peace or peace in the Middle East. I hope that someone (whether it is Israel or the United States) will step up to the plate and put Iran's nuclear program out of action.
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