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Iran

Stuxnet Virus Could Cause Iranian ‘Chernobyl’

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It appears that the work of the Stuxnet Virus that targeted Iran is not finished. It is now being reported that the virus could cause a ‘Chernobyl’ disaster, or worse.

Associated Press Exclusive:

VIENNA (AP) — The control systems of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant have been penetrated by a computer worm unleashed last year, according to a foreign intelligence report that warns of a possible Chernobyl-like disaster once the site becomes fully operational.

Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, also has raised the specter of the 1986 reactor explosion in Ukraine, but suggested last week that the danger had passed.

The report, drawn up by a nation closely monitoring Iran’s nuclear program and obtained by The Associated Press, said such conclusions were premature and based on the “casual assessment” of Russian and Iran scientists at Bushehr.

With control systems disabled by the virus, the reactor would have the force of a “small nuclear bomb,” it said.

“The minimum possible damage would be a meltdown of the reactor,” it says. “However, external damage and massive environmental destruction could also occur … similar to the Chernobyl disaster.”

The virus, known as Stuxnet, has the ability to send centrifuges spinning out of control and temporarily crippled Iran’s uranium enrichment program. It is believed to have been the work of Israel or the United States, two nations convinced that Iran wants to turn nuclear fuel into weapons-grade uranium.     Continue reading . . .

Israel, US behind Stuxnet Virus

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Reports are now out about the Stuxnet virus, and it points to Israel and the United States. Tested in an Israeli nuclear facility for effectiveness, it was targeted toward Iran and slowing down their nuclear ambitions.

New York Times:

The Dimona complex in the Negev desert is famous as the heavily guarded heart of Israel’s never-acknowledged nuclear arms program, where neat rows of factories make atomic fuel for the arsenal.

Over the past two years, according to intelligence and military experts familiar with its operations, Dimona has taken on a new, equally secret role — as a critical testing ground in a joint American and Israeli effort to undermine Iran’s efforts to make a bomb of its own.

Behind Dimona’s barbed wire, the experts say, Israel has spun nuclear centrifuges virtually identical to Iran’s at Natanz, where Iranian scientists are struggling to enrich uranium. They say Dimona tested the effectiveness of the Stuxnet computer worm, a destructive program that appears to have wiped out roughly a fifth of Iran’s nuclear centrifuges and helped delay, though not destroy, Tehran’s ability to make its first nuclear arms.

“To check out the worm, you have to know the machines,” said an American expert on nuclear intelligence. “The reason the worm has been effective is that the Israelis tried it out.”

Broder’s Brainstorm

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By Patrick J. Buchanan

Though Obama “may lose control of Congress,” says columnist David Broder, he “can still storm back to win a second term in 2012.”

How does Broder suggest Obama go about it?

“Look back at FDR and the Great Depression. What finally resolved that economic crisis? World War II.”

Conceding the prospect of a new war is “frightening,” Broder goes on to list the rich rewards of Obama’s emulating FDR.

“With strong Republican support in Congress for challenging Iran’s ambition to become a nuclear power, (Obama) can spend much of 2011 and 2012 orchestrating a showdown with the mullahs. This will help him politically because the opposition party will be urging him on. And as tensions rise and we accelerate preparations for war, the economy will improve…

“(T)he nation will rally around Obama because Iran is the greatest threat to the world in the young century. If he can confront this threat and contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions, he will have made the world safer and may be regarded as one of the most successful presidents in history.”

Cynicism aside, what is wrong with Broder’s analysis?

Continue reading . . .

Iranian Bushehr Nuclear Reactor to Start; Russia Loads Fuel

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Iranian Bushehr nuclear reactor power plant
The reactor building of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, 750 miles south of the capital Tehran. Photograph: Mehdi Ghasemi/AP

The day has finally come that the Iranian Bushehr nuclear reactor will go online, all with the aid from Russia and the fuel they will supply.

The long awaited time for Iran has been seemingly delayed for years as the plant had become a source of political tug-o-war. Russian led and financed, the project is now completed with a set start date for Aug. 21.

Plant construction began in 1974 with help from Germany, but was put on hold due the the Islamic revolution in 1979. After years passed, construction picked back up in 1995 with co-operation from Russia which, in 1998 led them to sign up to complete the facility.

With many delays, following a scheduled completion of 2007, time has come that Russia will load the reactor with fuel that will make it operational.

“This will be an irreversible step,” Sergei Novikov, a spokesman for Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, said. “At that moment, the Bushehr nuclear power plant will be certified as a nuclear energy installation.”

“I think it is a very strong signal that international society supports such peaceful projects as Bushehr, because everybody understands that you cannot use a power plant in a hypothetical military program,” Novikov told RT. “A nuclear power plant just generates electricity. There are two double-purpose elements – enrichment and spent fuel management. Both of these elements are taken out of Iranian responsibility, because we are going to supply the Bushehr power plant with nuclear fuel.”

Iran Begins With Digging Mass Graves

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mass graves in Iran
The scene in the south of Iran where hundreds of mass graves have been dug.

Iran has begun digging mass graves in preparation for an American backed Israeli attack.

According to former Iranian General Hossein Kan’ani Moghadam in an interview with the Associated Press, the graves are located in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province.

Predictions as to Iran’s grave digging point to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the pressure he is feeling by the many sanctions placed on his country by the United Nations earlier this year. Which opens speculation to their wartime preparations.

One possibility that could lead to the use of such graves would be the idea of a ‘nuclear holocaust,’ according to former Cuban President Fidel Castro.

“If there’s an attack on Iran by Israel and the US, there’s no way to prevent it from becoming a nuclear war,” says Castro of the potential ‘worst-case scenario.’

A scenario all too ominous as there are reports of a possible strike within the next 12 months with a probability pointing to 50%.

A look deeper:

The Atlantic | The Point of No Return

For the Obama administration, the prospect of a nuclearized Iran is dismal to contemplate— it would create major new national-security challenges and crush the president’s dream of ending nuclear proliferation. But the view from Jerusalem is still more dire: a nuclearized Iran represents, among other things, a threat to Israel’s very existence. In the gap between Washington’s and Jerusalem’s views of Iran lies the question: who, if anyone, will stop Iran before it goes nuclear, and how? As Washington and Jerusalem study each other intensely, here’s an inside look at the strategic calculations on both sides—and at how, if things remain on the current course, an Israeli air strike will unfold.

Foreign Policy | The Republican Back Door to War with Iran

A game plan to draw the United States into a third war in the Middle East may be quietly unfolding before our eyes.

UN Message to Iran; More Sanctions

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Wednesday, Iran received another round of sanctions from the United Nations. But the message is pretty clear in that if they continue to do what they are doing, get ready for round five.

That’s the ignorance in this whole thing. You can argue for or against Iran and their nuclear program all you want. But one thing remains clear. They will do whatever they want. There is no changing that.

The first round of sanctions wasn’t enough, so the enactment of levels two and three were needed. However, in their wake, those weren’t enough so a new fourth round was enacted and is being dubed “the toughest sanctions ever faced.”

Islamic Republic News Agency

The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran who is visiting Tajikistan currently reacting to the passing of the 4th UN Security Council resolution against Iran based on US and its allies’ efforts, emphasized, “Those who posses the atomic bombs themselves both use and stockpile the nuclear weapons while threatening the others with them, now resort to the pretext that Iran might in the future manufacture atomic bombs and pass resolutions against us every now and then. Ahmadinejad added, “I sent a message to one of them, telling him “These resolutions that you pass resemble used napkins that need to be thrown to the garbage can.” The president emphasized, “They are not capable of inflicting any damage against the Iranian nation.” He added, “The political scene has become the scene for cheating, aggression, and expansionism, because under such conditions the ethical values, love and social relations are cast aside.

The sense of double-standard is steaming in the mouth of Ahmadinejad.

BBC

In Iran itself, editorials in the hard-line press lash out at what they see as Western double standards. In the Arabic-speaking Middle East, however, many press commentators think the sanctions are justified and adequate, although some also criticise the perceived bias in Western policy in the region.

Either way, many are still able to argue the fact that sanctions against Iran are effortless.

Foreign Policy

After a year’s worth of diplomacy, the United Nations Security Council finally passed a fourth round of Iran sanctions on Wednesday. The vote passed easily, with 12 states voting in favor and only two, Brazil and Turkey, voting against the sanctions resolution. At various points in the previous months, Barack Obama’s administration has promised that these sanctions will be “crippling,” “smart,” and “targeted.” In reality, however, the best adjective to describe the new sanctions is “ineffective.”

Obama’s Nuclear Summit

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Recapping the days events of Obama’s nuclear summit.

President Obama’s Opening Remarks

Good afternoon, everybody.  We have just concluded an enormously productive day. I said this morning that today would be an opportunity for our nations, both individually and collectively, to make concrete commitments and take tangible steps to secure nuclear materials so they never fall into the hands of terrorists who would surely use them. 

This evening, I can report that we have seized this opportunity, and because of the steps we’ve taken — as individual nations and as an international community — the American people will be safer and the world will be more secure.

I want to thank all who participated in this historic summit — 49 leaders from every region of the world.  Today’s progress was possible because these leaders came not simply to talk, but to take action; not simply to make vague pledges of future action, but to commit to meaningful steps that they are prepared to implement right now. 

I also want to thank my colleagues for the candor and cooperative spirit that they brought to the discussions.  This was not a day of long speeches or lectures on what other nations must do.  We listened to each other, with mutual respect.  We recognized that while different countries face different challenges, we have a mutual interest in securing these dangerous materials.

So today is a testament to what is possible when nations come together in a spirit of partnership to embrace our shared responsibility and confront a shared challenge.  This is how we will solve problems and advance the security of our people in the 21st century.  And this is reflected in the communiqué that we have unanimously agreed to today.

Read entire remarks HERE.

The U.S. National Statement (PDF)

The summit communiqué (PDF)

The work plan (PDF)

A fact sheet about the summit (PDF)

PDF’s courtesy of ForeignPolicy.com

The Threat of Disarming America

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“No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair.” – Gen. Patton

When you take a look at the threat level from rogue nations – N. Korea and Iran – it is alarming that the current administration would even humor the idea of backing down on its nuclear presence. However, the same energy that carried health care reform will, and has already begun to see the ill effects of current talks with nations like Russia.

As Iran prepares for an upcoming conference on nuclear disarmament, N. Korea is openly committed to furthering their nuclear status. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that they have “between one and six nuclear weapons.” In the same speech, Clinton says that “We will not unilaterally disarm. We will maintain our nuclear deterrent.” A mixed signal within the administration as Obama seems hard pressed to formulate a new nuclear weapons policy that would, in some eyes, disarm America. It is no secret that the current stockpile of nuclear weapons in America is old and technologically outdated.

”The United States is trying to say, ‘Look, let’s keep the bargain where all of the rest of the world agrees not to get nuclear weapons and to work with us to keep nuclear weapons from terrorists and other states, because we are keeping our side of the bargain. We are doing everything we can to reduce the role of nuclear weapons and reduce the number of nuclear weapons.’”

That may be what is said, but what is being heard is another story. What it says to countries like Iran and N. Korea is that we don’t want you to have nukes, and while we will still maintain our outdated weapons at a lesser level, you in turn will agree that you will not further your acquiescence of nuclear weapons. While it is easy to make accusations with a statement like that, it is in some ways beginning to take shape in that manner.

Our side of the bargainis demonstrated with the nuclear talks with Russia, in the hopes that they would take the side of the U.S. in sanctions against Iran. However, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sees things differently. Although he agreed that nations should not “turn a blind eye” to Iran’s nuclear defiance, he indicated that Russia would not support sanctions that would punish Iran’s people or encourage regime change. He told reporters in Prague, where he and Obama signed an arms control agreement on nuclear weapons, that: “Let me put it straightforward. I have outlined our limits for such sanctions.”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s outright defiance toward sanctions, has created what some are calling diplomatic foot-dragging, while he continues to take a strong stance on the direction and purpose as to Iran’s nuclear efforts. But, only time will tell after Tehran holds it’s international conference of nuclear disarmament on April 17th and 18th, where it is said that Iran “does not consider legitimate the possession of nuclear weapons and other [forms of] weapons of mass destruction by any country,” and adding that Tehran believed in a world free of such weapons.

With noise like that coming out of Tehran, it is hard to understand their stance when they make statements that, “If America makes a crazy move, its interests will be endangered by Iran’s allies around the globe.”

Change in Iranian Dictatorship

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Iran has been going through a political change. As to what extent, it is hard to say other than the fact there are some changes taking place. At the forefront is the Revolutionary Guard and how aggressive they have been at protecting and advancing the notion of a nuclear weaponized Iran. While it has been no secret, Iran is persuing nuclear weapons and they are open about their efforts and the actions they will take to achieve them.

WSJ – Iran’s Emerging Military Dictatorship

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) controlled Tehran with the help of tens of thousands of club-wielding street fighters shipped in from all over the country. Opposition marchers, confined to the northern part of the city, were locked into hit-and-run battles with the regime’s professional goons. An opposition attempt at storming the Evin Prison, where more than 3,000 dissidents are being tortured, did not materialize. The would-be liberators failed to break a ring of steel the IRGC threw around the sprawling compound.

With the Internet shut down and foreign radio broadcasts jammed, the regime imposed its own version of events. State television showed large crowds chanting “Death to America” while marching in front of giant portraits of the Supreme Leader.

And yet, despite all of this, Mr. Khamenei’s message thanking the pro-regime marchers after the “glorious events of the day” had a surprisingly subdued tone. He has reason to feel unhappy.

For the first time the regime had to transform Tehran into a sealed citadel with checkpoints at all points of entry. The IRGC was in total control. Code-named “Simorgh,” after a bird in Persian mythology, its operation created an atmosphere of war in the divided city. Warned that his life may be in danger, Mr. Khamenei was forced to watch the events on TV rather than take his usual personal tour.

To ensure control of Tehran, the regime had to abandon plans for celebrations in other parts of the country. Only 20% of Iranian towns and cities and less than 9% of villages had the privilege of marking the anniversary of the revolution.

The transformation of the Khomeinist regime from theological despotism into military dictatorship started almost a decade ago. And as a keen student of Islamic tradition, Mr. Khamenei must know that history is repeating itself.

Iranian Cleric, Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri Draws Large Crowd

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Tens of thousands gathered in Qom for the funeral of popular Iranian cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri following his death late on Saturday evening. In a statement to state television, his doctor said that his death was a result of complications from advanced age, diabetes and asthma. He was 87.

Wall Street Journal – Iranian Mourners Swarm Qom for Montazeri’s Funeral

Opposition leaders vowed to use Monday’s funeral ceremonies to push their anti-government protests. Former presidential candidates Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi attended Mr. Montazeri’s morning burial, according to Mr. Moussavi’s official website.

Large crowds of supporters, many dressed in the opposition’s trademark green, shouted anti-regime chants, along with slogans in support of Mr. Montazeri.

The cleric, long a regime critic, took on the role of spiritual leader for the protest movement that erupted after contested June 12 elections. Messrs. Moussavi and Karroubi and their supporters alleged widespread voter fraud in the contest, in which officials declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner.

At one point Monday, one group of mourners chanted, “Montazeri, we will continue your path, even if the dictator rains bullets on us,” according to one video from an opposition website.

The Associated Press, citing witnesses, reported some crowds also broke out in, “Death to the dictator,” a slogan popular during the last six-months of protests. Authorities have banned press coverage of the event, and it was impossible to independently verify reports from a handful of opposition sites. The sites have reported reliably on protests in the past.

By midday Monday, there hadn’t been reports of significant clashes with authorities, who had tightened security in the city on Sunday. According to Mr. Mousavi’s official website, police and security forces attempted to block roads leading into the city on Monday.