Re: [Phys-l] [BULK] Re: dealing with the media

["Folkerts, Timothy J" <FolkertsT@bartonccc.edu>]

One more off-topic comment ...

> As I read it, Cliff's point is that the press is willing
> to accept the notion that it is a peaceful program:
>
>                        Military 
>       0                                      100%
>       |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|     [2]
>      / \
>     press
>
> I consider this point to be well taken.  Very well taken.
> The situation makes the head spin.  Where do people get
> the idea that reporters are skeptical and double-check 
> their facts?  From the Golden Book of Platitudes?

Where does the idea that the press is at 0.0000% come from?  A quick
search reveals a number of articles, which pretty much uniformly
acknowledge at least the POSSIBLITY that Iran has interest in pursuing a
nuclear weapons program.

********************************************************************
LA TIMES:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-hayden31mar31,1,
7553059.story
"WASHINGTON -- CIA Director Michael V. Hayden said Sunday that he
believes Iran is still pursuing a nuclear bomb, even though the U.S.
intelligence community, including his own agency, reached a consensus
judgment last year that the Islamic Republic had halted its nuclear
weapons work in 2003."

REUTERS:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080405/wl_nm/iran_nuclear_dc_1
"The government spokesman [from Iran] also rejected any idea of halting
work the United States suspects is aimed at building nuclear bombs in
return for trade, technology and other benefits."

CBS NEWS: http://www.iranfocus.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5596
"Despite the lack of access, Sean McCormack, a U.S. State Department
spokesman, said, "we are seeing more and more indications" that Iran's
enrichment activities have the intended purpose of building a nuclear
weapon."

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/03/iran.nuclear/index.html
"A declassified summary of the latest National Intelligence Estimate
found with "high confidence" that the Islamic republic stopped an effort
to develop nuclear weapons in the fall of 2003.
...
But the latest report says Iran -- which declared its ability to produce
enriched uranium for a civilian energy program in 2006 -- could reverse
that decision and eventually produce a nuclear weapon if it wanted to do
so.
"

AP:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHz-Bz3Pa0Ivga_oNIvTbrBoIN7QD8VPV9Q80
" Suspected weapons-related work outlined in the February presentation
and IAEA reports preceding it include:
_ Uranium conversion linked to high explosives testing and designs of a
missile re-entry vehicle, all apparently interconnected through
involvement of officials and institutions.
_ Procurement of so-called "dual use" equipment and experiments that
also could be used in both civilian and military nuclear programs.
_ Iran's possession of a 15-page document outlining how to form uranium
metal into the shape of a warhead."
*****************************************************************

As I read it
* Iran has "with a high probability" halted a nuclear weapons program
* It is also highly probable that this was due to international pressure
& scrutiny, not any desire to "do the right thing".
* It appears quite likely that Iran continues to possess key bits of
equipment and knowledge required for a nuclear weapons program.
* It is also quite probable that the weapons program would resume if the
pressure is dropped.

The press may have varying degrees of where they put the probabilities,
but none that I saw made ANY sort of blanket statement that "Iran's
nuclear program is and will be only for peaceful purposes."

 
Tim Folkerts