Monday, November 7, 2011

Mr Amano goes to Washington



By Kaveh L Afrasiabi

Asia Times


"The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, is in Washington ahead of a new report on Iran's nuclear program that is being released into the less-than-rarefied air of disinformation. Not since 2002-2003, when United States officials willingly lied to the world community about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, has there been such a deafening noise surrounding an IAEA country report....

According to a well-placed source in Washington, who didn't want to be identified, Israel's real intention is not war, but rather to accelerate the Iran sanctions, particularly by the US Congress, which is mulling energy sanctions and the like. If so, Israel is doing a good job, even though its bluff may backfire next time around, especially with the Iranians having warned Israel of very dire consequences if it were to attack Iran.

To be successful, an Israeli strike at Iran has to target dozens of sites, some in or around populated areas, which simply means a strong likelihood of high civilian casualties. That would trigger a tsunami of Iranian popular anger that would in turn impel the political leaders to try to respond as hard as possible at Israeli and US interests. It is a sure bet that the conflict would spread to the Persian Gulf and adversely affect the flow of oil from the region....."

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