Iranian nuclear scientist "assassinated"

[Phlegm]

It's one way to slow down the Iranian nuclear program.

A prize-winning Iranian nuclear scientist has died in mysterious circumstances, according to Radio Farda, which is funded by the U.S. State Department and broadcasts to Iran.

An intelligence source suggested that Ardeshire Hassanpour, 44, a nuclear physicist, had been assassinated by Mossad, the Israeli security service.

Hassanpour worked at a plant in Isfahan where uranium hexafluoride gas is produced. The gas is needed to enrich uranium in another plant at Natanz which has become the focus of concerns that Iran may be developing nuclear weapons.

According to Radio Farda, Iranian reports of Hassanpour’s death emerged on Jan. 21 after a delay of six days, giving the cause as “gas poisoning”. The Iranian reports did not say how or where Hassanpour was poisoned but his death was said to have been announced at a conference on nuclear safety.

Rheva Bhalla of Stratfor, the U.S. intelligence company, claimed on Friday that Hassanpour had been targeted by Mossad and that there was “very strong intelligence” to suggest that he had been assassinated by the Israelis, who have repeatedly threatened to prevent Iran acquiring the bomb.

Hassanpour won Iran’s leading military research prize in 2004 and was awarded top prize at the Kharazmi international science festival in Iran last year.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to announce next Sunday — the 28th anniversary of the Islamic revolution — that 3,000 centrifuges have been installed at Natanz, enabling Iran to move closer to industrial scale uranium enrichment.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency say that hundreds of technicians and laborers have been “working feverishly” to assemble equipment at the plant.

[Harrison]

HAH

[Lueyen]

I'm still trying to verify the validity of this story. A UK paper reported this story at one point (at least online) but seems to have pulled it. Anyone hear or see anything on it?
Phlegm if your source for the quote you posted is still there would you mind linking it?

[Phlegm]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 56,00.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 01,00.html

[Lueyen]

Thanks Phlegm

[Narrock]

They're just going to get another dickbag nuclear scientist to pick up where this guy left off.

[Ginzburgh]

Yeah because no one is allowed to have nuclear weapons except us!

America, FUCK YA!

[Narrock]

Yeah because no one is allowed to have nuclear weapons except us!

America, FUCK YA!

If you don't like America, then feel free to relocate to another country.

[Ginzburgh]

Actually, I'd rather you moved. It's people like you who are destroying this country.

[DangerPaul]

god help me for saying this, but there are much worse people who are destroying this country. Mindia just annoys NT, he is too minimal to affect the nation.

[Ginzburgh]

Unfortunately, people like Mindia are allowed to vote.

[Harrison]

Yeah because no one is allowed to have nuclear weapons except us!

America, FUCK YA!

Iran having nuclear weapons doesn't make the entire WORLD any safer.

Us already having them doesn't change anything since we've always been the ones with them.

[Ginzburgh]

How do you know they have nuclear weapons? Sorry but the "liar liar pants on fire" line doesn't cut it.

[araby]

How do you know they have nuclear weapons? Sorry but the "liar liar pants on fire" line doesn't cut it.

you go in with a search party. we've been through this, sort of.

[Harrison]

How do you know they have nuclear weapons? Sorry but the "liar liar pants on fire" line doesn't cut it.

I didn't say they had them. IF they were to gain these weapons, that fucknut nation would use them almost immediately.

If we were to poise ourselves ready to invade Iran, I firmly believe that their own people would overthrow the government. (again)

[Arlos]

No, no they wouldn't. Their government has been entirely stable for going on 30 years now, actually. Ever since they rose up in revolution against their brutal, oppressive dictator that used his secret police to throw dissidents into torture chambers and murder cells. You know, the Shah? The guy the US supported? The US's unwavering support of that brutal, murdering dictator and our refusal to extradite him back to Iran to face criminal charges for his acts of torture and murder is one of the biggest reasons they hate us so much. The fact we supported Saddam and gave him military information and assisted his war machine while he was using WMDs on them is a big second reason.

Also, you have to understand that in the opinion of the populace of Iran, they are a great power, a nation that SHOULD be on par with the US as far as being a world power goes. They feel that the only real reason they aren't, is because of oppression by the US and other western powers, and that we're holding them back from their rightful destiny and place in the world. This even further deepens the hatred they have for the US government. (note that on an individual level, most of the average Iranians like americans as a people, while they hate the american government). So, the upshot is that they have an immense amount of national pride and nationalistic feelings.

So, given these conditions, ANY supposition such as yours that military posturing by the US that threatens their statehood is going to be welcomed by the populace is patently ridiculous. Indeed, it's abjectly laughable. Military posturing is likely to make things far worse, as the people whip themselves into a nationalistic furvor, INCREASING the support for their government, not decreasing it. You are as deluded by your pollyannic visions as the architects of teh Iraq war were when they predicted we'd be greeted with flowers and hosannahs, and that the war wouldn't cost the US taxpayer one dime.

-Arlos

[Yamori]

Putting what Arlos said aside (which IS true - Iran especially has some damn good reasons to absolutely despise the US), Iran is definitely a state you do not want having nuclear weapons.

They've funded and supported terrorism against innocent civilians, and many of their top government officials have basically said they want to exterminate Israel's populace. More importantly, they are run by a fundamentalist religious government - meaning its government officials have much less concern or restraint over the consequences of their actions in THIS life.

It should be blatantly obvious that they have no intentions of using nuclear facilities solely for power: they want it for weapons. They've refused all offer to have 3rd parties construct and operate nuclear energy facilities for them. And They're sitting on one of the largest oil reserves on the planet - they are in no way in a position that is wanting for energy.

Unfortunately, this isn't a clean situation, it isn't "right versus wrong" - it's wrong versus wrong.

They want nuclear weapons to act as a deterrent against the country that overthrew their democratically elected leader and propped up a brutal facist. And that sold chemical weapons and gave financial aid to Hussein during the Iraq/Iran war that resulted in 100,000+ dead Iranians. And lots of other offenses I'm sure. And now they've got US troops in their back yard (Iraq).

It's just yucky.

[Lueyen]

How do you know they have nuclear weapons? Sorry but the "liar liar pants on fire" line doesn't cut it.

The IAEA has discovered in the past evidence of enriched uranium above the normal standards for power production but less then that which is normally considered weapons grade. While this is not absolute proof of a weapons program, the IAEA felt it warranted further investigation.

The fact of the matter is that while there are generally accepted qualifications for weapons grade materials those qualifications are what is optimal. Weapons can be developed with lower grade materials, even those that are used in power applications.

Iran's past nuclear program has been characterized as Clandestine, and the IAEA has found it in violations of the NPT which for the most part is the real basis for the issue.

Iran seeks status as a nuclear power, this is very clear from speeches by Ahmadinejad. Non weapon based nuclear development has it's benefits, but does not grant the status Iran seeks or Ahmadinejad is talking about. Couple this with statements about not recognizing Israel and wiping it off the map and the concern about Iran's intent are obvious.

[Arlos]

I'm not saying I'm not concerned about them acquiring nuclear weapons, though in all honesty, North Korea having them is a *FAR* bigger concern. My sole point was to dispel the moronic notion espoused by Finawin that simple sabre rattling on the part of the US would somehow make Iran's populace suddenly rebel and forget about 30 years of past history and become our bestest friends.

I haven't heard THAT much stupidity since this administration's arguments regarding going to war in Iraq.

-Arlos

[Lueyen]

Indeed much of what Ahmadinejad says in talking about nuclear development is rooted in a strong sense of national pride. Regardless if you consider it honest or consider it spin, it was this message of national pride and progression that garnered him around 60 percent of the votes during his election.

[Evermore]

I'm not saying I'm not concerned about them acquiring nuclear weapons, though in all honesty, North Korea having them is a *FAR* bigger concern. My sole point was to dispel the moronic notion espoused by Finawin that simple sabre rattling on the part of the US would somehow make Iran's populace suddenly rebel and forget about 30 years of past history and become our bestest friends.

I haven't heard THAT much stupidity since this administration's arguments regarding going to war in Iraq.

-Arlos

N KOrea is doing this to gain a barganing chip. they wanna get paid.

[kinghooter00]

How do you know they have nuclear weapons? Sorry but the "liar liar pants on fire" line doesn't cut it.

you go in with a search party. we've been through this, sort of.

Bush just needs to make a quick speech, show some meaningless charts and graphs and convince the nation that Iran needs to be santioned for having WMD's....And then utterly fail to find any...

Now that is the American way.

America FTW

[Lyion]

No, no they wouldn't. Their government has been entirely stable for going on 30 years now, actually. Ever since they rose up in revolution against their brutal, oppressive dictator that used his secret police to throw dissidents into torture chambers and murder cells. You know, the Shah? The guy the US supported? The US's unwavering support of that brutal, murdering dictator and our refusal to extradite him back to Iran to face criminal charges for his acts of torture and murder is one of the biggest reasons they hate us so much.

Oh, you mean during the Shahs time back when Iran was a first world country, had freedom and independendence, had great relations with the world, and one of the highest standards of living in the world, and lowest crime and arrest rates, compared to their substandard living now and complete lack of freedom at all?

Your wrongful analogy of the Shah based on hezbollah backed materials is as far off as humanly possible. Especially for someone who lives in San Jose, with millions of pro Shah refuges and people who fled the country after the Mullahs and religious fanatics came into power and forced anyone with an ounce of smart and enough money to flee.

The 'secret police' you complain about are no different than our FBI or CIA, and your descriptions of them could come straight from a terrorists handbook.

I highly suggest you go talk to some people in San Jose who lived in Iran during both times and get their opinions. As someone who has been to Iran, speaks Farsi, and knows the culture and people I can only say your analogy is the worst type of propaganda and completely false.

The Mullahs instituted morality police, strong armed the public, and did the things you complain the Shah did 10000 times worse than he did. Your analogy of the Shah and how he treated his people is also wrong.

There was freedom in Iran, but there isn't now. There was liberty. There isn't now. I guess to you those are good things and wild theocratic takeovers are good things. Please feel free to bash W more for his theocratic evilness while you wildly spout Hezbollah talking points for Iran.

There is a reason all of Irans Doctors, lawyers, and middle class skilled people left Iran in 1979.

Also, you have to understand that in the opinion of the populace of Iran, they are a great power, a nation that SHOULD be on par with the US as far as being a world power goes.

Bullshit. I've been to Tehran and Esfahan and most people there are similar to here. They go about life trying to avoid the Religious police and get by as best they can. Most older people have great memories of America, and the younger ones yearn for the freedom we have but can't get. They have little liberty. They are so much worse off since the Islamic Revolution it isn't even funny.

The goal of the leaders of Iran is to win the political manueverings against the Arab nations that are consistantly at strife with the Persian people and non-Arabs. Even if we had not a thing to do with the Middle East, there still would be positioning and issues between these two entitites, as well as the faux anti Israel attacks to prop up their Lebanese terrorist allies and Syrian friends.

They feel that the only real reason they aren't, is because of oppression by the US and other western powers, and that we're holding them back from their rightful destiny and place in the world. This even further deepens the hatred they have for the US government. (note that on an individual level, most of the average Iranians like americans as a people, while they hate the american government). So, the upshot is that they have an immense amount of national pride and nationalistic feelings.

Again read Tehran news or any sort of Middle Eastern periodical and stop getting simplistic wrong propaganda from CNN. You aren't even getting Ahmadinejads positition, let alone the religious leadership in Qom or what their long term plans are and their goals with Hezbollah and Shi'ite groups they support. Better, go talk to any of the millions of Iranians your age who know the real story.

Iranian people have little support for their government. The problem is they are stuck due to the nature of the Mullahs control over the country for the interim.

[Arlos]

Funny, a good friend of mine, and frequent lab/project partner for CS classes *IS* Iranian, was born there. Spent all of last summer there too. Gee, I wonder I might have talked to abotu Iran some. Hrm.... Not to mention, it's not exactly hard to look up records abotu the Shah, what he did, etc. Sure, there was a class of people that supported him, but Saddam had a whole class of people supporting him, too.

Furthermore, show me where I indicated that modern Iran is in any way a bastion of freedom or civilization. Funny, you won't find it, cause I didn't say it. So, your long rambling diatribe about that is utterly irrelevant to the argument that was being made, and merely serves as a diversionary smokescreen to the real issues. Not that you're not known for throwing up straw man irrelevant arguments to things to make your position look better to the simple-minded or anythign, no.....

So, since my entire argument was that Iran has a good reason to dislike the US government and that US sabre rattling at their border wouldn't somehow produce a pro-US revolution... You're saying you believe that it would? Is that what I'm hearing here, since you were in such a frothing fury to dispute my statements? How's that shiny neo-con membership card? You have it mounted over your mantlepiece?

-Arlos

[Lyion]

No, your argument is that IRANIANS dislike the US. Nothing could be further from the truth. Likewise, how old is your lab partner? I have multiple people I speak with who are older than you and I and have a good picture of both worlds. Plus, I have been to Iran, and keep up with the news there as it relates to my old work. This post is completely wrong from the viewpoint of most Iranians.

you have to understand that in the opinion of the populace of Iran, they are a great power, a nation that SHOULD be on par with the US as far as being a world power goes. They feel that the only real reason they aren't, is because of oppression by the US and other western powers, and that we're holding them back from their rightful destiny and place in the world

Your prior post was complete and utter propaganda and bullshit. I'd expect to see an identical post from the mullahs themselves in their arguments for how good their country is. It surprises me to see you post something like this.

Their government has been entirely stable for going on 30 years now, actually. Ever since they rose up in revolution against their brutal, oppressive dictator that used his secret police to throw dissidents into torture chambers and murder cells. You know, the Shah? The guy the US supported? The US's unwavering support of that brutal, murdering dictator and our refusal to extradite him back to Iran to face criminal charges for his acts of torture and murder is one of the biggest reasons they hate us so much.