Buzzy on November 20, 2007 at 11:36 AM
I have two words for all you believers: Affirmative action.

“I think Iran is a long way from having anything that could be anything like a nuclear weapon,”

Well that settles it. As ye of all thy latest intel and spy photos hath spoken.

Iran is building Nukes.

Powell ain’t half the man Tommy Franks is.

TheSitRep on November 20, 2007 at 10:27 AM

Good ‘ol enlisted/OCS Oklahoma boy v. ROTC New Yawk perfumed prince.
No contest.

Will he bet his life on it?

Vanquisher on November 20, 2007 at 2:08 PM

Nope, but he’s more than happy to bet Israel’s existence on it, and by extension your’s and mine.

Iran is far from building nukes

In the sense that they’re building them in Syria, right?

He was worthless as a General (much the same as Wesley) and even more so now!

“The world will be better off if Iran has no enrichment program.”

Whoops. Don’t report that wisdom.

John from OPFOR on November 20, 2007 at 1:36 PM

I’m a former Health Physics technician, worked at San Onfre in 1979 and 1980, plus five years of college physics. So no, I’m not exactly spit balling it, I do have somewhat of a background in nuclear physics.

said Powell, who was invited by the National Bank of Kuwait

ORLY?

Protect our money General Powell. – Kuwait
OK. Iran far from a nuclear weapon. – Powell
Can we use your word to justify our vote at the UN? – Kuwait
Ummm. That might be a problem. – Powell

saiga on November 20, 2007 at 1:20 PM

Think Shehab-4/-5/-6…

ElBaradei is a stooge. His report is useless. Powell is dangerous because he’s obviously after the big speaking fees and his words still carry some weight– but diminishing daily.

JiangxiDad on November 20, 2007 at 9:02 AM

“…and his words still carry some weight but dhimminishing daily.”

There. Fixed it.

You are making the false assumption that Iran would try to jump several steps in the progression from basic atomic weapon to sophisticated hydrogen weapon. This is a fatal assumption to make.

When did I say that?

No offense my friend, but it sounds like you’re spitballing, drawing conclusions from a basic “what does it take to build a nuke” google search.

Meanwhile, I actually work with these things. They’ve got a ways to go.

Iran does not need multiple devices or for their device to be in the Mt range, all they need is a device of similar yield to Little boy. A single 15kt device detonated over Tel Aviv and it’s over.

doriangrey on November 20, 2007 at 12:43 PM

As i recall, the Little Boy bomb was exploded at a rather high altitude. The Iranians would have some trouble getting a plane from there over Isreal without a contest.

John from OPFOR on November 20, 2007 at 10:52 AM

No I am sorry he is not. As

Oldnuke on November 20, 2007 at 10:20 AM

quite correctly pointed out, it doesn’t take years, it only takes months. You are making the false assumption that Iran would try to jump several steps in the progression from basic atomic weapon to sophisticated hydrogen weapon. This is a fatal assumption to make.

The Manhattan project started with nothing and produced three atomic bombs in three years, and that starting with a theory so full of holes that they didn’t even know if the bomb would work until trinity actually detonated.

The gun style device only requires about 20 to 25 kg, of U235, the Iranian Zippe-type P2 centrifuges are far more efficient than those used by the Manhattan project, hence require far less time to produce the required fissile material.

Iran does not need multiple devices or for their device to be in the Mt range, all they need is a device of similar yield to Little boy. A single 15kt device detonated over Tel Aviv and it’s over.

I used to like Powell too and even worse I used to believe him.

former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Iran is far from producing a nuclear weapon

That’s _great_ news! Now we can put the ball down and maybe pick it up later when Powell et al decide that Iran is “on the brink of producing nukes”. Then we can perform an all-American save-ass Just In Time.

F’ing awesome.