UN Analyzing Syrian "Nuke Site" Images

Kanastrous · Post by **Kanastrous** » 2007-10-19 01:20pm

VIENNA, Austria - U.N. experts have received satellite imagery of the site struck last month by Israeli warplanes and are analyzing it for signs that it might have been a secret nuclear facility, diplomats said Friday.

One of the diplomats indicated that the photos came from U.S intelligence. Two others said the images, which have been studied by experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency since being received on Thursday, do not at first examination appear to substantiate reports that the target was a nuclear installation, but emphasized that the images were still under examination.

The diplomats, who were briefed on the agency’s receipt of the images, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because their information was confidential. Officials of the Vienna-based nuclear watchdog had no comment.

Since the Sept. 6 bombing, news media have quoted unidentified U.S. officials as saying that the airstrike hit some sort of nuclear facility linked to North Korea, which is now in the process of dismantling its nuclear weapons program. On Friday, The Washington Post cited American officials as saying the site in Syria’s eastern desert near the Euphrates River had characteristics of a small but substantial nuclear reactor similar to North Korea’s facility.

The investigation by the IAEA — the U.N. nuclear watchdog — is crucial because it is the first instance of an independent and respected organization looking at the evidence and trying to reach a conclusion as to what was hit.

Syria denies that it has an undeclared nuclear program — it has said that the Israelis targeted an empty building — and the agency has said it has no evidence to the contrary.

The diplomats said that Vienna-based Syrian diplomats have met with senior IAEA representatives since the bombing but have provided no substantive information that would indicate their country has nuclear secrets.

Syria has signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and has allowed agency experts to inspect its only known nuclear facility — a small, 27-kilowatt reactor, according to diplomats linked to the IAEA.

story at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12784361/

Ritterin Sophia · Post by **Ritterin Sophia** » 2007-10-19 02:32pm

I've been wondering, what are the consequences of violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation TreatY?

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2007-10-19 02:42pm

General Schatten wrote:I've been wondering, what are the consequences of violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation TreatY?

Broadly, you're out of the treaty.

This would be more painful were the Nuclear Weapon States fufilling their part of the obligations of it, which is broadly to aid in assisting non-Nuclear Weapon States in developing their energy applications of it.

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-10-19 08:10pm

General Schatten wrote:I've been wondering, what are the consequences of violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation TreatY?

Depends on whose side you on.

If you are Israel......

FedRebel · Post by **FedRebel** » 2007-10-19 11:22pm

Fingolfin_Noldor wrote: If you are Israel......

...just a slap on the wrist, literally speaking...and it'd be more of a hand shake

If you are Iran...they'd receive all the nukes that they'd ever need, unfortunately there'd be no one left

Ryan Thunder · Post by **Ryan Thunder** » 2007-10-20 12:15am

FedRebel wrote:
Fingolfin_Noldor wrote: If you are Israel......
...just a slap on the wrist, literally speaking...and it'd be more of a hand shake

If you are Iran...they'd receive all the nukes that they'd ever need, unfortunately there'd be no one left

Erm... overreact-much?

A few airstrikes would be more than enough to leave whatever puny arsenal they'd developed in utter ruin.

But I can promise you the strikes wouldn't be supported by the UN in general, any more than they would be against the Israelis.

Ryan Thunder · Post by **Ryan Thunder** » 2007-10-20 12:16am

Blah, me and my big mouth. "Promise" is too absolute a word.

The strikes probably wouldn't be supported by the UN in general.

They might support sanctions, however, which should accomplish absolutely jack all...

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-10-20 12:46am

Ryan Thunder wrote:...just a slap on the wrist, literally speaking...and it'd be more of a hand shake

If you are Iran...they'd receive all the nukes that they'd ever need, unfortunately there'd be no one left

Erm... overreact-much?

A few airstrikes would be more than enough to leave whatever puny arsenal they'd developed in utter ruin.

But I can promise you the strikes wouldn't be supported by the UN in general, any more than they would be against the Israelis.[/quote]

Since when has the US ever really cared about the opinion of the UN?

eyl · Post by **eyl** » 2007-10-20 06:28am

FedRebel wrote:
Fingolfin_Noldor wrote: If you are Israel......
...just a slap on the wrist, literally speaking...and it'd be more of a hand shake

If you are Iran...they'd receive all the nukes that they'd ever need, unfortunately there'd be no one left

Israel can't violate the NPT because it isn't a signatory in the first place.

thejester · Post by **thejester** » 2007-10-20 06:08pm

Fingolfin_Noldor wrote:
General Schatten wrote:I've been wondering, what are the consequences of violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation TreatY?
Depends on whose side you on.

If you are Israel......

Israel isn't and has never been a member of the NPT.

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-10-21 03:16am

thejester wrote:
Fingolfin_Noldor wrote:
General Schatten wrote:I've been wondering, what are the consequences of violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation TreatY?
Depends on whose side you on.

If you are Israel......
Israel isn't and has never been a member of the NPT.

The example merely illustrates the lobsided nature of the politics around it.

Post by **K. A. Pital** » 2007-10-21 10:26am

I like "lobsided". Indicates a lobby at work.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » 2007-10-21 12:05pm

Stas Bush wrote:I like "lobsided". Indicates a lobby at work.

i had images of a lobster armed with a missile launcher.