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TOPIC: "Iran could spark nuclear arms race: Clinton" (CBC.Canada 2/16/10)

Sanders

Diamond

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Date: Feb 16, 2010

"Iran could spark nuclear arms race: Clinton" (CBC.Canada 2/16/10)	Permalink

" Iran could spark nuclear arms race: Clinton President dismisses criticism from U.S. secretary of state Last Updated: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 \| 12:36 PM ET If Iran gets a nuclear weapon it could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday. Clinton, speaking at a women's college in Saudi Arabia, told an audience of students that Iran's secret construction of a uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom was an example of how Iran had violated its obligations to not pursue nuclear weapons. "You have to ask yourself, 'Why are they doing this?' " Clinton said. Clinton's statement comes a day after she told an audience in Qatar that Iran was moving towards a "military dictatorship" and said Iran's religious and political leaders were being “supplanted” by the Republican Guard Corps. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad brushed off Clinton's criticism, which he characterized as "not wise." "We don't take her comments seriously," Ahmadinejad told a televised news conference Tuesday to announce that his country is installing more advanced centrifuges at a key nuclear facility. Russia joins U.S., France in condemning Iran Iran began enriching low-grade uranium to a higher level last week, a move that angered the United States and its Western allies, who called for another round of sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Iran is already subject to three rounds of UN sanctions Ahmadinejad said at a news conference in Tehran the new centrifuges are not yet functioning, but he claimed they are five times more efficient than an older model at the Natanz enrichment facility. While Iran has said the enrichment program is for its planned nuclear energy program, some countries believe it is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Uranium enrichment Natural uranium is made up almost entirely of uranium-238, which cannot be used directly as nuclear fuel. Less than one per cent of natural uranium is uranium-235, the key component in nuclear weapons. Enriched uranium refers to uranium in which the proportion of U-235 has been artificially increased. Low-grade enriched uranium, for example, is made up of about three to four per cent U-235. At higher-grade levels, enriched uranium can be used as fuel in reactors, and at 90 per cent enrichment, it can be used in nuclear weapons. (Emphasis added) A UN-backed proposal to Iran called for the country's low-grade uranium to be shipped to Russia to be converted into a material usable as fuel but not for weapons. Iran balked at the deal, instead suggesting it should be able to purchase fuel-grade uranium and maintain its own domestic enrichment program. Iran now says it can produce uranium enriched to 20 per cent U-235. (Emphasis added) More . . . " ======================= They can already refine Uranium to 20% U-235 content; and they are trying to take it up to much higher levels. They balk at a deal that is good enough refinement for their stated purpose of fuel generation. With that, their agenda is obvious. Mr.Ahmadinejad, you better take SOS Hillary Clinton seriously. -- Edited by Sanders on Tuesday 16th of February 2010 01:56:12 PM __________________ *Democracy needs defending* - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010 Madam Secretary Blog at ForeignPolicy.com Project Vote Smart - Stay informed and engaged!

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