planet earth looks blue

The US Joint Chiefs of Staff - Admiral Mike Mullen stated that we do believe that Iran has sufficient nuclear material to build a bomb.  The International Atomic Energy Agency announced recently that Tehran possesses a low-enriched uranium stockpile of 1,010 kg, potentially enough to create one bomb.  So what does this mean for the United States and the rest of the world?

Nothing, everything, take your pick.  Nobody really knows, even the Iranians.  Possibly they are capable of building a nuclear bomb, ticking off a new wave Cold War, and possibly they are on the road to producing and marketing nuclear energy.  They themselves are divided as to whether building a bomb would be wise or not.

Iran has emerged as the regional power in the Middle East, now that its mortal enemy, Iraq, is a lesser version of what it once was.  Iran has resources, capital, and 1,010 kg of uranium.  But are they planning on starting WWIII, or are they just trying to catch up with the other superpowers?  Iran’s neighbors, India and Pakistan have nukes.  Their new sworn enemy, Israel is atomically armed as well.  But what makes Iran so threatening?  There are other anti-American countries.  Maybe it is that Iran is old-school.  They are ultimately ruled by the Supreme Leader, regardless of who is democratically elected.  This leaves an autonomous religious force to make the big decisions.  Is that a bad thing?  In fifty years, when the present international structure has shifted once again, will the trigger be in the hands of a man of god, or a man of war?  Who really is more sane?  

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