Free Breaking News

Support free news online by subscribing today!

Iran’s Critical Unveiling of New Type of Missile

Iran unveiled the prototype of a long-range unmanned bomber on Sunday, the latest in a stream of announcements of new Iranian-made military hardware as tension mounts over its nuclear programme.

Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R), Iranian army's joint chief of staff, General Hassan Firoozabadi (2nd R) and Iran's Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi (3rd R) attend the unveiling ceremony of a long-range drone, the Karrar, in Tehran August 22, 2010.

Nuclear power is the world’s largest source of emission-free energy. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants, such as sulfur and particulates, or greenhouse gases. The use of nuclear power in place of other energy sources helps to keep the air clean, preserve the Earth’s climate, avoid ground-level ozone formation and prevent acid rain. Nuclear power has important implications for our national security. Inexpensive nuclear power, in combination with fuel cell technology, could significantly reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Today the rhetoric is more muted, but nuclear power is still touted as a savior of sorts: it will save us from global warming, help us eliminate nuclear weapons and meet the world’s burgeoning energy needs.

Nuclear Power Generation

Nuclear power generation does emit relatively low amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). The emissions of green house gases and therefore, the contribution of nuclear power plants to global warming is therefore, relatively little. This technology is readily available, it does not have to be developed first. Lastly, it is possible to generate a high amount of electrical energy in one single plant. On the other hand, the problem of radioactive waste is still an unsolved one. The waste from nuclear energy is extremely dangerous, and it has to be carefully looked after for several thousand years. There are high risks involved. Despite a generally high security standard, accidents can still happen. It is technically impossible to build a plant with 100% security. A small probability of failure will always last. The consequences of an accident would be absolutely devastating both for a human being as for the nature.

The energy source for nuclear energy is Uranium. Uranium is a scarce resource, its supply is estimated to last only for the next 30 to 60 years depending on the actual demand. The time frame needed for formalities, planning and building of a new nuclear power generation plant is in the range of 20 to 30 years in the western democracies. In other words: It is an illusion to build new nuclear power plants in a short time. Lastly, during the operation of nuclear power plants, radioactive waste is produced, which in turn can be used for the production of nuclear weapons. In addition, the same know-how used to design nuclear power plants can, to a certain extent, be used to build nuclear weapons.

Negative Aspect of Nuclear Technology

In the context of Iran the last negative aspect of nuclear technology is most controversial. Given Iran’s policies and stance in the realm of international politics most states are very concerned about Iran developing nuclear technology. This concern is heightened even further as Iran recently unveils and starts to operate its own nuclear power plant. The fear of states around the world of Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology is made reality. Iran claims it is for energy purposes, but you cannot discount the weapon, military and political value of possessing nuclear technology. All that can be done is to wait and see where Iran’s nuclear capability will lead to.

References:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/08/22/iran.defense.project/?hpt=T1#fbid=cJynwVbj-CA&wom=false

http://www.ccnr.org/encompass.html

September 10, 2010 Posted by | News | , , , , | Leave a Comment

Opinion on Iran Internal Political Radicalization

This is not just legal theory. Iran uses the death penalty to punish men for sodomy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Iran

In recent news former CIA head gave his opinion on Iran. He recommends a hard-line approach to Iran’s current conduct and policies. Given the complexities of the situation, it is no surprise that there is a range of views about how to best implement that policy. That is entirely appropriate. Indeed, a single, static, one-size-fits-all policy would not be appropriate in the circumstances.

Advancement of The Interests Of All

In order to best protect and advance all interests, policy needs to be flexible, dynamic, and multifaceted. That is why the governments of concerned states are pursuing a policy that weighs the full range of options available, both through bilateral and multilateral means. They seek to counter the government of Iran’s negative and destructive policies and actions, while encouraging constructive policies and actions and engaging in a direct dialogue with the Iranian people about the freedoms they want for their own country.

Inside Iran Politics

The country’s clerical and military leaders supported the Mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, for the presidency. In their four months in office, President Ahmadi-Nejad and his cabinet have pursued a highly ideological and confrontational foreign policy that is isolating Iran from the international community.

First Week In Power and Already Making Enemies

The new president suspended negotiations with the UK, France and Germany on nuclear issues. In September at the UN General Assembly, Ahmadi-Nejad stunned the world with a combative speech in which he insisted Iran would pursue a nuclear future against the wish of nearly all nations. He has turned to the alumni directory of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to fill many cabinet positions.

Frightening Radical Intergovernmental Changes

In addition, he removed nearly 40 experienced Ambassadors from their posts. Moreover, Ahmadi-Nejad called for Israel “to be wiped from the face of the earth” and then defended this shocking statement when the entire international community repudiated it. For a world leader to call for the destruction of a nation-state and member of the United Nations is outrageous and intolerable. Through his statements and actions, President Ahmadi-Nejad is digging a hole for himself and he appears determined to keep on digging.

Iran’s Young Society Will Be Reckoned With

An important aspect of ongoing U.S. efforts to influence the direction of Iranian policy is encouraging the healthy development of Iran’s civil society. They see many signs that the people of Iran want a different life and a more responsive government, and people believe they can encourage such developments through direct engagement with the Iranian public. An estimated 70 percent of the 68 million people in Iran are under the age of 30, and they are far more concerned about Iran’s chronic unemployment than they are about Iran’s past. Iranian displays of sympathy after the September 11th attacks and polls showing overwhelming desire for improved relations with the U.S. reflect strong popular sentiment, as do demonstrations and elections in support of reform.

Simply put rather than engage Iran with hostility and aggression why not adopt a policy that would entice Iran’s cooperation and build a lasting relationship of trust.

August 28, 2010 Posted by | Opinion | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

The Growing Iranian Threat of Nuclear Age Terrorism is on The Rise

The international attention to Iran in its controversial and highly criticize nuclear program. Though it is said that it would give Iran access to nuclear weapons that is prohibited under the Nuclear Non – Proliferation Treaty Iran claims its program is purely for energy purposes. The nations of the international community are heavily divided as to their stand on Iran on this matter. Since the Nuclear Age began at the end of the Second World War the number nuclear armed countries have slowly increased. Though current increase has been halted by the growing of a Nuclear Armageddon this has not deterred countries from pursuing nuclear technology.

Iran’s case is one which have in fact encouraged rift as to some of the foremost nuclear powers on the planet such as the United States and Russia. The former claim that Iran is an ever growing threat and is ever closer in the creation of nuclear weapons due to intelligence in its possession saying Iran must be stopped now. On the other hand Russia says that exaggeration and in part unfounded fear is the real basis of said intelligence report. Rather suggested that a further investigation is to be undertaken in Iran’s case. The information as to how a country would respond especially to a hot and very critical issue as to nuclear weapons need to be real and not built as an expression of fear and paranoia. Claims may be tolerable but accusations said to be based on data often escalate such problems. This in no way diffuse a very volatile political situation rather it must be approached with candor and a non – hostile stand so as to best engage these countries that have these nuclear issues.

Perhaps the different in approach may be due to the poltico – cultural differences of those countries involved but it may perhaps be due to the genuine experience of the damaging effects of nuclear technology which has been confronted by Russia and not the United States. With that said the moment fear and paranoia is adapted as a common response then the foreign policy of country to reach to countries that have nuclear issues to diffuse the problem would likely fail. After all the main reason why countries who develop nuclear technology often do so in violation of treaties and because of the equal amount of fear that they feel given that it is as if the whole community of nations are out to get them.

Furthermore these countries may not really have in mind the idea of having nuclear weapons only nuclear technology for energy purposes. But the moment they are branded as nuclear liabilities and are seen as threats to world peace these countries end up being backed into a corner in which they have no choice but to actualize the accusations made against them. After all the logic they would likely adapt is this we are condemned as such then why bother being otherwise.

June 30, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

   

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.