Good morning on this first Saturday of October. The drama continues to unfold regarding Iran and its pursuit nuclear weapons. We now know considerably more than we did before this weeks revelations. We know that:
1. Iran has more than the two previously known nuclear sites. The multiple sites permit Iran to suffer attacks on some of their sites without losing all of the progress they have made in their quest for nukes. If all of their sites are not identified and destroyed, experts say at best we will only delay their progress by two to three years.
2. Their nuclear installation in Qom is deeply embedded in a mountain necessitating a super bomb to reach far enough into the earth to successfully neutralize it. There is considerable speculation about our ability to penetrate deeply enough to destroy it and even more speculation about Israel's capability to successfully attack this site.
3. Their installation in Qom is near one of their missile sites as well as the military site for their famous Revolutionary Guard troops. Clearly this is no accident.
4. The moderate Arab countries near Iran are also highly concerned about the threat of a nuclear Iran, especially because of Iran's willingness to supply radical Muslim groups with weaponry.
5. Russian leaders talked about being more open to taking stronger steps against Iran, but have frequently refused to follow such talk with action in similar situations in the past. Also, remember that Russia has both economic and military ties to Iran and has supplied Iran with advisers and military materials in the recent past.
6. The results of the summit of selected nations meeting with Iranian leaders this week regarding Iran's nuclear pursuit appears to have bought Iran some time in preventing either imposition of tough sanctions or military action.
We'll be carefully watching future developments and keep you informed.
Tomorrow is Friend Day at Edgewood. I hope to see you there.
Mel Brown