Thursday, February 22, 2007

More "Duh!" News from Iran

Like anyone with half a brain didn't know this, but all that "diplomacy" that's supposed to solve all the world's problems hasn't caused Iran even to slow down its uranium enrichment efforts.

In open defiance of the United Nations, Iran is steadily expanding — rather than freezing — its efforts to enrich uranium, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported today. The findings have prompted the Bush administration to press for more severe sanctions against Iran, at a moment of greatly increased tensions between Washington and Tehran.

In a mild surprise to outside experts, the nuclear agency reported that Iran is now operating, or is about to switch on, roughly 1,000 centrifuges, the high-speed devices that enrich uranium, at its main nuclear facility at Natanz.

Coming on the heels of the Bush administration’s accusations that Iran’s Quds force is sending arms and explosive devices into Iraq, the report heightens a growing confrontation.

The Iranians “are very serious,” said David Albright, a former inspector who is now president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington.

“They are installing faster than was commonly expected.”

And this was surprising...why? It's not like we haven't seen this scenario before. We went down the same trail with North Korea. Lots of finger-wagging and tut-tutting. Even some meaningless sanctions.

As we should all be aware by now, the U.N. is far better at padding their pockets with cash than actually doing anything about any worldwide problem. Can anyone name the last time U.N. action stopped a tyrant or dictator from, say, persuing nuclear weapons or killing significant portions of his country's population? Anyone?

No, this is yet the latest example of how well diplomacy works in real world applications. There will be more talk, talk at the U.N. while the Iranians do as they please. Then when they actually have nuclear weapons, whichever dunderhead is in charge of the U.N. will give a mushmouthed condemnation of it. Not that that will change anything. But, gosh, it sure does make those diplomacy advocates feel good!