Plastic Kelly

2006-01-13

Yikes

I talked with Professor Budgie, my favorite chemist, last night. His conclusion was that if you give a bright high school student an unlimited credit card, and all the facilities he wanted, he would probably be able to whip up a nuke from scratch in a matter of months. They're not that hard to make ... but the good Prod pointed out that it would depend on how sophisticated a nuke you wanted.
For example, our erstwhile high schooler could probably whip up a Hiroshima sized nuke in no time, given that unlimited credit card. But, if you wanted one that would take out, say, all of Israel, or a third of the US eastern seaboard, it might take a few months. And, mind you, that's starting from scratch.
It was not a reassuring conversation. Happy Friday 13th.

Red Hot Cupa Politics

The article was really arguing that it is too late for sanctions against Iran to work. Personally, I think the concept of sanctions is flawed. By the time any regime will feel the pinch of sanctions, they have made up their mind to follow through with whatever it was that is pissing off the rest of the world. I remember Iraq sanctions. Boy, did they work or what? Those sanctions also lead to Oil for Food scandals. The article above mentions that too. Of course, most of the same people who made money on Oil for Food are still in charge of the UN, so why would they do anything any different with Iran? Besides, the people of Iran don't want a war. It is the group of assholes in charge. Remember, they are not elected.

No Inspections

Iran is threatening to block the IAEA from inspecting various sites associated with Iran's nuclear program. Iran has adopted the North Korean play book, knowing that the IAEA is completely powerless to act.

a blog for all

Do we remember how well this worked last time?

Options

The four options are best summed as follows: the ostrich, stepping up global pressure, Israel goes medieval on Iran's nuclear program with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch just as it did Iraq in 1981, and the US air strike.

a blog for al

Are the pliers maid in China?