Don’t Bomb Iran

summary: For the first time, a high US official accuses Iran of ‘capability’ to
put biological warheads on its missiles. (recently, Iran did first test of a
missile that can hit Israel). A ‘periodic’ joint session of the US Congress and
the Israeli Knesset, (what’s that? ) was told that Iran is seeking all kinds
of unconventional weapons.

Story also says the Saudis deny any nuclear ambitions, contrary to report in
in Guardian yesterday.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/341947.html

U.S. official: Iran can arm missiles with biological warheads

Sept 19 2003

By Nathan Guttman, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters WASHINGTON -

Iran has the capability of arming ballistic missiles with biological warheads,
Paula DeSutter, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and
Compliance, told Congress on Wednesday.

This is the first time that an official claim of Iran’s ability to launch biological
warheads has been made.

Intelligence sources said that such an ability indicates sophisticated
technological capabilities, since biological warheads are considered much
harder to use than other types. Among other problems, the structure of the
warhead differs from that of a conventional one, to facilitate the dispersal of
the biological material.

DeSutter’s testimony was delivered at a joint session that included Israeli
Knesset members as well as members of both houses of Congress. The
meeting, part of an ongoing initiative to hold periodic joint sessions of the
Congress and Knesset, was attended by Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Dianne
Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressmen Jane Harman (D-CA) and Curt Weldon
(R-PA). The Israeli representatives were four members of the Knesset
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee: Chairman Yuval Steinitz (Likud),
Omri Sharon (Likud), Haim Ramon (Labor) and Ephraim Sneh (Labor).

DeSutter told the committee that Iran is in violation of the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and has been working to acquire secretly
nonconventional weapons of all kinds. She said that Iran’s nuclear program is
a genuine threat to both the Middle East and the U.S., since the Iranians are
constantly working to expand the range of their missiles. America’s current
strategy for dealing with the problem is to push for a decision by the
International Atomic Energy Agency, formally declaring Iran in violation of the
NPT, she added.

Other experts warned the meeting that if Iran’s efforts continue unchecked, its
nuclear capabilities could outstrip those of North Korea.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia yesterday denied a report in Britain’s Guardian
newspaper stating that the kingdom was considering acquiring nuclear
weapons. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not considering acquiring a
nuclear bomb or nuclear weapons of any kind,” the Saudi Embassy in London
said in a statement. “There is no atomic energy program in any part of the
kingdom and neither is one being considered.”