Comments on: When In Doubt, Blame The Journalists http://larison.org/2007/06/24/when-in-doubt-blame-the-journalists/ n. the principle of good order "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:45:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Daniel Larison http://larison.org/2007/06/24/when-in-doubt-blame-the-journalists/#comment-7099 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 05:43:37 +0000 http://larison.org/2007/06/24/when-in-doubt-blame-the-journalists/#comment-7099 The question is not whether there is some Iranian weapons program, though the claim that "everyone" says it is developing one is a bit exaggerated. From what I have read and heard--even from our government--I am not convinced that Iran is very close to possessing actual nukes, but I have no strong reason to think that they do not have a weapons program. The question was simply this: if our intelligence gathering in Iran is so weak and limited, why should we trust the government's claims about the *state* of Iran's programs? Perhaps that was not clear enough the first time. Hussein deliberately encouraged the false impression that his weapons programs were in far better condition than they were, so who's to say that the Iranian government wouldn't engage in a similar deception? What you're calling obfuscation is a little thing I like to call critical thinking. A lack of it the last time got us into the present predicament. I suggest we avoid repeating the mistake of accepting government claims uncritically. The question is not whether there is some Iranian weapons program, though the claim that “everyone” says it is developing one is a bit exaggerated. From what I have read and heard–even from our government–I am not convinced that Iran is very close to possessing actual nukes, but I have no strong reason to think that they do not have a weapons program. The question was simply this: if our intelligence gathering in Iran is so weak and limited, why should we trust the government’s claims about the *state* of Iran’s programs? Perhaps that was not clear enough the first time. Hussein deliberately encouraged the false impression that his weapons programs were in far better condition than they were, so who’s to say that the Iranian government wouldn’t engage in a similar deception?

What you’re calling obfuscation is a little thing I like to call critical thinking. A lack of it the last time got us into the present predicament. I suggest we avoid repeating the mistake of accepting government claims uncritically.

]]> by: RonL http://larison.org/2007/06/24/when-in-doubt-blame-the-journalists/#comment-7098 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:18:56 +0000 http://larison.org/2007/06/24/when-in-doubt-blame-the-journalists/#comment-7098 We should trust that Iran is developing nuclear weapons for 3 reasons 1) The Iranians have turned down all deals that would have ensured solely civilian program, including a deal brokered by their Russian allies. 2) The Iranians have scattered their program and hidden it in bunkers around the country and in civilian areas. This is a purely military strategy. 3) A number of leaders including the former "moderate" President Hamid Rafsanjani have declared that Iran has nuclear weapons. The last is most frightening since Rafsanjani made it clear that Iran was willing to be nuked many times, as long as Israel were destroyed. In other words, MAD would not apply. Finally, why not trust the claims of the European and UN. Since everyone is saying that Iran is devloping a program, why are you obfuscating? We should trust that Iran is developing nuclear weapons for 3 reasons
1) The Iranians have turned down all deals that would have ensured solely civilian program, including a deal brokered by their Russian allies.
2) The Iranians have scattered their program and hidden it in bunkers around the country and in civilian areas. This is a purely military strategy.
3) A number of leaders including the former “moderate” President Hamid Rafsanjani have declared that Iran has nuclear weapons.

The last is most frightening since Rafsanjani made it clear that Iran was willing to be nuked many times, as long as Israel were destroyed. In other words, MAD would not apply.

Finally, why not trust the claims of the European and UN.

Since everyone is saying that Iran is devloping a program, why are you obfuscating?

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