Monday, May 26, 2008

Who Says They're Dense as Uranium?

Sure, the International Atomic Energy Agency has been wholly ineffective in stopping Iran's nuclear weapons programs. But that doesn't mean they are effectively running interference for Tehran. The IAEA knows stonewalling when it sees it:


In addressing whether Iran was complying with IAEA requests, the report appeared to come down on the side of the U.S. "Iran has not provided the Agency with all the information, access to documents and access to individuals necessary to support Iran's statements" that its activities are purely peaceful in intent, it said.

"The Agency is of the view that Iran may have additional information, in particular on high explosives testing and missile related activities which ... Iran should share with the agency," the report said. It was referring to two alleged sets of tests that IAEA officials say could be linked to a nuclear weapons program.


But this is one of those harmless lapses into the realm of the obvious by the international community. Sure, Iran is hiding nuclear programs. But if we actually bomb one, the international community will be upset that we used bombs instead of reports, and fail to be upset with Iran pursuing nukes in the first place.

But still, let it be understood that the IAEA knows what Iran is up to. They aren't legally blind, or anything.

I state this for the inevitable look back after Iran demonstrates it has nukes.

UPDATE: Instapundit writes that this judgment undermines the NIE on Iran's nuclear programs, making the NIE shaky. Well, it only makes what the press has told us the NIE says shaky. The NIE itself was always far more damning of the Iranians--as long as you actually read the NIE public summary.