Debates
26 Jan 07
27 Jan 07
The post that was quoted here has been removed4.6% is far from "weapons grade". One needs to continually enrich uranium to use it in a nuclear program; that's why countries have facilities to do so. Please make some effort to be properly informed about these matters before supporting a war.
27 Jan 07
Originally posted by no1marauderHe didn't say 4.6% was weapons grade.
4.6% is far from "weapons grade". One needs to continually enrich uranium to use it in a nuclear program; that's why countries have facilities to do so. Please make some effort to be properly informed about these matters before supporting a war.
He said,
4.6% is good enough for reactor fuel.
They already have 4.6%.
They got to 4.6% without P2.
He is assuming installing P2 means they intend to enrich beyond 4.6%.
27 Jan 07
Originally posted by MerkGee, why buy a lawn mower when you can grass with a scissor?
He didn't say 4.6% was weapons grade.
He said,
4.6% is good enough for reactor fuel.
They already have 4.6%.
They got to 4.6% without P2.
He is assuming installing P2 means they intend to enrich beyond 4.6%.
From the wiki article: and the P2 centrifuge uses a maraging steel rotor, which is stronger, spins faster, and therefore enriches more uranium per machine than the P1 centrifuge's aluminum rotor.
The P2 is simply a more efficient centrifuge; it is not required to produce weapons grade uranium. Thus, trying to develop a more efficient centrifuge isn't evidence of a nuclear weapon program at all.
27 Jan 07
Originally posted by no1marauderYou're absolutely correct about that.
Gee, why buy a lawn mower when you can grass with a scissor?
From the wiki article: and the P2 centrifuge uses a maraging steel rotor, which is stronger, spins faster, and therefore enriches more uranium per machine than the P1 centrifuge's aluminum rotor.
The P2 is simply a more efficient centrifuge; it is not required to produce ...[text shortened]... ying to develop a more efficient centrifuge isn't evidence of a nuclear weapon program at all.
What the western countries are worried about is the potential of the P2. Iran has made mention of a installing 3000 of them, then 3000 more. This size cascade has great potential. Its starting to sound a lot like a Khan weapons program. Khan has admitted selling tech to Iran. This is what worries the "international community" (I hate that phrase. So lame.) Anyhoo, with it being simple to settle the west down (well...) by simply forgoing this size cascade and giving inspectors open access (they have been denied access to a couple of locations in the past.) it just compounds the concerns and makes people think they are trying to hide something.
Also weapons grade can be used as fuel too. The reactor has to be built for it, but weapons grade is a common fuel for energy too. Every nuclear sub in the water uses what is practically weapons grade in their reactors. Of course, Iran is almost forever away from having that ability, weapons grade really only serves them one purpose at this point.
I'm not feeling confrontational this evening. Let's play nice, eh?
27 Jan 07
1 edit
Originally posted by MerkBut they don't have any weapons grade uranium. And what the West is demanding is no uranium enrichment at all by Iran. That demand violates the provisions of the NPT.
You're absolutely correct about that.
What the western countries are worried about is the potential of the P2. Iran has made mention of a installing 3000 of them, then 3000 more. This size cascade has great potential. Its starting to sound a lot like a Khan weapons program. Khan has admitted selling tech to Iran. This is what worries the "international comm pose at this point.
I'm not feeling confrontational this evening. Let's play nice, eh?
27 Jan 07
Originally posted by no1marauderWhat the west is demanding is stopping enrichment as a prerequisite for negotiations. If I recall they proved to be less than reliable in the previous negotiations. I forget what the deal was, but I am thinking they broke off negotiations on less than good terms when they were negotiating with the E3.
But they don't have any weapons grade uranium. And what the West is demanding is no uranium enrichment at all by Iran. That demand violates the provisions of the NPT.
I realize that the prerequisite is certainly not in the spirit of NPT, but they do have cause for concern.
Now, I admit, I think its silly to demand that they stop before resuming negotiations, but I guess I can see the sense of not getting bullied into negotiating with them. Its never good to negotiate from a position of weakness.
27 Jan 07
Originally posted by MerkIran did stop enriching for about a year while negotiations went on, but no progress was made. Iran feels the same way as you do; "Its never good to negotiate from a position of weakness". And they believe an indefinite suspension of uranium enrichment without some indication that a satisfactory agreement can be reached is doing just that at this point.
What the west is demanding is stopping enrichment as a prerequisite for negotiations. If I recall they proved to be less than reliable in the previous negotiations. I forget what the deal was, but I am thinking they broke off negotiations on less than good terms when they were negotiating with the E3.
I realize that the prerequisite is certainly not in the ...[text shortened]... ing bullied into negotiating with them. Its never good to negotiate from a position of weakness.
27 Jan 07
Originally posted by no1marauderwow ... so firm, so absolute ... almost like he was present, and saw the cobwebs and motes gently wafting over the idle centrifuges ...
Iran did stop enriching for about a year while negotiations went on, but no progress was made. Iran feels the same way as you do; "Its never good to negotiate from a position of weakness". And they believe an indefinite suspension of uranium enrichment without some indication that a satisfactory agreement can be reached is doing just that at this point.
27 Jan 07
1 edit
Originally posted by zeeblebotAnother vast conspiracy. Ho-hum. IAEA inspectors were given access to the facilities during this period (of course, not to the super secret ones hidden in the mountains of Mordor).
wow ... so firm, so absolute ... almost like he was present, and saw the cobwebs and motes gently wafting over the idle centrifuges ...
27 Jan 07
Originally posted by no1marauderIran wants to enrich uranium for itself and don't want to be forces to buy it from Russia or wherever. Makes sense that they wouldn't want to be forced to stop. No nation is going to like being told what to do. However, if Iran insists on domestic enrichment with a program that can produce weapons grade, there really is no point to negotiation. A program like this is a deal breaker for the west and if not having a program like this is a deal breaker for Iran there's really no place for negotiations to go.
Iran did stop enriching for about a year while negotiations went on, but no progress was made. Iran feels the same way as you do; "Its never good to negotiate from a position of weakness". And they believe an indefinite suspension of uranium enrichment without some indication that a satisfactory agreement can be reached is doing just that at this point.
At this point, we can probably consider the offer to return to negotiations only after Iran has verifiably stopped enrichment as an offer that cannot be expected.