The flat-out lying about Iran certainly approaches, or surpasses, the lying about Iraq. Truth is the first casualty of war — Sy Hersh wrote a book about it.

If you have time, check out my exchange with “John Schilling” here.

I’ll check it. Thanks again — very good info.

For the uninitiated, David Albright is a highly-probable Israeli agent who is doing Israeli business under the name of “Institute for Science and International Security.” He periodically, frequently, comes out with anti-Iran “evidence” supporting the US/Israel position that Iran is a threat to mankind, thus qualifying no doubt for the US Medal of Freedom.

Even though the US has fully-monitored Iran with seismographs, drones with photo and seismography capabilities (no doubt), and satellite coverage, etc., it was David Albright who was able to come up with satellite images of supposed water puddles outside a building at an Iranian military installation PROVING that Iran was developing nuclear weapons.

From #7 above, it looks like Albright might be working with others.

Thanks. Who’d have thought that any semi-intelligent blogger would have to contest so-called “experts” in uranium enrichment?

Another area I was trying to research: Some people, including some physicians, are advocating the non-use of HEU in medicine, and the use of LEU instead. So is 20% U even necessary in Iran, or are there alternatives processes that could use LEU?

This (link)and this (link)are two things I looked at. But I’m way over my head.

So let’s be clear — is this another case of Albright flat-out lying?

Since most of the work has been done enriching to 4%, then it matters little if some uranium is enriched to 20%. That destroys all the concern about 20% enriched uranium, it seems to me. As the song says — it’s only a matter of time. And not much time, at that.

from the NYTimes:
Uranium ore has about 140 atoms of the heavy isotope for every light one, and separating the two takes a lot of spinning. By the time the enrichment process has reached 4 percent, it has successfully removed some 115 of the heavy atoms.

To get from there to 20 percent — the enrichment goal of the Iranians — the spinning centrifuges need remove only 20 more of the heavy atoms. And from there it is even easier to jump to 90 percent, bomb grade, by removing four or so additional heavy atoms. (end)

hvy:lt
140:1 raw U
25:1 4%
5:1 20%
1:1 90%

What have I left out?

Excellent analysis, really good.

Yes, 20% enriched is not highly-enriched. I think most people don’t know that (I didn’t, honestly). HEU is >20%. Anyhow there are no enrichment limitations at all in the Iran Safeguards Agreement.

The sole function of the IAEA according to the NPT treaty and the Safeguards Agreement is “for the exclusive purpose of verifying that such material is not diverted to nuclear weapons. . .”

BASIC UNDERTAKING
Article 1
The Government of Iran undertakes, pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article III of the Treaty, to accept safeguards, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, on all source or special fissionable material in all peaceful nuclear activities within its territory, under its jurisdiction or carried out under its control anywhere, for the exclusive purpose of verifying that such material is not diverted to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The IAEA has consistently and frequently reported: “The Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran.”

I guess this means no more stories about Bank of America going out of business any day now.

You are guilty of a similar prejudice to Worley.

Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte has been confused in the media recently due to the similarity of its name with Providence Road Baptist Church of Maiden, N.C. A video about the Maiden church’s pastor making statements derogatory of gays and lesbians has gone viral after being posted on YouTube, headlined by CNN, and reported through many news media nationwide.

As a result, Dr. Al Cadenhead, Senior Pastor of Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte, and other members of the church staff have received angry emails, phone calls and other messages from people confusing the two churches. Today (May 22), Cadenhead made the following statement for the media and the public:

“In recent hours we have been incorrectly identified as the church in another town where hatred and violence have been advocated from the pulpit. First of all, we are genuinely Baptist in that we recognize the right of every church to reach out or not to reach out as that church deems itself to be led. Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte believes in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our model for living and His presence is our source of strength for life. Jesus preached a Gospel of love. So do we. Jesus preached that we love our neighbor, whether that neighbor is like us or not.
“The Bible is our guide for daily life and makes it clear that all people, all of us, have sinned and fallen short of God’s expectation. And the reason we can claim our place as children of God is a result of grace, mercy and love extended to all people. That love is best demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As Providence Baptist Church we believe that we are to offer that same grace, mercy and love to all people.”

A snark with numbers? No.
Check my figures here.

The administration did something unusual last month, it actually took in more money than it spent for the first time in ten years. While daily deficits were $0.9B in January, 8.0B in February and 6.4B in March, they were reversed with a 2.0B daily surplus in April! This was mainly due to the highest monthly government receipts since April 2001 – $318,807,000.

So kudos all around to faithful, more generous taxpayers. Now we can get back to business as usual.

However, the agreement is as much an indication to current Afghan President Hamid Karzai that the international community will not abandon him and withdraw support after 2011.

What are you talking about?? Let’s say you mean 2014 — Karzai must leave office in 2014, according to the constitution.

Both religion and government have found it mutually profitable to claim control of life’s important stages: birth, marriage and death. That doesn’t mean that people have to accept it.

Speaking of targets, you’re a moving one.

Current account balance:
1. China
2. Germany
. . .
178. EU
180. Poland
181. Greece
182. Portugal
184. Canada
185. Spain
188. UK
189. France
190. Italy
192. U.S.

Failed miserably? Germany has annual expenditures of $1.5T and they missed by $7B or less than 0.5%.

WSJ, Mar 21, 2012
BERLIN—The German government on Wednesday approved a draft of financial plans that foresee Europe’s largest economy achieving a balanced budget two years earlier than planned, strengthening Chancellor Angela Merkel’s hand in forcing profligate euro-zone members to stick to austerity plans.

Spiegel, Feb 24, 2012
Obeying EU Rules German Budget Deficit Plunges to 1 Percent of GDP
After violating European Union deficit rules in recent years, Germany’s budget shortfall in 2011 plunged to just 1 percent of gross domestic product, well below the 3 percent limit. The economic outlook for 2012 may be improving as well. . .Whereas the country’s deficit was over €100 billion in 2010, it plunged to just €25.8 billion last year.

How do you feel about hypocrites now?

That’s their motto: Wordz-R-Us