Iran ("nuke") intelligence is not trustworthy

[EuroObserver]

Guardian LTTE from Prof John Sloboda(*):

Iran Intelligence is not trustworthy

Letters
Friday January 6, 2006
The Guardian

Your front-page coverage of Iran's alleged nuclear activities (Report, January 4) suggests that you have not learned the important lessons from Iraq. After recent intelligence failures over WMD, editors should be doubly wary of "leaked intelligence", its timing and the motives of those who provided the information.

Your coverage of a secret services report about Iran's nuclear ambitions contains little new. It is mainly rehashed information available from public sources. It is well known that the Iranians are trying to develop long-range missiles that are potentially capable of carrying nuclear warheads. What the article fails to point out is that they are a long way from achieving this. Dual-use companies are also nothing new. If there was one useful purpose the article could have served, it would have been to name the companies listed in the report.

There are many reasons to be concerned about Iran's nuclear programme, but the UK and EU must also be held to account for the failure of their diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear development. Your publication of this material helps those who seek to demonise Iran, makes peaceful resolution of the dispute even more difficult, and means that proper scrutiny of the failure of EU and US policy has once again been avoided.

Prof John Sloboda
Oxford Research Group

--> The Guardian-published apparent governmental propaganda referred to (especially the first) can be found (in at least three pieces already) here:
Jan 4th: Intelligence report claims nuclear market thriving and Secret services say Iran is trying to assemble a nuclear missile;
Jan 5th: Clandestine nuclear deals traced to Sudan
(Note: The "55-page confidential "early warning" intelligence assessment", "from a leading EU intelligence service obtained by the Guardian", would appear to have been "leaked" on purpose, with intent to manipulate public opinion.)

Oxford Research Group (ORG) is an independent non-governmental organisation established in 1982 which seeks to develop effective methods whereby people can bring about positive change on issues of national and international security by non-violent means.

ORG combines rigorous research into nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, UK security policy, and global security in the changing international environment, with an understanding of the people who make those decisions. Our areas of research include: preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons; control of the arms trade; constructive approaches to dealing with international terrorism and the 'war on terror'; and effective non-violent approaches to conflict prevention and resolution.

Our work involves promoting accountability and transparency, providing information on current decisions so that public debate can take place, and fostering dialogue between policy-makers and their critics.

We regularly bring senior policy-makers together with independent analysts, scientists and technologists, military experts, writers and psychologists, to develop ways past the obstacles to achieving peace with security.

(*) John Sloboda (also, interestingly, here) is co-founder of Iraq Body Count and executive director of the Oxford Research Group.

ed. see eg. his Decemer 19th, 2003 article "We must honour the dead"

[EuroObserver]

1. Related: This Asia Times article

Diplomacy stalled" by Ehsan Ahrari, comments in this context:

...Iran's stance on continuing its nuclear program has almost alienated the EU-3. Perhaps in light of this, a recent report by the London Guardian cited a leaked document from European intelligence sources. Dated last July 1, it claims that Iran has been combing Europe to purchase weapons and ballistic missiles capable of reaching Europe.

Considering that Iran already possesses such missile capabilities through its long-established technology transfer programs with China, Russia and North Korea, the timing of the leak must be questioned. The Guardian report states that the purpose of the leak was to mount pressure on Iran.

As far back as 1997, Iran was reported to have developed Shahab-4 ballistic missiles with a range of 1,350-1,500 kilometers. Shahab-4 is believed to be a derivation of North Korea's No-Dong missile...

[converted_democrat]

2. Kick & Reccomend.............n/t

[EuroObserver]

3. 'nother kick for sanity n/t