Iran's Nuclear Program -- The West Is Out Of Luck

The main building of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant in Bushehr, 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) southwest of Tehran Tuesday, March 11, 2003. AP/WWP file photo

Nukes: Too Deep to Hit -- Newsweek

Western intelligence experts believe that Iran's nuclear facilities are so deep underground that it would be difficult for Israel to wipe them out, or even significantly damage them, with a quick airstrike. In order to deal a serious setback to Iran's nuclear program, at least four key sites inside Iran would have to be hit, said one Western official, who asked for anonymity when discussing sensitive information. The facilities, however, are located in tunnels fortified by barriers more than 60 feet thick. According to this official and other U.S. experts, Israel does not possess conventional weapons capable of knocking out the facilities. Breaking through the thick shell would require, at minimum, several bunker-buster bombs striking precisely the same spot. "These targets would be very hard to destroy," said former U.N. nuclear expert David Albright. Theoretically, Israel could do a lot more damage with a nuclear strike. But U.S. and other Western experts say there is no reason to believe the Israelis will abandon their policy against shooting first with nukes.

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My Comment: There are no good options on the table when it comes to Iran. The West has pursued a diplomatic route that all the hawks in the U.S. knew would fail .... and fail they did. The only viable option that we have is sanctions .... but everyone has no desire to respect them.

As for Iran .... the economy is tanking, there is growing unrest, and the price of oil has collapsed. For the Iranian Government .... so dependent on high oil prices .... their options are also becoming very limited. After spending billions on a nuclear program .... they have nothing to show to their people. They must do something that is dramatic .... a nuclear test would certainly be a dramatic demonstration, but their are probably years away from a viable nuclear weapon.