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Panetta: Iran Not Building A Nuclear Weapon But Trying To Develop A Nuclear Capability
Today on CBSs Face the Nation, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reiterated the Obama administrations positon that Iran has not yet made the decision to build a nuclear weapon, but added, we know that theyre trying to develop a nuclear capability. Panetta also said Iran getting the bomb would be a red line for the United States. They need to know that if they take that step, that theyre going to get stopped, he said. Host Bob Schieffer asked Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey if the U.S. could take out Irans nuclear facilities with conventional weapons. I certainly want them to believe that thats the case, Dempsey said:PANETTA: I think the pressure of the sanctions, the diplomatic pressures from everywhere, Europe, the United States, elsewhere, its working to put pressure on them. To make them understand that they cannot continue to do what theyre doing. Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that theyre trying to develop a nuclear capability. And thats what concerns us. And our red line to Iran is, do not develop a nuclear weapon. Thats a red line for us. [...] SCHEIFFER: Could we take out their nuclear capability? DEMPSEY: Well I certainly want them to believe that thats the case? [...] PANETTA: They need to know that if they take that step, that theyre going to get stopped. Our preference is that the international community, including Israel, ought to work together on this issue. If the Israelis made that decision we would have to be prepared to protect our forces in that situation thats what wed be concerned about. Watch the clips: Posted by: tipper 2012-01-08 |
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