For each entry, include the following as the TITLE

1) the title of the news article (in quotation marks);

2) the author of the article if one is listed (Associated Press & Reuters count as authors);

3) where you read the story (eg: New York Times online), in italics;

4) The URL of the story if you read it online; the page number(s) if you read it in print;

5) the date the story was published (and if you read it on line, the time you consulted it).

At the end of the summary, write your name!

 

“Iran Said to Have Nuclear Fuel for One Weapon”

William J. Broad and David E. Sanger

The New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/world/middleeast/20nuke.html?scp=3&sq=Iran&st=cse

Published: November 20, 2008

Date viewed November 23, 2008

     According to nuclear experts Iran currently has an adequate amount of nuclear materials to be capable of creating one atom bomb.  However there are a few things in the way for Iran to be successful in achieving this.  Iran would have to violate its international agreements and find a way to get rid of the inspectors.  In addition, Iran still has to purify the fuel and put it into a warhead design.  Western specialists are uncertain that Iran knows had to accomplish this technical advance.  Iran persists that the only reason it wants fuel reactors is for nuclear power, however the United States and other Western nations are under the impression that the true reason is for the ability to create nuclear weapons.  It is believed by American intelligence agencies that Iran could establish a bomb between 2009 and 2015.  The hardest part of the process of creating a bomb is thought to be getting hold of enough material and enriching uranium.   It has been revealed by a new report that Iran has been making progress in obtaining material for making nuclear fuel.  Experts said that it would only take up to a couple of months for Iran to purify the fuel into a high-enriched state for a nuclear warhead.  Iran is moving forward in this process and is believed to only be months away from developing a nuclear bomb.  Callie Corro

 

“Iran Claims Success in Tests Firing Long-Range Missiles”

Nazila Fathi and Alan Cowell

The New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/world/middleeast/13iran.html?scp=8&sq=Iran&st=cse

Published November 13, 2008

Date accessed: November 23, 2008 

    On Wednesday Iran mentioned that new longer ranged-missiles had been successful in its trials.  The range of these missiles is supposed to be 1,200 miles.  A senior official states that the use will only be for defensive purposes.  This official did not reveal who a potential aggressor would be.  This missile, entitled Sejil, is thought to be more accurate than a few of the other missiles according to news broadcast on television. The missile resembles a previous missile called Ashoura according to Duncan Lennos, a British weapons expert.  According to him, these missiles have the ability of reaching Israel or the Persian Gulf region.  Najar, Iran’s Defense Minister, said it had been planned for the months to assess these missiles.  He said this test had no relation with recent international developments.  Iran’s Revolutionary Guards test fired nine missiles last July with one being able to contact Israel.  The United States planned to place an anti-missile on Eastern Europe because of Iran’s missile capacity.  Russia became furious in response to this and threatened the United States that if the US goes through with this, Russia will shoot short-range missiles in its Baltic enclave of Kaliningradi.  The new missile cannot go far enough to affect Eastern Europe, Mr. Lennox explained.  However, it is clear that we need to worry about regions Iran does not get along with such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, Mr. Lennox mentioned. - Callie Corro

 

“Iranian Ex-President Says Chief of Atomic Agency Is Unfair”

Nazila Fathi

The New York Times Online

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/22/world/middleeast/22iran.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=IRanian%20Ex-President%20Says%20Chief%20of%20Atomic%20Agency%20is%20Unfair&st=cse

Published November 22, 2008

Date accessed: November 23, 2008

    In a recent report the International Atomic Energy Agency complained of Iran not being upfront and avoiding answering questions dealing with the suspicion of Iran creating a nuclear bomb.  The ex-Iranian president and cleric, Rafsanjani, complained that the report was ambiguous and unfair.   Some experts evaluated the latest IAEA report and believed that Iran has made enough nuclear material to make an atom bomb provided purify the nuclear material.  IAEA also issued a report that traces of  Uranium were found at a Syrian site tat Israel bombed last year, because the suspected Syria was building a nuclear reactor there. –Callie Corro

 

“France warns Obama of pitfalls on Iran, Afghanistan”

Francois Murphy

Reuters

http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINLN54394020081123

Published: November 23, 2008

Date Accessed: November 23, 2008

    Bernard Kouchner, France’s Foreign Minister, cautioned Barack Obama to be careful when dealing with Iran.  Obama plans to use new methods with Iran and its nuclear program. He might be willing to hold direct discussions, unlike Bush’s technique of isolation and working with European countries to let them take the lead in discussions with Iran.  Kouchner warned Obama that Iran has negotiated with major powers for years with no success and Obama needs to be alert when dealing with them.  Iran was offered twice a package of persuading reasons to let go of uranium enrichment by major powers, however they refused too.  Iran says the only reason it has any interest of mastering nuclear technology is for generating electricity.  However, the West suspects that Iran is using this reason to hide the fact that they want to create an atom bomb.  Kouchner also recommends that sending more troops to Afghanistan will not help.-Callie Corro

 

“Obama’s War Cabinet: Gates and Jones are welcome signs of continuity.”

Review and Outlook

The Wall Street Journal Online

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122783108411762961-lMyQjAxMDI4MjM3MDgzMzAxWj.html#printMode

Date Published: November 28, 2008

Date accessed: November 29, 2008

Barack Obama has people to fill two very important cabinet positions in regard to national security.  He picked Robert Gates to continue as Secretary of Defense and James Jones as National Security Adviser.  Anti-war supporters are not thrilled with these choices, because both Gates and Jones are supporters for the current policy in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It is questioned whether Gates will continue as the Secretary of Defense for more than a year or perhaps will be replaced with someone whose position is more similar to Obama’s.  Obama is trying to create a cabinet that will have a lot of continuity in the area of national security.   

 

“U.N. Watchdog Finds Nuclear Threats in Syria and Iran”

Jay Solomon

The Wall Street Journal Online

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122712883076241891.html#printMode 

Date Published: November 20, 2008

Date Accessed: November 29, 2008

The United Nations found uranium at a site that was bombed by Israel in Syria.  Also Iran is increasing its production in nuclear fuel and is still denying access to UN investigators according to a report issued Wednesday November 19.  The Iranian government currently has 4,000 centrifuges and is planning to increase it by another 3000 in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.  Iran defend its position by claiming it is only pursuing peaceful nuclear energy program. 

 

“Germany Loves Iran: Obama has his work cut out on tougher Iran sanctions.”

Review and Outlook

The Wall Street Journal Online

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122791929646865705-lMyQjAxMDI4MjM3MDkzMTA5Wj.html#printMode

Date Published: November 29, 2008

Date Accessed: November 29, 2008

Germany is companies have a lot of economic connections with Iran.  Germany is Europe’s largest exporter to Iran.  German company’s fear that the latest UN report that expresses the possibility of Iran going nuclear may result in stronger sanctions.  These sanctions can hurt German businesses.  The article mentions a seminar that was sponsored by the German - Iranian Chamber of Commerce that discussed these concerns.      

 

“What a Single Nuclear Warhead Could Do: Why the U.S. needs a space-based missile defense against an EMP attack.”

Brian T. Kennedy

The Wall Street Journal Online

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122748923919852015-lMyQjAxMDI4MjM3MDQzODA5Wj.html#printMode

Date Published: November 24, 2008

Date Accessed: November 29, 2008

The economic impact of a nuclear attack even by a single bomb can result in disaster and potentially the destruction of the U.S. economy.  The article mentions two scary scenarios.  One would be an attack launched from a ship that would destroy a U.S. city.  The ship then would be blown a part and sunk destroying all evidence of who was responsible, so the U.S. would not be able retaliate.  As bad as that is, the second scenario is even worse.  This attack would be an electromagnetic pulse attack.  A single nuclear bomb blown in space could destroy all the electronic capabilities that the U.S. depends on, sending the U.S. back to the 19th century.  This could result in total loss in electricity and starvation for many people.  It would destroy the U.S.     

 

“How to Put the Squeeze on Iran”

Orde F. Kittrie

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122654026060023113.html#printMode 

The Wall Street Journal Online

Date Published: November 13, 2008

Date accessed: November 30, 2008

The article is suggesting that the U.S. influence companies that export refined gasoline and diesel fuel to Iran to stop.  This would have a crippling effect on the Iranian economy and may give the U.S. the kind of leverage it needs o influence Iran to stop its nuclear development.  When the Iran government rationed gas in the summer of 2007 the protests were so great the regime had to back down.  The U.S. has influence on a significant number of companies that export to Iran.  Both Obama and McCain during the election indicated that they would consider using their influence to keep Iran from importing enough gasoline to run their economy.  The current UN sanctions have not been effective and Russia and China seem to want to keep the sanctions week.  This would give the U.S. a way to get around Russia and China. 

 

Thesis:  When he is president of the United States, Barak Obama should care about the nuclear threat in Iran because it will affect the security of not only the Middle East but also U.S allies in Europe and perhaps even the survival of the United States itself.

 

1.     UN inspection- Iran not cooperating with UN investigators on Nuclear Bomb and defying UN Security Council resolutions

     a.    Iran Atom Bomb possibility-“Iran Said to Have Nuclear Fuel for One Weapon” by William J. Broad and David E. Sanger

          i.    According to nuclear experts Iran currently has an adequate amount of nuclear materials to be capable of creating one atom bomb.

          ii.   few things in the way for Iran to be successful in achieving this: 

               1.    have to violate its international agreements

               2.    find a way to get rid of the inspectors

               3.    Iran still has to purify the fuel and put it into a warhead design Western specialists are uncertain that Iran knows had to accomplish                       this technical advance. 

          iii.    Iran persists that the only reason it wants fuel reactors is for nuclear power, however the United States and other Western nations are                   under the impression that the true reason is for the ability to create nuclear weapons. 

          iv.    It is believed by American intelligence agencies that Iran could establish a bomb between 2009 and 2015. 

          v.      It has been revealed by a new report that Iran has been making progress in obtaining material for making nuclear fuel.  Experts said that                    it would only take up to a couple of months for Iran to purify the fuel into a high-enriched state for a nuclear warhead.  Iran is moving                    forward in this process and is believed to only be months away from developing a nuclear bomb.

     b.    Iran Atom Bomb possibility- “Iranian Ex-President Says Chief of Atomic Agency Is Unfair” by Nazila Fathi

          i.     International Atomic Energy Agency complained Iran was not being upfront and avoided answering questions with the suspicion of Iran                  creating a nuclear bomb.

          ii.    The ex-Iranian president and cleric, Rafsanjani, complained that the report was ambiguous and unfair. 

          iii.     Experts evaluated the latest IAEA report and believe that Iran has made enough nuclear material to make an atom bomb provided they                    purify the nuclear material. 

     c.    Iran Missiles-“Iran Claims Success in Tests Firing Long-Range Missiles” by Nazila Fathi and Alan Cowell

          i.    On Wednesday Iran mentioned that new longer ranged-missiles had been successful in its trials. 

          ii.     range of these missiles is supposed to be 1,200 miles

          iii.      senior official states that the use will only be for defensive purposes. 

          iv.    Missile is entitled Sejil, is thought to be more accurate

          v.     missile resembles a previous missile called

          vi.    missiles have the ability of reaching Israel or the Persian Gulf region. 

          vii.    Najar, Iran’s Defense Minister, said it had been planned for the months to assess these missiles.

          viii.     He said this test had no relation with recent international developments. 

          ix.    The United States planned to place an anti-missile on Eastern Europe because of Iran’s missile capacity.  Russia became furious in                   response to this and threatened the United States that if the US goes through with this, Russia will shoot short-range missiles in its                   Baltic enclave of Kaliningradi.  The new missile cannot go far enough to affect Eastern Europe, Mr. Lennox explained.  However, it is clear                   that we need to worry about regions Iran does not get along with such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, Mr. Lennox                   mentioned

     d.     “U.N. Watchdog Finds Nuclear Threats in Syria and Iran” by Jay Solomon

          i.    The United Nations found uranium at a site that was bombed by Israel in Syria, it is suspected Syria was building a nuclear reactor there.

          ii.     Also Iran is increasing its production in nuclear fuel and is still denying access to UN investigators according to a report issued                   Wednesday November 19. 

          iii.     Iranian government currently has 4,000 centrifuges and is planning to increase it by another 3000 in defiance of UN Security Council                   resolutions.  Iran defends its position by claiming it is only pursuing peaceful nuclear energy program.

     e.     Careful with Iran -“France warns Obama of pitfalls on Iran, Afghanistan” by Francois Murphy

          i.    Bernard Kouchner, France’s Foreign Minister, cautioned Barack Obama to be careful when dealing with Iran. Kouchner warned Obama that                 Iran has negotiated with major powers for years with no success.

          ii.     Obama plans to use new methods with Iran and its nuclear program.

               1.    might be willing to hold direct discussions, unlike Bush’s technique of isolation and working with European countries to let them take                       the lead in discussions with Iran

          iii.     Iran was offered twice a package of persuading reasons to let go of uranium enrichment by major powers, however they refused too. 

          iv.    Iran says the only reason it has any interest of mastering nuclear technology is for generating electricity. 

          v.    Kouchner recommends that sending more troops to Afghanistan will not help.

     f.    Sanctions “Germany Loves Iran: Obama has his work cut out on tougher Iran sanctions.” By Review and Outlook

          i.    Germany is Europe’s largest exporter to Iran. 

          ii.    German company’s fear that the latest UN report that expresses the possibility of Iran going nuclear may result in stronger sanctions that                  can hurt German businesses. 

          iii.    The article mentions a seminar that was sponsored by the German - Iranian Chamber of Commerce that discussed these concerns.     

     g.    Fuel Companies-“How to Put the Squeeze on Iran” By Orde F. Kittrie

          i.    Article is suggesting that the companies influenced by the US that export refined gasoline and diesel fuel to Iran to stop.

          ii.    This would have a crippling effect on the Iranian economy and may give the U.S. the kind of leverage it needs to influence Iran to stop its                  nuclear development. 

          iii.    When the Iran government rationed gas in the summer of 2007 the protests were so great the regime had to back down.

          iv.     U.S. has influence on a significant number of companies that export to Iran. 

          v.    Both Obama and McCain during the election indicated that they would consider using their influence to keep Iran from importing enough                  gasoline to run their economy. 

          vi.    The current UN sanctions have not been effective and Russia and China seem to want to keep the sanctions week.  This would give the                   U.S. a way to get around Russia and China. 

2.     The nature of the threat

     a.    What can happen if Nuclear attack-“What a Single Nuclear Warhead Could Do: Why the U.S. needs a space-based missile defense against an             EMP attack.” By Brian T. Kennedy

          i.    The economic impact of a nuclear attack even by a single bomb can result in disaster and potentially the destruction of the U.S. economy.

          ii.      two scary scenarios:

               1.    One would be an attack launched from a ship that would destroy a U.S. city.  The ship then would be blown apart and sunk destroying                       all evidence of who was responsible, so the U.S. would not be able retaliate.

               2.    Other attack would be an electromagnetic pulse attack.  A single nuclear bomb blown in space could destroy all the electronic                        capabilities that the U.S. depends on, sending the U.S. back to the 19th century.  This could result in total loss in electricity and                        starvation for many people. 

3.    Obama on national security program so far- It is Necessary for a strong international relations cabinet for this threat

     a.    Obama’s Cabinet-“Obama’s War Cabinet: Gates and Jones are welcome signs of continuity” by Review and Outlook

          i.    Barack Obama has people to fill two very important cabinet positions in regard to national security. 

               1.     picked Robert Gates to continue as Secretary of Defense

               2.    James Jones as National Security Adviser. 

          ii.    Anti-war supporters are not thrilled with these choices, because both Gates and Jones are supporters for the current policy in Iraq and                  Afghanistan

          iii.     Questioned whether Gates will continue as the Secretary of Defense for more than a year or perhaps will be replaced with someone                    whose position is more similar to Obama’s.

          iv.    Obama is trying to create a cabinet that will have a lot of continuity in the area of national security.