Charles Johnson noted that while IAEA and Mohamed ElBaradei received the Nobel Peace Prize for working against nuclear proliferation, Britain's MI5 has uncovered 360 clandestine nuclear arms organizations -- MI5 Unmasks Covert Arms Programmes:
More than 360 private companies, university departments and government organisations in eight countries, including the Pakistan high commission in London, are identified as having procured goods or technology for use in weapons programmes.
The length of the list, compiled by MI5, suggests that the arms trade supermarket is bigger than has so far been publicly realised. MI5 warns against exports to organisations in Iran, Pakistan, India, Israel, Syria and Egypt and to beware of front companies in the United Arab Emirates, which appears to be a hub for the trade.
Mr. Johnson continued with a London Times piece that highlights the IAEA's failure to abate the proliferation of nuclear weapons materials:
- Before the 1991 Gulf War (before Dr ElBaradei’s appointment), the IAEA failed to detect Saddam’s nuclear programme. After the war, it was startled by the scale of his work to make fissile material.
- Under Dr ElBaradei, the IAEA missed the Libyan nuclear programme, which Libya chose to reveal after the 2003 Iraq war.
- It missed Iran’s 20-year covert nuclear research programme, exposed by Iranian dissidents three years ago.
- It failed to detect the “nuclear supermarket” run by A. Q. Khan, the Pakistani scientist who sold plans and components to Libya, North Korea and Iran.
- It was slow to sound the alarm about North Korea's conversion of its civil nuclear power into a weapons programme. The US accused North Korea of weapons ambitions in 2002.
Striking a defiant pose in the face of history's plough may be all that's left of the progressive sphere -- or whatever it should be called at this point. I am struck at how the left is betting the farm on an ideology that insists that peacemakers only peddle carrots, having evolved past the need to use the threat of force. It's disheartening to see institutions that are meant to promote and reward progressivism implode into irrelevance, giving themselves mutual pats on the back.
One of President Bush's big mistakes was his famous appearance on an aircraft carrier with the 'Mission Accomplished' banner displayed behind him. Clearly, the mission in Iraq was only then beginning, as we have been seeing since. Much hay has been made of his blunder. Giving accolades and a medal to people like Mohamed ElBaradei in the era of nuclear hyper-proliferation smacks of the same hubris. It shows an imperious pride that presumes much but actually controls little. If it weren't so pathetic and dangerous, it would be comical.
I eagerly await the announcement of the Nobel Committee's real recipient of the Peace Prize.
As a lawyer, ElBaradei, has toed the intricacies of international law. As an Egyptian, his position as a potential power broker may be at odds with Western expectations of vigorous law enforcement. His wife Aida Elkachef has been alleged to be Iranian and has been suspected of influencing ElBaradei’s decisions regarding Islam. There is little doubt that an Islamic counter-part to Israeli nuclear capabilities would be a substantial source of pride for many in Arab countries.
The Nobel prize was awarded to the wealthy Arafat, perhaps awarding it to ElBaradei would draw him closer to European influences and dampen his appetite for nuclear graft. Meanwhile, this man is committing the world to a nuclear contest that may annihilate millions.
There is little doubt that an Islamic counter-part to Israeli nuclear capabilities would be a substantial source of pride for many in Arab countries.
Only in Arab countries? Far from it.
The far left has been openly cheerleading nuclear proliferation for some time now - especially in the Middle East, to break Israel's "nuclear monopoly" in the region. Any attempt to control nuclear weapons development in Iraq or Iran has been denounced as a plot to ensure that only Americans and Jews have nukes.
This, after years of parading through the streets in skull masks, raving about nuclear armageddon. But being a leftist means never having to remember what you did last Tuesday.
Many of the more reasonable left (and some liberals) are equally useless on the subject, because they can't seem to imagine arms control that doesn't start with the unilateral disarmament of the US and Israel. When it comes to disarming Israel, the far right happily chimes in.
People like El Baradhi and Blix are celebrated not because they get results - a lot of people wouldn't like those results if they got them. They're celebrated for the same reason that the UN is: they do the Peace Pantomime without upsetting the status quo in the slightest.
You're close. They do the Peace Pantomime while promoting and abetting the real war against the real enemy.
"It missed Iran’s 20-year covert nuclear research programme, exposed by Iranian dissidents three years ago."
Maybe this is just a matter of me not having read the official report you've seen, but testimony of iranian dissidents doesnt exactly "reveal" a 20 year cover nuclear research programme, right? were they spot-on about specifics that we could verify indepedent of them? it would be helpful if the case against iran could be made with evidence of purchasing specific dual use technology, as well as the organization of said dual use technology into an illicity scaled application sufficient for development of nuclear arms etc. this is the evidence that really points to iran being up to something in a very convincing (and legally compelling) way, right?
Cicero
You missed the one thing that did qualify El Bardai for the Nobel Peace Prize above all else.
-He is Anti-American and was a major player in throwing a big monkey wrench in the american plan for Iraq and the ME. And continues his work in such to date.
Todays LLL's progressives, Liberals, whatever dont no longer strive as a goal for the better of the whole of the human race like in days past. Todays LLL's are so wrapped about the minority and weaks rights to the point were even Phycotic represive regiems sides are taken over that of the US becuase they qualify for the double status, non-white & weaker than the US. Even thou such people would kill all of them and thier beliefs if positions were flipped. To me it seems to be more of a rooting always for the underdog no matter why or who that underdog is and pure want for Anachry.
The LLL's are a mix of special interest and different minority special interest to the point were today they really dont represent anyone exept one small portion at a time. The end result of all of this is that the LLL's are just a bunch of frailed idealogies, Communism (soviet union proved failure), Anachrism (proven long ago failure), Socialism (Europe proved failure), Liberalism (proved failure by the minority that were supposed to be helped are now trapped in huge gov projects trapped in a generational cycle of drugs expected failure and unemployment uneducated victimhood blame game, these failures have made the LLL's new goal not betterment of the majority or even implementation of thier systems that are proven failures, their goals today are the failure of their competition that has shamed thier bretheren so well the US, and her Capatalist, Democracy. Once these are failed systems as well then the playing field will be equal making for a return of power to the old failed systems possible.
El Baradei does not deserve the Peace Prize not because he's some kind of tool of the anti-Israeli faction or because his award is some kind of sop to the anti-war crowd, but simply, as Cicero points out, because for all intents and purposes, the man is an abject failure. His efforts have done little, if anything, to promote "peace" and have, in fact, led in part to the creation of some of the "nuclear flashpoints" we see around the globe today.
But, as others have pointed out, the Nobel Peace Prize has been a running joke for years now. Arafat, Kissinger, and now el Baradei.
One begins to wonder if there's a certain sense of subtle irony behind the choice of whom to award the prize.
to: Annoy Mouse
You're a real half witted, low IQ, big mouth.
How do you talk about Iran and Middle east when you don't know Iran is not an Arab country.
Arab countries hate Iran. They have never took pride in any achievements of Iran and never will.
Arab countries are the very first countries who will be happy if Iran goes down.
don't take 2 small Islamic groups (Hezbollah and Hamas) as the whole Arab world. they are just an iota comparing to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Eqypt, etc etc but anyhow, those 2 groups are not ARAB NATION! They are just interested in Iran's money.