Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit

[Here's Reuters on the same Gates claims that AP also covered. See:
Gates Says Iran "Seeks to Cause Chaos" (Look Who's Talking) 12/8
http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/Week-of-Mon-20071203/072689.html

He is sounding increasingly desperate and lame. The theme of the day is
"Well, the experts haven't said that they CAN'T or WON'T restart their
nuke weapons program." Meanwhile Iran still denies there ever was such
a program.

So because no one can GUARANTEE other people won't do something bad some
day, we should go kill them all. -NYTr]

Reuters - Dec 8, 2007
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSPAR82748720071208

Gates says Iran still a threat

By Kristin Roberts

MANAMA (Reuters) - Iran poses a threat to the United States and the
Middle East despite a U.S. intelligence assessment that Tehran halted
its nuclear weapons program in 2003, Defence Secretary Robert Gates
said on Saturday.

In a speech to the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, the
Pentagon chief argued Iran still has the capability to restart its
weapons program and continues to enrich uranium, an essential part of
atomic weapons development.

He also accused Iran of actively supporting insurgents in Iraq and
Afghanistan as well as Islamist groups Hezbollah and Hamas, and that its
missile program poses a wider threat throughout the region.

"Everywhere you turn, it is the policy of Iran to foment instability and
chaos, no matter the strategic value or cost in the blood of innocents
-- Christians, Jews and Muslims alike," Gates said.

"There can be little doubt that their destabilizing foreign policies
are a threat to the interests of the United States, to the interests of
every country in the Middle East and to the interests of all countries
within the range of the ballistic missiles Iran is developing."

Gates also argued that the recent National Intelligence Estimate on
Iran's nuclear program did not rule out Tehran restarting its pursuit
of atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear program has only peaceful
civilian aims.

"The Estimate is explicit that Iran is keeping its options open and
could re-start its nuclear weapons program at any time -- I would add,
if it has not done so already," the former CIA director told the
conference.

"Although the Estimate does not say so, there are no impediments to
Iran's re-starting its nuclear weapons program -- none, that is, but the
international community."

Gates urged Iran's neighbors to cooperate more closely in their defence
activities to counter Tehran's policies and specifically consider a
joint early warning system to detect missile launches. That, he said,
could deter Iran from pursuing development of such weapons.

Iran cancelled its appearance at the conference.

Gates' comments follow a visit to U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq,
where commanders told him Iran continues to provide support to
insurgents.

Iran denies U.S. charges that it has armed, trained and funded Shi'ite
militias in Iraq, blaming the violence in Iraq on the U.S.-led invasion
to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Gates's remarks also come as the military assesses Iran's ability to
disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a transit route for
around 40 percent of all globally traded oil.

Iran has suggested that its Islamic militia forces would be capable of
disrupting strategic Gulf oil shipping routes if it was attacked by the
United States.

On Iraq, Gates called progress in the security arena real but fragile.
He urged Iraq's neighbors to support the Baghdad government.

"There may be some who, because of past resentments and disagreements,
might be cheering for failure. I would respectfully suggest that these
sentiments are dangerously shortsighted and self-destructive," Gates
said.

(Editing by Dominic Evans)

) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.

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