I think this is probably the part that generated a defensive response..
quote: Originally posted by z0rch
Rags like this using the word "Christian" in their description exemplify everything that is wrong with mixing religion and politics.
Notice that I'm not criticizing Christianity. I'm criticizing political rags that hide behind a label of Christianity.
Religion comes from faith. Government comes from politics. If you have _faith_ in _politicians_, I'd like to sell you a ranch in North Dakota.
Posted by Seagoon;
I believe the author was referring to a feature article published in the Times of London on Feb. 25th 2001 which talked in detail about possible Iraqi Nuclear tests. I don't have a link to the original article, but the text and some of the illustrations are available here:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/l...revnws01015.htm
From the above referenced article;
Intelligence agencies, including Israel's Mossad, insist that Saddam has never had the technology or the fuel to fulfil his ambition of creating a nuclear arsenal.
If there was even the slightest chance that Iraq had The Bomb, Israel would at the very least be howling from the rooftops, or more likely launching a pre-emptive strike.
This is what lawyers call a "statement against interest", meaning that it would not be in their interest to tell this particular falsehood.
A nuke is not easy to build, and fuel for it isn't easy to get. No nation is going to sell Saddam weapons grade fuel; because he's crazy enough to use it and the isotopic signature would enable the source of the fuel to be traced to the country of origin. E.g., If Pakistan or NK gave Iraq the fuel, and Saddam nuked Tel Aviv, the accomplice nation would be getting a taste of retaliatory nuclear fury.
Even given the materials and detailed design specs, there are a number of very sophisticated technical hurdles that Iraq never had the infrastructure to clear.
Plus, even an underground test would leave _incontrovertible_ evidence. Isotopes in the atmosphere and ground water. Massive electromagnetic emissions. Our satellites are sensitive enough to intercept the electromagnetic signals of a telephone from over 100 miles up. They won't miss a nuke.
No nation has gone nuclear without the US detecting their tests. Pak and South Africa both caught us by surprise, but we knew once they lit the thing off.
The article is based on highly questionable and completely unsubstantiated claims from an anonymous and un-credentialed source that had an interest in overstating the facts ("I am in danger here in Iraq," said "Leone", as we came to know him).
For this obviously partisan political rag to twist facts beyond any credibility and claim to do it in the name of Christianity should outrage you more than anyone. It's the credibility of your faith being undermined.
