The UN nuclear watchdog has protested to the US government over a report on Iran's nuclear program, calling it "erroneous" and "misleading." In a letter leaked to reporters the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said a congressional report contained "serious distortions" of the agency's own findings on Iran's nuclear activity.
The BBC reported that the IAEA also took "strong exception" to claims made over removal of a senior safeguards inspector. The IAEA said the letter was sent to the American government to "set the record straight on the facts." "This is a matter of the integrity of the IAEA and its inspectors," spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said in a statement.
The letter, signed by Vilmos Cserveny, a senior IAEA director was sent to Peter Hoekstra, head of the House of Representatives' Select Committee on Intelligence. The letter said an August 23 report by the committee was wrong to say that Iran had enriched uranium to weapons-grade level, when the IAEA had found only small quantities of enrichment at far lower levels.
The letter also said the IAEA took "strong exception to the incorrect and misleading assertion" that the agency removed senior safeguards inspector Chris Charlier for "allegedly raising concerns about Iranian deception" over its program. The report contained an "outrageous and dishonest suggestion" that Charlier was removed for not adhering to an alleged IAEA policy barring its "officials from telling the whole truth" about Iran. The letter said Charlier was removed at Tehran's request.
I have heard that Shrub always has an "October Surprise" in store; and this year especially as his ratings are so low and the beginning of an election year. I suspect this was shrubs intended goal all along
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbovea | 15 September 2006 at 23:28
Sounds like another set up of WOMD...geesh!
Posted by: Tammy | 15 September 2006 at 18:42
I am so happy to see an agency that cares about keeping the record straight, and leaving no room for misunderstanding. I think half our problem in government-- or the world-- is that people are not just straight about much. Keep it all on the table, I say, even if some don't like it. Good for them. I hope it is true.
:)
Posted by: Amber | 15 September 2006 at 18:23
Iraq all over again. And now I see the president wants to gut the Geneva Convention; even his own Republicans are horrified. It would put the U.S. military in great danger. But natch, he's being stubborn.
shudder.
Posted by: Colette | 15 September 2006 at 18:04
Just like the WMD debacle ... the US govt misinformation machine is at it again. Groan.
Posted by: Deborah | 15 September 2006 at 11:52
There's always so much to read on your blog - do you spend all day writing it? :)
Thanks for gleaning all these news articles for us.
Posted by: Catherine | 14 September 2006 at 22:53
It's deja vu all over again. Isn't the current nightmare provided by Bush and Co bad enough, without having reruns of the Iraq fiasco take place in Iran???
Posted by: Laura | 14 September 2006 at 19:32