9 October, 2009 — Real News Network

Iraq whistle-blower Greg Thielmann: Military threats may push Iran to restart suspended weapons program

In part two of the presentation delivered to congressional aides and press members separating fact from fiction in the Iran nuclear debate, key Iraq weapons program whistle-blower Greg Thielmann weighs-in. Thielmann, now a senior fellow at the Arms Control Association, gives a primer on the elements needed to build a successful nuclear weaponry program. He then explains how the intelligence consensus over recent years is actually prolonging the time horizon for Iran to develop a useful bomb. Thielmann details that while the intelligence community is of the belief that the Iranian regime is ultimately interested in developing such a weapon, they are not making considerable strides toward such ends. He points out that recent news of Iran’s identification of another enrichment site, while possibly a little late, demonstrates compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and should be viewed as evidence that the regime is not moving any closer to a developed bomb.

Bio
Greg Thielmann is a Senior Fellow at the Arms Control Association, located in Washington, DC. Thielmann came to fame in 2003 when he quit his position as director of the Strategic, Proliferation and Military Affairs Office at the State Department’s Intelligence Bureau, citing the manufacturing of intelligence concerning the Iraqi government’s weapons program. He openly criticized the false information that was then used to gain support for launching the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. This brought an end to a 25-year career in the US foreign service officer.