The latest revelation of Iran's secret efforts to obtain the uranium needed for a nuclear weapon program means that an Israeli strike on Iran is much closer:
"U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he believes Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons, after the recent discovery of a secret uranium enrichment facility in the Islamic Republic.
"My personal opinion is that the Iranians have the intention of having nuclear weapons," said Gates in an interview with ABC News, set to be aired on Sunday.
But he added: "I think the question of whether they have made a formal decision to move towards the development of nuclear weapons, uh, is in doubt."
The nuclear site in the arid mountains near the holy city of Qom is believed to be inside a heavily guarded, underground facility belonging to the elite Revolutionary Guard, according to a document sent by U.S. President Barack Obama's administration to lawmakers.
In the ABC interview, Gates said the fact that Iran had concealed the site's existence raised significant questions as to their nuclear ambitions.
"This is part of a pattern of deception and lies on the part of the Iranians from the very beginning with respect to their nuclear program," the defense secretary added."
The US has called for more extensive sanctions on Iran, but to obtain the blessing of the Security Council for such enhanced sanctions means both Russia and China must agree; their track record to date seems to indicate that they won't go along with really effective sanctions against Iran.
And so that leaves the remaining alternative: a strike by Israel on several of Iran's nuclear facilities, so as to delay the development of such weapons by several years. The Iranian response will cause a new wave of problems for President Obama, and could unsettle oil markets substantially.
