Rising Threat

Published: Fri, 28 Nov 2008

Description: How will President-elect Obama deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions?

Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)

" It is full steam ahead for Iran's nuclear program the charter member of the so called axis of evil wrapping up new centrifuges. Just as the international nuclear watchdog group the IAEA reports that Iran. They now have enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb. Iran's nuclear ambitions an issue that will no doubt dominate national security in the coming years. So how should our next president Barack Obama deal with the rising threat from Tehran joining us now KT McFarland former pentagon official under President Reagan and an expert on Iran thanks for being with us containers in. You believe that Iran will have fully operational nukes by the end of the Obama administration."

" And at this rate it and Iran have fully operational -- instead the end of the Obama administration. Some experts believe they have enough enriched uranium to have at least one bomb now. And certainly you know one or more by the time the Obama team takes charge. Well what can the United States do about -- couples think we will always seeing is sit in the last eight years of diplomacy. Sanctions haven't work without economic sanctions and a large part financial sanctions and I haven't worked because Russia China Germany don't comply. And they block any more significant sanctions. What we could do in the United States to do this almost unilaterally. Is to deny them gasoline Tehran may explore our help but they don't refine it and -- have to import gasoline. We could stop the import of their gasoline we -- ratchet up a further effort to stop the flow of goods into Iran and have a blockade. But that's about Iran is your Achilles heel is their youth population and their economy. There they don't do anything and their economy they just pump oil out of the ground and -- And so we did drop down the price of oil and keeping down. A lot is bankrupt the same way we bankrupted the Soviet Union and then in the early middle 1980s and ended the Cold War. So ideally you feel that that there's enough discontent created that are hoping the Iranians would -- their -- she got patty -- fairly high unemployment they have high inflation I have youth population. As -- drivers -- populations under the age of 35 and it's."

" Pro west so the key with Iran is you don't want to get that in the situation to three years down the road where it's a choice between either bombing Iran. We're letting Iran get the bomb he need to take very serious action now. -- blockade is worth more serious sanctions with diplomacy is certainly would understand that diplomacy. Without any leverage we have very little leverage on Iran right now is really. She doesn't work -- all right speaking of nukes onto the current situation in India right now of course India and Pakistan both nuclear power is what's your two cents on that situation. I think what we're seen in India you cannot underestimate how serious this is this is as if terrorists landed on Manhattan island and and took -- plaza hotel another hotel in parts of Broadway and some hospitals and restaurants. This is a new phase out potentially terrorists is an urban warfare. They used urban warfare in work zones like Iraq but they haven't done it any place else. You know -- a suicide bombers as a one off thing even September 11 was a one off thing they have one military engagement they -- This is a prolonged siege in a peaceful city. And is that the new is that a new prototype that they terrorists are going to use going forward so I think that's significant. The second thing that's significant is as you pointed out both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. There is an early indication. That the terrorists and -- by our somehow related or connected to Pakistan intelligence not officially. Maybe -- freelancers. In the Pakistan intelligence but if that's the case you have to wonder how safe. Are the nine -- hundred Pakistan any nukes do we do they have populist Pakistan and operational control. Over those nuclear weapons could -- following hands of terrorists also much trouble in Athens every day all right KT McFarland thank you so much thank you know what the."

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General Motors. Bankruptcies currently winning. What should the US do about North Korea is one that just popped up. Isolation 88%. And also we have the issue of -- might or will she win confirmation easily be tough. -- past votes that you can weigh in on. And we have comments. I will not buy a new car from any government says bill in Connecticut thanks bill. We start though with North Korea and let's bring in our panel gives them Steve Hayes senior writer for the weekly standard AB Stoddard associate editor of the hill and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer. North Korea . Obviously has launched a series of missiles at least five that we know over the past few days at an underground nuclear test. And now we are waiting to see what comes out of the UN Security Council if anything. First let's check in with the Pentagon national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin. Jennifer what do they stand there at the Pentagon this whole North Korea situation.

have contingency plans for everything. And they obviously have a plan for North Korea but even behind the scenes when you walk through that nineteen and a half miles a quarter were there. What what are

of caution those ships have been launched by the navy's South Korea's a move is not moving troops around. So you that you're hearing a lot of hot rhetoric but. I would say in the hallways here that they are down -- that being said I did get one piece of information at the end of the day. Would suggesting that the latest Intel is seeing some steam rising from the young beyond nuclear plant it's not clear what that -- is they're analyzing it. But it could suggest you know activity starting. And the potential re processing starting. At that young -- that in North Korea .

over several days of sort of laughing a little bits and treating North Korea like a grumpy child is is while we know they are working. Feverishly behind the scenes to extract more pressure from particularly

Scott says why is the UN doing nothing about North Korea it you know Steve we've seen this this and a packed full -- Many times we've we spend this plane before I

they -- while. I think you know in some ways hurting North Korea's economic. Standing. You know I haven't strangled. The regime there. And I and I and I agree with Indian Nat -- Troubled by the administration's response to this both booked for school respected to Jennifer important what people are saying inside the Pentagon. -- that the administration was looking at North Korea before that you were call it Stephen Bosworth who was the special envoy. In into North Korean matters the world to the six party talks. So that he was relatively relaxed. About this he said that just within the past couple of weeks. I'm not relaxed just because North Korea has a crazy man running the country. Doesn't mean that we can afford to treated as a second or third order threat I mean this -- is ongoing but all. Signs are pointing that this was actually nuclear bomb that detonated under the ground here in North Korea and -- embezzlement and now it's it's a third the size of Hiroshima. That's a serious nuclear explosion yeah it was I'm not last -- some people said well -- in October of 2006 and some people said. Well wasn't real task and it wasn't really successful we don't need to be alarmed about it this one I think we do need to be alarmed about it. You also have if that case since the market mentioned much the other media coverage this. Yeah it is a fact. That North Korea is a serial proliferate here and they're not proliferating too you know Britain or they're not -- proliferating countries that are friendly the United States. It is that North Korea was caught red handed sending at least nuclear technology. The know how perhaps the personnel. To Syria. A state sponsor of terror I mean this is a big deal. And you even have chosen us secretary of state Hillary Clinton raising and hearing that it wasn't confirmed that North Korea was in fact a nuclear power. It's just interesting dynamic here I have a question for you Charleston Ohio what about Japan's

our senior White House correspondent Major Garrett and major we're talking about North Korea and the new administration's response. What's your sense behind the scenes there of how things are are going this.

tantrum it's a way to get attention. That's not going to advance North Korea's interest as if the north Koreans have broad interest that it's seeking to achieve with the international community there's no evidence of that hasn't been for more than a decade. North Korea is isolated there's almost no level of economic sanctions that haven't been applied and there's no record or evidence to believe they've

on the online show thanks everybody for the comments we finished up North Korea isolation is the best policy 89%. GM bankruptcy and then fell 67%. So my -- wins easily. Don't forget to visit our

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run vending -- it sets -- nuclear arms race in the Middle East because if Iran which is Shiite. And person has of and the Sunni Arab countries like Egypt Saudi Arabia they'll want their own nuclear weapons -- arms race a nuclear demonstration the most dangerous turn the world love and an underscore this two EEE if it is.

near future they have the bomb down. How the politics of the Middle East change changes everything.

their at together you know what they want to do they want nuclear weapons but to go above their heads and go to Russia outsell. Here's what you do I would go to Russia right now and say okay Russia. You don't want Islamic extremism on your border anymore than we wanted in the Middle East you've got Chechnya you have the stands that may be. I'm going in that direction. You're the one on the only countries in the world. That this is not really obeying these UN sanctions what is it going to take for the two of us to work together to contain Iran to stop Iran's nuclear program . And to stop around supportive of Islamic know her lawyers who wears Russia our Moscow as motivation to go along with the

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to stop Iran's nuclear program saying -- countries trying to build an atomic weapons . Iran denies that and insists the program is for peaceful energy purposes only. But instead of sitting down for negotiations -- just keeps churning out more uranium. And US officials say that's a sign that Iran wants to keep the option of building a nuclear weapon on the table. The box which of course -- Jonathan -- with a job and it sounds like clearest statement yet. From

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