Iran Might Attack Israel, United States with Nuclear Bomb

Presidential candidate Sam Brownbeck, a Republican United States Senator from Kansas, said the United States must do everything possible to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb it was reported today. He noted Iran already has a stated policy to destroy Israel, and an Iran with a nuclear bomb might also attack the United States.

A variety of speakers in the United States and Israel have spoken previously of the threat Iran might be if it were to obtain a nuclear bomb. One speaker, General Meir Dagan, Israel's spy chief and the head of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, has said that if Iran continues on its current path, it will have a nuclear weapon in three to four years.

He has also said that an Iran with a nuclear bomb would be "the greatest threat" to his country since its founding in 1948. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said Israel will "not tolerate" Iran making a nuclear bomb.

For its part Iranian officials have often stated their country is only enriching uranium for nuclear fuel. It is refused to stop its program.

Senator Brownbeck said it is a positive step if reports are true that Iran's ally, Russia, has called for a halt in the program of enriching uranium.

Brownbeck noted that not only does Iran have a policy to destroy Israel and might also be a danger to the United States, but the country also has the capacity to deliver a nuclear weapon to hit its intended target.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that if the United Nations Security Council were to pass a resolution demanding that his country stop its uranium enrichment program, his country would "take illegal actions" by continuing the program.

Senator Brownbeck said the United States must work "aggressively" in stopping Iran from developing a nuclear bomb that could be used to attack Israel or the United States. He said sanctions should be used against the country to stop its actions. In addition, Senator Brownbeck said a key to stopping the country is to publicize to the world the lack of a decent human rights record in Iran.

Last week Senator Brownbeck and several other Senators introduced the Iran-Counter Proliferation Act of 2007. The bill would do a variety of things, including strengthening existing sanctions on what Senator Brownbeck calls the "dangerous regime" in Tehran, Iran. The bill would also levy sanctions on other countries that aid Iran in developing its uranium enrichment program.

The Senator also condemned Iran for recently taking 15 British servicemen as hostage. He called for their safe, speedy, and unconditional return.