Secret document exposes Iran’s nuclear trigger
Catherine Philp in Washington. The Times [London] December 14, 2009

Confidential intelligence documents obtained by The Times show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb.

The notes, from Iran’s most sensitive military nuclear project, describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion. Foreign intelligence agencies date them to early 2007, four years after Iran was thought to have suspended its weapons programme.

An Asian intelligence source last week confirmed to The Times that his country also believed that weapons work was being carried out as recently as 2007 — specifically, work on a neutron initiator.

The technical document describes the use of a neutron source, uranium deuteride, which independent experts confirm has no possible civilian or military use other than in a nuclear weapon. Uranium deuteride is the material used in Pakistan’s bomb, from where Iran obtained its blueprint.

“Although Iran might claim that this work is for civil purposes, there is no civil application,” said David Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, which has analysed hundreds of pages of documents related to the Iranian programme. “This is a very strong indicator of weapons work.”

The documents have been seen by intelligence agencies from several Western countries, including Britain. A senior source at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that they had been passed to the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said yesterday: “We do not comment on intelligence, but our concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme are clear. Obviously this document, if authentic, raises serious questions about Iran’s intentions.”

Responding to The Times’ findings, an Israeli government spokesperson said: “Israel is increasingly concerned about the state of the Iranian nuclear programme and the real intentions that may lie behind it.”

In France: antisemitic incidents double over last year

As reported in Le Figaro, 12/ 13/09


Forte hausse des actes antisémites en France [links via israelmatzav.blogspot.com]

Selon Brice Hortefeux, 704 faits ont été recensés sur les neuf premiers mois de 2009 contre 350 à la même période en 2008. Un préfet chargé de la lutte contre le racisme et l'antisémitisme va être nommé.

704 incidents were registered during the first 9 months of 2009 compared to 350 during the same period of 2008. The government appointed a special envoy (or Czar, if you will) to combat Antisemitism specifically.

Le ministre de l'Intérieur, Brice Hortefeux, a annoncé dimanche soir à Paris une forte hausse des actes antisémites au cours des neuf premiers mois de l'année 2009. «704 faits ont été recensés : 123 'actions' et 581 menaces, qu'il s'agisse d'agressions verbales, de dégradations de bâtiments ou d'inscriptions», a souligné Brice Hortefeux qui s'exprimait devant l'Union des patrons et des professionnels juifs de France (UPJF).

According to the Interior Minister, there were 123 acts of antisemitism and 581 threats (adding up to 704).

Cela représente plus du double des manifestations d'antisémitisme recensées lors des neuf premiers mois de 2008: «350, dont 99 actions et 251 menaces», selon les chiffres communiqués par le ministère de l'Intérieur.

This represents a more than double the figure of manifested antisemitism from the first 9 months of 2008 when there were 99 acts and 251 threats, again reported by the Interior Ministry.