Friday's NBC Nightly News and Saturday's CBS Evening News relayed comments by IAEA Director General Mohamed El Baradei as the UN official warned against an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, in response to a recent military exercise by the Israeli military. CBS anchor Kelly Wallace quoted El Baradei as contending that an attack on Iran "could turn the Mideast into a, quote, 'ball of fire.'" NBC substitute anchor Ann Curry spoke of "dire warnings of the consequences" as she introduced a report by Jim Miklaszewski which focused on possible retaliations by Iran, and which also mentioned El Baradei's "ball of fire" comments and the UN official's threat to resign if Iran is attacked.
In Miklaszewski's report, after relaying Iran's threat to give Israelis "a serious blow to the face," he cited U.S. military's officials who argue that "airstrikes on Iran could have devastating consequences in the Middle East and here at home. Iran could step up attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq, unleash a wave of terrorism through the radical group Hezbollah, and wreak havoc on the world economy by disrupting the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf."
Miklaszewski then got to El Baradei's threat to resign of Iran is attacked. "Late today, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El Baradei, warned the Middle East would explode into a 'fireball,' and threatened to quit if Israel attacked Iran."
Below are complete transcripts of the reports from the Friday June 20 NBC Nightly News and the Saturday June 21 CBS Evening News:
#From the June 20 NBC Nightly News:
ANN CURRY: From rising temperatures now to rising tensions in the Middle East. This morning's New York Times reported that Israel may be practicing for a possible bombing attack on Iran. And tonight there are dire warnings of the consequences if that happens. We get details from NBC's Jim Miklaszewski at the Pentagon.
JIM MIKLASZEWSKI: U.S. officials confirm 100 Israeli warplanes, including U.S.-made fighter bombers, took part in the large-scale maneuver two weeks ago that extended well into the Mediterranean -- about the same distance it would take to reach Iran's nuclear sites. Israeli analysts claim Iran is on a fast track to develop nuclear weapons, and time is running out.
SHIMON SHIFFER, ISRAELI POLITICAL ANALYST: We will not tolerate such a situation that Iran will have a nuclear capability.
MIKLASZEWSKI: NBC's Ali Arouzi in Tehran says Iran fired back today during Friday prayers.
ALI AROUZI, NBC NEWS: A prominent cleric with ties to the government said that if the Israelis so much as speak about attacking Iran, they'll receive a serious blow to the face.
MIKLASZEWSKI: Israel has launched similar attacks in the past. In 1981, Israeli warplanes bombed a nuclear reactor in Iraq, and last year took out a suspected nuclear site in Syria. U.S. officials confirm Israeli Prime Minister Olmert pushed for possible airstrikes in a White House meeting with President Bush two weeks ago. While the U.S. pursues a diplomatic solution, Bush has not ruled out the military option.
ROGER CRESSEY, NBC NEWS TERRORISM ANALYST: I think it also sends a signal to Tehran that the United States may not actively support an Israeli military strike, but they're not going to stop it.
MIKLASZEWSKI: U.S. military officials warn, however, that airstrikes on Iran could have devastating consequences in the Middle East and here at home. Iran could step up attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq, unleash a wave of terrorism through the radical group Hezbollah, and wreak havoc on the world economy by disrupting the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf.
JOHN KILDUFF, CNBC ENERGY ANALYST: Gasoline prices would at least double, maybe triple from current levels if we were to see a price spike in crude oil to $300 to $400 a barrel.
MIKLASZEWSKI: Late today, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El Baradei, warned the Middle East would explode into a "fireball," and threatened to quit if Israel attacked Iran. U.S. military and intelligence officials say Israeli airstrikes do not appear imminent, but in the long run are not ruling it out. Jim Miklaszewski, NBC News, the Pentagon.
#From the June 21 CBS Evening News:
KELLY WALLACE: The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency warns that any attack on Iran could turn the Mideast into a, quote, "ball of fire." Mohamed El Baradei's warning comes one day after reports that Israeli warplanes conducted what U.S. intelligence analysts say was a dress rehearsal for an attack earlier this month.




ANN CURRY: From rising temperatures now to rising tensions in the Middle East. This morning's New York Times reported that Israel may be practicing for a possible bombing attack on Iran. And tonight there are dire warnings of the consequences if that happens. We get details from NBC's Jim Miklaszewski at the Pentagon.
MIKLASZEWSKI: Late today, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El Baradei, warned the Middle East would explode into a "fireball," and threatened to quit if Israel attacked Iran. U.S. military and intelligence officials say Israeli airstrikes do not appear imminent, but in the long run are not ruling it out. Jim Miklaszewski, NBC News, the Pentagon.













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I have a problem with Mohammed El Baradei
June 22, 2008 - 21:45 ET by jefflebowskirunning the atomic watchdog program. He should be running the UN lapdog program. I don't trust anyone with Mohamed as a name. As for the middle east being a "ball of fire," that is exactly what attacking Iran is designed to prohibit. Israel cannot allow an enemy that is sworn to Israel's destruction have the means to carry make good it's goal.
El Baradei is another waste of space. Another Hans Blix.
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
Or...
June 23, 2008 - 12:08 ET by ontheright...Hussein, for that matter...
Would it be any loss at all if the "empty suit" Baradei quit? What would be the short/long term affect? Would we/USA be better off?
Ok, Baradei - Quit!....and take your ball with you when you go home...I would wear a flame retardant suit if I were you.
Do they think Israel should
June 22, 2008 - 21:47 ET by GregEDo they think Israel should look to Iran and say "Hey you guys, over here, please hurry up and make us the first ball of fire"...?
Seems El Baradei is most
June 22, 2008 - 21:52 ET by Clear thinkerSeems El Baradei is most definately taking sides on this one. Does anyone know if this is in his job description?
I guess he's not worried about Israel turning into a ball of fire first.
Sometimes you just gotta do what you just gotta do.
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
Mo El Baradei has been
June 22, 2008 - 22:04 ET by bigtimerMo El Baradei has been working hand in hand with our enemies forever.
Absolutely nothing new here...I despise the ba$t#rd...
btw...along with Javier Solano (sp)...both of them..for years now.
They are ENEMIES...of course the msm is going to side with them..they always have..along with the leftist party.
What I would give for a real conservative leader to just tell it like it is and do something about it...Years ago now..before we went into Iraq even...both of these slime balls have been working against the USA forever now.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
I think it is time to step
June 22, 2008 - 22:12 ET by Captain RepusI think it is time to step up to the plate. Enough fear mongering, enough speculation about doomsday scenarios.
I for one would accept $7 gasoline (for a short time) and world condemnation (so what) if Israel bit the bullet and wiped out Iran's nuke facilities.
In spite of the problems we have seen in our action in Iraq, I feel that was in the best interest of our national security. In the case of Israel, Iran is a clear and absolute threat to the existance of their nation and, as such, the Israelis have every right to launch an immediate and decisive strike and we have every right to support them in any way possible.
If Obama is elected Israel will have zero support from his administration and will be increasingly at risk of destruction from Iran and its terrorists in Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The time to act is NOW.
Well, the stunning comment
June 22, 2008 - 22:38 ET by SMGalbraithWell, the stunning comment by El Baradei in the same interview was that if Iran kicks out the IAEA monitors, that it would take from six months to a year for them to produce a weapon. That's 6 months to 12 months.
The latest NIE last year said they were still 3-4 years away.
He said:
Muhammad Al-Baradei: If Iran wants to turn to the production of nuclear weapons, it must leave the NPT, expel the IAEA inspectors, and then it would need at least... Considering the number of centrifuges and the quantity of uranium Iran has...
Interviewer: How much time would it need?
Muhammad Al-Baradei: It would need at least six months to one year. Therefore, Iran will not be able to reach the point where we would wake up one morning to an Iran with a nuclear weapon.
Interviewer: Excuse me, I would like to clarify this for our viewers. If Iran decides today to expel the IAEA from the country, it will need six months...
Muhammad Al-Baradei: Or one year, at least...
Interviewer:... to produce [nuclear] weapons?
Muhammad Al-Baradei: It would need this period to produce a weapon, and to obtain highly-enriched uranium in sufficient quantities for a single nuclear weapon.
Six months to one year.
And our knucklehead press completely missed this.
Here's the transcript: Link.
Channeling Jerry Lee Lewis
June 23, 2008 - 09:39 ET by Prester JohnJews shake my nerves and they rattle my brain
Too many Jews drives the mullahs insane
They broke my will, oh what a thrill
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
The jews fell in to a
June 23, 2008 - 09:47 ET by KillgraveThe jews fell in to a Mideast ball of fire
they went down,down,down
and the flames went higher.
And it burns,burns,burns
the ball of fire
the ball of fire.
If Iran does get an atomic weapon
June 23, 2008 - 09:40 ET by c5thenThen Israel is almost guarenteed to be a "ball of fire". Why shouldn't they perform a preventative strike, just like they did in the 1980's against Iraq? Notice how many of the Arab countries stepped up and carries out their threats when that happened? It will be the same now.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Excellent! PLEASE, Iran,
June 23, 2008 - 11:12 ET by SickofLibsExcellent!
PLEASE, Iran, unleash a wave of terrorism through the radical group Hezbollah, and wreak havoc on the world economy by disrupting the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf.
Then we can finally turn your sand lot into a 650,000 square mile ceramic.
ps: and please stop scaring Ann Curry; she's got enough to do trying to assure BHO's ascension and all.
Well placed
June 23, 2008 - 11:25 ET by ScrapironIf anyone puts a few, (maybe 10), well placed mega nuc's in Iran, the Nut or anyone else in Iran will do anything but glow for the next hundred, maybe thousand, years or so.
Retired and glad of it.