One of the most under-reported aspects of the Iranian nuclear program is its environmental impact. The entirety of Iran is one big earthquake zone; there are no safe areas. Indeed, Iranian officials every so often suggest moving the capital out of Tehran simply because that city is both overdue for the big one and relatively unprepared. One of the world’s best Iran specialists got his start as an earthquake surveyor in Iran.
Against this backdrop, Iran today announced its appointment of a commander for nuclear and radiation emergencies. A nuclear accident in Iran is inevitable. When it happens, it will be bigger than that in Japan because, as devastating as the earthquake and tsunami were at Fukushima, the Japanese government was organized enough—despite its miscues—to respond and to welcome foreign assistance. The Soviet response to Chernobyl in contrast was handicapped by a culture of secrecy and bureaucratic fear. In Iran, only the Supreme Leader could make an effective call on such issues as humanitarian assistance and, by the time he did, it may be too late for hundreds of thousands of people, not only in Iran but given the prevailing winds, also in portions of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Just as gay rights activists expose their hypocrisy when they express solidarity with Hamas and castigate Israel, the number of environmental groups who remain quiet on Iran’s nuclear ambitions for fear of adopting a position that segues with U.S. national security interests is illustrating, indeed, about the true priorities of the environmental lobby.
I've wondered about that from the stand point of quality also. Figured the parts Iran is using might not be the best quality.
If such a tragedy strikes Iran, the world will blame Israel. After all, if it weren't for a need to destroy Israel, Iran wouldn't have to develop its nuclear capabilities.
The reactor was started under the Shah.
Ummm..the site of the Bushehr reactor was chosen by German and American specialists, and hasn't grown more earthquake prone since then. Furthermore, the reactor is not the same design as Chernobyl, but is in fact a lightwater reactor whose design is well-regarded internationally, and is widely used. In fact if you're worried about reactors built on earthquake zones, I suggest greater concern for places such as San Onofre in California. OH and PS — the suggestion that Iranians are somehow incapable of building safe things is racist. And FYI it was the US that pressured the IAEA to cease technical cooperation with Iran.
To me at least it will be hysterically funny to watch the same Greens who today scream and pout that all countries must abandon nuclear power because of Fukushima, defend to the death Iran's 'peaceful' nuclear program after Bushr half falls in the ocean after an earthquake, polluting the Persian Gulf for the next 3,000 years.
The day that Iran is destroyed will be a happy day indeed, if, by the grace of G-d the nuclear fallout engulfs the other dictatorships in the region such as UAE and Qatar then all the better, I hope they all melt and blow up like the kid in terminator. Israel is a free democratic multi-faith modern country that has contributed so much to the world. It is our friend and we must fight alongside Israel again the scourge of extremist Islam.