Along with over 50 bloggers, worldwide, I participated in a One Jerusalem  sponsored interview with former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Dr. Dore Gold, of the Jerusalem Center for Public affairs. Dr. Gold is a best selling author of “Hatred’s Kingdom” about the global influence of Wahhabist Saudi Arabia and “Fight for Jerusalem.”   Dr. Gold’s  latest book  book,  “The Rise of Nuclear Iran” presents a warning about the  dangers of diplomatic engagement with the Mullahs intent on perfecting a nuclear weapon and the waning remaining time for implementing tough sanctions.  You may listen to the One Jerusalem bloggers interview with Dr. Gold,  here.

Gold noted in response to  a blogger question  that several past US Administrations had engaged in discussions with Iran over its nuclear project to no avail .  He referenced the fruitless discussions of the EU three- the U.K., FRG and France with Iran during the period from 2003-2005, during which the Iranians escalated the enrichment process.

 In a telling reply to a blogger’s question about recent BBC and other press reports highlighting limited supplies of uranium feed stocks hobbling Iran’s nuclear weapon project, Gold pointed out that Iran’s internal supplies alone are sufficient to produce  upwards of nearly  two dozen nuclear weapons.  Gold noted that Iran has over 1,500 tons of uranium ore sufficient to produce 22 tons of enriched uranium.  He further noted that based on independent reports, such as those from the Washington-based Institute for Science and Security that Iran’s further enrichment of low yield uranium would result in having two nuclear weapons by early 2010.

When another blogger asked about Iran’s parallel missile development program, Gold drew attention to the development of longer range solid fuel missiles with the capabilities of hitting targets in a radius of 2,500 to 3,500 kilometers, sufficient to attack targets in NATO Countries. He also noted US security concerns about Iran’s launch of spy satellites using multi-stage rockets, as a prelude to development of ICBM’s capable of hitting targets in the US

I posed two questions during the interview. The first was about the Obama Administration deferral of tough quarantine of refined gasoline and diesel fuel deliveries from off-shore refiners that have received bi-partisan support in Congress. The Second dealt with the possible Electronic Magnetic Pulse (EMP) to the US given tests by Iran of missile launches from ships in the Caspian Sea.

On the first matter- gasoline quarantine Congressional proposals- Gold noted how long it took for UN sanctions against the South African apartheid regime to have any effect, 12 years.  He contends that the gasoline quarantine sanctions might be quickly authorized by Congress this fall, should the Obama Administration engagement initiative with Iran fail.

On the matter of the Iranian EMP threat to America, Gold indicated that ship launched  low space altitude nuclear explosions could disrupt electrical grids, fry computer system and disrupt  deliveries  of basic  necessities like water and food supplies resulting in millions of excess deaths. A successful EMP attack off the East Coast could wreak havoc sufficient to return the US economy to a pre-industrial state.

The possible EMP threat posed by a nuclear Iran could be strategically destabilizing according to Gold.  He stated that a country with a small quantity of nuclear tipped near space rockets in a stealth-like EMP scenario could offset a country like the US with a vast inventory of similar weapons.

When asked by a blogger about why Israel hasn’t eliminated the nuclear threat from Iran, Gold  said that so-called “Tom Clancy” scenarios involving use of complicated aerial assaults on multiple targets were unrealistic.  Instead, he noted it is time to move to very harsh sanctions. He also noted that as a former Israeli diplomat that he didn’t delve into such operational matters, perhaps an indication that he knows a fair amount about plausible Israeli military options.

One Jerusalem President, Allen Roth asked Dr. Gold in light of the current political turmoil in Iran that the threat had been diminished.  Gold responded by saying that the Western views of Iran being weakened by the current internal problems was a delusion.  Iran may, in anything, escalate terrorist support actions. He noted that the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran came about during a period of internal turmoil in Iran.  He indicated that Iran might escalate terrorist activities in the Gulf States, Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza.  

Dr. Gold’s new book should be required reading by the Obama White House  National Security Council Middle East staff and Members of Congress who have already evidenced their concerns about stopping Iran’s nuclear threats to both Israel and America.