Iran `stockpiling' weapons legally

Iran is quietly building a stockpile of thousands of high-tech small arms and other military equipment -- from armor-piercing snipers' rifles to night-vision goggles -- through legal weapons deals and a UN anti-drug program, according to an internal UN document, arms dealers and Western diplomats.

The buying spree is raising Bush administration fears that the arms could end up with militants in Iraq. Tehran also is seeking approval for a UN-funded satellite network that Iran says it needs to fight drug smugglers, stoking US worries it could be used to spy on Americans in Iraq or Afghanistan -- or any US reconnaissance in Iran itself.

embargo

The US has a strict embargo on most trade with Iran, which it accuses of supporting terrorist organizations and trying to build nuclear arms.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/03/27/2003247959

In 20 years from the FOIA, we'll find out up to March 25th, 2005 Cheney/Halliburton were still selling arms to Iran.

From an invasion.

Oh, this is going to be a fun year.

Considering the precedent now in place, they can probably make a case for a pre-emptive strike against either Israel or the U.S.

Ooooops ...

I think the realists in Iran respect Israel's military power, their willingness to use it and the intelligence that guides more than they do ours.

It is an essential aspect of having a military force, which all countries have (some may call them self defense forces, though).

I'd get several nuclear weapons as soon as possible.