Attack on Iran would backfire, warns report

· UK nuclear expert fears for region after air strikes
· Tragedy and turmoil would follow, says Blix

Any military action against Iran's atomic programme is likely to backfire and accelerate Tehran's development of a nuclear bomb, a report today by a British former nuclear weapons scientist warns.

In his report, Frank Barnaby argues that air strikes, reportedly being contemplated as an option by the White House, would strengthen the hand of Iranian hardliners, unite the Iranian population behind a bomb, and would almost certainly trigger an underground crash programme to build a small number of warheads as quickly as possible.

"As soon as you start bombing you unite the population behind the government," Dr Barnaby told The Guardian. "Right now in Iran, there are different opinions about all this, but after an attack you would have a united people and a united scientific community."

In a foreword Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector at the time of the Iraq war, argues that an assault in Iran could turn out to be every bit as disastrous.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,2026550,00.html

anticipated...?" statement from Condi?

Delivered in full Burka, just before our new President Ahmedinejad gives his first State Of The Union Address to the Congress of Mullahs, of course.

fellows.

Don't know how to put a happy face on imperial overreach.