AS THE PRESIDENT VACATIONS – AT 8:11 A.M. ET:  We're very determined at Urgent Agenda to cover foreign policy and national security, even as attention shifts to our presidential campaign and the economy.  Averting our eyes from foreign threats doesn't eliminate the threats – it simply means we'll get a more costly surprise down the line. 

This is an important story, and it gives us chills:

(Reuters) - Iran has started moving the machines that enrich uranium for nuclear fuel from its main atomic complex in the central city of Natanz to an underground bunker near the holy city of Qom, its top nuclear official was quoted as saying on Monday.

"Transferring Natanz centrifuges to Fordow (near Qom) is under way with full observance of standards," Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani told state broadcaster IRIB. "Fordow's facilities are being prepared and some centrifuges have been transferred."

Iran announced in June that it would shift its production of higher-grade uranium to the underground site at Fordow, in defiance of international calls on Tehran to halt uranium enrichment which some countries say is aimed at developing nuclear bombs, a charge Iran denies.

Iran only disclosed the existence of Fordow to the U.N. nuclear watchdog in September 2009 after learning that Western intelligence agencies had detected the mountain site.

Moving sensitive nuclear work to the underground bunker could offer greater protection against any attacks by Israel or the United States, which have both said they do not rule out pre-emptive strikes to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons.

COMMENT:  I don't think an attack by the U.S. is in the cards under this administration.  Obama has shown very little alarm over Iran's nuclear program, and indifference to the suppression of the Iranian people.  As for Israel, its capabilities are limited, especially if the targets are fully hardened.  And I doubt if it could get even tacit approval from this White House.

At this rate, Iran will have the bomb.  And that technology can be spread to Iran's allies.  It is not a happy thought, and will change the balance of power in the region.  A nuclear Iran will immediately act to bring Iraq into its orbit on one side, and Afghanistan on the other.  A weakened United States, with an aimless president and a slashed defense budget, may offer little or no resistance.

August 22, 2011