Nuclear scientist killed in Tehran was Iran's top Stuxnet expert

Post by natrius » Mon, Dec 06, 2010, 8:14 AM UTC

sliverstorm wrote: post #30

Leptosiphon wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to Iran, scientists aren't working on a weapons system, they are part of a civilian program to produce nuclear power plants. Following your logic, the people who competed in the DARPA grand challenge are not civilians and are legitimate targets for assassination by another world power.

What are you talking about, 'legitimate targets'? There are no rules who they are allowed to attack and not allowed to attack. 'They' are capable of targeting any man in this country they like. This is why you either make friends with other countries or carry the biggest stick. We're already talking acts of war, it's not like you can increase the backlash any further than a declaration of war. I think you're forgetti…

Post by natrius » Mon, Dec 06, 2010, 8:24 AM UTC

cma wrote: post #21

natrius wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're a scientist working on weapons systems (which is a debatable claim in this instance), you're not a civilian.

I don't disagree with you, but you can take it further: what if someone is growing potatoes, some of which go to feed weapons systems (troops)?

Post by natrius » Mon, Dec 06, 2010, 8:41 AM UTC

sliverstorm wrote: post #35

natrius wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Geneva_Convention

If we or someone else who signed that is the one making a strike, sure. But it won't always be. It could even be a country that signed it, but is aiming for complete dominance, and throws out the rules because they are already at war with the rest of the world anyway.

Post by berntb » Mon, Dec 06, 2010, 8:53 AM UTC

natrius wrote: post #23

Leptosiphon wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to Iran, scientists aren't working on a weapons system, they are part of a civilian program to produce nuclear power plants. Following your logic, the people who competed in the DARPA grand challenge are not civilians and are legitimate targets for assassination by another world power.

DARPA funds the Grand Challenge so the technology can eventually be used to defend the country. I would not consider killing scientists involved in the competition to be a war crime; it would just be a garden variety act of war. I know little about the international law involved in such distinctions, but it makes logical sense to me. In my estimation, attacking DARPA-funded scientists is more likely to be "okay" than…

Post by yuvadam » Mon, Dec 06, 2010, 10:04 AM UTC

Aloisius wrote: post #31

yuvadam wrote: post #25

All sings hint at the fact that this is a classic Mossad operation. The MO of a drive-by, close range, shooting or small explosive, is classic Mossad - and has been used in the past. That said, DEBKAfile is a dubious source of educated speculation - at best. It is not considered a news source, and it does not operate by any standard. They publish mere theories which are loosely backed by hard facts. It does make a go…

That MO sounds familiar. I had no idea there were so many Mossad operations in south central LA.