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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Leak Forced Obama's Hand on Iran Nukes

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(Newser) – Yesterday's surprise announcement at the G20 summit of the existence of a hidden Iranian nuclear enrichment facility wasn't the way President Obama planned to handle the information, Politico reports. His hand was forced by a reporter who learned of a letter in which Iran notified the UN's nuclear watchdog agency in Vienna of the previously undisclosed site under construction since 2005 in a mountain near Qom.  

AP reporter George Jahn broke the story yesterday morning, but he is thought to have tipped off western officials to its existence earlier, prompting Obama to share the information with heads of state in Pittsburgh, and go public. He'd have preferred to keep the information private ahead of next week's international talks with Iran. "We would have been better off not announcing and keeping it as leverage and a way to see if the Iranians kept their word in a future deal,” an analyst tells Politico.    

President Obama, flanked by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaks on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh.
President Obama, flanked by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaks on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Obama, Gordon Brown, and Nicolas Sarkozy leave the stage after making a joint statement on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
President Obama, Gordon Brown, and Nicolas Sarkozy leave the stage after making a joint statement on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Obama, followed by Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy arrives to make a statement on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
President Obama, followed by Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy arrives to make a statement on Iran's nuclear facility, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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21 comments
VIEWING:
 
Reader60610265
Sep 26, 09 7:34 AM CDT
Mr President Bend down turn around and give them a wink. Reply
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-8
Jayster999
Sep 26, 09 7:58 AM CDT
Meet the new prez--same as the old prez... Reply
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-4
IN RESPONSE:
kyleleitch
Sep 26, 09 4:07 PM CDT
I don't typically agree with you, Jayster, but this time I have to thumb you up. I know I'll get some thumbs down, but I rather appreciate being told about a secret nuclear facility that could endanger my well being at some point down the road... I'm sorry it makes your job harder, Mr. President, but get over it. It's your job to deal with hard stuff.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
njgreen
Sep 26, 09 8:33 AM CDT
Wow, you seem to hate a little bit of everyone!
Vote up! Vote down!
+8
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Sep 26, 09 9:24 AM CDT
Webqueen's disrespect is disgusting and serves no purpose -- for anyone. Webqueen/Buh/TheMan/CK. Will you ever grow up?
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