U.S. intelligence agencies have publicly presented their finding that Syria was building a secret nuclear reactor with help from North Korea. The reactor complex, which could have produced the material for nuclear weapons, was attacked in September by the Israeli Air Force. After the site was bombed, Syria itself destroyed what was left. White House press secretary Dana Perino said that “This cover-up only served to reinforce our confidence that this reactor was not intended for peaceful purposes.”

When Israel bombed the Syrian nuclear site, the U.S. remained studiously silent about the attack. U.S. President George Bush said that caution dictated keeping quiet. “We were concerned,” he said, “that an early disclosure would increase the risk of a confrontation in the Middle East.” Why, then, did the United States finally, nearly eight months later, provide an extensive briefing on the Syrian facility? President Bush said that he wanted to send a message both to North Korea and Iran.

The U.S. is particularly concerned about Iran's effort to acquire a nuclear capability because of that nation's long-standing support of terrorism. The State Department recently released its annual report on international terrorism and found that Iran is still the world's most active state sponsor of terrorism. Iran's nuclear program means that the clerical regime may “have the capability to manufacture weapons of mass destruction that could get into the hands of terrorists.” Like its ally Iran, Syria has long sponsored terrorist violence. Can nuclear proliferation be stopped?

Our Guests:

 Gordon Chang, author of the book: “Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World”

 Farid Ghadry, president of the Reform Party of Syria

 Ilan Berman, vice president for policy at the American Foreign Policy Council and author of the book: “Tehran Rising: Iran's Challenge to the United States”

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