CNN: A Very Large Ground Force Is the Only Way to Retrieve Enriched Uranium in Iran

EXCERPT:

BERTRAND: “Yeah, Erin, so a big question surrounding this operation, of course, has been what will happen to that highly enriched uranium that Iran still has stockpiles of, that could be used ultimately to create a nuclear weapon? Of course, Iran says it’s not using it for that purpose, but the risk is there. And the only way to ultimately get that material out of Iran is to send special operators and U.S. ground forces in to actually physically retrieve it. And we’re told that that would require a very large ground force, actually. You know, there’s been a lot of talk about just sending a small elite team of special operation forces into Iran to just go into those tunnels, find it and destroy it. But actually, it’s a much more complex operation than that and could require dozens, if not hundreds of additional ground troops to do things like provide outer security. And that might be the 75th Ranger Regiment, might be the 82nd Airborne Division, explosive ordnance disposal experts. It was — it’s a mission that would require extensive air cover as well as exfiltration and infiltration assets to get the troops in and out of the area.”