WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's bring in our analyst, Pat Lang, a former Pentagon official. You've been watching and listening to the testimony as I have. How close is it in your assessment right now that the Iraqis might be on the verge of developing that nuclear capability?</s>PAT LANG, FMR. PENTAGON OFFICIAL: Given their level of expertise, and the amount of time they've had free of inspection, I would say that four, five or six months, anything like that, you could have an initial detonation of a non-deliverable device in the desert, which would be real bad, because then as soon as he does that, you would begin to be deterred from actions against him.</s>BLITZER: In other words, the clock is ticking right now precisely for that formula, that situation?</s>LANG: I think that's right. And the witnesses have all made that case quite skillfully today, that the time running out for us, and we have to face a different geostrategic situation if the Iraqis all of a sudden do turn out to have nuclear devices.</s>BLITZER: If the -- one of the witnesses Anthony Cortisman, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies here in Washington, a respected think tank, he said it would by no means be a cakewalk if the president authorizes military action. The Iraqi military has been rebuilt and has some impressive capabilities.</s>LANG: Yes, they are a substantial third world army. And they operate at about the level, with their best units, of World War II, which is a considerable level, and you run the risk if you went in there with an insufficient force, of having some people isolated in there by small units; you might be overwhelmed by locally superior forces, something we all certainly don't want to see.</s>BLITZER: Pat Lang, thanks for joining us once again, and we'll continue to come back to you. The hearings are expected to resume within the next few minutes.
How Close is Iraq to Developing Nuclear Capability?