Posted on 01/18/2005 11:57:07 PM PST by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Tehran denies US nuclear spy missions in Iran
By Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran and Guy Dinmore in Washington
Published: January 18 2005 18:41 | Last updated: January 18 2005 18:41
Iran on Tuesday dismissed a report that US commandos were carrying out secret missions inside the country and lashed out at US policy in Iraq.
Ali Agha-Mohammadi, head of the propaganda committee of the Supreme National Security Council, said a report in the New Yorker magazine that claimed the US had started to identify alleged hidden nuclear sites inside Iran as potential targets in its war against terror, was part of a campaign of “psychological warfare”.
“The entry of American commandos for espionage is not that easy. It would be naive to believe it,” he told Iran's state radio.
Another senior Iranian official who asked not to be named saw the article as a US reaction to the talks that had been taking place this month between Iran and the EU 3-- Britain, Germany and France on curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
“Americans now leak such stories to adversely affect Iran-EU talks which are progressing now. This is to exert more pressure on Iran and to imply that they are pursuing their own methods. It is part of their carrot and stick policy,” the official told the Financial Times.
The US administration has accused Iran of seeking weapons of mass destruction and interfering in neigh-bouring Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, on Tuesday lashed out at the US over its policy on Iraq, saying Washington would not tolerate a democratic outcome to the elections inIraq.
In a message to Muslim pilgrims in Mecca, Mr Khamenei said there were two threats to the Iraqi elections: “First, rigging the votes, in which Americans are experts.”
But in the event of the “politically-minded and educated youth” of Iraq managing to prevent the vote-rigging, the second threat was “a military coup andthe imposition of another dictator”.
In a sign there would be no let-up in Washington's hostile rhetoric towards Iran, Condoleezza Rice, nominated as secretary of state, on Tuesday included Iran in a list of six countries she described as “outposts of tyranny”.
“We cannot rest until every person living in a fear society has finally won their freedom,” she told the Senate foreign relations committee in her prepared statement.
“In the Middle East, President Bush has broken with six decades of excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in hoping to purchase stability at the price of liberty.
“The stakes could not be higher. As long as the broader Middle East remains a region of tyranny and despair and anger, it will produce extremists and movements that threaten the safety of America and our friends.”
But, in a speech that laid the emphasis on diplomatic rather than military solutions in the second Bush administration, Ms Rice stressed the importance of working with allies in insisting that Iran and North Korea abandon their nuclear weapons.
I that Ms. Ebadi's refusal to appear before the Revolutionary court may be a powerful symbol. The mullahs tried to intimidate and silence her - but she stood up to the regime. Good for her! She stood up to them. Now, the regime has relented. Now they say the summons was a 'mistake.' I'm sure it was. </sarcasm>
Now, we have a well-known Iranian standing up to the regime. Hey, maybe this will instigate something in Iranian society. They see that she stood up to the Iranian regime, and they backed down, not her. Perhaps the common Iranian will have similar thoughts? Maybe in the near future swaths of Iranian society will boldly stand up the regime in a public manner? True, Ebadi was sort of protected by the international media; if she was harmed, even the Europeans might be displeased. The US was outwardly pressuring Iran not to harm her.
Maybe this could be it? The straw that breaks the camel's back? The hairline crack in a structure that quickly leads to structural collapse???
It's been absolutely amazing to read the reports of the last few days. The mainstream media is now openly talking about engaging Iran. Regime change may soon become official policy of the US gov't in regards to Iran. Regime may soon be coming to Syria, too, especially if Iran falls. Then Lebanon will fall with it. And without Syria and Iran, Mahmoud Abbas will have less pressure to allow terrorism against Israel (I still haven't decided if Abbas is either an Isreal-hating terrorist, or a spineless politician at heart).
The terrorists appear to be in their worst position since 9/11. And it's rapidly deteriotating!
Look for clues tomorrow in Bush's inaugural speech. Hey, it's theme is supposed to be freedom and liberty. Two of my favorite subjects.
Freedom is on the march!
Throw in Khamenie and ya got a deal!
DOWN WITH THE DICTATORS
Yeah, Media are paying attention to Iran and the freedom/reform movement in Iran now.
bump
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