Posted on 01/28/2006 6:24:36 PM PST by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Last Minute Obstacles to Iran's referral to UNSC.
- Forbes reported that ElBaradei called on the United States to provide Iran with nuclear reactors.
- The Financial Times reported that Kofi Annan strengthened Iran's hand in the nuclear stand-off.
- Reuters reported that Iran's chief nuclear negotiator dampened hopes that Tehran was leaning toward a compromise.
- Reuters reported that Iran has pledged access for U.N. inspectors to equipment from the former Lavisan military site in a possible bid to avert a crackdown by the U.N. nuclear watchdog (IAEA) next week.
Regime attempts to crush the leadership of Saturday's Strike in Tehran.
- SMCCDI reported that hundreds of Tehran's Collective Bus drivers, technicians and workers have been arrested, since yesterday, following the issuance of a notice of strike, scheduled for Saturday. Major reports expected tomorrow.
The MKO/MEK
- Iran Press Service reported that the leadership of MKO now reject an armed struggle with the Iranian regime and commits itself only to non-violent means of struggle, in an attempt to lose its terrorist designation by the western powers.
- Ali Safavim, FrontPageMagazine.com responded to Michael Rubin's article on the Mujahedeen-e Khalq.
- Michael Rubin, FrontPageMagazine.com argued that Ali Safavi’s response is dishonest but useful as a study of Mujahedin-e Khalq (MKO) tactics.
All of the major powers are now support the Russian proposal.
- The New York Times reported that President Bush and the Chinese government both declared their full support for a Russian proposal..
- BBC News reported that China's government has said: Plans to enrich uranium in Russia for use in Iran could help break a global stalemate over Tehran's nuclear aims.
- USInfo.State.gov reported that UN Ambassador John Bolton said that placing the Iran crisis under the spotlight of the Security Council, will “help dramatize the extent of world opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and demonstrate to them that the course they are pursuing is not acceptable.”
- Reuters reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: Iran is "feeling the heat" of international pressure over its nuclear program.
Was Bush's Endorsement of the Russian proposal a mistake?
- The New York Sun Blog argued that while the president may be counting on Iran to reject Russia's offer but it also permits Iran the opportunity to now negotiate with Moscow for months on end, giving Iran more time to build its bomb.
US Poll on Iran.
- FOX News reported that according to their polling Americans think Iran is the country that poses the greatest immediate danger to the United States. Read the poll results.
Talk of War.
- Gerard Baker, The Times argued that we need to prepare ourselves for the unthinkable, saying: War against Iran may be a necessity.
- Asia Times believes that the Bush administration planning for possible military action against Iranian nuclear facilities appears to have focused on commando operations to sabotage them rather than on air attacks.
- Middle East Newsline reminded us that just last month; Iran completed a huge military exercise that tested Teheran's ability to attack Western shipping and Arab oil facilities in the Gulf.
- Sahar khanom-e-aziz, Countdown argued that if the more ideologically oriented Iranian armed forces 9IRGC, etc) crumble for any reason (including strikes by the US) the traditional Iranian army has the potential to step in and end the conflict. That could be our winning card.
More from the unbelievable Ahmadinejad.
- European Jewish Press reported that Iran said it was willing to send a team of "independent investigators" to visit former Nazi deaths camps across Europe.
- The International Herald Tribune reported that Iran has asked the United States to allow direct flights between the two countries.
- Meysam Tavab, Rooz Online reported that Ahmadinejad's government has asked Iran's Parliament to stop making foreign policy pronouncements.
- Shahram Rafizadeh, Rooz Online argued that the increasing international pressure on Iran has motivated Iranian leaders to search for younger neighboring allies, instead of depending on traditional diplomacy.
Here are a few other news items you may have missed.
- The Jerusalem Post reported that the former head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said Hamas must choose Iran or Israel alliance.
- Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that the victory of Hamas could lead to a civil war within Gaza and the West Bank and an Islamic theocracy.
- World Tribune.com reported that Iran reported investors have poured $23 billion in the development of the South Pars natural gas field.
- Josh Gerstein, New York Sun reported that Bush's endorsement of a plan to end the nuclear standoff with Iran has left some of his supporters baffled. The proposal, essentially adopts a strategy advocated by Senator Kerry. style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo6'>The New York Sun reported that the man who served as the no. 2 official in Saddam Hussein's air force says Iraq moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the war.
- AxisGlobe reported that Iran is preparing to help Georgia in its gas crisis with Russia.
- BBC News reported that India has summoned the US ambassador to Delhi after comments he made over India's relations with Iran.
- VOA News reported that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that he will go ahead with plans to build a natural gas pipeline to Iran, despite U.S. pressure, unless the US wants to compensate them for giving it up.
- And finally, ET, View from Iran published another of his "Tehran Taxi talks."
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So what is the possibility of a peaceful revolution within Iran right now?
I don't think Bolton is going to accept any delays and it surely doesn't take much time to withhold UN funding.
Bolton takes his orders from Condi. Condi takes her orders from the President. It isn't Bolton's call.
Great plan. It worked so well with the North Koreans.
The best solution has always been for the people of Iran to free themselves.
We have been waiting (and hoping) long enough to know this is clearly not going to happen.
It only takes one side to start a war, and Iran is clearly intent on doing so. The only question is: Will we strike first?
Side Note: Israel has no choice. If the U.S. fails to act, Israel MUST. The political/military consequences would be much worse if Israel is the entity to take action, so I would expect the U.S. to do the job. Right now it looks like even Great Britain intends to wimp out, so we will have to act alone.
But we've done sorry little to assist.
Excellent point!
I see this as El Baradei, simply saying the u.n. is impotent & can't fix this. He has effectively given us the green light to eliminate the problem.
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