Iran sends message to U.S. through Algeria

.tehrantimes.com ^ | March 1, 2005 | UPI

[F14 Pilot]

ALGIERS (UPI) -- Algerian officials said Sunday Iran asked them to send a message to the United States that Tehran will defend its right to nuclear energy.

An official source told United Press International on condition of anonymity that the visit to Algeria last week by Hassan Rowhani, secretary-general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was aimed at "sending a clear message to Washington that Iran is ready to defend its right to possess nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."

The source said Rowhani asked for Algeria's support on the nuclear issue and to tell the United States his country "is not Afghanistan or Iraq because America waged a war against a group of scattered people in the mountains in Afghanistan and fought a war against a dictator unwanted by his people in Iraq."

Rowhani reportedly told Algerian officials the United States does not have the right to "determine who has the right to own nuclear energy and who doesn't."

Last week, Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, who enjoys close relations with the United States and Iran, criticized "attempts by powerful nations to monopolize nuclear technology."

[McGavin999]

After watching the people of Lebanon today the mad mullahs are probably scared to death. I only hope that the Iranian people took away the lesson they are being shown. People standing together are so strong that none can stand against them. When it's time, the Iranian people will take to the streets and the Iranian military will guard them against the extremists.

[daybreakcoming]

Yes, and does Algeria really want to be the mid-east Switzerland in this? A no-win situation for them. They need US assistance in fighting their own terrorism plus our technology know-how for their massive NG development. On the other hand, Iran will twist it off in them if they don't.