IRAN READY (TO) HIT BACK AT THE USA WITH TERRORISM

Pravda ^ | 04-25-2002 13:32 | Oleg Artyukov, PRAVDA.Ru

[Bronco Buster]

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami left for the republic of Kazakhstan after the summit of the Caspian countries In Ashkhabad. Khatami and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed issues of economic cooperation between the two countries. Khatami paid attention to the serious subject of the presence of American troops in Central Asia: in Uzbekistan and in Kyrgyzstan.

Iran’s president said that the presence of the American army in the Central Asian republics was “humiliating for our countries, which have their own right to solve their problems independently and determine what is good and what is bad for them.”

President Khatami believes that such actions on the part of the USA infringe upon the sovereign rights of a nation and lead to drastic reactions in response, which sometimes takes the form of terrorism.

However, Kazakh president did not comment on the subject. Nazarbayev did not either condemn or support the statements from the president of Iran. No wonder: US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is scheduled to arrive in the republic of Kazakhstan this weekend; therefore, it is needless to mention that Nursultan Nazarbayev would not like to overshadow the beginning of Rumsfeld's visit with the support of anti-American statements from the Iranian leader.

We should mention one more aspect. President Khatami is considered to be almost a "liberal" politician in the West, who is open for dialogue with politicians of all countries. However, it is not likely that the European countries will understand Khatami’s words that justified terrorism against the United States (not to mention the USA itself).

However, one should not wait for anything else from the president of Iran. Washington is not likely to achieve any kind of mutual understanding with Tehran after all those “axis of evil” statements. Khatami did not limit himself with the criticism of the US military presence in Central Asia. The Iranian leader called upon the government of Kazakhstan to support the project of building a pipeline that will reach the terminals of the Persian Gulf via the territory of Iran.

“I think that owing to the wise politics of esteemed President Nazarbayev, we will soon witness the construction of a new pipeline via the territory of Iran," – Khatami stated. "This is the most reliable, cheapest, and shortest way to transport oil.”

As it is known, there exists another oil project: the pipeline from Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan) to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Americans are very active lobbyists of this project, but its implementation has been delayed several times due to the unstable political situation in the Caucasian region. This project does not have a successful future of its realization in the nearest future, and Kazakhstan might not support Khatami’s offer, although Nazarbayev announced Kazakhstan’s interest in diversification with the help of oil deliveries to the international market. The Kazakh president added that Kazakhstan’s transporting abilities would be enough until 2010.

On the whole, it is too early to say that Iran and Kazakhstan will establish close economic and political cooperation. Kazakhstan really wants to develop relations with the USA. It is not hard to guess what reaction Washington will have if Kazakhstan and Iran start building an oil pipeline. This project will be possible to realize only after the USA and Iran find a common language, which is not likely in the nearest future.

Translated by Dmitry Sudakov

[blam]

""444 DAYS!"

'Til what?"

That's how long Iran held our citizens hostage.

[AdvisorB]

First, khatami has little control over the military, the police, the judiciary, and there is a growing sense among "Teheranologists" that little k is nothing but a mirage designed to mask the real rulers of Iran, the bloodthirsty mullahs and ayatollahs. I think the "spiritual leader" Khomeini is the de facto ruler of this shiite prison camp.

As to Iranian involvement in terrorism, I think the ayatollahs are up to their necks in it. What Germany was to Nazism was to in the 30's, so Iran is to world terrorism today. We have to ultimately deal with these islamo-fascists, better to deal with them before they have weapons of mass destruction (nuclear) and the ability to deliver them.

[sheik yerbouty]

I think we can speed it up to one day; a "Super Sunday" in which all "business" with the jihadists is settled.

[truth_seeker]

I say we go with CIA-led assassinations of troublesome dictators (each one followed by strong denials on the part of administration, of course.)

I will deny that I concurred with this.

[kinghorse]

But Zogby doesn't have an agenda. He is a nice non-partisan American.

Not

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

The political and religious situations in Iran and Iraq are a humiliation to humanity and will be corrected soon!!

[jrewingjr]

Like Michael Corleone taking care of Moe Green and the rest. Do it fast, hard, and ruthlessly. At the same time. Leave everyone's heads spinning- literally in some cases.

[sheik yerbouty]

Let their heads roll! A buzkashi game could then be organized..

[a_Turk]

Can't touch Iran or anyone else now with Israel freelancing, though..

I don't see why.

Iran, Irak, that's a bunch of more than 80 million people.. 80 million potential beligerants. If they have hold the religion card, then you have 1.5 billion potential adversaries. Sharon has brushed the dust off of the religion card on the table for them, so that it is now in reach and shining bright. We stand the chance of getting hit from all sides if we expose ourselves in an attack on Iran or Irak. They know this, and they are therefore more brazen now.

This situation also makes Afghanistan a potential political liability over time, as that population can also be played with the same card by those players. The chances of the US sharing the same fate as the USSR in Afghanistan was slim before Sharon's adventure. --- This does not mean that I think Israel should not defend itself, it should.. But as a team player. Playing solo, Sharon has screwed the US.

[Anamensis]

I disagree. Islam has been gathering malevolent force at least since the overthrow of the Shah, and I do believe that OKC bombing was conducted with collaberating Islamists somewhere in the picture. And of course we know the first WTC bombing back in 1993 was, as was the attack on the USS Cole. We can't possibly blame all this on the Jews, it just doesn't wash. And our country has been woefully careful not to upset those who already hate our guts. 7 months have gone by since 9-11 and we know darn well that we are daily shaking hands with the financiers of the attack. We had 6 and a half months to do something about it before Sharon started this crackdown. No, again, I can't see this blame the Jews approach being valid at all.

[a_Turk]

believe that OKC bombing was conducted with collaberating Islamists somewhere in the picture

Knowledge over belief where the ridiculous is not preferred..

Disagree all you want. The lull in the action is caused by Sharon stirring the pot and messing up the US positioning...

[a_Turk]

We can't possibly blame all this on the Jews

Obviously not. I'm not blaming "all this" on "the Jews." I'm saying that Sharon is a selfish freelancer who has screwed up the US's position in this fight against terror. Sharon does not equal the Jews, all of the activity you mention happened before Sharon. Don't try to turn my criticism of Sharon into some sort of criticism of the Jews. That's what won't wash.

[muawiyah]

Pay closer attention to those "wells filling back up" stories - some wells in the Gulf Coast actually have more oil in them now than when they were abandoned.

No wells are filling up fast enough to do any good in the here and now - maybe in 10 centuries, but not today!

This was discussed in a different thread earlier this week.

[Maelstrom]

They have no idea what it means to be "ready" to strike at my nation.

[DBtoo]

Actually, the Persians as a race or whatever you're suppose to call it these days, perhaps ethnic group, are a good-looking people. The women tend to be very feminine and pretty. A good number of them are very beautiful.

[Frances_Marion]

Khatami is a fraud. He used to be a policy maker in Rafsanjani's cabinet, unless there's another Mohammed Khatami...Rafsanjani is the ex PM guy you'll often hear making nuclear threats against Israel, etc. Khatami is just a smokescreen prop of the Mullahs.

It's time to start dropping the transistor radios over Iran and kick up Radio Free Islam or whatever....put on some of the Mojahedin guys or whoever.

[Frances_Marion]

"Actually, the Persians as a race or whatever you're suppose to call it these days, perhaps ethnic group, are a good-looking people. The women tend to be very feminine and pretty. A good number of them are very beautiful."

Yes, they are. ALL YOUR WOMEN ARE BELONG TO US! ;)

[MarkL]

Iran’s president said that the presence of the American army in the Central Asian republics was “humiliating for our countries, which have their own right to solve their problems independently and determine what is good and what is bad for them.”

They had that right until the events of September 11!Once they brought that stuff over here, they should be prepared for a very bad time.

Mark

[sheik yerbouty]

This has more to do with rebuilding our weapons stores than anything else.