#1
Jeeze, I think we are on our own. Can anyone tell me how long have we got until the I-A-Toll-A drops a "peaceful" NORK dirty bomb on US Troops in Afa-Gan-e-Stan ?
IRAN will test-fire its long-range Shahab 3 missile tomorrow as part of continuing missile manoeuvres, a commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards Corps says.
"Tomorrow we will test the long-range Shahab missile," Hossein Salami said, referring to the Shahab 3.
He also said, without elaborating, that the Guards tested a "multiple missile launcher for the first time" today.
The country fired two short-range missiles as it began war games today, two days after the UN nuclear watchdog disclosed that Tehran was building a second uranium enrichment plant.
Iran's state-owned Al-Alam and Press TV channels reported that the missiles fired were of the Tondar and Fateh 110 type.
Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/27/2009 9:29 Comments ||
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#2
President BHO said "The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim-majority country - I know, because I am one of them."
[Al Arabiya Latest] Iran's nuclear chief said on Saturday that Tehran will put its newly disclosed uranium enrichment plant under the supervision of the United Nations atomic watchdog as Israel said Tehran was seeking nuclear weapons and demanded an "unequivocal" Western response.
"This site will be under the supervision of the IAEA and will have a maximum of five percent (uranium) enrichment capacity," Ali Akbar Salehi said on state television, adding the plant is "not an industrial scale" unit.
He said the plant is being set up as a "precautionary measure in case of an unwanted incident against our nuclear program."
Salehi said Iran's nuclear installations are facing "threats every day" and so Tehran "had to take measures to disperse its installations."
Earlier on Saturday Salehi said Tehran will fix a date for IAEA inspectors to visit the new plant, located south of the capital.
"As the president said, we have no problem for inspection within the framework of the agency regulations," Salehi said, in an earlier appearance on state television.
Salehi said the new plant is located on the road between Tehran and the holy city of Qom.
#2
Barring a daring, direct and highly risky action by Israel, eighteen months from now the discussion will have moved on to containment strategies for living with a nuclear-armed Iran.
The toothless arguments now being bandied about as to how best to proceed to stop a state with a dangerous ideology from achieving its nuclear ambitions will carry on, howver; they will apply to Venezuela, which will head down the exact same road with the help of technical assistance supplied by Russia and Iran!
[Al Arabiya Latest] Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday he would visit Iran in October and would bring up the Islamic republic's controversial nuclear program in talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Erdogan was speaking to reporters after Western leaders on Friday accused Iran of concealing a nuclear plant it is constructing southwest of Tehran. U.S. President Barack Obama warned Iran it would face "sanctions that bite" if it did not come clean.
But Erdogan urged caution. "Those sanctions won't bring about anything good for the people (of Iran)," he said. "So I think we have to be careful."
Asked if Turkey, which borders Iran, would support fresh U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran, Erdogan said: "Without seeing what would be in the resolution, it's difficult to say. We would look at the text and we would make our contribution and then we would make a decision."
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Posted by: Fred ||
09/27/2009 00:00 ||
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Link ||
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[Iran Press TV Latest] A suggestion by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that his American counterpart should see Iran as a potential 'friend' has prompted criticism from his fellow conservatives.
During an interview with Associated Press on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said should President Barack Obama decide to change US policy toward Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Mideast, he will find a friend in Iran.
A prominent member of Iran's Parliament, Ahmad Tavakoli, on Saturday branded the president's comments as "harmful."
"This particular sentence is exceptionally soft... and this softness is useless and harmful, as Obama is yet to show a change of heart towards Iran," Tavakoli told Mehr news agency.
The Majlis member said he wished to see concrete change from the American president, arguing that "sheer talk is not enough."
Conservative Iranian politician and former military commander Mohsen Rezai said that the president's remarks will only serve the interests of the Europeans.
"I don't know why and based on what analysis did he make those comments, but this kind of wording is not in our interests," Rezaei added.
US allies in the green continent, the former guard said, will try to exert more pressure on the Islamic Republic and to "take matters in their own hands."
Iran and officials from the six world powers -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany -- are expected to meet in Geneva on the first day of October.
While the Obama administration insists that the meeting will address Iran's nuclear program, Ahmadinejad has said that discussions on the nuclear issue were "finished."
Iran on September 21 informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it is building a second uranium enrichment plant, allegedly near the central city of Qom.
The new plant, a letter form the Islamic Republic said, will produce enriched uranium up to 5 percent, consistent with its nuclear energy program.
During a press conference on September 25, the presidents of the United States and France said that all options were on the table with regards to Iran.
British Prime Minster Gordon Brown said that Iran's "serial deception" in its nuclear work demanded a tougher action by the international community.
This is while at another press conference on the afternoon of the same day, Ahmadinejad insisted that not only was the announcement an indication of Iran's transparency on the issue of nuclear program, but a sign of its willingness to comply with IAEA regulations.
"According to the IAEA rules, countries must inform the agency 6 months ahead of the gas injection in their uranium enrichment plants. We have done it 18 months ahead and this should be appreciated not condemned," Ahmadinejad said.
[Iran Press TV Latest] After Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the United States owes Iran an apology over attributing a secretive, military nature to the country's nuclear program, the US defense secretary rules out the prospect of any such apology.
Speaking in the Pittsburgh Convention Center on Friday, President Barack Obama called a newly-disclosed Iranian nuclear facility "a direct challenge to the basic foundation of the nonproliferation regime."
He also said that Iran's second enrichment facility -- which will reportedly house up to 3,000 centrifuges -- "is inconsistent with a peaceful (nuclear) program" and demonstrates a "disturbing pattern" of evasion by Iran.
However, Iran's Ahmadinejad was quick to respond to the remarks, saying, "This does not mean we must inform Mr. Obama's administration of every facility that we have."
In an exclusive interview with the editors of TIME, President Ahmadinejad said the claim "simply adds to the list of issues to which the United States owes the Iranian nation an apology over. Rest assured that this will be the case. We do everything transparently."
When asked by an ABC News correspondent if Iran will get an apology after President Ahmadinejad's demand, Defense Secretary Robert Gates replied: "Not a chance."
Gates came out in support of the view that Iran's nuclear program is an expanding weapons program, arguing that "If this were a peaceful nuclear program, why didn't they announce this site when they began to construct it? Why didn't they allow IAEA inspectors in from the very beginning?"
"This is part of a pattern of deception and lies on the part of the Iranians from the very beginning with respect to their nuclear program," he added.
Iran announced the existence of the facility on September 21 in a letter to the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The IAEA has called for immediate access to the site, believed to be near Iran's central city of Qom.
Iranian officials say the facility will be operational in about two years, adding that it is "legal and open for inspection."
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Posted by: Fred ||
09/27/2009 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[11144 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
Hows about we send a bunker buster or 10 to inspect the site? I mean, since it will be open and all.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
09/27/2009 1:45 Comments ||
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Now is the time to act to halt the Iranian nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Senators and Congress members over the weekend.
The prime minister's message, which he made in telephone conversations, came a day after evidence of a clandestine Iranian nuclear facility was presented by U.S. President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain and France at the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh.
"If not now, then when?" Netanyahu reportedly asked in the conversations with American officials.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Saturday that the newly exposed nuclear facility in Iran was built for military purposes and was proof that the Islamic Republic is seeking atomic weapons.
"I spoke this weekend with experts from the East and West," Lieberman told Israel Radio. "No one has any doubt, according to the technical data that was published, it's a military core. The disagreement has been done away with."
Israeli leaders have repeatedly expressed alarm over Iran's nuclear ambitions and refused to rule out pre-emptive military action to stop Iran developing an atomic weapon.
Tehran insists its nuclear plans are peaceful and has resisted U.S.-led diplomatic pressure to curb its uranium enrichment, which can be used to generate electricity or make bombs.
On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama demanded that Iran come clean about its nuclear program or risk "sanctions that bite," after the disclosure that a new plant was under construction southwest of Tehran.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the facility was legal and open for inspection by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Saturday that the newly exposed nuclear facility in Iran was built for military purposes and was proof that the Islamic Republic is seeking atomic weapons.
"I spoke this weekend with experts from the East and West," Lieberman told Israel Radio. "No one has any doubt, according to the technical data that was published, it's a military core. The disagreement has been done away with."
Israeli leaders have repeatedly expressed alarm over Iran's nuclear ambitions and refused to rule out pre-emptive military action to stop Iran developing an atomic weapon.
Tehran insists its nuclear plans are peaceful and has resisted U.S.-led diplomatic pressure to curb its uranium enrichment, which can be used to generate electricity or make bombs.
On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama demanded that Iran come clean about its nuclear program or risk "sanctions that bite," after the disclosure that a new plant was under construction southwest of Tehran.
#3
I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear. quote - Barack Obama
#4
Saw an interview with Netanyahu on ABC. He comes across as a hard headed, serious and determined individual who sees the world as it is and tells it like it is. Too bad our leaders are not of the same caliber.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
09/27/2009 15:10 Comments ||
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#5
Bibi's admirable - his margin of error does not allow naive dreaming and misplaced hope in "dialogue". I expected him to tell Obama to "shove it" when Teh One suggested a path of Joooo suicide
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/27/2009 15:26 Comments ||
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From Geostrategy Direct, subscription.
ANKARA After decades of enmity, Syria and Turkey have launched strategic cooperation.
In September, the two neighbors signed an agreement meant to launch strategic cooperation, including in the defense and military sectors. The accord also saw the removal of restrictions along the border between Syria and Turkey.
"The brotherhood that exists between our people has been lifted to the political level with joint Cabinet meetings to be held between our two governments," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.
Officials said the government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan regarded Syria as part of Ankara's "zero problems with neighbors" policy. They said Ankara and Damascus have decided to establish what was termed a high-level strategic cooperation panel.
"Turkey is your second country and the people of Turkey have opened their arms to welcome you without the need for a visa," Davutoglu said. Come on in and bring in whatever you want, no questions asked.
At a joint news conference on Sept. 17, Davutoglu and his Syrian counterpart, Walid Mualem, agreed to lift customs on trade between the two countries. They said trucks that shuttle between Syrian and Turkey would be exempt from taxes.
"This is the biggest demonstration of cooperation, solidarity and mutual trust," Mualem said.
Turkish analysts said Syria and Turkey could establish strategic cooperation to the same level as that with Iraq. They said this could marginalize Ankara's military and security cooperation with Israel. That would be putting it mildly.
"It is too early to say that what was often described as Turkey's strategic alliance with Israel is being replaced by Syria," Bulent Alireza, a senior researcher at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said. "However, the increasingly close relationship with Damascus, combined with the recent strains in the relationship with Tel Aviv, seems certain to raise additional questions about a possible change of direction in Turkish foreign policy in the Middle East." Your list of real dependable friends grows thin.
In 2009, Syria and Turkey launched its first military exercise. The exercise took place along the border and was meant to demonstrate joint security cooperation.
The analysts said the Turkish military has not been enthusiastic over cooperation with Syria. Syria has long been seen by the Turkish military as a haven for insurgency groups, including the Kurdish Workers Party. We will have to see what if anything the Turkish military does about this.
"Syrian and Turkish weapons systems are different so I'm doubtful there is much scope for cooperation along these lines," Raymond Hinnebusch, a professor at the University of St. Andrews and author of books on Syria, was quoted in the Turkish media as saying. "Perhaps intelligence sharing, confidence-building measures etc. can develop at a fairly low level of salience."
#2
The Turkish generals like Israel. The prime minister, religious zealot that he is, made it clear that he most definitely agrees with the strongest of the Friday sermons at the mosques. By this we are seeing who won the argument in Turkey.
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trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
IRAN will test-fire its long-range Shahab 3 missile tomorrow as part of continuing missile manoeuvres, a commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards Corps says.
