More airport security won't do much to stop terrorists. Leaving the Middle East would.
Ending US interference, including military support for Israel, could significantly reduce the rationale for terrorist acts.
Earlier this week, Osama bin Laden praised the Christmas Day attack in
which a Nigerian-born man living in London attempted to blow up a
Detroit-bound airplane by igniting explosives in his underwear.
Mr. bin Laden's endorsement, along with recent attacks in Baghdad,
raise concerns about a new round of attacks against the United States.
Politicians, security experts, and pundits have therefore called for
heightened security measures at airports and on airplanes.
It won't work without addressing why there are attacks to begin with.
Additional
security measures may prevent a few attacks, at least until terrorists
learn to circumvent the new policies. But these measures will have
little lasting impact, as with many past tactics, because they do
nothing to reduce the demand for terrorism against the US.
If
the desire to engage in a certain activity is not reduced, attempts to
raise the costs (such as harsher punishment) of such an activity do not
matter much.
My conclusion:
This entire thesis rests on the arrogant anthrocentric assumption that it's ALL ABOUT US. This
entire mode if thinking ignores 'insignificant' items of indisputable
history:
FOR STARTERS... today one could argue quite effectively that a
plurality (at a minimum) of Muslims agree that all conquests cultural, by peoples, movements, and finally and most importantly, religiously MUST go
forward as prescribed, in the way of Allah, by other means. The ultimate goal is that the call to prayer be heard everywhere, and that all means of dawa succeed. This has NOTHING to do with where investors decide it's a good idea to put McDonald's, or if a young lady's desire to BE DESIRED is expressed in a tight pair of Levis. What WE do, how WE act can never be more than an IRRITANT in their motion.
Nasrallah's dream, and the Iranians' confidence comes from their faith
that god will make americans weak, not in the field, but by coming up
with rational men whose aversion to all risk will end our ability to
survive and thrive ANYWHERE, placing us in retrograde motion, EVERYWHERE.
In this world the first rule of survival is this: If you are not
growing you are shrinking. That is true personally, in business, and as
a nation. The idea of a plateau is an invention of a shrinking
society's risk averse cowards to justify the act of doing nothing while
they shrink, and pass less onto their descendants.
Less in their way of life. Less in their freedom of action. Less in their economic dreams. Less in THEIR own dreams for THEIR own children. Less, finally, of their own freedoms.
The U.S. has a contingency plan for
dealing with Iran's nuclear program if diplomacy and sanctions
fail, General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in
the region, said in an interview to be aired today on CNN.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The Pakistani military is not ready to meet a U.S. demand that it go after Afghan Taliban leader Siraj Haqqani, officials said.
U.S. officials see Haqqani as a major threat to U.S. forces in Afghanistan
and believe he uses Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area across the
border as a sanctuary, The New York Times reported. Quoting Pakistani
military officials and diplomats, the newspaper reported Pakistani
leaders, while privately irked by U.S. demands, have publicly indicated
the military doesn't have the resources to deal with the matter because
it is involved in major offensives in South Waziristan and elsewhere.
The report said the U.S. demands regarding Haqqani began prior to President Barack Obama's
decision to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and have since
been repeated several times. The demands also have called for the
elimination of the Taliban leadership based in Pakistan's Quetta city,
with indications that if Pakistan cannot act there might be more drone
strikes in Pakistan, the report said.
"It is really beginning to irk and anger us," a security official
identified as being familiar with the deliberations told the Times.
The report said the reason for Pakistan's calculation is a lack of
faith in Obama's troops surge and a need to position itself in any
regional adjustment that might start once the Americans begin to
withdraw from Afghanistan. In such a situation, Haqqani and his
fighters, who control large areas of Afghanistan, would be critical for
Pakistan as it would also involve its main rival India as well as
Russia, China and Iran
Everything important is a stake, and not even Pakistan takes us seriously.
What are the consequences when our 'allies' seek their own exit strategy and we have not lost ANY BATTLE?
Prospects of new war on rise as Hizbullah gains control in Lebanon
WASHINGTON -- Iran's proxies, particularly Hizbullah, are preparing
for an imminent war against Israel, a report said.
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy said that Hizbullah
has increasingly dominated Lebanon and could force the nation into another
war against Israel. In a report, the institute said none of the issues that
led to the 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah in 2006 have been
resolved.
"If the situation does not change significantly, it may only be a matter
of time before a new conflict erupts in and around Lebanon," the report,
titled "A Victory for Islamism: The Second Lebanon War and its
Repercussions," said. "The group has spent the intervening years greatly
expanding its military capacity, to such a degree that it can now decide
whether Lebanon goes to war."
Authored by Swedish analyst Magnus Norell, the report said that neither
the Lebanese government nor the international community has sought to
address Hizbullah dominance, aided by Iran and Syria. Norell, a senior
analyst at Swedish Defense Research Agency who formed a backchannel between
Israel and Hizbullah to facilitate the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in
2000, asserted that Hizbullah has prevented Beirut from using its military.
"Approximately 70 percent of privates in the Lebanese army are Shi'ite,
the sect from which Hizbillah recruits practically all of its members," the
report said. "Most officers, on the other hand, are Christian or Sunni.
This, too, was the case before the civil war."
Norell, along with his Swedish colleague, Magnus Ranstorp, participated
in the discussions with Israel that led to the withdrawal from Lebanon in
2000. Norell recalled that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Barak, today defense minister, decided to "bet" on the assurances of the
United Nations and international community that they would prevent Hizbullah
attacks on the Jewish state.
Instead, Norell said, Hizbullah embarked on an armament program that led
to the 2006 war. He said the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as
well as the pullout from the Gaza Strip five years later were regarded by
Islamists as "pure capitulation."
"Not only has Hizbullah bolstered its military power and political
influence, it has also strengthened its relations with Syria and Iran," the
report said. "Finally, it has kept its conflict with Israel at a level high
enough to ensure that the question of peace remains moot, but not so high as
to endanger its political and military position within Lebanon."
Norell said Hizbullah was regarded by most Lebanese as having won the
2006 war with Israel. He said this has encouraged Arab states to reject
peace negotiations with the Jewish state.
"Another war with Israel is expected to happen sooner or later, and
Hizbullah is not prepared to allow its preparations to be hampered, either
to the north or south of the Litani River," the report said.
Israel: Hizbullah has acquired long-range rockets based in Lebanon
TEL AVIV -- Israel's military has detected Hizbullah acquisition of
missiles and rockets with ranges of up to 325 kilometers.
Officials said the
weapons could strike targets in most of Israel.
"Some of them have a range of 300 kilometers and some of them have a
range of up to 325 kilometers," Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said.
In a Nov. 10 briefing to a parliamentary committee, Ashkenazi said
Hizbullah has already deployed the long-range rockets in Lebanon. He said a
rocket attack from the Beirut area could reach the nuclear reactor in the
southern Israeli city of Dimona.
"There is a paradox," Ashkenazi told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee said. "On one hand, there is calm. But when you peek over
the fence you can see armament and empowerment."
Officials said the latest acquisition marked the longest-range missiles
and rockets in Hizbullah's arsenal. Until 2009, they said, Hizbullah wielded
weapons with a range of about 200 kilometers.
Ashkenazi did not identify the latest Hizbullah missile. The missile
approximated the range of the Soviet-origin Scud B.
Officials said Hizbullah has amassed an arsenal of 40,000 missiles and
rockets, most of them short-range weapons. They said Iran has increased
weapons and other military support to its Lebanese proxy.
"We don't delude ourselves," Ashkenazi said. "The situation is delicate
and Hizbullah is growing stronger all the time. The Iranian challenge is to
increase control over the Middle East through training, arms and money
provided to all terror organizations."
Now imagine a massive missile response from Hizballah operating as volunteers operating in Syria against US forces in Iraq. Against US forces wherever they can bring these rockets. Iran maintains fig leaf deniability with Obama's timid, legal proof requirements for response, and need for world approval before proceeding.
Barack Obama told CNN yesterday, "I've restored America's standing in the world..."
Iran DEPENDS upon America's risk averse need for 'moral standing' to succeed in creation of CHAOS they can take advantage of, in ways 'civilized' societies are reluctant to respond to.
According to Dr. Hassan Abbasi, adviser to the Iranian govt, the global balance of power is in a state of flux
and every nation should fight for a place in a future equilibrium. The
Western powers, especially the United States, still wield immense
military and economic power that "looks formidable on paper." But they
are unable to use that power because their populations have become
"risk-averse." "The Western man today has no stomach for a fight,"
Abbasi says. "This phenomenon is not new: All empires produce this type
of man, the self-centered, materialist, and risk-averse man." Abbasi
believes that the US intervention in Iraq, which involved "slightly
higher risks" than the invasion of Afghanistan, was the very last of
its kind. And even then, the US went into Iraq because of President
George W Bush's "readiness to do what no other American leader would
dare contemplate.
Israel's 'Iron Dome' missile defense system to be ready by 2011
TEL AVIV -- Israel plans to deploy a new rocket defense system in
2011.
Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said the military would
deploy the Iron Dome system to intercept incoming missiles and rockets.
Ashkenazi said Iron Dome was advancing toward production and would be ready
in 2011.
"Two new anti-aircraft artillery batteries of the Iron Dome missile
defense system, which is designed for the interception of Katyusha and
Kassam rockets, will begin operating in 2011," a military statement said on
Nov. 14.
Iron Dome was meant to intercept missiles and rockets with a range of up
to 70 kilometers. The system, which underwent its first live-fire test in
mid-2009, has been developed by the state-owned Rafael Advance Defense
Systems.
In a Nov. 10 briefing to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee, Ashkenazi said Iron Dome would be required for the growing
arsenal of short- and medium-range missile and rocket arsenals stationed
along Israel's borders. The chief of staff cited threats by Hamas and the
Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.
Ashkenazi said Hizbullah has acquired missiles with a range of 300
kilometers. He said Hizbullah has "tens of thousands of missiles in
its possession, a small percentage of them able to reach a range of 300
kilometers," the military statement said.
"The chief of staff said that Hamas and Hizbullah, amid the relative
quiet in recent months along borders of the north and Gaza Strip, have been
rearming with missiles and rockets," the military statement said.
Iran
convicted an American journalist of spying for the United States and
sentenced her to eight years in prison, her lawyer said Saturday,
complicating the Obama administration's efforts to break a 30-year-old
diplomatic deadlock with Tehran.
The White House said President Barack Obama was "deeply disappointed"
by the conviction, while the journalist's father told a radio station
his daughter was tricked into making incriminating statements by
officials who told her they would free her if she did.
It was the first time Iran has found an American journalist guilty of espionage - a crime that can carry the death penalty.
Roxana Saberi, a 31-year-old dual American-Iranian citizen, was
arrested in late January and initially accused of working without press
credentials. But earlier this month, an Iranian judge leveled a far
more serious allegation, charging her with spying for the United States.
The
Fargo, North Dakota native had been living in Iran for six years and
had worked as a freelance reporter for several news organizations
including National Public Radio and the British Broadcasting Corp.
The journalist's Iranian-born father, Reza Saberi, told NPR that his
daughter was convicted Wednesday, two days after she appeared before an
Iranian court in an unusually swift one-day closed-door trial.
That 's all we have to say, eh? That's all we can do, eh?
We say nothing, we do nothing?
Is there any way all this does not reinforce the idea they have that god is on their lunatic side? That we can be nothing but risk averse, and that bush was an exception?
Firm owned by elite IRGC involved in Iran's civilian nuclear program
LONDON -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps owns a company said
to be active in Iran's nuclear program.
In a development that has alarmed nuclear investigators, the
International Atomic Energy Agency has identified an IRGC company that was
participating in Iran's ostensibly civilian nuclear program. IRGC, an elite military of more
than 125,000 troops, has been overseeing the country's strategic programs,
including the ballistic missile project.
The
International Atomic Energy Agency has identified an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps company that was
participating in Iran's ostensibly civilian nuclear program.
AP
The IRGC company was identified as Kimia Maadan.
Kimia was said to join
other companies and agencies owned by the military -- including the Physics
Research Center, Institute of Applied Physics, Educational Research
Institute and Defense Industries Organization -- that supported Iran's
nuclear program.
"...The role of military related institutes, such as the Physics
Research Center, the Institute of Applied Physics and the Education Research
Institute -- and their staff -- needs to be better understood, also in view
of the fact that substantial parts of the centrifuge components were
manufactured in the workshops of the Defense
Industries Organization," the agency said. "The agency also needs to
understand fully the reasons for the involvement of military related
institutions in procurement for the nuclear program."
Kimia, once described by Iran as a private company, was established in
2000 to help mine uranium. The company has been managed by IRGC Brig. Gen.
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, identified as a nuclear weapons designer.
Teheran has told IAEA that Kimia ended operations in 2003. But the
agency has determined that the company remained a key player in Iran's
nuclear project.
An IAEA report asserted that Iran has been conducting activities that
cast doubts on Teheran's declaration that its nuclear program was civilian.
The report, dated May 26, cited Teheran's effort to design a missile
re-entry vehicle and construct a uranium conversion facility.
The uranium conversion facility was meant to transform uranium dioxide
to UF4, or Green Salt. The process has been regarded as vital in the
production of uranium metal for weapons cores.
"The agency understands that Iran may have additional information, in
particular on high explosives testing and missile related activities, which
could shed more light on the nature of the alleged activities," IAEA
director-general Mohammed El Baradei said.
Iran has focused on enhancing its Shihab-3 ballistic missile, with a
range of more than 2,000 kilometers. IAEA said the Shihab-3 was modified to
ensure detonation at a point 650 meters above its target, a capability
required for nuclear warheads.
"This information, which was provided to the agency by several member
states, appears to have been derived from multiple sources over different
periods of time, is detailed in content, and appears to be generally
consistent," the report, released on June 2, said. "The agency received much
of this information only in electronic form and was not authorized to
provide copies to Iran."
The agency said Iran, who has dismissed the latest information as a
fabrication, has developed and tested exploding bridgewire detonators. The
report also cited high explosives testing, another requirement for nuclear
weapons.
"A second aspect," the report said, "concerns the development and
testing of high voltage detonator firing equipment and exploding bridgewire
[EBW] detonators including, inter alia, the simultaneous firing of multiple
EBW detonators; an underground testing arrangement and the testing of at
least one full scale hemispherical, converging, explosively driven shock
system that could be applicable to an implosion-type nuclear device. A third
aspect of the studies concerns development work alleged to have been
performed to redesign the inner cone of the Shihab-3 missile re-entry
vehicle to accommodate a nuclear warhead."
Iran has acknowledged simultaneous testing with two to three EBW
detonators with a time precision of about one microsecond, the agency said.
Teheran, however, maintained that the tests were intended for civil and
conventional military applications.
"It should be noted that the agency currently has no information --
apart from the uranium metal document -- on the actual design or manufacture
by Iran of nuclear material components of a nuclear weapon or of certain
other key components, such as initiators, or on related nuclear physics
studies," the report said. "As regards the uranium metal document found in
Iran, Pakistan has confirmed, in response to the agency's request that an
identical document exists in Pakistan."
U.S. sees Hizbullah holding key to to fighting future assymmetric wars
The U.S. military has come to see Hizbullah as the next major threat.
The U.S. Army has determined that Hizbullah was becoming the model for
low-intensity warfare throughout the world.
The army believes Hizbullah
would fight much of
Iran's wars against the West -- whether in Asia, Europe or even South
America.
Let's make sure that message sinks in and gets out. In planning for the future the US Army, in planning what they would do, believes HIZBALLAH = IRAN.
Beat Hizballah, beat Iran.
Shiite Muslim militants of the Hizbullah movement during a parade in
the southern Lebanese village of Tair Debba, home to assassinated top
Hizbullah commander Imad Mughnieh on February 17. AFP/Mahmoud Zayat
The Center for Army Analysis determined that Hizbullah demonstrated that
guerilla tactics combined with missiles could stop a modern military.
The
study cited Hizbullah's war with Israel in mid-2006, in which the
Iranian-sponsored militia fought the Jewish state to a draw.
The study stressed Hizbullah's capabilities in combining the use of
human shields with stealth tactics and precision weapons.
Human shields, are tools against the conscience of your enemies. They don't kill anyone. They don't stop a tank, a bullet or a shell. But they are not conscientious objectors, pacifists, or engaging in civil disobedience against the enemy. They are the enemy population. Let's be clear. Their only hope to live is our mind. They are the inhabitants of Hamburg, Wurzburg, Dresden, and the Ruhr in 1943. They live in Tokyo in 1945.
Has the army accepted the idea that civilian enemy populations are now sacrosanct? What does this mean for OUR CIVILIAN POPULATIONS? You know, the mushrikim?
Hizbullah's combat
doctrine was meant to block the advance of a modern military through the use
of improvised explosive devices, surface-to-surface rockets, underground
facilities and small commando squads.
The study pointed to the need to revise army and Marine Corps
procurement to encounter an enemy that uses both guerrilla and conventional
military tactics. Under such a scenario, the U.S. military would be equipped
with additional armored vehicles, body armor as well as tactical unmanned
aerial vehicles.
The Hizbullah model was expected to be adopted by a range of adversaries
to the United States. The most likely adversaries would include Taliban in
Afghanistan and the Al Qaida-aligned Islamic Courts in Somalia.
A powerful weapon in any Hizbullah arsenal has been anti-tank
missiles -- the first time a guerrilla force was supplied with
precision-guided weapons. Hizbullah proved its capabilities in knocking out
Israeli Merkava Mk-3 and Mk-4 main battle tanks with the Russian-origin
AT-14 Kornet anti-tank guided missile.
Hizbullah has already been training anti-U.S. forces in such countries
as Lebanon, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.
A Hizbullah method that concerns the
U.S. Army has been the use of computers and secure cellular phones to send
messages to fighters.
A key lesson for the U.S. military was the need for well-trained and
mobile forces with plenty of firepower that could surprise the enemy. The
air force could help monitor the action below, but would not determine the
battle.
Jeopardy "World Affairs for $50" : Why is Iran seemingly so STOOOOOPID as to provoke the american fleet?
THE BLOTTER:The standoff between three U.S. Navy ships and five Iranian speedboats
in the Strait of Hormuz Sunday was one step away from turning violent.
"They were a heartbeat from being blown up," a Pentagon official, speaking of the Iranians, told ABC News.
According to the Navy intelligence report on the incident, the
Iranians radioed, "I am coming at you. You will blow up in a couple of
minutes."
The Navy ships radioed back, presumably transmitting a warning. All
three ships also engaged in "evasive action," and according to senior
Pentagon officials, the "prepare-to-fire" order had been given and the
gun stations manned.
Pentagon officials today expressed surprise the Navy ships allowed
at least one of the Iranian speedboats to get so close -- just 200
yards away -- without firing.
They say at least one of those speedboats boasted a machine gun, and all were behaving as if they were packed with explosives.
A Navy official told ABC News that while there have been similar
incidents in the Gulf, Sunday's differed because of the "aggressive
actions" taken by the Iranians.
"I've never seen a provocation like this is in international
waters," another military official who has served for more than 25
years said.
Abbasi, in a speech in Iran’s Khaje Nasser University, said a “martyr
deals directly with god and sells his soul only to god.” He added “Only
certain people deserve to participate in the suicide operations.”
Abassi noted that “The members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah are dear, because
they only sell their soul to the god.”
Folks, that these 'speedboats' are not now toothpicks and fiberglass
insulation is a strategic mistake. Restraint towards the Iranians will
be taken for granted by our friends, and get knowing nods from our
enemies. AND WE HAVE THEM. Restraint is the precursor of DEAD
SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN.
There should nothing left of them, and the fleet should simply have sailed on......"WHAT IRANIAN SPEEDBOATS?"
Senior U.S. national security officials(SUCH AS? Step up to the plate, gents) suspect the Iranian government
successfully carried out a disinformation operation against U.S.
intelligence agencies that led to the recent National Intelligence
Estimate reversing earlier assessments of an active Iranian nuclear
arms program.
President Bush being asked about the Iran NIE at a White House press conference.
The officials said there are
indications that the intelligence used for the estimate, published in
part last month, was based on deliberately misleading information.
Not just that, but information paced with naifs who want to hide from the world
No details of how the estimate
was produced have been made public, but there have been reports that it
was based on both intercepted communications and human sources.
Both types of sources have been used in the past by American adversaries to spoof U.S. intelligence, according to the officials.
Asked if the NIE reversal was
the result of a deliberate Iranian strategic deception operation, one
senior U.S. intelligence official who defended the estimate said “we
did hold this up to the light.”
“One of the alternative
scenarios, and we gamed more than half a dozen, was could this be on
the part of the Iranian government a strategic deception in order to
conceal a continued nuclear weapons program?”
“And I think the overall
judgment is that is plausible but not likely and that the overall
assessment of the community is contained in the words you see in the
key judgments: high confidence, high confidence, high confidence.”
But two other senior officials
said the likelihood that the CIA, which took the lead in formulating
the analysis, was fooled, is very high.
U.S. intelligence agencies have
no spies inside the Iranian government and large amounts of intercepted
communications are suspect and believed to be a main source of
intelligence disinformation, these officials said.
Israel: US report on Iran may spark war
JERUSALEM - Israel's public security minister warned Saturday that a U.S. intelligence report that said Iran is no longer developing nuclear arms could lead to a regional war that would threaten the Jewish state.
In his remarks — Israel's harshest criticism yet of the U.S. report — Avi Dichter
said the assessment also cast doubt on American intelligence in
general, including information about Palestinian security forces'
crackdown on militant groups. The Palestinian action is required as
part of a U.S.-backed renewal of peace talks with Israel this month.
Dichter cautioned that a refusal to recognize Iran's intentions to
build weapons of mass destruction could lead to armed conflict in the
Middle East.
He compared the possibility of such fighting to a surprise attack on
Israel in 1973 by its Arab neighbors, which came to be known in Israel
for the Yom Kippur Jewish holy day on which it began.
"The American misconception concerning Iran's nuclear weapons
is liable to lead to a regional Yom Kippur where Israel will be among
the countries that are threatened," Dichter said in a speech in a
suburb south of Tel Aviv,
according to his spokesman, Mati Gil. "Something went wrong in the
American blueprint for analyzing the severity of the Iranian nuclear
threat."
Dichter didn't elaborate on the potential scenario but seemed to
imply that a world that let its guard down regarding Iran would be more
vulnerable to attack by the Islamic regime.
Actually the scenario I have in mind is more along the lines of an Israel isolated in a world which always has either participated in or ignored the killing of jews as a historical game, and did NOTHING (or helped) as the majority of jewish people on the planet were made the product of industrial extermination, STRIKES FIRST with the only weapons which can ensure that Iran's weapons program is destroyed
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had disputed the U.S.
intelligence assessment this month, saying that Iran continues its
efforts to obtain components necessary to produce nuclear weapons.
Tehran still poses a major threat to the West and the world must stop
it, Olmert said.
Israel has for years been warning that Iran is working on nuclear
weapons and backed the United States in its international efforts to
exert pressure on Iran to stop the program. Israel considers Iran a
significant threat because of its nuclear ambitions, its long-range
missile program and repeated calls by its president, Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, for the disappearance of Israel.
Iran says its nuclear program is for purely peaceful purposes.
Israel will work to change the American intelligence agencies' view
of Iran, said Dichter, a former chief of Israel's Shin Bet secret
service agency.
"A misconception by the world's leading superpower is not just an internal American occurrence," Dichter said.
Any future faulty U.S. intelligence on the actions of Palestinian security forces could damage peace efforts, Dichter said.
"Those same (intelligence) arms in the U.S. are apt to make a
mistake and declare that the Palestinians have fulfilled their
commitments, which would carry with it very serious consequences from
Israel's vantage point," Dichter said.
The world is dissatisfied with American leadership - Richard Armitage(the guy who revealed Valerie Plame and got away with it) Comment for the Asia Times It may be too late to convince the world to like the United States. But
America's use of "smart power" could be a timely answer to the neo-conservative
foreign policy train wreck that has made the US globally unpopular. It's about
balancing coercion with attraction, abandoning the September 11 mindset, and
investing in the global good. - Richard Armitage and Joseph Nye
Translation for the uninitiated....time to give up the idea that democracies and real republics which guarantee individual rights are a valuable and desirable goal worth striving for as national political aims
The world is dissatisfied with American leadership. Shocked and frightened
after September 11, 2001, we put forward an angry face to the globe, not one
that reflected the more traditional American values of hope and optimism,
tolerance and opportunity.
This is another way of saying...GET OVER IT, AMERICA
This fearful approach has hurt the United States' ability to bring allies to
its cause, but it is not too late to change. The nation should embrace a
smarter strategy that blends our "hard" and "soft" power - our ability to
attract and persuade, as well as our ability to use economic and military
might.
Lest anyone think that this approach is weak or naive, remember that Defense
Secretary Robert Gates used a major speech on November 26 "to make the case for
strengthening our capacity to use 'soft' power and for better integrating it
with 'hard' power".
Mr. Gates as documented in hard facts elsewhere in this blog has for years made plain he believes in engagment with our enemies, exactly that same policy which many, when voiced by Mr. Obama, have called NAIVE. In short, he like Jim Baker and many others believes that striving to create democracies in a world filled with Palestinian Authorities, Muammar Qadaffis, Saddam Husseins, Hugo Chavez's et al, is quixotic and stupid. Rather, we should give the some or all of what they want, as reasonable mature men and women should do, and avoid useless, profitless, and tasteless loss of life.
BAD AMERICA, BAD
Since September 11, the war on terrorism has shaped this isolating outlook,
becoming the central focus of US engagement with the world.....neither can we remain
stuck in a narrow post-September 11 mindset that alienates much of the world.
HEY, - 'GET OVER IT, AMERICA'
Clearly, upon reading the words of the state dept's leaders and long time hands, it is easy to see why their world view, warped by years of association with the Hussein's of the world is capable only of enraging an american population they have estranged themselves from
This is not the dwellers in the permanent govt abandoning Israel, that is a corollary effect, this is the mindset of these cretins abandoning what makes America, AMERICA.
Slink away into silent retirement and trouble us no more. Something is terribly wrong not just with you two, who have left his nation's highest aspirations as unreachable ideals not worth pursuing as realists, but with the system which has elevated such misbegotten cynical ideas as ideals.
Iran 'hoodwinked' CIA over nuclear plans - Telegraph UK
By Tim Shipman in Washington, Philip Sherwell and Carolynne Wheeler
Last Updated: 2:13am GMT 10/12/2007
British
spy chiefs have grave doubts that Iran has mothballed its nuclear
weapons programme, as a US intelligence report claimed last week, and
believe the CIA has been hoodwinked by Teheran.
Analysts believe that Iranian staff, knowing their phones were tapped, deliberately gave misinformation
The
timing of the CIA report has also provoked fury in the British
Government, where officials believe it has undermined efforts to impose
tough new sanctions on Iran and made an Israeli attack on its nuclear
facilities more likely.
The security services in
London want concrete evidence to allay concerns that the Islamic state
has fed disinformation to the CIA.
The report used
new evidence - including human sources, wireless intercepts and
evidence from an Iranian defector - to conclude that Teheran suspended
the bomb-making side of its nuclear programme in 2003. But British
intelligence is concerned that US spy chiefs were so determined to
avoid giving President Bush a reason to go to war - as their reports on
Saddam Hussein's weapons programmes did in Iraq - that they got it
wrong this time.
A senior British official
delivered a withering assessment of US intelligence-gathering abilities
in the Middle East
and revealed that British spies shared the concerns
of Israeli defence chiefs that Iran was still pursuing nuclear weapons.
The source said British analysts believed that
Iranian nuclear staff, knowing their phones were tapped, deliberately
gave misinformation. "We are sceptical. We want to know what the basis
of it is, where did it come from? Was it on the basis of the defector?
Was it on the basis of the intercept material? They say things on the
phone because they know we are up on the phones. They say black is
white. They will say anything to throw us off.
"It's
not as if the American intelligence agencies are regarded as brilliant
performers in that region. They got badly burned over Iraq."
A
US intelligence source has revealed that some American spies share the
concerns of the British and the Israelis. "Many middle- ranking CIA
veterans believe Iran is still committed to producing nuclear weapons
and are concerned that the agency lost a number of its best sources in
Iran in 2004," the official said.
The Gulf States and Iran America and Israel aren't the only ones worried about the mullahs getting a nuclear bomb.
BY MAX BOOT Sunday, December 9, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST
Sultan Qaboos of Oman, King Abdullah of KSA, and Mr. World without Zionism on the day the NIE was released. Gravitation to the STRONG HORSE
The release of the
new National Intelligence Estimate will provide more fodder for those
who claim that "neoconservative ideologues" and the "Israel lobby" are
overly alarmed about the rise of Iran. In reality, some of those most
worried about the mullahs wear flowing headdresses, not yarmulkes, and
they have good cause for concern, notwithstanding the sanguine tilt
many news accounts put on the NIE.
I recently visited the Persian
Gulf region as part of a delegation of American policy wonks organized
by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Throughout our
meetings in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the top issue
was Iran's ambitions to dominate the region.
Evidence of those imperial designs
is not hard to find. The Iranians are aiding extremists who are
undermining nascent democracies in Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon. The
beneficiaries of Tehran's largess include Hamas, Hezbollah and even,
the evidence indicates, al Qaeda. (Saudi officials are quietly furious
that Tehran has given refuge to some suspects in the 2003 Riyadh
attacks.) Iran is building up its military arsenal, and has threatened
to shut down the Persian Gulf (or, as Arabs call it, the Arabian Gulf).
What particularly concerns Gulf
Arabs is the possibility that Iran could go nuclear--a concern unlikely
to be erased by the ambiguous findings of the new NIE. While this NIE
claims that Iran stopped its nuclear-weapons program in 2003 (in direct
contradiction to an NIE finding issued just two years ago that "Iran
currently is determined to develop nuclear weapons"), it concedes that
"Iran's civilian uranium enrichment program is continuing." Such a
"civilian" program could be converted speedily and stealthily to
military use. As the new NIE notes, "Iran has the scientific,
technical, and industrial capacity to produce nuclear weapons if it
decides to do so."
That thought fills Sunni Arabs
with dread. "If we accept Iran as a nuclear power that is like
accepting Hitler in 1933-34," warned one senior Arab official, using
the kind of analogy that back in Washington would get him dismissed as
a neocon warmonger.
It should be obvious to all that the result of the NIE is that neither Israel NOR the Arabs see the USA as reliable
Apparently waiting for the moment we have 2 exemplars of what hideous spin is in this post NIE, reality. This is going to be a bruising battle, and make the partisan divide bitter beyond reclaim just in time for Iowa and New Hampshire
WaPo has published a comical op-ed by Vali Nasr, a professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
of Tufts University, and the author of "The Shia Revival: How Conflicts
within Islam Will Shape the Future."
Meet 'The Decider' of Tehran. It's Not the Hothead You Expect.
Sunday, December 9, 2007;
Page B01
When most Americans think of Iran, they probably think of its incendiary president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Since his election in 2005, Ahmadinejad has gleefully shocked the world
with his defiance over Iran's nuclear programs, his ravings about a
Shiite messiah, his jeremiads against Israel and his denial that the Holocaust occurred. But while Ahmadinejad is surely the regime's face, he's not its boss. Since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's death in 1989, the real power in Tehran has belonged to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ahmadinejad makes the noise, but Khamenei pulls the strings.
Nasr then goes on to inform us how moderate and temperate and reasonable is the man who REALLY leads Iran.
The supreme leader is an enigma even to most of Iran's 70 million
people. In fact, he's far more cautious, conservative and pragmatic
than the bellowing Ahmadinejad. Khamenei wants a "Goldilocks" kind of
Islamic Republic -- not too hot, not too cold.
Sorry, Mr. Nasr. but, here's a few samples of the words and thoughts of the 'hidden' Khameinei:
The West's publication of
the cartoons was an Israeli conspiracy motivated by anger over Hamas's
win in the Palestinian elections, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, said on Tuesday.
The caricatures
amounted to a "conspiracy by Zionists who were angry because of the
victory of Hamas," he said, referring to the Palestinian movement that
won a landslide victory in last month's elections.
Khamenei,
who has the final word on all matters in Iran's Islamic system, was
speaking at a ceremony to mark the air force's decision to join the
Islamic revolution in 1979. His speech was broadcast on state radio.
More from this moderate and even tempered, racist son of a bitch....
Gates in Gulf for strategic talks: Iran also invited
GERTZ - ABU DHABI — The United States plans to conduct a strategic dialogue
with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The U.S. delegation are attending the Manama Dialogue, scheduled for Dec.
7-9. Gates was expected to be the most senior official to participate in the
forum, organized by Bahrain and the London-based International Institute for
Strategic Studies.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was said to have been invited to
the summit.
Yes, he can help us.Are you kidding me?
Gulf sources said Gates was to discuss security threats to the region.
They said the secretary would later meet several GCC leaders.
"In response to a question about Iran's threat to destroy Israel, Gates
said,"If Iran obtains nuclear weapons no one can promise it would not
use them against Israel," but that he felt Iran was only developing
nukes as a `deterent'." Robert Gates, Dec 06.
The Manama Dialogue includes all six GCC states as well as Egypt,
Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Yemen. Sessions would address the U.S.
military presence, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and energy security.
"(GATES), along with Zbigniew Brzezinski, co-headed a task force at the
Council on Foreign Relations on US policy towards Iran. One of the
findings of the task force was that the US begin a dialogue with Iran."
Gates arrived in the region after the GCC summit, scheduled to take
place on Dec. 3-4 in the Qatari capital of Doha. The sources said Iran,
nuclear energy and
the U.S. military presence would top the GCC agenda.
Former Secretary of State George Schultz (for Ronald Reagan), complained that Gates and the
CIA had repeatedly tailored intelligence to fit the policy interests
they favored."
"The plan to set up a joint nuclear energy plant for the production of
power will top the agenda of the talks," GCC secretary-general Abdul Rahman
Al Attiyah said.
"Is Bob Gates, Richard Haass (Amb. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations and former director of policy planning for the Department of State), likely to be more inclusive about who
the US talks with. For example: on Iran. Is he not more likely to
urge that Iran come into a conversation with the US?
Richar Haass: Well as.... Yogi Berra once said, Predictions
are awfully tough, especially about the future. So I don't know if Bob
Gates is going to explicitly say that, but all I can tell you is that
1) he's favored supporting a dialogue with Iran
2) I believe it's highly likely that the
Baker-Hamilton group will propose some sort of regional forum, akin to
existed, if you recall, at the time of Afghanistan where the
neighboring countries, the US, and Russia had a standing regional
forum.
I think we're probably moving towards some version of that for
Iraq with a half dozen or so neighboring countries along with the US,
Russia, and Europe -- and perhaps others --would have a regular set of
consultations about what can be done to prevent either the breakup of
the country or the civil war getting even worse. So I would think this
is likely to be US policy and I don't see where people who have not
been part of the Administration would have problems, necessarily, with
signing on to that."
Sounds like the Congress of Vienna to me ..the outdented material is ALL from late 2006.
Many have charged that American Policy has been warped by jews in favor of Israel, but in reality the institutions of the 'permanent government' have worked against the jewish people since well before the inception of Israel. I have come to the judgment that the NIE of 2007 represents in fact, the victory this year of the Arabists who have worked in the CIA and State dept since WW2 (one locus of the charges that Israel is running American policy via the puppet masters - American jews), and represents part of an attempt to completely isolate Israel, and align the Sunni (oil laden) Arab states with the USA against Iran, OR a solution of Iraq by granting Iran a respite, both not just in jeopardy to the security of the Israel, an ally of the USA at the level of Great Britain, but an existential threat to half of the jewish people on the planet.
This 'permanent government' arrogates to itself day to day policy as their personal ideology fits, whether or not this admits to the will of the people who elect the only national officer we have every four years.
"We judge with high confidence that in fall 2003, Teheran halted its nuclear weapons program."
Sept. 15, 2004- The U.S. government and the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) have questions about a military site in Iran with
suspected ties to the country's nuclear program, ABC News has learned.
Iran's Parchin complex — covering approximately 15 square miles
and located about 19 miles southeast of Tehran — is known as a center
for the production of conventional ammunition and explosives. A State
Department official has confirmed the United States suspects nuclear
activity at some of its facilities. The suspicions focus on possible
testing of high explosives.
"Parchin is the center of Iran's munitions industry and home to Iran's
oldest ammunitions factory, founded before World War II," said John
Pike, directory of GlobalSecurity.org, an organization that seeks to
reduce reliance on nuclear weapons. Images of Parchin, obtained exclusively by ABC News, show a building
within the facility's high-explosive test area that could permit the
testing of especially large explosions, including those relevant to the
development of a nuclear weapon.
Davis added that environmental sampling done by IAEA inspectors could
detect the presence of byproducts used in the testing of high
explosives for a nuclear weapon.
"A surrogate material, such as depleted uranium, for example, could be
used in such testing and would be detectable via sampling," he said.
The IAEA, the United Nations' nuclear arm, has been meeting
this week at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, to discuss Iran's
nuclear program. The United States has proposed a strongly worded
resolution that would call on Iran to provide full disclosure of its
nuclear activities to the IAEA, or face action by the U.N. Security
Council, which could impose sanctions.
At today's meeting of IAEA's governing board, both the United
States and the European Union sought a commitment from Iran to stop
enrichment. But Hossein Mousavian, Iran's chief envoy to the meeting,
suggested his country would not yield to threats of Security Council
action.
The Iranian government did not respond to ABC News' questions about Parchin.
IAEA and Parchin VIENNA (AFP) Sep 17, 2004 UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei said
Friday there was no sign of nuclear activity at the Parchin military
site in Iran which US officials say should be investigated.
"We do not have any indication that this site has any nuclear-related activities," ElBaradei said.
"We are aware of this new site," he added however at a press conference at an IAEA board of governors meeting.
Iran
denied Thursday that it had carried out any nuclear-related work at
Parchin, a huge military complex 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of
Tehran.
A senior US official has told AFP the United States was
concerned about high-explosives testing in Parchin that may "amount to
(nuclear) weapons intent".
Iranian official Hossein Mousavian
said in Vienna that the IAEA had not asked to visit Parchin as part of
its investigation of Iran's nuclear program.
He said that "if this is requested by the IAEA, we are fully ready to cooperate."
Mousavian
said the IAEA had asked Iran "four weeks ago about reports from open
sources of explosive testing but they did not mention Parchin."
Diplomats have told AFP, however, that the IAEA had asked to visit Parchin and that the Iranians have not agreed to the visit.
Iranian Official Hints No Inspections At Suspect Nuclear Site Anytime Soon
Digital Globe file photo of Iran's Parchin military site.
Vienna (AFP) Jun 15, 2005 A senior Iranian negotiator hinted Wednesday that UN
nuclear inspectors would not be visiting the Parchin military site in
Iran, where the United States says weapons work is going on, anytime
soon.
Cyrus Nasseri told AFP that any such inspections of the Parchin and
Lavizan military sites would be "transparency" visits, beyond the
inspections that are required by the UN watchdog International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran is ready "with an open mind to come to an agreement on modalities"
for these visits but "first things come first" and "other issues have
to be made clear," Nasseri said, referring to safeguards matters such
as questions about centrifuges and uranium contamination on imported
equipment.
Visits to sites like Parchin are beyond nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) safeguards requirements, which are limited to inspecting
sites where there is sure to be nuclear material.
U.N. Says Iran Blocked Investigation of Nuclear Program
IENNA,
March 1 - The United Nations nuclear watchdog listed today several
instances where Iran has blocked investigation of its nuclear
development program or failed to provide information sought by the
agency.
In yet another area, Iran has also refused to allow I.A.E.A.
inspectors to return to Parchin, a military base where the United
States believes nuclear research may be taking place. The Iranians
allowed a limited visit to Parchin by the I.A.E.A. early this year, and
inspectors took environmental samples that are still being analyzed,
but the inspectors were limited to one of four areas that the agency
had identified as of potential interest.
Officials said that Iran
did not have any legal obligation to submit to inspections at Parchin,
but the I.A.E.A., with American encouragement, urged the Iranians to
allow such visits as a confidence-building measure.
But in a
note to the I.A.E.A. dated Feb. 27, the agency statement disclosed,
Iran said, "The expectation of the Safeguards Department in visiting
specified zones and points in Parchin Complex are fulfilled and thus
there is no justification for any additional visit."
Tests from the one area visited showed nothing positive.
I can find no record that Parchin was ever revisited, nor that the sites the UN wanted to visit were EVER analyzed for results consistent with implosion lenses for plutonium weapons, or applicable techniques related to U235 technology
Why not? I could buy that like Qaddafi in 2003, some mullahs had second thoughts, and ONE PROGRAM was halted, but the idea that they were going to give up development of that which they have said many times could both safeguard the Islamic revolution, and achieve the dream of every leader since the inception of the revolution 1979 (obliterating a major ally and battalion of the USA --- Israel) is a delusional, but attractive fantasy for those RISK AVERSE men who cannot face the long war, and it's compulsory obligations.
From the evil heart of neocondom...The Weekly Standard
Consider that on July 11, 2007, roughly four or so months prior to
the most recent NIE’s publication, Deputy Director of Analysis Thomas Fingar gave the following testimony before the House Armed Services Committee (emphasis added):
Iran and North Korea are the states of most concern to us. The
United States’ concerns about Iran are shared by many nations,
including many of Iran’s neighbors. Iran is continuing to
pursue uranium enrichment and has shown more interest in protracting
negotiations and working to delay and diminish the impact of UNSC
sanctions than in reaching an acceptable diplomatic solution.
DUH...no really? How much are you making for that conclusion?
MONEY LINE ALERT !!!!!!
We assess
that Tehran is determined to develop nuclear weapons--despite its
international obligations and international pressure.
This is
a grave concern to the other countries in the region whose security
would be threatened should Iran acquire nuclear weapons.
This paragraph appeared under the subheading: "Iran Assessed As
Determined to Develop Nuclear Weapons." And the entirety of Fingar’s
22-page testimony was labeled "Information as of July 11, 2007." No
part of it is consistent with the latest NIE, in which our spooks tell
us Iran suspended its covert nuclear weapons program in 2003 "primarily
in response to international pressure" and they "do not know whether
(Iran) currently intends to develop nuclear weapons."
The inconsistencies are more troubling when we realize that, according to theWall Street Journal, Thomas Fingar is one of the three officials who were responsible for crafting the latest NIE. The Journal cites "an intelligence source" as describing Fingar and his two colleagues as "hyper-partisan anti-Bush officials." (The New York Sundrew attention to one of Fingar’s colleagues yesterday.)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran called on its Western foes on Friday to
apologize to the Islamic Republic after the release of a U.N. nuclear
agency report which Tehran said showed it had been telling the truth
about its atomic plans, according to state media.
whoopsi.....
The International Atomic Energy Agency also
said restrictions the Iranians put on U.N. inspectors two years ago
mean it still cannot rule out that Iran has a secret weapons program,
as suspected by Washington and its allies.
An
Iranian envoy denounced the idea of further U.N. Security Council
sanctions, saying the IAEA assessment shows it is cooperating.
The
United States and Britain noted the report confirmed that Iran
continues to ignore the Security Council's demands that it suspend
uranium enrichment until questions about the nuclear program's intent
are resolved.
Whoopsi....
VIENNA, Austria — Iran has met a key
demand of the U.N. nuclear agency, handing over long-sought blueprints
showing how to mold uranium metal into the shape of warheads, diplomats
said Tuesday.
Iran's decision to
release the documents, which were seen by U.N. inspectors two years
ago, was seen as a concession designed to head off the threat of new
U.N. sanctions.
But the diplomats said Tehran
has failed to meet other requests made by the International Atomic
Energy Agency in its attempts to end nearly two decades of nuclear
secrecy on the part of Iran.The agency has been seeking possession of the
blueprints since 2005, when it stumbled upon them among a batch of
other documents during its examination of suspect Iranian nuclear
activities. While agency inspectors had been allowed to examine them in
the country, Tehran had up to now refused to let the IAEA have a copy
for closer perusal.
Associated Press: BIRJAND, Iran - Iran has achieved a landmark with 3,000 centrifuges
fully working in its controversial uranium enrichment program, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday. blah blah blah....HERE. No further words in this story are meaningful.
Jersusalem Post: "We have now reached 3,000 machines," Ahmadinejad
told thousands of Iranians gathered in Birjand, in eastern Iran, in a
show of defiance of international demands to halt the program believed
to be masking the country's nuclear arms efforts.
Ahmadinejad on Wednesday reiterated his rejection
of any suspension of Iran's enrichment activities, or even a compromise
over how Teheran will proceed beyond the 3,000 centrifuges.
"They say they've swallowed (bitterly accepted) these 3,000 and
want to reach an agreement with us on what to do, at what speed, how
many (centrifuges) a day or week," Ahmadinejad said of latest Western
pressures.
"Our response is: 'Who are you to make comments about the
Iranian nation ... do we ask you how many machines you have,"'
Ahmadinejad added.
He also said he had bluntly refused a recent offer to negotiate with the United States over Iran's nuclear activities.
"I, as your representative, told those who brought the message
that we didn't ask for talks ... If talks are to be held, it is the
Iranian nation that has to set conditions, not the arrogant and the
criminals," Ahmadinejad said.
"The world must know that this nation will not give up one iota
of its nuclear rights ... if they think they can get concessions from
this nation, they are badly mistaken," he concluded.
AND THEN.......
U.S. Fifth Fleet in Gulf exercise for possible war in Iran
ABU DHABI — The U.S. Navy launched a series of exercises in the
Gulf to enhance skills required in any war with Iran which, according to British press reports, could occur in early 2008.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet conducted a crisis response exercise that
included amphibious, air and medical forces. The five-day exercise by the
USS Wasp, led by Commander Task Force 59, was scheduled to end on Nov. 5.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet has been operating two strike groups in the Gulf.
The USS Enterprise and USS Kearsarge have also been training in the region.
STRICTLY COINCIDENCE I AM SURE.
The U.S. Navy also said it would deploy the Harry S. Truman Carrier
Strike Group in the Middle East. The navy
said the Truman would be
accompanied by the guided missile destroyers Oscar Austin and Winston S.
Churchill as well as the guided missile cruiser San Jacinto and the
submarine Montpelier.
Britain and Canada would also join the U.S. strike group, the navy said.
Officials said the exercise would evaluate the capability of the USS
Wasp to respond to oil spills
Why even bother with such transparently stupid misdirection? If we get in a shootout in the narrow confines of Hormuz, any oil spill will be painfully secondary in concern.
Previously I have expounded here on the commentless, wordless, expression of the force and nature, and MOTION of capital, and what the underlying meaning is. The force of nature, capital, like a flood, has no ability to acknowledge friendship, democracy, religion, personality
While one can complain about the lack of savings here as a metric of lack of self control leading to these things, that may turnout to be minor compared to the average American's drive to succeed, and therefore HAVE as a corollary, as the key to why economics really is never a zero sum game, if we play. To succeed we invent, conspire and bludgeon towards what never was, and never would be without us.
Never the less, lack of resolve in Washington, lack of SEEING WHAT IS, is driving others to take self protective measures which say far more than any stupid press release, political comment, or bellicose semi secret atomic messages.
Our failure to acknowledge the nature of what we face, and our manifest failure to seriously invent and bludgeon our way out of economic energy dependency on the very people who mean us ill, for religious reasons, say all that needs to be said to those who wish to protect their assets.
In short, we are not leading, we are drifting and the enemy despite what it looks like, has a playbook. AND, there is no change in sight. The motion of capital is a clear symptom and corollary of its determination to survive.
Japan and China lead flight from the dollar
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, International Business Editor
Last Updated: 12:26am BST 18/10/2007
Japan
and China led a record withdrawl of foreign funds from the United
States in August, heightening fears of a fresh slide in the dollar and
a spike in US bond yields.
Data from the US Treasury showed outflows of $163bn
(£80bn) from all forms of US investments. "These numbers are absolutely
stunning," said Marc Ostwald, an economist at Insinger de Beaufort.
Asian
investors dumped $52bn worth of US Treasury bonds alone, led by Japan
($23bn), China ($14.2bn) and Taiwan ($5bn). It is the first time since
1998 that foreigners have, on balance, sold Treasuries.
Mr
Ostwald warned that US bond yields could start to rise again unless the
outflows reverse quickly. "Woe betide US Treasuries if inflation does
not remain benign," he said.
The release comes a
day after the IMF warned that the dollar was still overvalued and
likely to face "some depreciation in the medium term".
The
dollar's short-lived rally over recent days stopped abruptly on the
data, increasing pressure on US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to
shore up Washington's "strong dollar" rhetoric at the G7 summit this
week.
The Greenback
has already fallen below parity against the Canadian Loonie for the
first time since 1976 and has touched record lows against a global
basket. It closed at $2.032 against the pound.
Now I seem to remember WHO was elected president back then, and what THAT lead to. 22 Gia Long St, was April 1975, and Iran was 1979. Those events boxed the highest combined unemployment and inflation rates in modern times. A judgment.
We need to bear in mind that the expatriot, anti Saddam force in the west mislead us (for their own good reasons),
BUT
LONDON — Iran is constructing a bomb-proof underground site
for the development of nuclear weapons, opposition sources said.
The National Council of Resistance of
Iran said the new underground facility would be used for nuclear weapons
production and assembly and was linked to the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
A new nuclear facility is located five kilometers south of the Natanz plant [ZOOM], opposition sources said.
GlobalSecurity.org
"Information we have from inside the regime indicates that the site is
destined for military nuclear activity, mainly for the further enrichment of
uranium," NCRI spokesman Mehdi Abrichamtchi said on Sept. 27.
At a news conference in Paris, the opposition group said Teheran has
nearly completed the underground facility, which includes at least two
tunnels with entrances of six meters in diameter. NCRI, which disclosed
Iran's nuclear program in 2002, said the facility was located five
kilometers south of the Natanz plant under the Sia Kooh mountain.
"The site is protected from air strikes," Abrichamtchi said.
Abrichamtchi said the latest nuclear facility would become operational
by April 2008. He said his information was based on unidentified sources in
Iran.
And a little reminder....
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it would
be irresponsible to take hasty action on Iran's atomic program before
the United Nations nuclear watchdog completes its work, the RIA news
agency reported.
1938 Alert
Iran has dismissed the opposition claim. In a statement read on Iranian
television, Teheran denied the existence of a secret nuclear site, and said
the opposition report was meant to torpedo the visit of Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the United States.
"These baseless and erroneous accusations are aimed at destroying the
positive climate created by Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic
Energy Agency and the president's trip to New York," Ali Larijani, a senior
member of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said.
Should we laugh or cry here?
Am I too cynical?
Too paranoid?
Too steeped in enmity to see the chance for light?
To me, it is clear that none of the current
problems in the Middle East and Islamic world can be solved unless
there is change in Iran.
And this change is not best achieved either by bowing to the clerics’
demand that the U.S. and the West kowtow to them and legitimize them
and their greatness, or by bombing Iran.
Before we move on, let me say that the Iranian command and control
system, and the missiles and strategic warheads available to the
clerics, are exceptionally sophisticated, and there exists a clear
capability in Iran and its surrogate, Syria, to withstand a major
incoming strike, and to retaliate with strategic weapons and major
attacks on Israeli and Western targets. We know that there exist,
ready, within the HizbAllah, Syrian, and Iranian arsenals may tens of
thousands of tactical, battlefield, theater, and strategic missiles
already in place to overwhelm Israeli ballistic missile defenses.
We also know that Iran has acquired a dozen or more nuclear warheads
since 1993, and that, in all probability, North Korea attempted to
deliver and mount at least one nuclear weapon on a Syrian missile just
recently. We can also expect that, when the time comes — and it may
come very, very soon — North Korea, as a major treaty ally of Tehran
and Damascus, will begin major strategic moves to cause the U.S. to be
militarily distracted in the Pacific as Iran, Syria, and HizbAllah
begin their escalation in the Middle East.
Sounds a lot like a hysterical Debka report.
BUT...file away
The reality is that the U.S. should already have been following the
“third path” toward victory over the clerics, which would immediately
stabilize the region. The third path, the option which I have always
advocated, is a comprehensive psychological strategy which would
empower the Iranian people to seize the situation. The clerics know how
vulnerable they are to their own people, which is why they have always
taken the offensive, to create a sense of siege within Iran, and to
keep the U.S. at bay.
There is no strategic escape from this without major damage of some kind.
The only consideration should be what it takes to eliminate the entire regime, the IRGC and Basij. THAT is literally imaging a large contribution to whirled peas.
Ironically it is something which can unite both Israel and KSA. For a microsecond.
The Oxford Research Group said that any U.S.-British war with Iran
would plunge the
Middle East into violence. A report by the think tank concluded any U.S. air strike
would invite Islamic retaliation against Western interests throughout the
region.
"Going to war with Iran will make matters far worse, playing directly
into the hands of extreme elements and adding greatly to the violence across
the region," the report, released on Monday, said. "Whatever the problems
with Iran, war should be avoided at all costs."
Last time I checked, war meant -be prepared to get hurt, but prepare to END THE ENEMIES EXISTANCE, because the point of the war was to effect just exactly that.
The report was released as the British government was said to be
discussing war options against Teheran with the United States. British media
reports said Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged that the British
military would help Washington in any attempt to destroy Iran's nuclear
weapons program.
The Oxford Research Group urged a reassessment of the Western military
strategy against Islamic adversaries. The report said the war against Al
Qaida and its allies was failing and called for a Western withdrawal from
Afghanistan and Iraq.
"If the Al Qaida movement is to be countered, then the roots of its
support must be understood and
systematically undercut," said Paul Rogers,
the report's author and professor of global peace studies at Bradford
University in northern England. "Combined with conventional policing and
security
measures, Al Qaida can be contained and minimised but this will require a
change in policy at every level."
Entitled "Alternatives to the War on Terror," the think tank said Iran
and its ally Syria must be wooed by the West through diplomacy. Rogers said
Islamic insurgency groups in Afganistan should be granted aid in an attempt
to turn them into political partners.
"Failure to make the necessary changes could result in the war on terror
lasting decades," the report said.
Ayann Hirsi Ali is now living in hiding again, this time because America is failing
Hat Tip Douglas Murray:
The
Dutch Somali-born writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali is in a safe-house at an
undisclosed location in Holland tonight after the Dutch government said
that they would remove her security-detail from her from the 1st
October unless she was in the Netherlands.
The former Dutch MP and colleague of the murdered Dutch film-maker
Theo van Gogh, has been protected by the Dutch government during her
time working at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.
But they have apparently now decided that they owe the former MP nothing at all unless she stays in Holland.
Considering that Hirsi Ali was effectively forced to leave Holland
after disgracefully having her citizenship withdrawn (and then
reinstated), and that her neighbours sued to have her forced out of her
house, the Dutch government's ignominious decision heaps insult onto
injury.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali's new home, her work and her living are in America.
Her life was made un-liveable in the Netherlands, but that country is
now forcing her to stay there. The American government meanwhile seems
to have decided that it is not its business that one of the most
endangered and heroic people in its land is being grotesquely forced
into a situation of such danger.
Hirsi Ali is being forced to choose between living unguarded where
she wants to be or being guarded where she does not want to be: between
being allowed her 'right to life' and her 'right to a life.' It is an
intolerable situation, and shameful that both the Dutch and American
governments have allowed this to happen.
Where is the media on this story? NY Times too worried about 'torturing' the people who are trying to kill her?
Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, president of Iran, has accepted an invitation to speak at
Columbia from School of International and Public Affairs interim dean
John Coatsworth, according to a spokesman.
The event is
scheduled to take place on Monday, September 24--the same day that
Ahmadinejad is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly--as part of
the World Leaders Forum and will be sponsored by SIPA.
"Necessarily,
on occasion this will bring us into contact with beliefs many, most, or
even all of us will find offensive and even odious," University
President Lee Bollinger said in a statement. "We trust our community,
including our students, to be fully capable of dealing with these
occasions, through the powers of dialogue and reason."
"Opportunities
to hear, challenge, and learn from controversial speakers of different
views are central to the education and training of students for
citizenship in a shrinking and still dangerous world. This is
especially true for SIPA students, many of whose careers will require
them to confront human rights and security issues throughout the
globe," Coatsworth said in a statement.
I'm looking for a parallel analogy for the west with Iran, but you know, we just don't have one. The foreign minister of Iran sits with David Duke at a Holocaust Denial conference with banality, and what can I conjure up to compare with such a thing?
This is not a freedom of speech, or an academic freedom to inquire issue any more than it would be if we have David Duke there to examine why blacks are inferior and jews back them up, and in doing so control the world by proxy.
That has no cachet.
And let's be clear that THIS is what we are talking about. This is Leonard Bernstein inviting the Black Panthers to the cocktail party on crack. He will want the same thing from you at the end of the day as he does now.
Why not invite a chief theoretician for the salafi freaks? That WOULD make sense.
THEN invite Mesbah Yazdi or Jannatti to examine the effect on western civilization of a messianic religious superiority cult in charge of nuclear weapons and its strategic meanings?
Instead, invited by the ill advised, misinformed, cloistered morons we have the living combination of David Irving, David Duke and Hermann Goebbels, appointed by limited choice in elections, via those who accept the idea that if Armageddon occurs, the perfect being, the new mahdi will arrive in Qom via a well to lead us all to paradise on earth?
The only thing we can discover from Mahmoud Achmadinejad at this point are more reasons to ensure that the hojatieh led mullocracy must GO. Will those who count this man accepting an invitation as a bonus turn into the insistent version of Tim Russert when he speaks? Will they tolerate such a questioner?
Or will they have tasers ready?
Will a student be able to ask about this:
Ahmadinejad described the Holocaust as a "myth" that has been used
to impose the state of Israel on the Arab world and called for Israel
to be wiped off the map.
"Ahmadinejad's Holocaust comment opened a new window in
international relations on this issue. Twenty years ago, it was not
possible to talk about [the] Holocaust and any scientific study was
subject to punishment. This taboo has been broken, thanks to Mr.
Ahmadinejad's initiative," Georges Theil of France told conference
delegates on Tuesday.
Theil was convicted in France for "contesting the
truth of crimes against humanity" after he said the Nazis never used
poison gas against Jews.
WILL A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND AND CROSS EXAMINE THE LEADER OF IRAN ABOUT HIS OR HER TATTOO?
As hideously predicted, the Moveon ad, which btw is no overreach, but represents the heart and soul of what they consider their better morality, and are burning to tell us all they really feel, has generated no negative response from ANY of the Harry Reid-ite, I'm bending over for you, simpering, fear struck, and terrorized Democratic candidates when one is CLEARLY called for. Even Ms Hill.
Hillary Clinton has ruled herself out for me, and she had the benefit of the doubt on foreign affairs side of things from me. But shockingly, Rudy has struck home with a point.
If Hillary (or any of them) cannot stand up to Moveon, who will they stand up for when it's not just critical, but civilizationally unredeemable if you don't.
How fast will they wither for the support of the morally unravelledwestern european govts and their soft power, and the snickering smiles of the oil nations? How fast will they justify the credo of Hassan Abbasi of Iran, who advises the mullahs?
So I have a small thought, from another western european...
"You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing! Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"
It took the national democrats less than a year to get me to feel this way. Despite all the stunning incompetence (beginning with the lack of holding people accountable at Tora-Bora), and misplaced loyalty to friends of the Bush admin (too big a list for here), I have more confidence in them, than in you, democrats.
The lot of you look and are craven before a bunch of arrogant, morally superior, holier than thou, cultural shouters, with some money and campaign workers. How will you fare against the arrogant, morally superior, holier than thou, cultural shouters with allegiance to the ascendant forms of Islamism, whose beliefs give them permission to kill your people unless you accede to their words and deeds?
This, 'misperformance', with Moveon has, very unfortunately, provided the answer.
Top official: Globalization robs U.S. of intelligence edge, facilitates terrorism
A senior U.S. intelligence official told Congress last week that the United States is losing its intelligence power as the result of globalization and the rise of foreign intelligence challenges.
Thomas Fingar, deputy director of national intelligence for analysis said globalization is the defining characteristic of the age and “mandates global intelligence coverage.
However, the increasing trend to closer international connectivity also makes it difficult for U.S. intelligence to operate.
Fingar said “globalization does facilitate the terrorist threat, increases the danger of WMD proliferation, and contributes to regional instability and reconfigurations of power and influence — especially through competition for energy.”
There are 233 democrats in congress. These people represent 30% of the democratic majority.
POLITICO:Seventy House members, nearly all liberal Democrats, vowed today that they would not support any more funding for Iraq military operations unless tied to a complete withdrawal of combat troops.
This is a big development. Earlier this year, liberals grudgingly voted for Iraq funding bills because they didn't want to give Nancy Pelosi a defeat. Now it seems that their patience has run out.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA); Rep. Barbara Lee (CA); Rep. Maxine Waters (CA); Rep. Ellen Tauscher (CA); Rep. Rush Holt (NJ); Rep. Maurice Hinchey (NY); Rep. Diane Watson (CA); Rep. Ed Pastor (AZ); Rep. Barney Frank (MA); Rep. Danny Davis (IL); Rep. John Conyers (MI); Rep. John Hall (NY); Rep. Bob Filner (CA); Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY); Rep. Bobby Rush (IL); Rep. Charles Rangel (NY); Rep. Ed Towns (NY); Rep. Paul Hodes (NH); Rep. William Lacy Clay (MO); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR); Rep. Albert Wynn (MD); Rep. Bill Delahunt (MA); Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Rep. G. K. Butterfield (NC); Rep. Hilda Solis (CA); Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY); Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY); Rep. Michael Honda (CA); Rep. Steve Cohen (TN); Rep. Phil Hare (IL); Rep. Grace Flores Napolitano (CA); Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL); Rep. James McGovern (MA); Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH); Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL); Rep. Julia Carson (IN); Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA); Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ); Rep. John Olver (MA); Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX); Rep. Jim McDermott (WA); Rep. Ed Markey (MA); Rep. Chaka Fattah (PA); Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ); Rep. Rubin Hinojosa (TX); Rep. Pete Stark (CA); Rep. Bobby Scott (VA); Rep. Jim Moran (VA); Rep. Betty McCollum (MN); Rep. Jim Oberstar (MN); Rep. Diana DeGette (CO); Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA); Rep. Artur Davis (AL); Rep. Hank Johnson (GA); Rep. Donald Payne (NJ); Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO); Rep. John Lewis (GA); Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY); Rep. Neil Abercrombie (HI); Rep. Gwen Moore (WI); Rep. Keith Ellison (MN); Rep. Tammy Baldwin (WI); Rep. Donna Christensen (USVI); Rep. David Scott (GA); Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL); Lois Capps (CA); Steve Rothman (NJ); Elijah Cummings (MD); and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX).
This is NOT the answer.
If nothing else, the Kurds have EARNED our support.
In Vietnam 165,000 we KNOW OF, died in the 're-education' camps. We'll never know that real toll. In Cambodia, it was 3-4 million.
Nomatter the value of freedom, if free men cannot behave with honor and support, no one on this planet will be our ally. These 70 men and women are those who would ENSURE no peoples will accept our support or friendship anywhere on this planet, nomatter the strength of our armed forces.
He's a disgusting little pig, and I am sick and tired of being abused by him avoiding meeting with me
The car has an appointment
That's the first day of Filene's Basement sale, are you crazy?
I'm too busy changing the nation's course that day
WASHINGTON, Apr. 24, 2007— As the House and Senate prepare to vote this week on the final conference report on the $124 billion troop funding bill — which would also mandate that U.S. combat troops begin withdrawing from Iraq on Oct. 1 at the latest — Gen. David Petraeus is scheduled to come to the Hill tomorrow to brief lawmakers on the progress of the recent troop escalation.
ABC News has learned, however, that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will not attend the briefing.
"She can't make the briefing tomorrow," a Democratic aide told ABC News Tuesday evening.
I am reminded that in 2003, before the 'vote' on Iraq, only 7 senators and congressmen actually went and checked in to read the National Intelligence Estimate.
Times UK- FIFTEEN British sailors and marines arrested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards off the coast of Iraq may be charged with spying.
The problem is not the nukes, it is the Khomeinist freak mullahs, people. There will be no end until there are no such mullahs.
Why were the USA and Britain not prepared for EXACTLY this situation? Why was force security reaction not orbiting overhead and prepared? Why are these questions not being asked aloud? Why are heads not rolling in plans?
At a moment in time when a major network engages in racism, and helps to spread the big lie, when the critical theory of history raises up the the Zinn's and Chomsky's as academic heroes, as Captain America is symbolically killed, and polls show the USA and Israel the most despised nations, we now have the next step from David Broder, as a dispirited american people give up the idea that freedom can flourish and the american way is superior to despotic and oppressive theocracies, and racist theories of life.
POLL:
It is a dangerous illusion to believe America is superior to other nations; we should not be attempting to reshape other nations in light of our values.
58% agree, 36% disagree
"Candidates need to recognize Americans have been shaken in their confidence."
By a margin of 58 percent to 38 percent, those polled agree with the statement that "if negotiating with countries that support terrorism, like Iran and Syria, will help protect our security interests, the U.S. should consider negotiating with them."
By a margin of 3-1, they say the main goal of American foreign policy should be to protect the security of the U.S. and its allies, rather than the promotion of freedom and democracy.
Where are the people who saw over a million casualties to end slavery ? Who overcame the fall of the Phillipines? Who didn't know what it meant to give up after a whole fleet lay at rest in the mud of Hawaii? Who faced the stone wall on Marye's Heights?
My disgust is manifest as poll after poll indicates a loss of heart after 3600 battle deaths in FOUR YEARS? At Shiloh ther were that many casualties every hour. Who are we?
Just in case there is a doubt, the ideas of the men of 1776 have proven themselves in a darwinian fashion to be superior to all that has come before, and provided simultaneously unparalleled individual freedoms, including religious freedoms, and economic benefits to the people. That's the fact.
Majority in Poll Favor Deadline For Iraq Pullout -regardless of the situation on the ground
With Congress preparing for renewed debate over President Bush's Iraq policies, a majority of Americans now support setting a deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces from the war-torn nation and support putting new conditions on the military that could limit the number of personnel available for duty there, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.The Post-ABC poll found that 53 percent of Americans favored setting a deadline for troop withdrawals. Among those who favored a deadline, 24 percent said they would like to see U.S. forces out within six months and 21 percent called for the withdrawals to be completed within a year.Growing numbers of Americans also favored withdrawing U.S. forces even if civil order in Iraq has not been restored. The poll found that 42 percent favored keeping troops there until order is reestablished, while 56 percent said the troops should be redeployed to avoid further U.S. casualties, even if the sectarian violence is continuing.
Now what on earth will the results of such an american gestalt be?
It means we cannot fight a ground war with MINISCULE casualties.
It means we cannot muster the PATIENCE for ugliness in our enemies.
It means an amoral strategy of soft targets, and occasional hard ones wins against any resolve here.
Earlier this week, Osama bin Laden praised the Christmas Day attack in which a Nigerian-born man living in London attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound airplane by igniting explosives in his underwear.
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IENNA,
March 1 - The United Nations nuclear watchdog listed today several
instances where Iran has blocked investigation of its nuclear
development program or failed to provide information sought by the
agency.
All you have to do to understand this action, AND THE FUTURE by and from the Iranians is to come to grips with several short ideas:
At a moment in time when a major network engages in racism, and helps to spread the big lie, when the critical theory of history raises up the the Zinn's and Chomsky's as academic heroes, as Captain America is symbolically killed, and polls show the USA and Israel the most despised nations, we now have the next step from 
