The Iran Thread

[Addendum]

He's so learned

 

[Ghostvirus]

Wow. If they keep this up. They will catch up with Texas.

 

[StorminNorman]

From US-Iran relations to the Iranian election and everything in between. This thread is for ALL THINGS Iran.

Discuss.

Iran sends warships to Gulf of Aden - navy
Mon May 25, 2009 5:43pm IST


TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has sent six warships to international waters, including the Gulf of Aden, to show its ability to confront any foreign threats, its naval commander said on Monday.


Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, quoted by the ISNA news agency, made the announcement five days after Iran said it test-fired a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles), putting Israel and U.S. bases in the area within reach.


Iran said on May 14 it had sent two warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect oil tankers from the world's fifth-largest crude exporter against attacks by pirates but ISNA did not make clear whether they were among the six Sayyari talked about.


Iranian waters stretch along the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman. Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 40 percent of the world's traded oil is shipped, if it were attacked over its nuclear programme.


"Iran has dispatched six ... warships to international waters and the Gulf of Aden region in an historically unprecedented move by the Iranian Navy," Sayyari told a gathering of armed forces officials, IRNA reported.
Sayyari said that preserving Iran's territorial integrity in its southern waters called for the "perseverance and firmness" of the navy.


The move to dispatch the warships "is indicative of the country's high military capability in confronting any foreign threat on the country's shores," Sayyari said.


The ISNA report did not mention the threat of pirate attacks, which, fuelled by large ransoms, have continued almost unabated despite the presence of an armada of foreign warships patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
In January, pirates released an Iranian-chartered cargo ship carrying 36,000 tonnes of wheat to Iran from Germany that was seized in November. In March, a regional maritime official said Somali villagers had detained another Iranian vessel.


Nearly 20,000 ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each year, heading to and from the Suez Canal. Seven percent of world oil consumption passed through the Gulf of Aden in 2007, according to Lloyd's Marine Intelligence Unit.


On May 20, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran had tested a missile that defence analysts say could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf, a move likely to fuel concern about Tehran's nuclear ambitions.


The United States and its allies suspect the Islamic Republic is seeking to build nuclear bombs, a charge Tehran denies, but President Barack Obama has offered a new beginning of diplomatic engagement with Iran if it "unclenches its fist".

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-39868320090525?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Iran's Ahmadinejad rejects Western nuclear proposal Mon May 25, 2009 10:49am EDT
By Parisa Hafezi


TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday rejected a Western proposal for it to "freeze" its nuclear work in return for no new sanctions and ruled out any talks with major powers on the issue.


The comments by the conservative president, who is seeking re-election in a June 12 presidential vote, are likely to further disappoint the U.S. administration of President Barack Obama, which is seeking to engage Iran diplomatically.


The United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain said in April they would invite Iran to a meeting to try and find a diplomatic solution to the nuclear row.


The West accuses Iran of secretly developing atomic weapons. Iran, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, denies the charge and says it only wants nuclear power to generate electricity.


Breaking with past U.S. policy of shunning direct talks with Iran, Obama's administration said it would join such discussions with Tehran from now on.


"Our talks (with major powers) will only be in the framework of cooperation for managing global issues and nothing else. We have clearly announced this," Ahmadinejad said.


"The nuclear issue is a finished issue for us," he told a news conference.
NO COOPERATION WITH NORTH KOREA


He was asked about a so-called "freeze-for-freeze" proposal first put forward last year under which Iran would freeze expansion of its nuclear program in return for the U.N. Security Council halting further sanctions against Tehran.


Western diplomats say the proposal remains on the table. Ahmadinejad last month said Iran had prepared its own package of proposals to end the stalemate.


"We will not allow anyone to negotiate with us outside the agency's regulations and issues," he said on Monday, referring to the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency. "From now on we will continue our path in the framework of the agency."


Obama has offered a new beginning of diplomatic engagement with Iran if it "unclenches its fist," but Washington has not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails.


Ahmadinejad, facing a challenge in the election from moderates advocating detente with the West, has made angry rhetoric against the United States and it allies his trademark since he came to power in 2005.


Iran says it is ready for "constructive" talks but has repeatedly rejected demands to halt sensitive uranium enrichment which can have both civilian and military purposes.


Asked about North Korea's nuclear test on Monday, Ahmadinejad said: "In principle we oppose the production, expansion and the use of weapons of mass destruction."


He said Iran had no missile or nuclear cooperation with North Korea.
Ahmadinejad also proposed a debate with Obama at U.N. headquarters in New York, "regarding the roots of world problems."

 

[Matt]

Our president's handling of Iran thus far has been an embarrassment to our country. Bush did too much in regards to foreign policy, overstepped his bounds and what not where as Obama is not doing enough. It is like he sits in his office like a terrified little boy hoping that his world of rainbows and unicorns won't be disrupted by some nut job third world leader.

 

[StorminNorman]

Deputy defense minister: Israelis should be prepared for all-out war ...

'Home front drill scenario not fiction'
May. 25, 2009
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST
The upcoming home front drill, Turning Point 3, is based a scenario in which "a combined missile and rocket attack on Israel from all sides combined with terror attacks from within," and is "not a fictional scenario,", Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilan'i told members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday.
Vilna'i briefed the committee on the state-wide drill, scheduled to begin on May 31. The threat of missiles hitting mainland Israel "is not unrealistic," Vilna'i continued. "If a war breaks out, that is probably what would happen."
According to Vilna'i, "In conducting this national home front drill we aren't looking to scare anyone, but rather prepare ourselves for a threat which has its writing on the wall."
The drill will include all emergency response teams, all government ministries as well as the entire civilian population. According to the military, people will be asked to choose secured rooms or bomb shelters, and ensure that they know what to do in the event of war.
During the exercise, 252 local councils and municipalities will open 'crisis rooms' and will respond to various simulated emergency scenarios.
The exercise will be the third home front exercise to be held since the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and since the Defense Ministry's National Emergency Administration (NEA), which is responsible for setting national emergency standards, was established.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1243257906474&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/Printer

Half of Israelis back immediate strike on Iran

Just over half of Israelis back an immediate attack on the nuclear facilities of arch-foe Iran but the rest want to wait and see the results of US diplomacy, according to a poll released on Sunday. Fifty-one percent support an immediate Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear sites, while 49 percent believe the Jewish state should await the outcome of efforts by the US administration to engage with the Islamic republic, said the survey published by Tel Aviv University.

But 74 percent of those questioned said they believe that new US President Barack Obama's efforts will not stop the Islamic republic from acquiring atomic weapons.
Israel, widely considered to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear armed state, considers Iran its arch-foe after repeated statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map."
Israel and Washington accuse Iran of trying to develop atomic weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear programme, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.
Opinion is split among left- and right-wingers about whether to attack Iran's nuclear sites, with 63 percent of those leaning to the right favouring a strike, compared with 38 percent of those leaning to the left, the poll said.
It was carried out by Tel Aviv University's Centre for Iranian Studies among 509 Israeli adults and had a 4.5-percent margin of error.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.278ae37b736a0478b7223156a3bcf18a.401&show_article=1

At least Israel and America are pals. I mean, Israel wouldn't do something if Barack Obama doesn't want them to, right?

Netanyahu defies Obama on Israeli settlement freeze

Source: ReutSource: Reuters
* Israel rejects full West Bank settlement freeze

* PM Netanyahu vows no limitations on Jerusalem building

* Palestinians see settlements as threat to statehood

By Adam Entous

JERUSALEM, May 24 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rebuffed U.S. calls for a full settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank and vowed not to accept limits on building of Jewish enclaves within Jerusalem.

Netanyahu's defiant stance set the stage for a possible showdown with U.S. President Barack Obama, who, in talks with the new Israeli prime minister in Washington last week, pressed for a halt to all settlement activity, including natural growth, as called for under a long-stalled peace "road map".

"The demand for a total stop to building is not something that can be justified and I don't think that anyone here at this table accepts it," Netanyahu told his cabinet, referring to Jewish settlements in the West Bank, according to an official.

Netanyahu said Israel had no plans to set up any new West Bank settlements. But he told Obama, according to the official, that his government "does not accept limitations on building" within what Israel defines as its capital, the Jerusalem municipality, an area that includes Arab East Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank captured in a 1967 Middle East war.

Palestinians want their own state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with its capital in Jerusalem. Settlement building in the city is a particularly sensitive issue for both sides.

"What we are interested in seeing is that Israel should implement its obligations under the road map, which includes halting settlement activity and expansion in all its forms," Public Works and Housing Minister Mohammed Shatayyeh said.

He added that if Israel wanted to show it was serious about peace talks with the Palestinians it should stop providing utilities to settlements and deny them state funding.

Netanyahu's comments reaffirmed a position he took in his bid for the premiership in a February election. By natural growth, Israel refers to construction within the boundaries of existing settlements to accommodate growing families.

Obama was expected to prod Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to resume long-stalled peace talks during a major speech in Cairo early next month.

Abbas has ruled out restarting those talks until Netanyahu, whose right-leaning government took office on March 31, commits to a two-state solution and halts settlement expansion.

Obama has surprised Israel with his activism on the settlement issue, but it is unclear how much pressure he will put on Netanyahu to freeze construction entirely, Israeli and Western officials said. Former President George W. Bush called for a freeze but building continued largely unchecked, Israeli anti-settlement advocacy groups say.

Half a million Jews live in settlement blocs and smaller outposts built in the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem, all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War.

The World Court says all are illegal. The United States and European Union regard them as obstacles to peace.

Palestinians see the settlements as a land grab meant to deny them a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

PEACE TALKS

Mark Regev, a spokesman for Netanyahu, said the fate of existing settlements should be decided in negotiations with the Palestinians. "In the interim period, we have to allow normal life in those communities to continue," he said.

Netanyahu has so far balked at committing to talks with the Palestinians on territorial issues, including settlements.

A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu's government hoped to sidestep U.S. pressure by committing to uproot smaller hilltop outposts built without official authorisation, a step also set by the road map.

"Moving on outposts is relatively easy" compared to freezing the growth of larger settlements, which Israel wants to keep as part of any future peace deal, the Israeli official said.

Last week, Israel flattened a small outpost near the Palestinian city of Ramallah, but residents returned to rebuild.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak told reporters that Israel would remove more than 20 other outposts, either through negotiations or with force, but gave no timeline. (Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Allyn Fisher-Ilan in Jerusalem and Mohammed Assadi in Ramallah; editing by Myra MacDonald) (For blogs and links on Israeli politics and other Israeli and Palestinian news, go to http://blogs.reuters.com/axismundi)

 

[Wiseman]

I posted in here to prove addendum wrong

 

[Carcharodon]

I posted in here to prove addendum wrong

If you posted in here in response to a claim made by Addendum, then that means the claim existed before you ever posted this...and it means that he wasn't wrong.

 

[Wiseman]

If you posted in here in response to a claim made by Addendum, then that means the claim existed before you ever posted this...and it means that he wasn't wrong.

hmm, perhaps I should've been more subtle with my approach

 

[voyzovrezon]

Our president's handling of Iran thus far has been an embarrassment to our country. Bush did too much in regards to foreign policy, overstepped his bounds and what not where as Obama is not doing enough. It is like he sits in his office like a terrified little boy hoping that his world of rainbows and unicorns won't be disrupted by some nut job third world leader.

You must have been a Hillary supporter.

I feel safer now that the Obama administration is in charge. He's willing to be diplomatic as part of his job--not to shoot from the hip and ask questions later like Cheney wants to do. You know, the guy that got five deferments from serving in the military?

Anyway, if war ensues, it will be on the head of Netenyahu. He's crazy.

 

[StorminNorman]

You must have been a Hillary supporter.

I feel safer now that the Obama administration is in charge. He's willing to be diplomatic as part of his job--not to shoot from the hip and ask questions later like Cheney wants to do. You know, the guy that got five deferments from serving in the military?

Wait...was Obama ever in the military? So why does Cheney not being in the military mean anything?

Also, being willing to take part in diplomacy only works if the other party cares.

Anyway, if war ensues, it will be on the head of Netenyahu. He's crazy.

Netenyahu has a far greater understanding of the seriousness of Iran than Barry does.

 

[voyzovrezon]

Netenyahu has a far greater understanding of the seriousness of Iran than Barry does.

Maybe he can't see the forest for the trees. Netenyahu has attended CUFI conferences. Listen to what these people believe:

[YT]mjMRgT5o-Ig[/YT]

 

[StorminNorman]

Maybe he can't see the forest for the trees. Netenyahu has attended CUFI conferences. Listen to what these people believe:

Wake me when it's something relevant. A video interviewing the more radical members of an organization (while at the same time demonstrating that the leaders of the organization did not share those views) isn't doing your argument a whole lot of good.

http://www.cufi.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_AboutCUFI

There is a link to what the CUFI touts as the purpose of their group - there is nothing extremist about any of that. Nentenyahu supporting and speaking to such a group isn't at all suspicious, out of place or warrant of a second thought.

 

[voyzovrezon]

There is a link to what the CUFI touts as the purpose of their group - there is nothing extremist about any of that. Nentenyahu supporting and speaking to such a group isn't at all suspicious, out of place or warrant of a second thought.

I disagree. John Hagee, founder of CUFI, believes that Armageddon is inevitable. The Jews obtaining the Dome of the Rock is crucial to usher in Jesus return. Hagee has more influence over foreign policy than most people realize. Maybe not with the Obama administration, but with many members of congress and senate.

The publication of a book calling for an evenhanded US policy towards Israel has caused outrage. Christian lobby groups want America to take a more aggressive stance against Israel's enemies. "When the US State Department presents a brain dead plan to divide Jerusalem, our response will be 'not on our watch'" vows TV evangelist, Pastor John Hagee. His influential lobby group, Christians United for Israel, believes protecting Israel is of paramount importance. "Israel is the focus of the bible". To this end, he's gathered more than 3,000 supporters for an assault on Capital Hill. "We will visit the offices of every senator and congressman". Hagee's particularly dismayed at President Bush for promoting peace negotiations with the Palestinians and using the word 'occupation'. "Every concession by Israel has only led to advanced terrorism", he explains. However, many Jews do not agree with the Pastor. "His agenda is not good for Jewish life in America or for Israel", claims Rabbi Block. "He argues against Israeli disengagement from any occupied territory". And the 50,000 Christians who live in the West Bank feel betrayed. As the Christian Palestinian Ambassador, Afif Safieh, laments; "They are totally insensitive of our ordeal and supportive of our oppressor"

.

embedding was disabled for this video, but hear what Hagee himself has to say about Israel and foreign policy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY1TT4I2ohI

 

[Nivek]

OOh noes, Amrageddinit?

 

[StorminNorman]

I disagree. John Hagee, founder of CUFI, believes that Armageddon is inevitable. The Jews obtaining the Dome of the Rock is crucial to usher in Jesus return. Hagee has more influence over foreign policy than most people realize. Maybe not with the Obama administration, but with many members of congress and senate.
.

embedding was disabled for this video, but hear what Hagee himself has to say about Israel and foreign policy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY1TT4I2ohI

Is Nentenyahu besties with John Hagee? If so, then it is something to be worried about.

Speaking at the CUFI is not.

 

[Zar25]

Also, being willing to take part in diplomacy only works if the other party cares.

He got our reporter back through diplomacy didn't he ? I wonder how Bush would've handled that one ... hmmnnn

 

[Zar25]

Our president's handling of Iran thus far has been an embarrassment to our country. Bush did too much in regards to foreign policy, overstepped his bounds and what not where as Obama is not doing enough. It is like he sits in his office like a terrified little boy hoping that his world of rainbows and unicorns won't be disrupted by some nut job third world leader.

You know this how ? I'll concede that relations with Iran is frustrating at best but making assumptions like that is insulting. Diplomacy thus far is the only avenue we have. Iran is NOT Iraq. Iran is smarter, tougher and stronger.

Having dialogue is NOT weakness. Unless you believe on taking direct action on Iran which we really can't afford to do or impose further sanctions that it's practically useless.

We got nothing on Iran and they're not going to easily give us anything either. We got no leverage and little actionable intelligence to pursue. Until we have a better solution, diplomacy is the only way to go.

 

[hippie_hunter]

You must have been a Hillary supporter.

I feel safer now that the Obama administration is in charge. He's willing to be diplomatic as part of his job--not to shoot from the hip and ask questions later like Cheney wants to do. You know, the guy that got five deferments from serving in the military?

Anyway, if war ensues, it will be on the head of Netenyahu. He's crazy.

I honestly feel that the United States is just as unsafe with Obama as it was with Bush. While Bush's foreign policy went way too far with his no tolerance to the point where it pissed off our allies, Obama's is going way too far in playing nice.

Extremes aren't good because on one hand you have the United States being the ******* of the world with Bush and on the other rogue nations are pretty much viewing Obama as weak. There needs to be balance.

 

[StorminNorman]

The allies that Bush pissed off are mostly useless, honestly.

Israel and Britain are by themselves far more useful than the rest of Western Europe combined.

 

[SuBe]

Iran is just pissed Obama hasn't been over for Tea and Crumpets yet. Wait until that happens and Obama Wan Kenobi will use his Jedi Mind Tricks then everything will be "Kosher". Except probably Israel. Which will no longer be Kosher as they will be dust.

Way to go Obama!

 

[Paradyme]

Ahmadinejad Challenger Vows Better U.S. Ties

Wednesday, May 27, 2009


Print TEHRAN, Iran — A conservative challenger to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran's presidential race is vowing to improve ties with the United States and "save" the country's economy if elected.

Mohsen Rezaei, former chief of the powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guards, is accusing the hard-line Iranian leader of damaging the country by pursuing a harmful foreign policy full.

Rezaei said Ahmadinejad's mismanagement has taken Iran to the "edge of a precipice."

The conservative told The Associated Press that he has devised a step-by-step "reciprocal exchange" plan to patch up ties with Washington.

Although he is not considered a leading contender in the June 12 election, Rezaei could pose a threat to Ahmadinejad by siphoning away the conservative camp's vote.

Here's to hoping he wins then. Maybe we can avoid a problem with Iran and only have North Korea to worry about.

 

[hippie_hunter]

The allies that Bush pissed off are mostly useless, honestly.

Israel and Britain are by themselves far more useful than the rest of Western Europe combined.

Germany and France are not useless allies.

 

[Matt]

Here's to hoping he wins then. Maybe we can avoid a problem with Iran and only have North Korea to worry about.

It won't matter if he wins. Ahmadinejad is a puppet. This new guy will be a puppet. In the end, the new president will do whatever Khamenei wants him to do. Khamenei has no desire to have good relations with the US.

 

[Paradyme]

It won't matter if he wins. Ahmadinejad is a puppet. This new guy will be a puppet. In the end, the new president will do whatever Khamenei wants him to do. Khamenei has no desire to have good relations with the US.

Yeah, you're probably right.

 

[StorminNorman]

Germany and France are not useless allies.

Yes they are. You cannot ignore the culture of a country when accounting for their strategic usefulness. The French and German people limit the possible effectiveness of their military. Like many liberal European countries, they lack the stomach for war.