Posted on 09/24/2004 10:11:16 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
The US media still largely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” As a result, most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East. In fact they were one of the first countries to have spontaneous candlelight vigils after the 911 tragedy (see photo).
There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. I began these daily threads June 10th 2003. On that date Iranians once again began taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Today in Iran, most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy.
The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.
In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.
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This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.
I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.
If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.
If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.
DoctorZin
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| Copyright © 2004, Dow Jones Newswires | |
| NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Iran would be "wise" to work with the U.N. nuclear watchdog and European governments to satisfy concerns about its nuclear ambitions, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday. |
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By Irwin Arieff
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iran, under fire on suspicion of secretly seeking nuclear arms, accused the United States on Friday of "lawless militarism" in Iraq and called Israel the biggest threat to peace in the Middle East.
"The attack against Iraq was illegal," Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi told the U.N. General Assembly, thanking U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for publicly stating the same in a television interview last week.
The invasion was an example of "increasing lawless militarism," involving "the use of brute and unsanctioned military force to achieve some political goals, albeit desirable goals," said Kharrazi, explaining that his country, which fought an eight-year war with its neighbor, had "benefited greatly by the removal of Saddam Hussein."
Kharrazi said Israel, which is widely believed to have nuclear weapons but declines to acknowledge them, had systematically thwarted U.N. efforts to make the Middle East a nuclear-free zone.
"All countries of the region and beyond are unanimous in considering the Israeli arsenal, including its weapons of mass destruction, combined with its policy and record of aggression and state terrorism, as the single greatest threat to regional and global peace and security," he said.
"Israeli cannot hide these facts behind smoke screens. It is time for the international community to show its resolve to maintain the credibility of multilateral disarmament instruments by taking action to compel Israel to comply," he said.
The United States accuses Iran of using a domestic nuclear energy program as a cover for developing nuclear arms and wants the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency to send the matter to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
Britain, France and Germany are pressing Tehran to renounce any weapons-related activities in return for cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy and closer economic ties.
But Iran instead said this week it had begun processing raw uranium for enrichment, a preliminary step to making a bomb.
Washington also accuses Iran of fueling attacks on U.S. targets in Iraq and backing anti-Israeli Hizbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon.
But Kharrazi sought to turn the tables on his critics, calling his country "a victim of terrorism" and urging a more collective global fight against the scourge.
"No state can even come close to doing it alone," he said.
The Iranians have suffered a great deal. I would hate to see war in Iran. But, I have doubts that the fanatic Mullahs will succumb quietly. They are trying to engender support by stirring hatred for Israel and the US.
Most problematic is that they are supporting terrorists in Iraq and attempting to become a nuclear state.
If there is popular support for freedom, it may be possible to eliminate the Mullahs without war.
Iran Defends Nuclear Program
Peter Heinlein
United Nations
24 Sep 2004, 21:58 UTC
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=55A94FDE-BBA3-4100-A2494B5D630F2769
Kamal Kharrazi
Iran's foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi has insisted on his country's right to a peaceful nuclear program. Mr. Kharrazi's speech to the U.N. General Assembly also included a sharp condemnation the invasion of Iraq.
Foreign Minister Kharrazi told the Assembly Iran has been in the forefront of efforts to ban nuclear weapons. But he said, through interpreter, Iran maintains its right to pursue a peaceful nuclear program.
"The legitimate disarmament and non-proliferation concerns of the international community must be addressed through transparency and vigorous application of monitoring mechanisms," he said. "Iran has always been prepared to contribute actively to this global effort. While we insist on our right to technology for peaceful purposes, we have left and will leave no stone unturned in order to provide assurances of our peaceful intentions."
Mr. Kharrazi's comments came as European diplomats said they are trying to persuade Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment program, and may soon support U.S. demands for tougher action. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told U.N. journalists Friday that Iran's nuclear program might soon be referred to the Security Council.
Tehran's government has repeatedly said its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful domestic energy needs.
Mr. Kharrazi's General Assembly speech included a sharp condemnation of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He called it an example of lawless militarism.
"A clear example of this lawlessness is the attack against Iraq. Attack against Iraq was illegal," he added.
Mr. Kharrazi thanked Secretary-General Kofi Annan for using the word "illegal" to describe the invasion during a British television interview this month.
At the same time, he said Iranians had benefited from Saddam Hussein's removal, and said many in Iran are joyous at seeing him behind bars. But he said as a matter of principle, the invasion that brought his arrest cannot but be viewed as the fruit of a forbidden tree.
http://www.sabcnews.com/world/the_middle_east/0,2172,88446,00.html
EU ready for tougher action on Iran - diplomats
September 24, 2004, 20:11
European countries are losing patience with Iran over its nuclear programme, diplomats said today, as France's foreign minister insisted Tehran must assure the world it does not plan to acquire nuclear weapons. Western diplomats close to negotiations between Britain, France and Germany and Iran said the European trio might soon be ready to support US demands to refer Tehran's nuclear programme to the UN Security Council in November.
Iran, defying calls by the UN nuclear watchdog, said earlier this week it had begun processing raw uranium to prepare it for enrichment - a process that can be used to develop nuclear bombs. "It looks like Iran is going to the Security Council," said one diplomat, who declined to be named. "People now are discussing what will happen when it goes there." The European trio have been trying for over a year to persuade Iran to abandon its enrichment programme, resisting US calls for tougher action to isolate and punish Tehran.
Michel Barnier, the French foreign minister, said Iran urgently needed to reassure the international community about its nuclear programme, which Tehran says is purely for nuclear energy. "We are exactly at the time we need to be reassured and this is what we have told the Iranians," he told reporters in New York, where he was attending the UN General Assembly. "We are concerned that Iran is moving into research programmes which might lead to nuclear weapons," he said. "Assurances must be given that Iran that does not wish to and shall not acquire nuclear weapons. "The other alternative, if we are not reassured, is naturally to submit this question to the Security Council," Barnier said. "But for the time being, I still want to believe that we will keep the spirit of this contract, and it is in the interest of Iran and the interest of stability in the region."
It is not clear what would happen after any referral to the Security Council. Diplomats say its members would be unwilling to risk pushing up oil prices by imposing oil sanctions. But they said the security council could start with a strong statement urging Iran to co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Such a statement would be likely to win support from permanent Security Council members Russia and China, they said.
The United States and Israel have hinted at the possibility of military action to take out Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Earlier this week, Israeli officials said they were buying 500 US "bunker buster" bombs capable of penetrating Iran's underground nuclear facilities.
Already too late
Washington says Iran is developing nuclear bombs and has been demanding since last year that the IAEA's 35-member board report Iran to the Security Council for concealing its enrichment programme for two decades. Last October, Iran promised the EU trio it would suspend all enrichment activities. But while Iran has not enriched any uranium, it has continued building and testing centrifuges and has begun processing uranium.
Diplomats and intelligence officials have said in recent interviews that once Iran has enough uranium feed material for its centrifuges, it will begin enriching it. Negotiations between the EU trio and Iran will continue in the hope that Tehran will agree to a full freeze, but diplomats close to the talks said this was unlikely.
Another diplomat said it would be "very Iranian" if Tehran agreed to a suspension right before an IAEA board meeting due to discuss Iran on November 25, but this would not be enough.
"The resolution called for an immediate suspension of the enrichment programme," said a Western diplomat on the IAEA board. "It is already too late." - Reuters
Good that you finally add that LION & SUN to the Iranian flag
I am afraid that the New World Order has made plans for the world, and since Iran was not at the table her fate has already been decided. Unless the Mullah's are overthrown soon and the world put on notice that there is a new day in Iran, the NWO guys will steamroll Iran with or without the bomb.
The fact that the Mullahs are sponsoring terrorism and trying to enrich their nukes is just playing into the NWO hands.
Only a revolution that would make it a publicity nightmare for the steamroller to run will stop things at this rate, and as the countdown is getting close, I do not think there is enough time.
I am sorry to hear of the good people of Iran being in the bullseye. It sounds like they are not Islamic nutcases, but thinking, decent human beings.
My guess is the mullahs are going to show off their new nukes by firing some on American troops and Israel.
Millions will die that day. Isaiah 15-19?
Bump!
"My guess is the mullahs are going to show off their new nukes by firing some on American troops and Israel."
No. They'll just want everyone to know they have them. A deterrent, scare-tactic and arm-twisting tool.
You are right.
Israel has nukes, has had them for years and has never threatened its neighbors with them. That is called a deterrent.
Iran has not got nukes yet, and has already declared their intentions of nuking Israel into oblivion. That is called suicidal mania.
Something Islamokazis specialize in.
No one wants the regime to have nuclear weapons.
But saying that they're going "to show off their new nukes by firing some on American troops and Israel", isn't a likely scenario.
The crazy mullahs love to talk tough and threaten people. But they're not suicidal and they know they don't have a chance of survival if they immediately attack Israel.
I didn't say only defensive purposes. Scare-tactics and arm-twisting tools aren't defensive.
I was specifically addressing this statement, "show off their new nukes....". I don't think they'd immediately launch an attack on anyone. They'd have a small limited quantity until they build more of an arsenal.
However, all of this is moot, because they won't get far enough to do anything.
"death of millions of Iranians",... means nothing to them. They care about their own hides only. They are crazy and unpredictable.
"These are dangerous times and time is running out."
You're right.
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
Iran said today it has successfully test-fired a long-range "strategic missile" and delivered it to its armed forces, saying it is now prepared to deal with any regional threats and even the "big powers."
Iran's new missiles can reach London, Paris, Berlin and southern Russia, according to weapons and intelligence analysts. "This strategic missile was successfully test-fired during (the recent) military exercises by the Revolutionary Guards and delivered to the armed forces," Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani was quoted by the state-run radio as saying.
The missile is believed by intelligence analysts to be an updated version of the Shihab-3, improved with the help of the North Koreans.
The news comes shortly after Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards staged military maneuvers near the border with Iraq, seen as a signal to Washington Tehran is prepared to fight back against any attempts to prevent the development of a nuclear reactor that could be used to make weapons-grade plutonium.
The radio said Shamkhani refused to give details about the missile for "security reasons," but said Iran was "ready to confront all regional and extra-regional threats."
Shamkhani last month said Iran was working on improvements to the range and accuracy of the Shihab-3 in response to Israel's moves to boost its anti-missile capability.
Today's announcement came days after Israel said it was buying from the United States about 5,000 smart bombs, including 500 one-ton bunker-busters that can destroy 6-feet-thick concrete walls.
Analysts say such bombs could be used to destroy Iran's nuclear reactor before it goes online. In 1981, Israel bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor before it went "hot." Iran may be only weeks or months away from activating the reactor.
The 2,000 pound "bunker-buster" bombs are part of one of the largest weapons deals between Israel and the U.S. in years. The bombs include airborne versions, guidance units, training bombs and detonators. They are guided by an existing Israeli satellite used by the military.
In addition to the 500 one-ton bunker-busters, the purchase includes 2,500 other one-ton bombs, 1,000 half-ton bombs and 500 quarter-ton bombs. Funding will come from U.S. military aid to Israel.
On Tuesday, Iran defied the International Atomic Energy Agency by announcing it is producing uranium hexafluoride, the material for centrifuge enrichment.
Kurtis Cooper, a U.S. State Department spokesman, declared: "Although Iran has repeatedly asserted that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and its pursuit of uranium enrichment technologies are to fuel a planned civilian power program, Iran will have no peaceful use for enriched uranium for many, many years. ... The rush to convert 37 tons of yellowcake into feed-stock for centrifuge enrichment has no peaceful justification. ... Thirty-seven tons of yellowcake is not a test. It is a production run."
New Iran missiles can reach London
Tehran successfully test-fires new weapon,
Israelis buy 500 U.S. 'bunker-buster' bombs
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1226614/posts?page=19#19
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