Posted on 05/31/2005 4:39:07 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Rice, Allies Boost Anti-Weapons Program
By BARRY SCHWEID
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON May 31, 2005 — The Bush administration claimed success on Tuesday for its program designed to intercept weapons technology, saying it helped end Libya's weapons program.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Proliferation Security Initiative, an operation conducted jointly with dozens of other countries, provided the "framework" for intercepting centrifuge components bound for Libya and led to Moammar Gadhafi's 2003 decision to dismantle the programs.
The program has had 11 successful efforts, including the interception of missile and nuclear technology headed for Iran, Rice said at a State Department ceremony marking the program's second anniversary. She provided no additional details, but State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said two deliveries of equipment to North Korea were intercepted and a second to Iran.
And President Bush, in a statement released by the White House press office, said many partners of the United States were developing new tools to improve their capacities to interdict weapons of mass destruction.
"We are working in common cause with like-minded states prepared to make maximum use of their laws and capabilities to deny rogue states, terrorists and black marketeers access" to weapons equipment, Bush's prepared statement said.
But Wade Boese, research director for the private Arms Control Association, challenged the claim the program was instrumental in blocking delivery to Libya.
"This is the only piece of evidence they have provided for the program's success, but it remains unclear what role PSI actually played in this interdiction," Boese said, using the program's initials. "Some former U.S. and foreign government officials have said that the interception was not a PSI operation."
Boese added: "We don't have any public accounting of interdictions except this one."
Boucher, the State Department spokesman, said other programs and not solely PSI played roles in the Libya interception. He didn't provide specifics, saying he did not want to jeopardize U.S. intelligence operations.
- Michael Ledeen warns that President Bush is drifting in his war on terror.
- Agence Franc Presse reports that the Iranian public has been told, voting is as important as praying.
- Omidmemarian reports that he met Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji tonight.
- Khaleeji Times reports that Rafsanjani said the Islamic regime needed a radical rethink of the way it deals with the international community.
- The American Thinker says, Forget about diplomacy with Iran.
- Adnkronos International reports that Iranians living abroad have accumulated more than a trillion dollars in earnings.
- BosNewsLife News Center reports that an Islamic court acquitted Christian lay pastor Hamid Pourmand on apostasy.
- The Associate Press reports that President Bush says it was a "reasonable decision" to let Iran apply for membership in the World Trade Organization.
- Yahoo News reported on Iranian bloggers.
- SMCCDI reports of sporadic clashes between dissident students and the Bassij students at the Amir Kabir University.
- The Middle East Economic and Political Analysis issued a report, Iran's Nuclear Programme - Assessment of Goals and Future Actions.
- Sunday Times reports that Iran announced that it had successfully tested a new solid fuel missile motor for its arsenal of medium-range ballistic missiles.
- VOA News reports that Nicholas Burns as saying, Iran presents a serious challenge to the United States and other democratic countries.
- Iran Press Service reports that Iranian dissident Qasem Sho'leh Sa'di was prevented from leaving Iran.
- Khaleej Times reports that, In Iran, a PhD Means... Pizza Hut Delivery Work.
- The New York Times reports that the Bush administration is preparing to discuss efforts to join forces with other nations in intercepting weapons and missile technology bound for Iran.
- Wired reports on the end of the Iranian blog spring.
- And finally, photos of Akbar Ganji at home, student protests, Rafsanjani's student supporters and a Cox and Forkum cartoon.
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
Doc
Students have just announced that they will make their university a un-breakable point against Fascist Mullahs.
----
I suspect we will hear a lot about Student Protests in this coming June!
Maybe I'm tired tonight ... but WHERE did the nuclear weapons ORIGINATE from? Iran? Iraq?
Scratch Iraq.
Can we send them back marked "return to sender" and armed?
Thanks. I felt a tad lost with this one.
There was another speech by dissident Students against the Regime at University of Amir Kabir yesterday.
To read today’s thread click here.
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.