Posted on 11/10/2006 10:57:45 AM PST by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Bush's appointment of Gates worries pro-democracy forces in Middle East.
- The Wall Street Journal reported that with Robert Gates replacing Donald Rumsfeld as President Bush's nominee for Defense Secretary it appears a significant policy shift is in play on Iran. Gates has contended that the lack of American engagement with Iran had harmed American interests, and advocated direct talks with the Iranians.
- The Council on Foreign Relations participated in a program in the fall of 2004, entitled: Iran: Time for a New Approach: An Independent Task Force on U.S. Policy Toward Iran, in which Robert M. Gates spoke, along with Suzanne Maloney and Zbigniew Brzezinski.
- The Wall Street Journal reminded us that Mr. Gates was deputy national security adviser under Brent Scowcroft in 1991, when President Bush's father abandoned the Shiite uprising that followed the first Gulf War. One reason the Iraqi government of Nouri al-Maliki has had such a hard time dismantling Shiite militias is because Shiites fear that it's only a matter of time before the U.S. abandons them again.
"Iran has transformed into a trans-regional power."
- Iran Focus reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been transformed into a “trans-regional power”, a top military commander claimed.
- Middle East Newsline reported the Islamic Republic has formed an army of suicide fighters. The troops would be used to stop any ground invasion of Iran.
Hezbollah admits to working to topple Lebanese Government.
- Iran Press News reported that one of the commanders of the Lebanese branch of Hezbollah affiliated to the Islamic Republic, confirmed a report that indicated that Hezbollah has been taking all necessary action to topple the government of Lebanon.
- Iran Press News reported that Walid Jumblatt, the leader of Lebanon's most powerful Druze clan, said the “decision to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon is in the hands of Khamenei.”
Rumors spread that rebel Ayatollah may be dead.
- Iran Press News reported the regime having arrested anti-regime cleric, Ayatollah Kazemeini-Boroujerdi announced that he had “suffered a heart attack” and that he has been hospitalized, however, they failed to mention the name of said hospital.
- Iran Press News reported that reliable source inside ward 209 of Evin prison said that Kianoosh Sanjari has been under daily tortured and interrogation. The source also added that [the torturers] have every intention of taking his life.
Here are a few other news items you may have missed.
- Middle East Media Research Institute reported that Sunni Islamist websites affiliated with the jihad groups in Iraq posted what they claimed was a top-secret Iranian document. The document, dated May 2001, indicates contacts between top Al-Qaeda figures and the highest echelons of the Iranian intelligence apparatus, which is part of the office of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and can be viewed at the end of this document. Excerpts and a photo of the document.
- Reuters reported that Iran's president is facing criticism from opposition lawmakers and press for giving more budget powers to provincial governors.
- The International Herald Tribune reported that Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday abruptly postponed a visit to Moscow planned for this week.
- Cox & Forkum published a cartoon on the US elections: In The Wind.
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He might as well get "DEAR LEADER" at the meeting too,and Hugo and then everybody can hug each other and take each other at there word.give me a #%^&* BREAK!
If this guy really is what he looks like he might be, we need to get the Pubbies that are left to block this nomination. What do they have to lose? Answer: Nothing! They already lost it. My head is spinning with all of this. It is so painful to watch your country go down in flames...
Don't you find it interesting the the Demos veered 'left' in their leadership just before they got back in power? (Dean, Pelosi, etc)
Everyone thought it was strange at the time and that they were signing their death warrant. Actually, they were signing our death warrant because a small shift in the election brings a chaotic shift in political leadership.
The political manipulation is really very interesting if you think about it.
hey, uh...iranians, we havent even finished off iraq yet because of a lack of support from the locals (and because of iran). u guys ought to do something like make a show of force here and there if you want the world to believe that there is legitimate popular support for an overthrow of the iranian regime. otherwise, I GUARANTEE YOU, Bush will leave office and nothing will have been done.
"Engagement could encourage Iran to adopt a more clear, positive attitude toward the new governments in Afghanistan and in Iraq, and it could also create opportunities for greater interaction between Iranians and the rest of the world. In all candor, the history of the last 25 years does not offer much encouragement that any part of this will be successful. However, a serious attempt could result in greater international support, should the failure of diplomacy necessitate reliance on other means."
On the impact of the U.S. invasion of Iraq: "My personal opinion is that it has probably strengthened our position vis-a-vis Iran. After all, we've _ we now have military presence on both sides of Iran. We have 140,000 troops next door. Clearly the Iranians have to look at that and see that the strategic situation in their neighborhood has changed in a significant way."
I'm about to post for Friday the 10th since you didn't get around to it.
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