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Top News Story UNSC deadline for Iran passes with no immediate action. Reuters reported that the UN said Iran failed to meet its nuclear deadline.Vital Perspectives published a copy of the IAEA report being distributed to diplomats at the UN today on Iran's nuclear program.   Bush: There must be consequences for Iran's defiance. Reuters reported that President George W. Bush said "It is time for Iran to make a choice... We've made our choice. We will continue to work closely with our allies to find a diplomatic solution, but there must be consequences for Iran's defiance and we...

Top News Story What to expect when UNSC deadline for Iran comes Thursday. The Washington Times reported that the UN nuclear watchdog agency will hand over a report that says Iran has resumed enriching a small amount of uranium to the U.N. Security Council.The Christian Science Monitor reported that we should expect Thursday's deadline for Iran to stop enriching uranium to pass with more of a whimper than a bang. As the United States experiences what one observer calls "confrontation fatigue," and as international unity against a nuclear-armed Iran threatens to splinter under pressure, quick action against Iran is...

Top News Story Ahmadinejad challenged Bush to an uncensored debate. Reuters reported that Ahmadinejad challenged President Bush to a televised debate, saying: "The debate should be go uncensored in order for the American people to be able to listen to what we say and they should not restrict the American people from hearing the truth."Dow Jones Newswires reported that the White House dismissed the idea of a televised debate between President George W. Bush and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as a diversion. A White House spokesman added: "Iran may want to look first to allowing free expression and open...

Top News Story The Islamic Republic's new tactic to impose Islamic rules on its population. Time Magazine reported that for the past few months, Iranians have been subjected to stronger enforcement of Islamic codes using a new tactic. Is this a revival of the dogmatic strictures of the country's revolutionary past? A must read.   Iranian women prepare to challenge the Islamic Republic. Radio Free Europe reported that activists in Iran have started a petition drive calling for changes to laws that discriminate against women. Organizers hope to attract the signature of 1 million Iranians -- a challenge that...

Top News Story Iran tests a submarine launched missile. MyWayNews reported that Iran test fired a new submarine-to-surface missile during war games in the Persian Gulf on Sunday. A brief video clip showed the long-range missile, called Thaqeb, or Saturn, exiting the water and hitting a target on the water's surface within less than a mile.   Iran's Foreign Minister admits the Islamic Republic is against democracy and human rights. De Velt Blog reported that they are sure Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki didn't mean it to say it so plainly when he said: 'that the US aggrandizes such...

Top News Story Senior Iranian official warns Iran may develop nuclear weapons. Haaretz reported that a senior Iranian official warned yesterday Iran may develop nuclear weapons and pull out from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if international pressure against its nuclear program continues. \ Ahmadinejad says its not a threat to anyone, while it shells Iraqi Kurdistan. Xinhua reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Iranian people would "use force" to protect the country's disputed nuclear program as he inaugurated a heavy water plant. He added: "There is no talk of nuclear weapons and there is...

Top News Story Xinhua PRAGUE, August 25, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- There have been different views on Iran's role in the war between Hizballah and Israel. Some observers suggested that Iran had given Hizballah orders to attack and kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to divert the world's attention from Iran's controversial nuclear program. Others said the conflict was the result of a miscalculation by Hizballah -- which likely didn't expect such a fierce reaction from Israel. Many blamed Iran for the conflict because of reports that they were helping Hizballah financially and supplying it with weapons and missiles. Iran says...

Top News Story Iran has produced 15 P-2 centrifuges? Reuters reported that an exiled opposition group said Iran has built at least 15 advanced P-2 centrifuges, which could dramatically speed up its production of nuclear fuel needed to create a nuclear bomb, and will have hundreds more ready next year.   Why Americans should furious that the US is letting Khatami speak in the US. Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the disgraced former president of the Islamic Republic, Mohammad Khatami, wants to speak in Washington, D.C., next month, and the State Department has already indicated it will welcome...

Top News Story Iran to make a major announcement on its nuclear program, soon. Hemscott reported that Iran will soon announce an atomic breakthrough.Mehr News reported that the regime’s news agencies have just reported in its Farsi section (but not in English) that within the next few days the regime will announce a major breakthrough in its nuclear activities. The breakthrough is of huge importance.MEMRI.org reported that the Iranian news service Al-Borz predicted that on the first anniversary of Iranian President Ahmadinejad's government, in late August 2006, Ahmadinejad is expected to announce what the news service called Iran's "nuclear...

Top News Story Iranian opposition leaders furious: Former Iranian president Khatami invited to speak in Washington DC. The Washington Post reported that the Bush administration has agreed to issue a visa to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to give a public address at the Washington National Cathedral next month. Iranian opposition leaders were shocked by the announcement and are asking people to write the White House and the organizers of the event asking them to cancel the invitation.Reuters reported that former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami applied on Tuesday for a U.S. visa to give a speech in Washington next...

Yesterday was Aug. 22, the Islamic holiday that celebrates Muhammed's ascension to prophet status, and also, as some nail-chewing souls quaked, a day that Iranian-sponsored terrorists might unleash yet more destruction. Apocalypse, as it turns out, did not happen, but Tehran did issue its long-awaited response to the UN's demand that uranium enrichment programs be straightaway ceased. The reply, while its precise wording is yet unreported, is said to run more or less along the lines of, "Stuff it." Otherwise, Tehran announces itself open to "serious negotiations," and "dialogue." Immediately responds the European Union: "The document is extensive and requires...

After August 22 August 23, 2006 FrontPageMagazine.com Robert Spencer Iran drew concern worldwide for refusing to respond in a timely fashion to the West’s offer of an incentives package in exchange for Tehran’s abandonment of its nuclear program. Iranian officials brushed aside the June 29 deadline set by the West and said Iran would respond on August 22. Some, including Farid Ghadry of the Reform Party of Syria (as I reported several weeks ago) and Islamic scholar Bernard Lewis, suggested that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the mullahs in Iran’s inner circle may have chosen that date in order to...

Vanity

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22ND, TONIGHT::: TUNE IN TO YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION: Debate Gallagher v. Crist at 8:00 pm est. Floridians and Americans who like to watch super important debates! Tonight you are in for a real treat. PBS Stations all over Florida are covering the debate between GOP Candidate Tom Gallagher for Governor and GOP Candidate for Governor Charlie Crist. This thread is critical for a discussion of tonight's debate. WHAT DID YOU THINK OVERALL? 1. What was your reaction to the debate? 2. Who made a slip? 3. Who didn't answer a question? 4. Who won? This should be...

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel should prepare for the possibility of a missile attack from Iran, a cabinet minister said on Tuesday. "We are liable to face an Iranian missile attack. The Iranians have said very clearly that if they come under attack, their primary target would be Israel," Rafi Eitan, a member of the decision-making inner cabinet, told Israel Radio. Iran could fire missiles at the Jewish state "therefore we must prepare for what could come, and prepare the entire country for a missile strike attack, to prepare all the civilian systems so they are ready for this," Eitan said....

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<p>BUCHAREST, Romania -- A Romanian oil rig off the coast of Iran came under fire Tuesday from an Iranian military warship and was later occupied by Iranian troops, a company spokesman said.</p> <p>The Iranians first fired into the air and then fired at the Orizont rig, said GSP spokesman Radu Petrescu. Half an hour later, troops from the ship boarded and occupied the rig and the company lost contact with the 26 crew members shortly afterward....</p>

Indeed, Iran's offer of a "new formula" and willingness to enter "serious negotiations" to resolve the dispute fits well into the pattern of Iranian foot-dragging the world has become so accustomed to on this issue over the years. This tactic can be summed up like this: tease the West by professing a willingness to "engage," leave them with a glimmer of hope that this engagement is actually making some progress, and in the meantime keep plodding ahead with the research and development needed to build the Jihad Bomb. This very temptation has worked wonders for the Iranians. Holding out the...

Top News Story What is Iran planning for Tuesday, August 22nd? ABC News reported that many are concerned with Iran's promise to respond August 22nd to the UN's nuclear offer. August 22nd marks a holy day on the Islamic calendar that is the day of reckoning for Shiites. Islamic expert Robert Spencer said: "The only thing we can know is that the date was not chosen by accident." Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Counterterrorismblog saw a possible connection between North Korea's possible nuclear test and Iran's self imposed nuclear deadline of August 22nd.Yahoo News reported that Iran has turned away U.N. inspectors...

IS IT ARMAGEDDON YET?