Free Republic

Top News Story The War of Words Escalate. Iran's President Strikes Back at Bush. Yahoo News reported that Ahmadinejad called George W. Bush a warmonger who should be dragged before a "people's tribunal" and "God willing, in the near future we will judge you in a people's tribunal."Reuters reported that Ahmadinejad on Wednesday angrily rejected international pressure on Iran saying: "I am telling those fake superpowers that the Iranian nation became independent 27 years ago and ... on the nuclear case it will resist until fully achieving its rights."   Bush Responds. Reuters reported that President Bush, when asked...

Top News Story Iran: The good news and the bad. Bush's SOTU Speech provides his strongest support for the Iranian people and condemnation of the regime. The White House published the text of President Bush's State of the Union Address. We highlighted relevant comments on Iran.   Iran ignores international warnings. Yahoo News reported that Iran's leading nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani said: "Reporting Iran's dossier to the U.N. Security Council will be unconstructive and the end of diplomacy."Reuters reported that the IAEA confirmed that Iran had begun preparing for nuclear enrichment.Reuters reported that Iran threatened to halt snap U.N....

Top News Story Permanent 5 Agree: Send Iran to the Security Council. Reuters reported that the permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council agreed on Tuesday that this week's meeting of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog should report Iran to the Council.Reuters reported that Iran presented no major new proposals at talks with European Union countries on Monday.Reuters reported that the European Union called on the U.N. Security Council to step into the nuclear dispute with Iran.   Bill Clinton thinks we need more talks. Jenny Davey in Davos, The Times reported that Bill Clinton called for America to...

Top News Story The Major Strike in Tehran the MSM ignores, an update. Rooz Online reported that between 300 to 400 striking bus drivers and their families were arrested in Tehran, with little or no media coverage.No Sweat reported that thousands of the striking workers were beaten up by security forces but that in solidarity with the strikers, many residents of Tehran refused to board the buses.   More Iranian Regime Deception. The Telegraph reported that Iran has formed a top secret team of nuclear specialists to infiltrate the IAEA to obtain information on the work of IAEA inspectors.Michael...

Top News Story Middle East News Line A leading U.S. nuclear proliferation expert said Teheran obtained an atomic bomb about a decade ago from the nuclear black market. The expert said Iran sought to produce additional nuclear weapons through technology from Pakistan and other countries. "The one functional device Iran has," Mansoor Ijaz, a U.S. nuclear scientist, said, "is the result of clandestine transfers from Pakistan's rogue black market nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, who sold the Iranians antiquated but highly effective Chinese bomb designs and parts, including spherical shell casings, spherical Krytron detonation switches and empirical software testing...

Top News Story Last Minute Obstacles to Iran's referral to UNSC. Forbes reported that ElBaradei called on the United States to provide Iran with nuclear reactors.The Financial Times reported that Kofi Annan strengthened Iran's hand in the nuclear stand-off.Reuters reported that Iran's chief nuclear negotiator dampened hopes that Tehran was leaning toward a compromise.Reuters reported that Iran has pledged access for U.N. inspectors to equipment from the former Lavisan military site in a possible bid to avert a crackdown by the U.N. nuclear watchdog (IAEA) next week.   Regime attempts to crush the leadership of Saturday's Strike in Tehran....

Top News Story Houston Chronicle WASHINGTON - Despite disillusionment with the war in Iraq, a majority of Americans support taking military action against Iran if that country continues to produce material that can be used to develop nuclear weapons, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found. The poll, conducted Sunday through Wednesday, found that 57 percent of Americans favor military intervention if Iran's Islamic government pursues a program that could enable it to build nuclear arms. Support for military action against Tehran has increased over the past year, the poll found, even though public sentiment against the war in...

Top News Story A flurry of activity before next week's IAEA showdown. The New York Times reported that the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet in London on Monday in an effort to resolve their differences on how best to punish Iran for its nuclear activities.The Financial Times reported that Robert Zoellick, the US Deputy Secretary of State said China has emphasized its support for international efforts to stop Iran’s nuclear program.Iran Focus reported that Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator is due to travel to Beijing on Thursday.Yahoo News...

Top News Story Influential US leaders call for Regime Change in Iran. Iran va Jahan reported that the influential US think tank "The Committee on the Present Danger" (CPD) has called for "Regime Change in Iran". CPD said: "We believe the United States's policy objective must be regime change in Iran..."   US Senate united on Iran? TheDay.com reported that U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., said Iran could face economic sanctions, and possibly military force, if it refuses to back down and that there is bipartisan support among his Senate colleagues to work to peacefully to defuse any...

Top News Story Take back the initiative on Iran: Broadcast the truth into Iran, before it’s too late. Right now Ahmadinejad has the initiative. The West needs to regain it, now. Evidence of fissures in the ruling elite inside of Iran, the corruption of its leaders, and concern among the Iranian people that bad times are ahead for them soon; provide the West with an opportunity to support the pro-democracy forces as never before. If we don't want war or a nuclear Iran, now is the time to encourage internal dissent. Read these reports. Michael Ledeen, National Review Online...

Posted on 01/23/2006 10:43:23 PM PST by DoctorZIn Top News Story Efforts to Bring Iran before the UN Security Council in Trouble? The Washington Post reported that the United States has been unable to win international support to officially report Iran to the U.N. Security Council. More Warnings from Iran and Friends. The Scotsman reported that Iran warned Israel it would be making a "fatal mistake" if it took military action against Tehran's nuclear program.Reuters reported that firebrand Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has assured Iran that his Shi'ite Muslim militiamen will support the Islamic Republic if it comes under attack.Terry...

Top News Story Iran Threatens the West with its biggest weapon, oil. The New York Times reported that Ahmadinejad hinted last weekend that Iran might be willing to use the "oil weapon" - that is, curbing oil exports. United Press International also reported that Iran's plan for opening an oil bourse in March of this year could threaten the world economy.   Iran pulling it funds out of Europe. The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran announced Friday it has begun pulling its foreign currency accounts out of European banks. Reuters reported that an unnamed senior Iranian official said: "Yes,...

Top News Story Has the West waited too long? Will Iran test a nuke in March? United Press International reported that an Iranian opposition group claims that Tehran is planning a nuclear weapons test before the Iranian New Year on March 20, 2006.   The Tough. Spiegel Online reported that French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday threatened states developing weapons of mass destruction with nuclear retaliation. Daily News reported that acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: Israel will not allow Iran to get the bomb. Economic Times reported that Nicholas Burns, the US under secretary of state for...

Top News Story Iran experts call for the third option: Support Regime Change inside of Iran. Michael Rubin, Wall Street Journal reported that 80% of the population have lost faith in the Islamic Republic and do not want to live under theocracy any more than do Americans or Europeans.Jonah Goldberg, The National Review reminded us that there is a third option in dealing with Iran, regime change from within.Michael Ledeen, The National Review examined why the Iranian people are waiting for the international community to stand with them in their desire to remove the Iranian regime.   The Latest...

Tehran plans nuclear weapon test by March WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Tehran is planning a nuclear weapons test before the Iranian New Year on March 20, 2006 says a group opposed to the regime in Tehran. The Foundation for Democracy citing sources in the U.S and Iran offered no further information. The FDI quotes sources in Iran that the high command of the Revolutionary Guards Air Force have issued new orders to Shahab-3 missile units, ordering them to move mobile missile launchers every 24 hours in view of a potential pre-emptive strike by the U.S. or Israel. The order...

Top News Story The Iranian Nuclear Crisis: Splits, Caution, Denial, Warnings, Insight and more Lunacy from Ahmadinejad Permanent 5 Unity Short Lived. The Times reported that the EU3 will seek an emergency meeting of the IAEA on February 2-3. Reuters reported that a meeting of European, Russian, Chinese and U.S. officials in London on Monday did not produce a full consensus. BBC News reported on why, as the west presses for punitive international action against Tehran, one of its most difficult tasks will be to win China's support. Herald Sun reported that UN nuclear chief Dr Mohamed ElBaradei held...

Top News Story Condi says faster, Straw says slower, Kofi says talk, and CNN says apologies. Building a consensus on Iran. Yahoo News reported that Germany, France and Britain have begun drafting a resolution to submit to the International Atomic Energy Agency.Reuters reported that the US and European Union hope to enlist Russian and Chinese support for robust diplomatic steps against Iran, but China said resorting to the Security Council might "complicate the issue."Forbes.com reported that Jack Straw said that it is up to Iran to reassure the international community.Reuters reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel met President Vladimir...

Top News Story Bi-Partisan Unity on Iran in Senate Congressional sources informed me that this joint appearance was carefully prepared by both political parties as a show unity on the Iran. Carol Giacomo, Reuters reported that Republican and Democratic senators said on Sunday the United States may ultimately have to undertake a military strike to deter Iran. Nedra Pickler, Forbes reported that US Senators said that international penalties against Iran are necessary to contain its nuclear ambitions. More Diplomacy Michael Hirsh, Newsweek reported that now that the civilized world is now united against Iran. Can the American president exploit...

Top News Story The Permanent 5 will meet Monday on Iran. Sunday Times reported that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany will hold talks in London on Monday to plan a pivotal meeting on the Iran nuclear crisis.RIA Novosti discusses the Russian expectations of the Permanent 5 meeting. Ahmadinejad Stands Firm. CNN News reported that Ahmadinejad continued to insist on Iran's right to Nuclear Research. Special Reports on Iran. EU Business reported that European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said: A military strike against Iran for its refusal to halt nuclear research is...

Top News Story Iran Threatens to block UN Inspectors. CNN News reported that Tehran is threatening to block inspections of its nuclear sites if a dispute over its atomic activity is sent to the U.N. Security Council.Telegraph reported that Jack Straw, the UK Foreign Secretary, said that Iran may face UN sanctions over its resumption of nuclear activities, but insisted that military action was not being considered.Zaman Online reported that France has reported it is too early to demand sanctions over Iran’s resuming its nuclear energy program.The Financial Times reported that Iran still wants more talks and Condi does...