NEW YORK -- The U.S., Britain and France staged a bravura performance of political theatre last week by claiming to have just "discovered" a secret Iran uranium enrichment plant near Qum. On cue, a carefully orchestrated media blitz trumpeted warnings of the alleged Iranian nuclear threat and "long-ranged missiles." In reality, the Qum plant was detected by U.S. spy satellites over two years ago, and was known to the intelligence community. Iran claimed the plant will not begin enriching uranium for peaceful power for another 540 days. UN nuclear rules, to which Iran adheres, calls for 180 days notice. UN nuclear watchdogs say Iran should have revealed the plant earlier. Iran alerted the UN last week and said it would invite inspectors. The reluctance of Iran to reveal its nuclear sites is magnified by constant threats of attack against them by Israel and the U.S. Iran also recalls Iraq, where many of the UN "nuclear inspectors" were likely spies for CIA or Israel's Mossad. This may explain some of Iran's secretive behaviour. The U.S., Britain, France and Israel have been even less forthcoming about their nuclear secrets.
NEW YORK -- The U.S., Britain and France staged a bravura performance of political theatre last week by claiming to have just "discovered" a secret Iran uranium enrichment plant near Qum. On cue, a carefully orchestrated media blitz trumpeted warnings of the alleged Iranian nuclear threat and "long-ranged missiles."
In reality, the Qum plant was detected by U.S. spy satellites over two years ago, and was known to the intelligence community. Iran claimed the plant will not begin enriching uranium for peaceful power for another 540 days. UN nuclear rules, to which Iran adheres, calls for 180 days notice.
UN nuclear watchdogs say Iran should have revealed the plant earlier. Iran alerted the UN last week and said it would invite inspectors.
The reluctance of Iran to reveal its nuclear sites is magnified by constant threats of attack against them by Israel and the U.S. Iran also recalls Iraq, where many of the UN "nuclear inspectors" were likely spies for CIA or Israel's Mossad. This may explain some of Iran's secretive behaviour. The U.S., Britain, France and Israel have been even less forthcoming about their nuclear secrets.
This may explain some of Iran's secretive behaviour. The U.S., Britain, France and Israel have been even less forthcoming about their nuclear secrets.
Oh, sorry. That's Israel threatening Iran and asking the Americans for more equipment and overflight rights. Of course, the Americans said no, but then again, they said that they would stop the demolition of Palestinians homes and illegally building on occupied lands and stealing the Palestinian water...and that hasn't happened. So, what's a jet or two over Iraq for our pals the Israelis?
Imagine if Iraq asked for nuclear tipped bunker busters from Russia. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
When diplomats representing the European Union and Brazil meet in Stockholm Tuesday, one of the topics on the agenda will be the ongoing crisis in Honduras and how both sides can help promote a political solution. International concern has been rising ever since a military-backed coup forced leftist Honduran President Manuel Zelaya from office on June 28. Honduras was plunged into a political crisis after the country's Supreme Court ordered Zelaya's arrest for allegedly seeking to illegally amend the constitution to allow presidents to serve more than a single four-year term. The consequent military action led to Central America's first coup in more than a decade and sent Zelaya into exile. He eventually slipped back into Honduras almost two months later to claim sanctuary in the Brazilian Embassy.
International concern has been rising ever since a military-backed coup forced leftist Honduran President Manuel Zelaya from office on June 28.
Honduras was plunged into a political crisis after the country's Supreme Court ordered Zelaya's arrest for allegedly seeking to illegally amend the constitution to allow presidents to serve more than a single four-year term.
The consequent military action led to Central America's first coup in more than a decade and sent Zelaya into exile. He eventually slipped back into Honduras almost two months later to claim sanctuary in the Brazilian Embassy.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A summit between the European Union and Brazil in Stockholm on Tuesday (6 October) saw leaders call for added urgency on climate change negotiations. Amid rhetoric suggesting the formation of a new strategic alliance on the topic, the two sides also announced their intention to meet again in November, just days before the start of UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen. Signs of a new alliance? "We want to increase the pressure on this climate debate," said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the bloc's rotating presidency. "There is a lot of concern that we are not making enough progress," he said. Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, the leaders made supportive comments on each others' commitments to reduce carbon emissions, with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva highlighting Europe's more ambitious targets when compared to the US.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A summit between the European Union and Brazil in Stockholm on Tuesday (6 October) saw leaders call for added urgency on climate change negotiations.
Amid rhetoric suggesting the formation of a new strategic alliance on the topic, the two sides also announced their intention to meet again in November, just days before the start of UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.
Signs of a new alliance?
"We want to increase the pressure on this climate debate," said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the bloc's rotating presidency.
"There is a lot of concern that we are not making enough progress," he said.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, the leaders made supportive comments on each others' commitments to reduce carbon emissions, with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva highlighting Europe's more ambitious targets when compared to the US.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Steps by the United States to vastly expand its aid to Pakistan, as well as the footprint of its embassy and private security contractors here, are aggravating an already volatile anti-American mood as Washington pushes for greater action by the government against the Taliban.An aid package of $1.5 billion a year for the next five years passed by Congress last week asks Pakistan to cease supporting terrorist groups on its soil and to ensure that the military does not interfere with civilian politics. President Asif Ali Zardari, whose association with the United States has added to his unpopularity, agreed to the stipulations in the aid package. But many here, especially in the powerful army, object to the conditions as interference in Pakistan's internal affairs, and they are interpreting the larger American footprint in more sinister ways.
An aid package of $1.5 billion a year for the next five years passed by Congress last week asks Pakistan to cease supporting terrorist groups on its soil and to ensure that the military does not interfere with civilian politics. President Asif Ali Zardari, whose association with the United States has added to his unpopularity, agreed to the stipulations in the aid package.
But many here, especially in the powerful army, object to the conditions as interference in Pakistan's internal affairs, and they are interpreting the larger American footprint in more sinister ways.
