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German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at the Blair House, Thursday Jan. 12, 2006, Washington. Chanceller Merkel, is making her first trip to the United States since taking office on November 22 and will meet with Preisedent George W. Bush with a focus on the Iran nuclear crisis.

New York Times: Israel Wants West to Deal More Urgently With Iran

With Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling for Israel to be “wiped off the map,” Israeli officials have special reasons for concern now that Iran has defied the West and said it will resume enriching uranium.

The Israelis are engaged in a careful effort to press the United States and the Europeans to deal more urgently with Iran. Israel has no intention for now of trying to deal with Iran alone or through military means, officials say.

But Israeli officials are worried that politicians in the United States and Europe are focusing on estimates of when Iran might actually have a bomb – rather than concentrating on the “point of no return,” perhaps within the next year, when they argue Iran may gain enough technical knowledge to make the fissile material needed for a weapon. After that point, in the Israeli view, it is simply a matter of time until Iran is nuclear-armed.

Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeev-Farkash, who retired Jan. 5 as Israel’s director of military intelligence, said Israel believed that the moment was no more than a year away, although estimates differ among governments, based on different views of how advanced Iranian technology has become. Once Iran starts enriching uranium, the general said, it will need just six months to a year to achieve the ability to produce fissile materials.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attends a meeting with Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki at the State Department in Washington January 12, 2006. Rice said on Thursday the United States did not have on its agenda the option of military action against Iran to curb its nuclear programs ‘at this point’

Despite the various estimates of the arrival of nuclear weapon capability for Iran, the question for the United States and its European allies will be: “what is the point of NO return for Iran’s nuclear program development?”

Stay tuned……..

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Iran Nuclear Watch: Kofi Annan – Iran Interested in “Serious and Constructive Negotiations”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Condoleezza Rice Calls on United Nations to Confront Iran’s Defiance

Iran Nuclear Watch: TALKS = DEAD END

Iran Nuclear Watch: “Highly Probable” Iran Referral to United Nations Security Council

Iran Nuclear Watch: Britain Calls for United Nations Security Council Action Against Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities

Iran Nuclear Watch: Five Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council Send Messages To Iran To Halt Nuclear Plans

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear Sites

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Seeking Components to Manufacture Nuclear Bombs and Ballistic Missle Capability

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaust”

Drudge Report Watch: ‘United States planning a military strike against Iran’

Iran Nuclear Watch: Is Washington Planning a Military Strike?

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Still Wants to Enrich Uranium in IRAN

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russians Helping with Missle Threat to Europe

Iran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTH”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Readies Forces to Strike Nuclear Iran

Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, Israel, JavadVaeedi, MahmoudAhmadinejad, PeterGoss, Turkey, AliLarijani, GlobalWaronTerror, France, Italy, Austria, ArielSharon, UnitedNations, InternationalAtomicEnergyAgency, CondoleezzaRice, Mohamed ElBaradei, JacquesChirac, MohammadSaidi, JackStraw, AkbarHashemiRafsanjani

Flap: Samuel Alito Watch: Headed for Confirmation

San Francisco Chronicle: Controversy over Princeton group flares, fizzles

Ted Kennedy proved what an old political hack and MORON he is during the Alito hearings.

Alito will WIN confirmation.

Technorati Tags: Cox&Forkum, SamuelAlito, TedKennedy, SupremeCourt

Satellite image released by DIGITALGLOBE shows the Bushehr nuclear reactor site in Iran approximately 17 kms (10 miles) south of the city of Bushehr. Europe’s big powers ratcheted up the pressure on Iran over its nuclear ambitions, urging UN Security Council action and saying two years of delicate negotiations had reached a dead end.

ASSociated Press: Annan Says Iran Wants to Discuss Nukes

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Iran’s top nuclear negotiator told him Thursday that Tehran was interested in “serious and constructive negotiations” with Britain, France and Germany over its atomic program.

During a 40-minute telephone conversation, he said, Ali Larijani said Iran wanted to resume negotiations with the Europeans, but this time favored a deadline.

Hummmm no mention of the United States, China or Russia.

Is this another BIG STALL?

He affirmed to me that they are interested in serious and constructive negotiations but within a timeframe, indicating that the last time they did it for 2 1/2 years and no result,” Annan told reporters.

The statement came after the British, French and German foreign ministers said negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program had reached a “dead end” and the Islamic republic should be referred to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions.

Refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council.

Time for negotiations is over.

L-R) French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana address a press conference following of a meeting of the EU troika over Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, in Berlin . They said time has come for the UN Security Council to become involved in the Iranian nuclear crisis.

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Iran Nuclear Watch: Condoleezza Rice Calls on United Nations to Confront Iran’s Defiance

Iran Nuclear Watch: TALKS = DEAD END

Iran Nuclear Watch: “Highly Probable” Iran Referral to United Nations Security Council

Iran Nuclear Watch: Britain Calls for United Nations Security Council Action Against Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities

Iran Nuclear Watch: Five Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council Send Messages To Iran To Halt Nuclear Plans

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear Sites

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Seeking Components to Manufacture Nuclear Bombs and Ballistic Missle Capability

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaust”

Drudge Report Watch: ‘United States planning a military strike against Iran’

Iran Nuclear Watch: Is Washington Planning a Military Strike?

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Still Wants to Enrich Uranium in IRAN

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russians Helping with Missle Threat to Europe

Iran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTH”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Readies Forces to Strike Nuclear Iran

Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, Israel, JavadVaeedi, MahmoudAhmadinejad, PeterGoss, Turkey, AliLarijani, GlobalWaronTerror, France, Italy, Austria, ArielSharon, UnitedNations, InternationalAtomicEnergyAgency, CondoleezzaRice, Mohamed ElBaradei, JacquesChirac, MohammadSaidi, JackStraw, AkbarHashemiRafsanjani

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, greets South African Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington.

ASSociated Press: Rice Urges U.N. to Confront Iran

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, coordinating with European allies, called on the United Nations Thursday to confront Iran’s “defiance” and demand that Tehran halt its nuclear program.

Rice, at a news conference, declined to say whether the the United States has the necessary votes in the Security Council to punish Iran. But she said, “It is very clear that everyone believes a very important threshold has been cleared.”

Rice did not spell out other possible moves against Iran. But she said she was “gravely concerned” about Tehran’s secret operations and “its dangerous defiance of the entire international community.”

“We have to look hard how a strong message is sent,” Rice said.

Earlier, Britain, France and Germany agreed the dispute should be referred to the Security Council by the
International Atomic Energy Agency.

“We are not yet ready to talk about specific measures” to take against Iran, Rice said.

Reuters: Rice says Iran must be referred to Security Council

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined European powers on Thursday and said Iran must be referred to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear plans.

Rice also said the United States wanted an emergency meeting of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, board of governors to discuss Iran’s defiant resumption of uranium enrichment work.

“That meeting would be to report Iran’s noncompliance with its safeguards’ obligations to the U.N. Security Council,” Rice told a news conference.

Earlier, France, Germany and Britain, the three European partners negotiating with Iran, said talks with Tehran had reached an impasse and they also agreed it should be sent to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

Rice said the removal of seals demonstrated that Iran had chosen confrontation with the international community over cooperation and negotiations.

“These provocative actions by the Iranian regime have shattered the basis for negotiations,” she said.

EU3 officials are set to meet their counterparts from China, Russia and the United States in London next week to discuss how to deal with Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

Diplomatic and Military planning continues……

Stay Tuned……..

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Iran Nuclear Watch: TALKS = DEAD END

Iran Nuclear Watch: “Highly Probable” Iran Referral to United Nations Security Council

Iran Nuclear Watch: Britain Calls for United Nations Security Council Action Against Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities

Iran Nuclear Watch: Five Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council Send Messages To Iran To Halt Nuclear Plans

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear Sites

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Seeking Components to Manufacture Nuclear Bombs and Ballistic Missle Capability

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaust”

Drudge Report Watch: ‘United States planning a military strike against Iran’

Iran Nuclear Watch: Is Washington Planning a Military Strike?

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Still Wants to Enrich Uranium in IRAN

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russians Helping with Missle Threat to Europe

Iran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTH”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Readies Forces to Strike Nuclear Iran

Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, Israel, JavadVaeedi, MahmoudAhmadinejad, PeterGoss, Turkey, AliLarijani, GlobalWaronTerror, France, Italy, Austria, ArielSharon, UnitedNations, InternationalAtomicEnergyAgency, CondoleezzaRice, Mohamed ElBaradei, JacquesChirac, MohammadSaidi, JackStraw, AkbarHashemiRafsanjani

US Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito answers questions on his fourth, and likely final day of hearings before Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Alito said US law is unclear as to whether President George W. Bush could launch a military invasion of Iran or Syria without congressional approval.

Reuters: Democrats take last jabs at Alito

Democrats pressed a final time for more definitive answers from U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito as a third day of questioning got under way before a U.S. Senate panel on Thursday.

The conservative Alito headed toward anticipated confirmation, however, despite continued wrangling with Democrats who fear he will steer the nation’s highest court to the right on abortion, civil rights and other issues.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, started the day by reporting a search of records demanded by Democrats found no mention of Alito in a controversial Princeton University alumni group — an issue some Democrats hammered away at in earlier questioning.

The questioning is OVER. No gaffs, no mistakes, no conflicts.

An excellent Judge.

UP or DOWN VOTE – CONFIRM ALITO!

Michelle Malkin has ALITO WATCH: THE DEAD HORSE DEMOCRATS

Technorati Tags: SamuelAlito, Alito, SupremeCourt

San Francisco Chronicle: Licenseless governor strikes an ugly chord

Political opponents, voters complain of ethical standards

Harleygate?

Maybe not, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appears to have skidded into a potentially nasty political curve this week when he revealed, after a recent motorcycle accident, that he’d been tooling around on his hog for years, apparently lacking a proper motorcycle license.

The governor said Tuesday he “never thought about” getting the M-1 driver’s license endorsement for his motorcycle, which is required under the state vehicle code, even though he has ridden his Harley for years, both in movies for business and on California’s Pacific Coast Highway for pleasure.

Is this a FLAP?

Well, it does NOTHING for the Governor’s image before the voters.

But all this hasn’t played well with voters like high-tech engineer Jim Navin, who commutes daily from Tracy to Mountain View on his motorcycle, and wrote to The Chronicle saying he had gotten decidedly different treatment.

“I was recently cited in Livermore for not having the M-1 endorsements,” he wrote. “A CHP officer said he could have towed and impounded my motorcycle because not having the M-1 was like having no license at all.”

Navin said he had gone to dreaded traffic school “after paying a $281 court fee.”

He said the governor should take his medicine — and get the endorsement — because “if we treat elected officials as if they are above the law, they will continue to act that way.”

Silly at first glance but the FLAP points to political perceptions that the Governor is “above and dismissive” of the law.

No votes gained here……..

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor Has NO Motorcycle Endorsement on Drivers License

Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Back at Work

Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Governor and Son Hurt in Motorcycle Mishap

Technorati Tags: ArnoldSchwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger, HarleyDavidon, motorcycle

Members of the ‘National Council of Resistance of Iran’ protest against the Iranian government and the nuclear program near the Foreign Ministry in Berlin on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006. The British, French and German foreign ministers meet Thursday to agree on a response to Iran’s resumption of nuclear activities, which has pushed international patience to the breaking point.

AP: Europeans Say Iran Talks Reach ‘Dead End’

The British, French and German foreign ministers said Thursday that negotiations with
Iran over its nuclear program had reached a “dead end” and the Islamic republic should be referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

The ministers called for a special session of the International Atomic Energy Agency to decide the referral. The ministers’ call came two days after Iran broke U.N. seals at a uranium enrichment plant and said it was resuming nuclear research after a two-year freeze.

Enriched uranium can be used as a fuel for both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons.

“From our point of view, the time has come for the U.N. Security Council to become involved,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

About DAMN time.

Next stop International Atomic Energy Agency and then the United Nations Security Council.

Military planning continues.

Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: “Highly Probable” Iran Referral to United Nations Security Council

Iran Nuclear Watch: Britain Calls for United Nations Security Council Action Against Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities

Iran Nuclear Watch: Five Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council Send Messages To Iran To Halt Nuclear Plans

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear Sites

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Seeking Components to Manufacture Nuclear Bombs and Ballistic Missle Capability

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaust”

Drudge Report Watch: ‘United States planning a military strike against Iran’

Iran Nuclear Watch: Is Washington Planning a Military Strike?

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Still Wants to Enrich Uranium in IRAN

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russians Helping with Missle Threat to Europe

Iran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTH”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Readies Forces to Strike Nuclear Iran

Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, Israel, JavadVaeedi, MahmoudAhmadinejad, PeterGoss, Turkey, AliLarijani, GlobalWaronTerror, France, Italy, Austria, ArielSharon, UnitedNations, InternationalAtomicEnergyAgency, CondoleezzaRice, Mohamed ElBaradei, JacquesChirac, MohammadSaidi, JackStraw, AkbarHashemiRafsanjani