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Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Wants West to Deal More Urgently with Iran
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……..
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Kofi Annan – Iran Interested in “Serious and Constructive Negotiationsâ€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 IranIran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear SitesIran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaustâ€
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 EuropeIran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTHâ€
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
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Cox & Forkum: Background Check
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
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Kofi Annan – Iran Interested in “Serious and Constructive Negotiations”
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 IranIran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear SitesIran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaustâ€
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 EuropeIran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTHâ€
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
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Condoleezza Rice Calls on United Nations to Confront Iran’s Defiance
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……..
Previous: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 IranIran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear SitesIran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaustâ€
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 EuropeIran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTHâ€
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
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Samuel Alito Watch: Headed for Confirmation
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
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Motorcycle License FLAP
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
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Iran Nuclear Watch: TALKS = DEAD END
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 IranIran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear SitesIran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaustâ€
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 EuropeIran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTHâ€
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
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: The Prince of the City
The Claremont Review of books has a James Q. Wilson Review of The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York, and the Genius of American Life by Fred Siegel.
Modern politics is often about little more than adding another government program—or demonizing opponents in order to attract marginal voters. Yet from time to time a statesman comes to power who breaks the mold and tries to govern against the grain. Ronald Reagan did that in the 1980s for the nation. And Rudy Giuliani did it the 1990s for New York City.
Giuliani, as everyone knows, became wildly popular after he handled his city’s response to the terrorist attacks of September 11. But many people do not know that in his eight years as mayor before 9/11, he rescued New York City from becoming a Third World basket case that would have driven out jobs and the middle class, surviving only on demands for more federal grants. Fred Siegel, a professor of history at Cooper Union, has recovered the full story of Giuliani in New York in his superb new book, The Prince of the City.
Read the review and then read the book.
Republicans should keep in mind that, more than four years after 9/11, Giuliani still commands Americans’ respect and admiration. His worst behavior as mayor leads me to suspect that he is only as domineering and publicity-driven as many of our presidents (good or bad) have been. His best behavior as mayor suggests many of the qualities a good president should have, such as honesty, decency, and a commitment to make government work better and to enable the middle class to live better. As the presidential primaries approach, Republicans concerned with the country’s moral character may want to ask themselves whether, in the present predicament, what the country needs most is a strong executive, unafraid of criticism, to prosecute the war we are in.
Rudy Giuliani is Flap’s choice for President in 2008 and WILL be the next President.
Stay tuned……..
Technorati Tags: RudyGiuliani, Giuliani, JamesQWilson, ClaremontReviewofBooks, FredSiegel
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Samuel Alito Watch: Biden – SKIP Hearings
Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.., jokingly puts on a Princeton Tigers cap during Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito’s confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006.
ASSociated Press: Sen. Biden Suggests Scrapping Hearings
Supreme Court nominees are so mum about the major legal issues at their Senate confirmation hearings that the hearings serve little purpose and should probably be abandoned, Democratic Sen. Joe Biden said Thursday.
“The system’s kind of broken,” said Biden, a member of the Judiciary Committee considering the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito.
“Nominees now, Democrat and Republican nominees, come before the United States Congress and resolve not to let the people know what they think about the important issues,” such as a president’s authority to go to war, said Biden.
As the committee headed into its fourth day of hearings on the Alito nomination, Biden told NBC’s “Today” show that a better solution might be to skip hearings and send nominations straight to the Senate floor for a vote.
“Just go to the Senate floor and debate the nominee’s statements,” the Delaware senator said, “instead of this game.”
Senator Slow Joe is tired of being portrayed as a FOOL.
Bet his polling numbers for the would-be Presidential candidate are NOT favorable.
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Senator Joe Biden Watch: THE WAFFLE
Iraq War Watch: Biden – Supports Phased Withdrawl of TroopsSamuel Alito Watch: Chance of Filibuster
Technorati Tags: JoeBiden, Biden, SamuelAlito, Alito, SupremeCourt
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Iran Nuclear Watch: “Highly Probable” Iran Referral to United Nations Security Council
Iranian residents of Berlin demonstrate against Iran’s nuclear policy January 12, 2006. The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany meet on Thursday to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme and EU diplomats said the trio would call for Tehran to be hauled before the U.N. Security Council.
ASSociated Press: Straw: Iran Referral ‘Highly Probable’
The British, French and German foreign ministers meet Thursday to discuss Iran’s resumption of nuclear activities, with the British foreign minister saying a defiant Tehran likely would be referred to the U.N. Security Council.
International impatience with Iran has grown since the country broke U.N. seals on its uranium enrichment plant Tuesday and said it was resuming nuclear research after a two-year freeze.
The decision increased worries in the United States and other Western countries that Iran intends to produce nuclear weapons, while Russia, a longtime Iran ally, indicated it could reverse its opposition to bringing Tehran before the Security Council, which could impose sanctions.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters before leaving for Berlin it was “highly probable” Iran would be referred to the Security Council.
He said the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty put Iran “under very clear obligations not to do anything which leads to suspicions that they are developing a nuclear weapons capability.”
“I regret to say that in September of last year, because of Iran’s failures, the board of governors of the (International) Atomic Energy Agency declared Iran noncompliant with its obligations,” he added. “Ever since then, we have been trying to bring Iran back into the fold.”
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw speaks to journalists after the weekly cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London January 12, 2006. Straw said on Thursday, he thought Iran would be referred to the U.N. Security Council due to its decision to restart sensitive nuclear work this week.
This matter has been discussed ad nauseum.
Referral should be made IMMEDIATELY to the United Nations Security Council. Iran friends Russia and China WILL be forced to choose between sanctions or allowing the United States and Israel to conduct a military operation.
Iran will NOT be allowed any further development of nuclear weapons capability.
A British official confirmed on Thursday that senior officials from Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the United States would meet in London early next week to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.
He stressed the private meeting was part of a process of continuing dialogue and no announcements were expected. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with government protocol.
One more meeting…..SIGH……
Iran BROKE the United Nations seals on their nuclear facility – REFER them to the Security Council!
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Britain Calls for United Nations Security Council Action Against IranIran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear SitesIran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Resumes Nuclear Fuel Research
Iran Nuclear Watch: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – “Israel Completed Holocaustâ€
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 EuropeIran Nuclear Watch: Holocaust Is a “MYTHâ€
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