Headlines for 11-21-07

Oil reaches new record above $99 Oil prices came close to breaching the $100 a barrel mark on Wednesday as the dollar remained weak, tempting traders towards commodities.


US general says Iran helping stop Iraq bloodshed


US agrees to new talks with Iran


Tehran paper attacks Ahmadinejad It was referring to a recent speech by Mr Ahmadinejad when he described people opposed to his nuclear programme as traitors and accused some senior former nuclear negotiators of spying for foreigners.


Iran leader vows no concessions on nukes


IAEA board to debate Iran report The governing board of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, is meeting to discuss its latest report on Iran.


West's 'rusty' weapons won't defeat Iran: president Iran's president has told his Western foes their "rusty and disabled weapons" could never defeat the Islamic Republic in a deepening dispute over Iran's atomic ambitions.


Iran Says U.S. Lacks Support for More Sanctions at UN


Gates again invokes possible Iran strike ** "This is not about changing the regime in Iran," Gates told a group of community leaders at a Whiteman Air Force Base lunch. "It's about getting the regime in Iran to change its behavior, and its policies."


Iran argues nuclear case in letter to "world


Iran doesn't expect new sanctions Iran said Tuesday it does not expect new U.N. sanctions anytime soon because it is cooperating with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency on it disputed nuclear program, and Russia and China are supporting this process.


US commander gives part credit to Syria for military gains in Iraq


Iran agrees to Iraq talks with US


Hamas shrugs off US peace talks Hamas political supremo Khaled Meshaal, exiled in Damascus, said the Annapolis conference was called by Bush to mask agressive plans in the region......"And today he wants to make peace in Palestine in preparation to a hit against Iran," Meshaal said. "This is an American game. The Palestinians and the Arab peoples are aware of it and know that it is not serious."


US troops 'shoot Iraqi civilians' The incident threatens to suspend ties with US officials.


Putin attacks foreign interference


Ex-Congressman Plans Book On Why U.S. Invaded Iraq Hostettler was among six House Republicans to vote against the Iraq war and cautioned as early as an October 2003 speech on the House floor that the problems associated with rushing to war would be many.


Putin says Russia will not tolerate NATO military build up President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia would not ignore NATO's military build up near its borders and would provide an adequate response to any "muscle-flexing."


Likelihood of Iran Attack Gains Credence **


GOP Jewish group polls on Iran strike ** The questions, recalled by a focus group participant, were: "How would you feel if Hillary [Clinton] bombed Iran? How would you feel if George Bush bombed Iran? And how would you feel if Israel bombed Iran?"


Look Who's Downplaying Iran's Nuclear Threat ** Podhoretz and company could have difficulties presenting a case for going to war against Iran in order to protect Israel?both Israel's foreign minister and a former head of the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, have suggested that if Iran does acquire nuclear weapons, Israel would deal with it by deterring Iran. Not attacking it.


A Conservative View of Iran by Philip Giraldi ** Contrary to the repeated assertions by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, an endless series of threats emanating from Washington is not diplomacy. The United States is refusing to negotiate with Iran, and the only obstacle to a war from the U.S. side is the resistance coming from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and some military and naval officers, most notably the Central Command's Admiral William Fallon, who are heavily outnumbered by those in the administration and outside it who are pro-war.....Powerful lobbying groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) continue to resist talks and urge a military resolution.


Israel seeks US help to fight Iranian pistachios A US official says Israel has asked for US help in cracking down on illegal pistachio nut imports from Iran, after Washington warned the trade was hurting efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear programme.


U.S. invites 40 to peace talks The United States invited more than 40 countries, including Syria, to participate in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.



Cheney's ex-adviser: Annapolis not 'priority' "Priorities for the United States right now should be three or four major crises that are reaching the near acute stage," David Wurmser, formerly the U.S. vice president's senior adviser on Middle East issues, said Tuesday at an Israel Project luncheon in Washington, D.C.


Israeli envoy tells anti-U.N. crowd that world body is not all bad Though speakers drew from an extensive repertoire of singular negative treatment of Israel by various U.N. bodies, much attention was directed to the area of human rights, where Israel has typically been a subject of overwhelming scrutiny.....U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) called the treatment of Israel by the United Nations an "abomination" and pledged to use financial pressure to compel changes within the organization A whinefest because the world refuses to turn a blind eye (as the US does) to Israel's atrocious human rights record.


Howard era may be ending, but Australia likely to stay ally Howard supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq, has defended the legitimacy of Israel?s security barrier in the West Bank and Israel?s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon last year, and delivered a scathing eulogy when Yasser Arafat died in 2004. Howard has been showered with awards from Jewish community organizations here and in the United States.


Terror trial defendant gets 11 years In a passionate, arm-waving statement before sentencing, Ashqar painted a grim picture of the suffering of Palestinians under the Israeli occupation and said some of his own relatives had been killed or jailed.
He said he would rather go to prison than betray his people as they strive to free themselves from Israeli domination.



U.S. accuses Syria of meddling in Lebanon


Iraq sets free trips home for refugees With violence down in Iraq, the country's embassy in Damascus is starting to organize free trips home for Iraqis who fled the conflict and now want to return, an Iraqi diplomat said Wednesday.



Is It Just Business-as-Usual in D.C. When a Lobbyist Brings Classified Info to a Foreign Embassy?