Headlines for 01-25-08

ANALYSIS-Iran confident of no attack, can survive sanctions Iran feels it has done enough to avert an imminent U.S. attack and is confident its cushion of petrodollars will help it weather the impact of a third round of mild sanctions, Iranian analysts and politicians say.


Iranian: Normal ties to U.S. impossible


Iran to face travel bans, more asset freezes: draft


Sixth nuclear fuel batch lands in Iran Iran received a sixth shipment of nuclear fuel Thursday from Russia, destined for a power plant being constructed in the southern port of Bushehr, the official IRNA news agency reported.


US not interested in permanent Iraq bases: Gates


The Sanctions Trap by Scott Ritter ** Russia and China, and to a lesser extent France, Great Britain and Germany, may view the sanctions as a vehicle for a diplomatic resolution of the issues. The United States views the sanctions as a means to a different end, this one culminating in the elimination of the theocratic regime in Tehran.


U.S. diplomat says Iran resolution "punitive" "Mr. Bolton no longer works for the United States government. He doesn't speak for the United States government. His views are at variance with those of our leadership," Burns said. "And so, I would disassociate my own self with those rather extreme comments of John Bolton..., or I should say, very extreme comments."


Added sanctions seen as mostly hurting civilians "In this long-smoldering fight with America, the Iranian government, as always, will remain unaffected by sanctions; common people like me will suffer."




Senate Poised to Capitulate to Cheney?s Fear-Mongering After a January 24 debate in the Senate on amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the Senate appears ready to capitulate once again to the Bush administration?s agenda of sacrificing liberty for questionable security.


The End of Privacy McConnell?s prediction of something ?horrendous? happening unless we grant government this authority has a tone similar to that of the fear-mongering call to arms against terrorism that President Bush sounded before taking us to war in Iraq. Now, Americans are about to be asked to surrender their Fourth Amendment rights because of a vague and unsupported prediction of the dangers and costs of cyber-terrorism.


Bush Plan for Iraq Would Be a First President Bush?s plan to forge a long-term agreement with the Iraqi government that could commit the US military to defending Iraq?s security would be the first time such a sweeping mutual defense compact has been enacted without congressional approval, according to legal specialists.


The start of the great unwinding


America ? A Bankrupt Empire Financial instability rooted in economic 'blowback' from our disastrous foreign policy


Rep. Ron Paul a surprising contender What appears to be driving Paul?s candidacy most is his fierce opposition to the Iraq war. He was one of only six Republicans in the House of Representatives to vote against it, and his calls for withdrawal make him stand out in both parties.


Neocons Shaken, But Not Deterred While battered, however, neoconservatives have not yet been forced from the field. And while their hopes that President George W. Bush would "take out" Iran's nuclear program before leaving office appear to have diminished substantially, their hawkish voice is still heard loud and clear both in the White House ? courtesy of Vice President Dick Cheney's office and Deputy National Security adviser Elliott Abrams ? and in this year's Republican presidential race, where neoconservative favorites include former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. John McCain, and, until earlier this week, Fred Thompson......neoconservatives, both Jew and gentile, are bound by a "shared commitment to the largest, most important Jewish cause: the survival of Israel."


Judge rejects Patriot Act challenge Hassan Abu-Jihaad's attorneys had claimed elements of the USA Patriot Act used to obtain the evidence were unconstitutional, and cited a ruling by a federal judge in Oregon striking down key portions of the law. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Kravitz, however, said he disagreed with that ruling, and noted that other courts have found that the law does not infringe on constitutional rights


Security chief assassinated in Lebanon bomb A senior Lebanese police officer and 10 other people were killed this morning when a powerful car bomb exploded in an east Beirut suburb.


Ambassador vs. Ambassador: Is Obama good for Israel? A couple of weeks ago, the Israeli tabloid Maariv ran a leading headline claiming that Israeli officials do not want Obama to be elected. They don't think he will be good for Israel.