Headlines for 02-05-08

US troops kill three, including woman, in Iraq raid


US threat to Iran lessens despite Tehran defiance: think tank There is no near-term prospect of US strikes on Iran even though Tehran is making progress with a new generation of nuclear centrifuges, said the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).


Accept Iran's Regional Role, Says French Envoy In a sharp departure from U.S. policy, a leading French diplomat has called on the international coalition sponsoring UN sanctions against Iran to support a larger Iranian role in the Middle East.


U.S. sees Russia, China, OPEC financial threat The United States is worried that Russia, China and OPEC oil-producing countries could use their growing financial clout to advance political goals, the top U.S. spy chief told Congress on Tuesday. Like we have?......


Prince: US ignored UK advice on Iraq In a rare airing of political opinion by a senior member of the British royal family, the prince said the invasion and its aftermath had created a "healthy skepticism" in Britain about what was said in Washington and led many to ask, "Why didn't anyone listen to what was said and the advice that was given?"




Bush threatens veto in surveillance laws


Iran will have nuclear weapon in three years: Mossad Israel's Mossad spy agency estimates Iran will develop a nuclear weapon within three years and continue to provide rockets to regional armed groups, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.


In about turn, U.S. says Iran may be able to make nukes by 2009 Speaking two months after an American intelligence report cast doubt on Tehran's nuclear ambitions, National Intelligence Director John Michael McConnell made his remarks during an appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee to present an annual report on threats to the U.S. Geez. I wonder why. Say, who is it that keeps trying to convince our government that Iran is still a threat?..


Israelis Want Next US President to Deal With Iran Israel also is concerned about Iraq -- and a "haphazard [U.S. troop] withdrawal that would strengthen militants and radicals in the Middle East," Gilboa said.


With Rudy out, Jewish Republicans and neocons ponder what's next His departure seems to have left Republican Jews rudderless, particularly since so many of his advisers were prominent Jews. They included Frum and a slate of neoconservative foreign policy specialists, among them Martin Kramer, Norman Podhoretz, Michael Rubin and Daniel Pipes.


Kristol fuels the speculation on McCain-Lieberman ticket Kristol told the pro-Israel crowd that Lieberman, a U.S. senator from Connecticut, was Sen. John McCain's preferred running mate, according to one attendee.


GOP Jews slam Obama on Muslim summit The statement continued: "Nowhere in the Paris Match article does Senator Obama affirm Israel's right to exist. Nor does he condemn the repeated terrorist strikes against Israel -- the only stable democracy in the region. Further in his interview, Senator Obama said he wanted to listen to the 'concerns' of these nations. For many, their biggest concern is Israel's existence."