Headlines for 05-21-08

The Fourth Estate Fails Again by Philip Giraldi Those who have been following the issue know well that planning to attack Iran is nothing new, that there are many in the Bush administration and outside it who are eager to bomb the mullahs into the stone age. What is different now is that there is a consensus inside the White House that a military attack is not an option but rather a necessity to "send a message" and restrain Iranian ambitions......That a dim bulb like Bush might draw all the wrong lessons from a historical analogy, confusing appeasement with diplomacy, comes as no surprise. But, perhaps inadvertently, he has clearly and unambiguously restated the centrality of Israel to the security problem posed by Iran Philip Giraldi is a former CIA COUNTERTERRORISM official.


Gates questions notion of useful U.S.-Iran talks


Military officer: Iran jeopardizing peace in Iraq Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that "irresponsible actions" by Iran's Revolutionary Guard "directly jeopardize" peace in Iraq. Making the case for war.


To Admiral William Fallon (USN ret.), With Respect You are acutely aware of the dangers of attacking Iran, but seem to be allowing an inbred reluctance to challenge your erstwhile commander in chief to trump that oath, and to prevent you from letting the American people know of the catastrophe about to befall us if, as seems likely, our country attacks Iran. By former CIA Ray McGovern.


Iran says ready to start 'serious, targeted' negotiations


Iran protests to U.S. over mosque blast: agency


Hyping the threat from Iran War talk against Iran is rising again in Washington as the Bush administration enters its final months with little to show for its labors in the Middle East.


Oil hits new record in overnight trade


White House denies Iran attack report Army Radio had quoted a top official in Jerusalem claiming that a senior member in the entourage of President Bush, who visited Israel last week, had said in a closed meeting here that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were of the opinion that military action against Iran was called for.


Bush plays the Hitler card by Patrick J. Buchanan What has Bush's refusal to talk to Hamas, Hezbollah, Damascus and Tehran done to make either Israel or America more secure?


Rice defends Bush policy on Iran as 'successful'


Israel wants more pressure on Iran


Olmert proposes naval blockade on Iran: report The Haaretz daily quoted Olmert as telling Nancy Pelosi that "the present economic sanctions have exhausted themselves" and the international community needed to take more drastic steps to stop Iran's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons....The prime minister's suggestions, Haaretz said, included a naval blockade of Iran using U.S. warships to limit the movement of Iranian merchant vessels. That's a blockade 'USING US WARSHIPS', folks. Whose war is this?


US market slumps amid rising oil prices


Report: U.S. Will Attack Iran A leading member of America?s Jewish community told Newsmax in April that a military strike on Iran was likely and that Vice President Cheney?s March trip through the Middle East came in preparation for the U.S. attack.


Journal: US report on Iranian weapons in Iraq 'delayed significantly' In a little-noticed story, the Los Angeles Times reported two weeks ago that American promises to offer proof that Iran was arming Iraqi militants had fallen through.


Report says Iran's neighbours looking at nuclear power In a report, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said Iran's nuclear programme had prompted other states in the oil-rich region to consider acquiring nuclear technology.


Officials: Bush pledged funding for Arrow 3 US President George W. Bush pledged his commitment to Israeli leaders during his visit to Jerusalem last week to obtain the necessary funding for the development and production of Israel's Arrow 3 ballistic missile defense system, The Jerusalem Post has learned.....In an interview with the Post on Sunday, Pelosi said that Congress was committed to helping Israel retain its qualitative military edge over other countries in the Middle East. She noted that the House of Representatives passed legislation doing just that last week. Under the House version, which still needs the approval of the US Senate before being sent to Bush to become law, future arms sales would need to make sure that Israel's military advantage was maintained Read that again.


Osama: Palestinian Cause Was 'Main Factor' The answer to Why the press can't say why they hate us goes to ideology. If the Palestinian grievance is acknowledged or valorized, rather than dismissed out of hand, well that opens the door on the Nakba, on the dispossession, on the many landgrabs of the Jewish state and inevitably casts doubt on the inherent goodness of Zionism and the justice of the occupation, theirs and ours.


Paying for War at the Pump Would some reporter with access to the Republican presidential candidate please ask John McCain why he wants to continue President Bush?s Mideast policy when it has proved so ruinous for American taxpayers?


Israel and Syria admit the start of formal peace talks in Istanbul


Bush Team Criticizes New Report About Iran The statement, following an even angrier attack on NBC the day before, appeared to reflect a heightened sensitivity to what Mr. Bush?s aides view as mischaracterizations of his intentions in confronting Iran over its pursuit of nuclear enrichment, its involvement in Iraq and its support of the militant Islamic groups Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian areas.


Olmert warns of Syria concessions Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has described peace talks with Syria as "exciting", but warned that they might involve "painful concessions".


Bush trip fails to advance policy goals or bolster Arab moderates Israeli officials are still hopeful that the United States will play a leading role in preventing Iran from producing nuclear weapons. They say they showed Bush new intelligence on Iran?s nuclear program and came away with the impression that the U.S. leader means business on Iran.


US welcomes Syrian-Israeli talks but stresses Palestinian track


Israel-Syria peace deal could threaten Iran, Hezbollah


Global Peace Index: Israel hits rock bottom Iceland is the world's most peaceful nation while Israel ranked 136th out of 140 nations, according to the "Global Peace Index," compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit.....The United States slipped from 96th last year, but was still ahead of foe Iran which ranked 105th. Iran is ahead of Israel on that list, the irony.