Headlines for 06-05-08

Iran says answered bomb allegations and "matter over"


Khamenei rejects charges Iran seeking nuclear bomb


Nuclear report: parsing Iran's intent the IAEA's technical report and the interpretations of its findings are spinning into an overheated strategic standoff between Western nations, Israel, and Iran that, analysts say, may become reason for a military strike against Iran.


Revealed: Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November.


Rep. Waxman Seeks Access to Bush, Cheney Interviews on CIA Leak


Senate: Iranian intel concealed from CIA, DIA The Iranians told Pentagon employees about a tunnel complex in Iran used to store weapons and move its personnel covertly out of the country, likely into Afghanistan in the post 9/11 war period, according to the report by the Senate Intelligence Committee. Still don't buy this.


Bush to push Europe on Iran, climate change


Report accuses Bush of misrepresenting Iraq intel The committee says officials wrongly linked Saddam Hussein to the Sept. 11 attacks and al-Qaida; claimed Iraq would give terrorist groups chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, and said Iraq was developing drone aircraft to spread chemical or biological agents over the United States.


Iran trying to complicate US-Iraq military talks: ambassador the US ambassador to Baghdad said here Thursday.


U.S. intelligence chief in Israel to discuss Iran Mike McConnell, the director of U.S. national intelligence, is in Israel to hear its spymasters' arguments that Iran could obtain nuclear weapons within two years, Israeli officials said on Wednesday.


US, Israel: World not doing enough to counter Iran The United States and Israel said Tuesday the rest of the world isn't doing enough to stop Iran from getting the bomb and accused Iran of continuing a covert drive for nuclear weapons, although U.S. intelligence has said Tehran quit its active warhead program years ago.


US to give Israel "security package," report says The 'security package' Israel will receive will enhance Israel's defence against long-range missiles, and includes radar, as well as cruise missiles and a permanent hook-up to a worldwide warning system that identifies whenever a ballistic missile is launched from anywhere.


Olmert to ask Bush to step up action against Iran Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert will ask President George W Bush Wednesday to step up US and international action against Iran and prepare for a possible military strike against its nuclear facilities, the Yediot Ahronot daily reported.


'Unavoidable' attack on Iran looms, says Israeli minister "If Iran continues with its programme for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective," Mofaz, who is also Israel's transport minister, said in comments published today by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.


Bush to Olmert: 'Existential' Iran threat must be taken seriously The Washington talks came a day after Olmert issued his
toughest warning yet to Tehran, saying Iran's nuclear program must be stopped by "all possible means."


Did Iranian agents dupe Pentagon officials? Defense Department counterintelligence investigators suspected that Iranian exiles who provided dubious intelligence on Iraq and Iran to a small group of Pentagon officials might have "been used as agents of a foreign intelligence service ... to reach into and influence the highest levels of the U.S. government," a Senate Intelligence Committee report said Thursday. This load of bs smells since it would seem an attempt to absolve the neocons of their responsibility for going into Iraq.


During D.C. visit, Olmert eschews goodbyes in favor of Iran talk Olmert said he and Bush discussed "means, ways and a timetable" in getting Iran to end its suspected program. "Each day that passes we take another step to deal with this effectively," Olmert told reporters after the meeting. "The United States is not just a partner but the leading factor in these efforts.".....Asked particularly about reports that he is urging Americans to lead a blockade of Iranian ports, Olmert would say only that "it is important to tack action not just through the U.N. Security Council. Nations can also take steps."



Syria says Israel terms signal not serious on peace


Syria tells IAEA ready to cooperate: diplomat


Delegates Behaving Badly Attracting the powerful is one of the most effective ways that Aipac demonstrates its own clout. And, let it not be forgotten, a strong pro-Israel lobby helps to ensure a strong Israel.......Aipac has insisted on this ? and it has monitored its own delegates? behavior to ensure that its conferences do not become partisan rallies. It could not be otherwise, or Aipac would lose its ability to lobby through changing administrations and shifting congressional majorities. Note the source.


The unpromised land Imagine the shock-horror: Barack Obama attends the conference of an organisation whose former officials face trial for spying on the United States! It would be all over the blogs, except that John McCain and Hillary Clinton were attending the AIPAC conference this week in Washington DC as well, pandering to the lobby that will get you accused of anti-Semitism if you quote its own website about its power.



UN clears cluster bombs from areas of south Lebanon Almost half of the areas in southern Lebanon contaminated with cluster bombs dropped by Israel in 2006 have been cleared, a UN official said on Wednesday.


Obama Works A Tough Room at AIPAC In case anyone missed the point, Obama added: "I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon." He repeated that sentence twice, for emphasis. And for additional emphasis, he said again: "Everything." To become the president of THIS country, you must bow down to ISRAEL.


Obama at AIPAC As president I will use all elements of American power to pressure Iran. I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything


Will Obama Stand Up to the War Party? Senator McCain's major talking point before the AIPAC crowd was that Obama voted against the Kyl-Lieberman resolution, which designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a branch of the Iranian government, as a terrorist organization, giving U.S. forces carte blanche to attack


U.S. tells Syria not to restrict U.N. nuclear probe