Headlines for February 11 - February 17

A Stand For Justice


US military chief discusses Iran on Mideast tour
Egypt's state news agency says President Hosni Mubarak met with Adm. Mike Mullen on Sunday. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will travel later in the day to Israel.


Hezbollah warns of retaliation for any Israeli hit
"If you bomb our ports, we will bomb your ports. If you bomb our oil refineries, we will bomb your oil refineries," said the black–turbaned Nasrallah. "If you bomb our factories, we will bomb your factories. If you bomb our electricity stations, we will bomb your electricity stations."


Israel general doubts power to hit Iran atom sites
"I think that the State of Israel should not take it upon itself to be the flag–bearer of the entire Western world in the face of the Iranian threat," Halutz, whose previous military post was as air force commander, told Channel Two. This is precisely why Israel will get us to do it for them.


Lebanese troops open fire on Israeli warplanes
The Lebanese army said in a statement that its troops used anti–aircraft fire Sunday to force the Israeli warplanes out of Lebanese airspace. The army said the planes were in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley in central Lebanon.


Myth of the Iranian Nuke by Patrick J. Buchanan
Last December, however, The Times of London reported it had a secret document, which “intelligence agencies” dated to early 2007, proving that Iran was working on the final component of a “neutron initiator,” the trigger for an atom bomb..... U.S. intelligence, however, has not confirmed the authenticity of the document, and Iran calls it a transparent forgery. When former CIA man Phil Giraldi sounded out ex-colleagues still in the trade, they, too, called the Times’ document a forgery. Shades of Saddam seeking yellowcake from Niger. Are the folks who lied us into war on Iraq, to strip it of weapons it did not have, now trying to lie us into war on Iran, to strip it of weapons it does not have?


Ahmadinejad warns Israel against any military move



Lebanon troops fire at 4 Israeli warplanes flying overhead
Lebanese soldiers opened fire on four Israeli warplanes that flew into its airspace, the Lebanon Army said on Sunday, The Lebanese army said in a statement that its units used anti-aircraft fire Sunday to force the Israeli warplanes out of Lebanese airspace.


Attack on Iran's nuclear facilities 'worries' US admiral
"The outbreak of a conflict will be a big, big, big problem for all of us, and I worry a great deal about the unintended consequences of a strike," Admiral Mullen said. ......Mullen, who was speaking to journalists during a visit to Israel, went on to say however that US President Barack Obama had been "very clear that from a policy standpoint, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapons."


U.S., Israel up pressure for sanctions on Iran



Netanyahu: Israel not planning war with Iran
That's because he knows he can get US to do it.


U.S. vows commitment to Israel, wary of war over Iran nukes
"If Russia agrees to sanctions, China will find itself alone and may be forced to line up with the Western powers," an Israeli official said. "That's why persuading the Russian leadership is so important." .....Jerusalem and Washington have held several high-level consultations on Iran in recent weeks. Last month U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones visited Israel for talks with Israeli colleagues, and two weeks ago Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta paid a secret visit to the country. The U.S. officials briefed their counterparts on sanctions the Obama administration intends to levy against Iran, but reportedly asked them to keep a low media profile and to "act responsibly."



US dismisses Iran's uranium claims
At the White House, spokesman Robert Gibbs said Iran's leadership has made a series of statements about its nuclear prowess based on politics, not physics. He challenged Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's claim that Iran has produced its first batch of uranium enriched to a higher level than ever before, meaning it may be closer to the producing material to build a nuclear weapon.....On Capitol Hill, senators introduced separate legislation aimed at punishing Iranian officials and others responsible for the crackdown and also promote regime change in Tehran


US Media Omission: Iran Calls for Global Nuclear Disarmament
the media's Sarah Palin obsession means that more Americans heard repeated calls to start a new war with Iran in the past week.


'Iran Won't Simply Sit There and Accept an Attack'
Hans Blix is the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and also worked as a UN weapons inspector in Iraq. He talks to SPIEGEL about whether Iran really has the ability to enrich uranium and if economic sanctions can ever be effective.


No options ruled out on Iran, White House says
The White House on Tuesday would not rule out any options, including the military option, for dealing with Iran's nuclear ambitions.


Saudi plays down oil incentive for China on Iran sanctions
Clinton's top assistant for the Middle East, Jeffrey Feltman, told reporters travelling with her that China had an "important trading relationship" with the Saudi oil kingpin. "We would expect them (the Saudis) ... to use their relationship in ways that can help increase the pressure that Iran feels," said Feltman, the assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs.


Who Wants to Bomb Iran
They're back! The "Bomb Iran" crowd is making a big return to the political center stage after months of puzzlement over what to do about developments in the Islamic Republic.


Flying laser zaps missile in first for U.S.
A high–powered laser aboard a modified Boeing Co 747 jumbo jet shot down an in–flight ballistic missile for the first time, highlighting a new class of ray guns best known from science fiction.


Iranian Nukes? Not So Fast
The Post today quotes Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, saying that Iran's boasts are "based on politics, not on physics," adding: "We do not believe they have the capability to enrich to the degree to which they now say they are enriching."


Secession in the Air by Patrick J. Buchanan
When the tea partiers want to rally against the evils of the passionate attachment that George Washington warned us against, one if not the greatest danger to America (as the war cries against Iran from the neocons and ilk reach near hysteric levels), then I will be there with bells on.


Russia tells Netanyahu it will hold off on Iran arms deal
An hour before Netanyahu's plane took off on Sunday, Russian officials said that Moscow sees no reason to delay the sale of the S-300, a powerful air-defense system, to Iran. In addition, on Friday, Russian intelligence officials leaked comments expressing their displeasure with plans by an Israeli firm to close a major arms deal with Georgia.



Obama, The War President
In his speech, Obama warned Iran of "consequences" if it didn't play ball and co-operate on nuclear inspections. It's unclear whether those consequences are of the financial variety or of a pre-emptive military strike by the U.S. or Israel. All this comes at a time when the U.S. has bolstered its naval presence in the Persian Gulf and the neo-conservatives are calling for "regime change" in Iran.


Israel asks Russia for Iran "sanctions with teeth"



More Homeless Americans Living in Cars and Campers
How much will another war in the Middle East, being pushed by the same corners that got us into Iraq, cost American taxpayers?


Saudi official questions new sanctions on Iran
Prince Saud al–Faisal told a news conference in the Saudi capital that the threat posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions demands a more immediate solution than sanctions. He described sanctions as a long–term solution, and he said the threat is more pressing. ....The Saudi minister also said efforts supported by the U.S. to rid the Middle East of nuclear weapons must apply to Israel.


Obama names U.S. envoy to Muslim world body
Why now?


Suburban homeless: Rising tide of women, families
As more Americans are finding themselves jobless and possibly even homeless, the billions of taxpayer dollars continue to flow to the Middle East where Israel sees the lion's share of the foreign aid budget (in many different forms such as aid to Egypt and Jordan for making peace with her). Americans could use that money RIGHT HERE at home, where liberty and justice for ALL reigns, unlike in Israel.


US senators seek regime change in Iran
Senators John Cornyn and Sam Brownback introduced the so-called “Iran Democratic Transition Act” bill on February 11, coinciding with the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, in which unprecedented tens of millions of Iranians poured into the streets to rally and celebrate the 31st anniversary. .....Observers point to the fact that both conservative Senators Brownback of Oklahoma and Cornyn of Texas have been on the payroll of pro-Israeli lobby groups in the United States and have regularly submitted anti-Iran measures in congress to satisfy the influential pro-Israeli lobby.


Obama backs justice for Hariri killers
Obama gave the assurance in a telephone call, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said, adding the president also emphasized US support for Lebanon's "sovereignty and independence." Then he will step in and ask the Israelis to stop the (illegal) overflights of Lebanon? Doubtful.

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