Iran darkens 2008 White House race ** The specter of a hypothetical US military strike on Iran is emerging as a dominant foreign policy theme in a 2008 White House race already haunted by the war in Iraq.
Turkey shells Iraq border areas amid incursion talk
Congress must approve U.S. attack vs Iran: Pelosi Pelosi said Bush had not requested any congressional authority to take military action in Iran, despite growing U.S. concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions and its support for militant groups in Lebanon and Gaza. Neither of those things, even if true, threaten the AMERICAN national security. And they certainly aren't enough over which to start a war. Preposterous.
Russian leader's 1st trip to Iran viewed as test of Kremlin intentions Any show of support for Iran, such as a pledge by Putin to quickly complete the power plant, could embolden Iran and further cloud Russia's relations with the West.
Putin told of 'assassination bid' Russian President Vladimir Putin has been warned of a plot to assassinate him during a visit to Iran this week, Kremlin officials have said.
More Neo-Cons for Giuliani
Barak heads to U.S. to promote Israel rocket defence Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak heads to the United States this week to promote joint anti-missile projects that Israel considers a prerequisite for any future handover of the West Bank to the Palestinians.
Report: Iran holds Israeli hostages Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office denied the report. Israeli officials did not provide further details.
Israeli air strike was aimed at Syrian reactor, report says According to yesterday's report, Israel presented satellite evidence of the Syrian reactor to Washington earlier this year, triggering differing views within the administration over whether to back an air strike.
Israeli Jamming Mystery Deepens The interference began shortly after the 6 September Israeli air raid on Syria, which, according to US and UK press reports
Monday, October 15, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Headlines for 10-13-07
Top North Korean official to visit Syria amid nuclear fears A top North Korean official is to visit Syria, the country's official media said on Saturday, amid fears the two countries are collaborating on a secret nuclear programme.
Merkel to discuss new Iran sanctions with Putin
"Seven countries in five years" ** While the Bush White House promotes the possibility of armed conflict with Iran, a tantalizing passage in Wesley Clark's new memoir suggests that another war is part of a long-planned Department of Defense strategy that anticipated "regime change" by force in no fewer than seven Mideast states. Critics of the war have often voiced suspicions of such imperial schemes, but this is the first time that a high-ranking former military officer has claimed to know that such plans existed. ..... '...We're going to take out seven countries in five years.' And he named them, starting with Iraq and Syria and ending with Iran."
Iran leader urges summit boycott He said the aim of the meeting was to bolster Israel's position at the expense of the Palestinians...."This US-proposed move is in fact an initiative of the United States of America's regime to save the Zionist regime," he said.
We rush to war in Iran at our own peril by Bob Barr **
Israeli strike was on Syrian nuke reactor: New York Times
Merkel to discuss new Iran sanctions with Putin
"Seven countries in five years" ** While the Bush White House promotes the possibility of armed conflict with Iran, a tantalizing passage in Wesley Clark's new memoir suggests that another war is part of a long-planned Department of Defense strategy that anticipated "regime change" by force in no fewer than seven Mideast states. Critics of the war have often voiced suspicions of such imperial schemes, but this is the first time that a high-ranking former military officer has claimed to know that such plans existed. ..... '...We're going to take out seven countries in five years.' And he named them, starting with Iraq and Syria and ending with Iran."
Iran leader urges summit boycott He said the aim of the meeting was to bolster Israel's position at the expense of the Palestinians...."This US-proposed move is in fact an initiative of the United States of America's regime to save the Zionist regime," he said.
We rush to war in Iran at our own peril by Bob Barr **
Israeli strike was on Syrian nuke reactor: New York Times
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Headlines for 10-12-07
Ex-general: Iraq a 'nightmare' for US "There is no question that America is living a nightmare with no end in sight," Sanchez told a group of journalists covering military affairs. And the people who deliberately misled America into fighting this war have gotten off scot-free.
Lavrov warns Rice against 'unilateral' Iran strategy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attacked Friday what he called the United States' "unilateral" approach to the Iranian nuclear crisis, during talks here with US counterpart Condoleezza Rice.
Rudy: Romney Made 'Big Mistake' at Debate ** Responding to a hypothetical question about whether he would seek congressional action prior to involving the U.S. militarily with Iran, Romney said at the debate Tuesday: ?You sit down with your attorneys and tell you want you have to do, but obviously the president of the United States has to do what's in the best interest of the United States to protect us against a potential threat." Look at these pathetic SOBs, outdoing themselves with the talk of attacking Iran, in order to please their AIPAC overloads. Repulsive.
US welcomes global money-laundering task force action on Iran
US rejects Russian appeals to halt missile scheme Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the American plans to build a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic are based on the false assumption that there is a nuclear threat from Iran.
Inquiry after US air strikes kill 15 women and children The American military promised a thorough investigation into the events surrounding the raid in a Sunni area northwest of Baghdad
Respect Iran sanctions, US warns
US threatens Turkey over energy support to Iran The United States has suggested that Turkey could come under sanctions for its energy cooperation with Iran.
US accused of making insect spy robots official protestations of innocence have failed to kill speculation of government involvement after a handful of sightings of the objects at political events in New York and Washington.
Families of dead Lebanese troops block refugee return Some 400 men, women and children burned tyres and placed stones at the northern entrance of Nahr al-Bared camp forcing a bus filled with refugees to turn back.
From 2004: No End to War By Patrick J. Buchanan One of Buchanan's finest masterpieces, hands down.
Candidates court Jewish support Set to announce the appointment of former Rep. David Bonior as campaign manager in a few days, Edwards' strategists began to realize that the Michigan Democrat's strong support for Palestinians while he was in Congress could hurt Edwards among American Jews. .....The new test is how tough the candidates will be in combating the nuclear threat that Iran poses to Israel, and whether Israel should be allowed to take pre-emptive action.
Giuliani names 3 more Jews as advisers Ruth Wedgwood, Michael Rubin and David Frum were among seven additional advisers named Thursday by the former New York mayor's campaign for the Republican presidential candidacy. David Frum = neocon supremo. No End to War, ala Frum and Perle. If Rudy gets elected, you can bet we will continue to further the neocon agenda (which is almost always Israel-first!).
Lavrov warns Rice against 'unilateral' Iran strategy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attacked Friday what he called the United States' "unilateral" approach to the Iranian nuclear crisis, during talks here with US counterpart Condoleezza Rice.
Rudy: Romney Made 'Big Mistake' at Debate ** Responding to a hypothetical question about whether he would seek congressional action prior to involving the U.S. militarily with Iran, Romney said at the debate Tuesday: ?You sit down with your attorneys and tell you want you have to do, but obviously the president of the United States has to do what's in the best interest of the United States to protect us against a potential threat." Look at these pathetic SOBs, outdoing themselves with the talk of attacking Iran, in order to please their AIPAC overloads. Repulsive.
US welcomes global money-laundering task force action on Iran
US rejects Russian appeals to halt missile scheme Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the American plans to build a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic are based on the false assumption that there is a nuclear threat from Iran.
Inquiry after US air strikes kill 15 women and children The American military promised a thorough investigation into the events surrounding the raid in a Sunni area northwest of Baghdad
Respect Iran sanctions, US warns
US threatens Turkey over energy support to Iran The United States has suggested that Turkey could come under sanctions for its energy cooperation with Iran.
US accused of making insect spy robots official protestations of innocence have failed to kill speculation of government involvement after a handful of sightings of the objects at political events in New York and Washington.
Families of dead Lebanese troops block refugee return Some 400 men, women and children burned tyres and placed stones at the northern entrance of Nahr al-Bared camp forcing a bus filled with refugees to turn back.
From 2004: No End to War By Patrick J. Buchanan One of Buchanan's finest masterpieces, hands down.
Candidates court Jewish support Set to announce the appointment of former Rep. David Bonior as campaign manager in a few days, Edwards' strategists began to realize that the Michigan Democrat's strong support for Palestinians while he was in Congress could hurt Edwards among American Jews. .....The new test is how tough the candidates will be in combating the nuclear threat that Iran poses to Israel, and whether Israel should be allowed to take pre-emptive action.
Giuliani names 3 more Jews as advisers Ruth Wedgwood, Michael Rubin and David Frum were among seven additional advisers named Thursday by the former New York mayor's campaign for the Republican presidential candidacy. David Frum = neocon supremo. No End to War, ala Frum and Perle. If Rudy gets elected, you can bet we will continue to further the neocon agenda (which is almost always Israel-first!).
Friday, October 12, 2007
Headlines for 10-11-07
Rice says Iran 'lying' about nukes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday accused Iran of "lying" about the aim of its nuclear program, saying there's no doubt Tehran wants the capability to produce nuclear weapons and has deceived the U.N.'s atomic watchdog about its intentions. Mmm k.
EU to leave door open to further Iran sanctions European Union foreign ministers will warn Iran next week that it faces tougher sanctions unless it halts nuclear activities the West suspects are aimed at making atomic bombs, diplomats said on Thursday.
EU's Solana set for fresh talks with Iran's Larijani The EU's Javier Solana intends to meet Ali Larijani to try to persuade Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and other activities that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons.
Iraq strike 'kills 15 civilians' The US military says 19 suspected insurgents and 15 women and children have been killed in an operation north of Baghdad.
Blackwater faces war crimes inquiry after killings in Iraq
Former President Jimmy Carter Rips Dick Cheney As a 'Disaster' In an interview that aired Wednesday on BBC, Carter ripped Vice President Dick Cheney as "a militant who avoided any service of his own in the military." Carter went on to say Cheney has been "a disaster for our country. I think he's been overly persuasive on President George Bush."
The dingbat wing of the neoconservative movement (or do I repeat myself?) is at the core of Team Giuliani This last is the keynote of Rudy's run for the White House, and it is reflected not only in his public pronouncements ? he doesn't rule out nuking Iran ? but in his team of foreign policy advisers, who represent, more than any other campaign, the core leaders of the neoconservative hardliners who whooped it up for war with Iraq.
Paul campaign fueled by Web cash and savvy Paul's campaign spokesman Jesse Benton said his Internet popularity demonstrates that his message is resonating. Paul is the only GOP candidate who wants to immediately withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. "These national polls are still about name recognition, and that's an obstacle we have to overcome," Benton said.
Who has Putin's ear? Jewish meeting sparks intrigue Kantor, who was elected EJC president in June, denied any connection to Putin during his election campaign, amid cries from the opposition that he might be soft on Russia about Iran's nuclear program.
All's quiet on Israel's northeastern front, for now Maj. Gen. Wolfgang Jilke , the 59-year-old Austrian officer who oversees the 1,300-strong United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the area, and his observers could see nothing to substantiate the Israeli press reports of a Syrian military buildup. "From our point of view, this is just misleading information," said Jilke, who's one of the few people in the world who can drive the 135 miles between Damascus and Jerusalem .
Israel, mislead? Nooooo, say it ain't soo....
Clinton Steps Away From Pro-Israel Lobby on Measure to Rein in President Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton has built a reputation for strictly adhering to the pro-Israel line, but she now appears, for the first time, to be supporting legislation that is opposed by pro-Israel lobbyists.Clinton announced last week that she would co-sponsor an amendment, proposed by Virginia Democrat Jim Webb, that would require the president to seek congressional approval before taking military action against Iran. Maybe AIPAC is backing off of this one due to the overwhelming attention they are receiving with regard to their undue influence over Capitol Hill, among other places.
Journalists tour Syria bomb site Syria took journalists on a tour of the site Israel allegedly bombed last month, calling it an agricultural research center.
Desolation Awaits Returning Palestinian Refugees
Lebanon reaps deadly Israeli bombs one year after war Two civilians, including a six-year-old boy, were killed by cluster bombs only last week.
Camp in Lebanon fosters peace and tolerance in a region marked by conflict
Unprecedented Muslim call for peace with Christians
Lebanon PM asks UN, Arab League to stop arms from Syria
Israeli cluster bomb kills British deminer in Lebanon A British member of a demining team was killed on Thursday by a cluster bomb dropped by Israeli forces during last year's war in Lebanon, officials said.
Palestinians try to rebuild lives in devastated Lebanon camp
Assad slams Lebanese parties who follow Israel Syrian President Bashar al-Assad slammed Lebanese who he said had chosen to side with Israel and submit themselves to foreigners instead of taking the Arab path and that of resistance.
Israel worried by Turk-Armenian debate Israel's government expressed concern Thursday over the U.S. congressional debate on the mass killings of ethnic Armenians in Turkey 90 years ago, but tried to deflect pressure from Turkey to take its side in the dispute.
Pro-Israel Oppressors Cherished at Columbia University The stark contrast between Columbia's treatments of the Shah and of Ahmadinejad is not an isolated case. It fits into the established pattern of Columbia's behavior toward Israel.
EU to leave door open to further Iran sanctions European Union foreign ministers will warn Iran next week that it faces tougher sanctions unless it halts nuclear activities the West suspects are aimed at making atomic bombs, diplomats said on Thursday.
EU's Solana set for fresh talks with Iran's Larijani The EU's Javier Solana intends to meet Ali Larijani to try to persuade Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and other activities that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons.
Iraq strike 'kills 15 civilians' The US military says 19 suspected insurgents and 15 women and children have been killed in an operation north of Baghdad.
Blackwater faces war crimes inquiry after killings in Iraq
Former President Jimmy Carter Rips Dick Cheney As a 'Disaster' In an interview that aired Wednesday on BBC, Carter ripped Vice President Dick Cheney as "a militant who avoided any service of his own in the military." Carter went on to say Cheney has been "a disaster for our country. I think he's been overly persuasive on President George Bush."
The dingbat wing of the neoconservative movement (or do I repeat myself?) is at the core of Team Giuliani This last is the keynote of Rudy's run for the White House, and it is reflected not only in his public pronouncements ? he doesn't rule out nuking Iran ? but in his team of foreign policy advisers, who represent, more than any other campaign, the core leaders of the neoconservative hardliners who whooped it up for war with Iraq.
Paul campaign fueled by Web cash and savvy Paul's campaign spokesman Jesse Benton said his Internet popularity demonstrates that his message is resonating. Paul is the only GOP candidate who wants to immediately withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. "These national polls are still about name recognition, and that's an obstacle we have to overcome," Benton said.
Who has Putin's ear? Jewish meeting sparks intrigue Kantor, who was elected EJC president in June, denied any connection to Putin during his election campaign, amid cries from the opposition that he might be soft on Russia about Iran's nuclear program.
All's quiet on Israel's northeastern front, for now Maj. Gen. Wolfgang Jilke , the 59-year-old Austrian officer who oversees the 1,300-strong United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the area, and his observers could see nothing to substantiate the Israeli press reports of a Syrian military buildup. "From our point of view, this is just misleading information," said Jilke, who's one of the few people in the world who can drive the 135 miles between Damascus and Jerusalem .
Israel, mislead? Nooooo, say it ain't soo....
Clinton Steps Away From Pro-Israel Lobby on Measure to Rein in President Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton has built a reputation for strictly adhering to the pro-Israel line, but she now appears, for the first time, to be supporting legislation that is opposed by pro-Israel lobbyists.Clinton announced last week that she would co-sponsor an amendment, proposed by Virginia Democrat Jim Webb, that would require the president to seek congressional approval before taking military action against Iran. Maybe AIPAC is backing off of this one due to the overwhelming attention they are receiving with regard to their undue influence over Capitol Hill, among other places.
Journalists tour Syria bomb site Syria took journalists on a tour of the site Israel allegedly bombed last month, calling it an agricultural research center.
Desolation Awaits Returning Palestinian Refugees
Lebanon reaps deadly Israeli bombs one year after war Two civilians, including a six-year-old boy, were killed by cluster bombs only last week.
Camp in Lebanon fosters peace and tolerance in a region marked by conflict
Unprecedented Muslim call for peace with Christians
Lebanon PM asks UN, Arab League to stop arms from Syria
Israeli cluster bomb kills British deminer in Lebanon A British member of a demining team was killed on Thursday by a cluster bomb dropped by Israeli forces during last year's war in Lebanon, officials said.
Palestinians try to rebuild lives in devastated Lebanon camp
Assad slams Lebanese parties who follow Israel Syrian President Bashar al-Assad slammed Lebanese who he said had chosen to side with Israel and submit themselves to foreigners instead of taking the Arab path and that of resistance.
Israel worried by Turk-Armenian debate Israel's government expressed concern Thursday over the U.S. congressional debate on the mass killings of ethnic Armenians in Turkey 90 years ago, but tried to deflect pressure from Turkey to take its side in the dispute.
Pro-Israel Oppressors Cherished at Columbia University The stark contrast between Columbia's treatments of the Shah and of Ahmadinejad is not an isolated case. It fits into the established pattern of Columbia's behavior toward Israel.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Headlines for 10-10-07
Putin plays down Iran bomb fears "We do not have data that says Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons," Mr Putin said at a joint news conference with Mr Sarkozy.
Russia defies Western pressure over Iran Russia defied Western pressure to toughen its stance over Iran's nuclear program on Wednesday, days before President Vladimir Putin has talks in Tehran and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Moscow.
Iraq's displaced people nightmare The scale of the overall displacement is unprecedented in the modern history of the Middle East.
Turkey plans military action against Kurds in Iraq Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that his Government is drawing up plans to authorise a military incursion into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels there
How the Military Can Stop an Iran Attack ** .... a new appeal signed by Daniel Ellsberg, Cindy Sheehan, Ann Wright and many other leaders of the American peace movement: "ATTENTION: Joint Chiefs of Staff and all U.S. Military Personnel: Do not attack Iran." The initiative responds to the growing calls for an attack on Iran from the likes of Norman Podhoretz and John Bolton, and the reports of growing war momentum in Washington by reporters like Seymour Hersh of The New Yorker and Joe Klein of Time......Asked in an online discussion September 27 whether the Bush Administration will launch a war against Iran, Washington Post intelligence reporter Dana Priest replied, "Frankly, I think the military would revolt and there would be no pilots to fly those missions." REVOLT NOW. Thanks.
New US embassy complex in Baghdad riddled with problems Three months after the State Department confidently told Congress that the world's biggest US embassy would be completed on schedule in September 2007, officials are now saying that it would be delayed indefinitely, with one report saying by more than a year.
Report: Washington split on Syria WMDs Israel presented the Bush administration with intelligence meant to justify its Sept. 6 airstrike against a suspected nuclear facility in northern Syria, but some in Washington remain unconvinced, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Well shiver me timbers, we've still got some good guys in there, hallelujah!
'US support for Israel spurred 9/11' Bin Laden's concern had been reflected in his public statements throughout the 1990's - "well before 9-11." Citing the 9-11 Commission report, Mearsheimer and Walt argued that Bin Laden wanted to make sure the attackers struck Congress because it is "the most important source of support for Israel in the United States," adding that Bin Laden twice tried to move up the dates of the attacks because of events involving Israel...... Mearsheimer said there was "no question" that the "neo-conservatives were the main driving force behind the war, but they where supported by the main constituents in the [Israel] lobby, such as AIPAC."
Neocons Acquire Another Front Group by Philip Giraldi The neocon domination of the editorial pages of most major newspapers and magazines continues, and even the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has a board controlled by five Republican appointees chaired by Cheryl Feldman Halpern, who, prior to her appointment in 2005, complained that public television and radio exhibited an anti-Israel bias. The neocons, much more than traditional conservatives and liberals, continue to be adept at networking and getting their message across, even if that message has frequently been mugged by reality. If you turn on a television and are invited to learn the views of an "expert" on foreign policy, that expert is likely to be a neocon. Philip Giraldi - a former CIA counterterrorism official - one of the good guys.
War Whisperers Canvassing the campaigns, it is hard to find a conservative of any other stripe advising the top tiers, indicating that like Wolfowitz?s continued celebrity, neoconservativism is far from being upstaged.
The man who stands between US and new war ** Pentagon sources say Mr Gates is waging a subtle campaign to undermine the Cheney camp by encouraging the army's senior officers to speak frankly about the overstretch of forces, and the difficulty of fighting another war. I urge all relevant people in the administration and out to speak out now before - as one popular political commentator with whom this webmistress corresponds believes - it's too late.
Israel's Strike On Syrian Facilities Was a Dry Run - Philip Giraldi **
Russia, Mideast focus of Rice trip
Bomb, Bomb Iran ** Hillary?s hawkish Iran vote was an ill-advised move, especially given her private view that Cheney is untrustworthy and given Sy Hersh?s New Yorker report claiming that Cheney had pushed to devise a plan to attack the Revolutionary Guard facilities in Iran.
Bipartisan Heavies Call for Engagement
Palestinian refugees turn down Sudanese asylum offer "They think Sudan is too risky and that after a few months there may be a war there. They want to go somewhere safe where they can work and live in peace,"
Geopolitical Diary: A New Shield for Israel Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday that Israel will soon be able to intercept 90 percent of the missiles launched at it, from Iran's Shahab-3 missiles to Palestinian Qassam rockets.
Far Right Israelis Get Boost From Senator Elon, who supports the transfer of Palestinians out of the West Bank and Gaza, and considers the Palestinian Authority a ?danger to the region,? represents the far right of Israeli politics. By endorsing him, Brownback seems to be placing himself to the right of other Republican candidates on Israel policy.
Horowitz's Latest Hate Campaign Heads for Campus Hyping up the threat of 'Islamofascism' to America is the MO of the Israeli lobby and in particular, the neocons. I give you Patrick Buchanan's retort to this 'theat', paragraph 10 in particular.
Families return to Lebanon camp "I'm so happy about going back, even if it's to just one inch of what's left of my home. It's as symbolic as returning to Palestine," Um Akram Awdeh, 60, told the Reuters news agency, as he waited in a bus to enter the camp.
Russia defies Western pressure over Iran Russia defied Western pressure to toughen its stance over Iran's nuclear program on Wednesday, days before President Vladimir Putin has talks in Tehran and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Moscow.
Iraq's displaced people nightmare The scale of the overall displacement is unprecedented in the modern history of the Middle East.
Turkey plans military action against Kurds in Iraq Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that his Government is drawing up plans to authorise a military incursion into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels there
How the Military Can Stop an Iran Attack ** .... a new appeal signed by Daniel Ellsberg, Cindy Sheehan, Ann Wright and many other leaders of the American peace movement: "ATTENTION: Joint Chiefs of Staff and all U.S. Military Personnel: Do not attack Iran." The initiative responds to the growing calls for an attack on Iran from the likes of Norman Podhoretz and John Bolton, and the reports of growing war momentum in Washington by reporters like Seymour Hersh of The New Yorker and Joe Klein of Time......Asked in an online discussion September 27 whether the Bush Administration will launch a war against Iran, Washington Post intelligence reporter Dana Priest replied, "Frankly, I think the military would revolt and there would be no pilots to fly those missions." REVOLT NOW. Thanks.
New US embassy complex in Baghdad riddled with problems Three months after the State Department confidently told Congress that the world's biggest US embassy would be completed on schedule in September 2007, officials are now saying that it would be delayed indefinitely, with one report saying by more than a year.
Report: Washington split on Syria WMDs Israel presented the Bush administration with intelligence meant to justify its Sept. 6 airstrike against a suspected nuclear facility in northern Syria, but some in Washington remain unconvinced, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Well shiver me timbers, we've still got some good guys in there, hallelujah!
'US support for Israel spurred 9/11' Bin Laden's concern had been reflected in his public statements throughout the 1990's - "well before 9-11." Citing the 9-11 Commission report, Mearsheimer and Walt argued that Bin Laden wanted to make sure the attackers struck Congress because it is "the most important source of support for Israel in the United States," adding that Bin Laden twice tried to move up the dates of the attacks because of events involving Israel...... Mearsheimer said there was "no question" that the "neo-conservatives were the main driving force behind the war, but they where supported by the main constituents in the [Israel] lobby, such as AIPAC."
Neocons Acquire Another Front Group by Philip Giraldi The neocon domination of the editorial pages of most major newspapers and magazines continues, and even the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has a board controlled by five Republican appointees chaired by Cheryl Feldman Halpern, who, prior to her appointment in 2005, complained that public television and radio exhibited an anti-Israel bias. The neocons, much more than traditional conservatives and liberals, continue to be adept at networking and getting their message across, even if that message has frequently been mugged by reality. If you turn on a television and are invited to learn the views of an "expert" on foreign policy, that expert is likely to be a neocon. Philip Giraldi - a former CIA counterterrorism official - one of the good guys.
War Whisperers Canvassing the campaigns, it is hard to find a conservative of any other stripe advising the top tiers, indicating that like Wolfowitz?s continued celebrity, neoconservativism is far from being upstaged.
The man who stands between US and new war ** Pentagon sources say Mr Gates is waging a subtle campaign to undermine the Cheney camp by encouraging the army's senior officers to speak frankly about the overstretch of forces, and the difficulty of fighting another war. I urge all relevant people in the administration and out to speak out now before - as one popular political commentator with whom this webmistress corresponds believes - it's too late.
Israel's Strike On Syrian Facilities Was a Dry Run - Philip Giraldi **
Russia, Mideast focus of Rice trip
Bomb, Bomb Iran ** Hillary?s hawkish Iran vote was an ill-advised move, especially given her private view that Cheney is untrustworthy and given Sy Hersh?s New Yorker report claiming that Cheney had pushed to devise a plan to attack the Revolutionary Guard facilities in Iran.
Bipartisan Heavies Call for Engagement
Palestinian refugees turn down Sudanese asylum offer "They think Sudan is too risky and that after a few months there may be a war there. They want to go somewhere safe where they can work and live in peace,"
Geopolitical Diary: A New Shield for Israel Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday that Israel will soon be able to intercept 90 percent of the missiles launched at it, from Iran's Shahab-3 missiles to Palestinian Qassam rockets.
Far Right Israelis Get Boost From Senator Elon, who supports the transfer of Palestinians out of the West Bank and Gaza, and considers the Palestinian Authority a ?danger to the region,? represents the far right of Israeli politics. By endorsing him, Brownback seems to be placing himself to the right of other Republican candidates on Israel policy.
Horowitz's Latest Hate Campaign Heads for Campus Hyping up the threat of 'Islamofascism' to America is the MO of the Israeli lobby and in particular, the neocons. I give you Patrick Buchanan's retort to this 'theat', paragraph 10 in particular.
Families return to Lebanon camp "I'm so happy about going back, even if it's to just one inch of what's left of my home. It's as symbolic as returning to Palestine," Um Akram Awdeh, 60, told the Reuters news agency, as he waited in a bus to enter the camp.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Headlines for 10-09-07
IAEA in Tehran for talks over Iran's atomic work A team led by the U.N. nuclear watchdog's second-in-command held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Tuesday to try to clear up questions about the country's disputed atomic program.
France, Russia move closer on Iran Sarkozy has hardened France's stance on Iran in recent months, shifting closer to the United States in his insistence on tough U.N. Security Council sanctions and even his mention of the possibility of war. While the United States and European nations are pressing for greater sanctions, Russia and China have resisted.
Nuke transportation story has explosive implications This is about how six nuclear advanced cruise missiles got out of their bunkers and onto a combat aircraft without notice of the wing commander, squadron commander, munitions maintenance squadron (MMS), the B-52H's crew chief and command pilot and onto another Air Force base tarmac without notice of that air base's chain of command -- for 10 hours.
Surge Protectors The three principals of Freedom's Watch have all expressed Israel-centered views. Matt Brooks himself cited Israel's interests two years back when attacking the antiwar movement
Al-Qaeda pursuing weapons of mass destruction: US Other organizations that pose a potential threat to the United States include the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, the strategy report said. "Hezbollah may increasingly consider attacking the homeland if it perceives the United States as posing a direct threat to the group or Iran, its principal sponsor," it said
Somehow Israel's enemies become OUR enemies. Whose war?
Refugee groups blast lack of US help for Iraqis Current US efforts to help resettle Iraqi refugees are slow, poorly funded and ignore Syria which hosts the largest number of displaced people, refugee and human rights advocates said on Tuesday.
War on Iran cannot be ruled out: Albright ** Albright, who was born Marie Korbelova in Prague in 1937, defends the idea of a missile defence system in Central Europe despite resistance from Moscow.
Findings of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty due to continuing pressure by the pro-Israel lobby in the United States, this attack remains the only serious naval incident that has never been thoroughly investigated by Congress; to this day, no surviving crewmember has been permitted to officially and publicly testify about the attack; .....That a danger to our national security exists whenever our elected officials are willing to subordinate American interests to those of any foreign nation, and specifically are unwilling to challenge Israel's interests when they conflict with American interests; this policy, evidenced by the failure to defend USS Liberty and the subsequent official cover-up of the Israeli attack, endangers the safety of Americans and the security of the United States
Fineman: Intel Community To Release ?Three Iran Reports? To ?Slow Down? Bush?s Warmongering ** On the Chris Matthews Show today, NBC?s Howard Fineman revealed that the intelligence community will release ?three different reports? in upcoming weeks to ?slow down? the administration?s current drumbeat for war with Iran:
Navy veteran questions why six nuclear missiles were flown on combat aircraft to staging area for Middle East Stormer doesn't buy reports that the missiles were simply lost.
U.S. warns against Turkish action in Iraq
Barak plans U.S. trip The itinerary has not yet been finalized, but Barak is expected to meet with Bush administration officials for discussions on Israeli-U.S. arms deals and strategic cooperation.
In pictures: Palestinians await camp return
UNHCR deeply concerned about fire in Iraq refugee camp The UN refugee agency UNHCR expressed deep concern on Tuesday after 25 Palestinians were injured when a big fire swept through a refugee camp in Iraq at the weekend.
Lebanon's Hariri urges strong UN words on killings
Certification sought on 'smart' weapons U.S. Reps. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Christopher Carney (D-Pa.) wrote the letter, which has the backing of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
France, Russia move closer on Iran Sarkozy has hardened France's stance on Iran in recent months, shifting closer to the United States in his insistence on tough U.N. Security Council sanctions and even his mention of the possibility of war. While the United States and European nations are pressing for greater sanctions, Russia and China have resisted.
Nuke transportation story has explosive implications This is about how six nuclear advanced cruise missiles got out of their bunkers and onto a combat aircraft without notice of the wing commander, squadron commander, munitions maintenance squadron (MMS), the B-52H's crew chief and command pilot and onto another Air Force base tarmac without notice of that air base's chain of command -- for 10 hours.
Surge Protectors The three principals of Freedom's Watch have all expressed Israel-centered views. Matt Brooks himself cited Israel's interests two years back when attacking the antiwar movement
Al-Qaeda pursuing weapons of mass destruction: US Other organizations that pose a potential threat to the United States include the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, the strategy report said. "Hezbollah may increasingly consider attacking the homeland if it perceives the United States as posing a direct threat to the group or Iran, its principal sponsor," it said
Somehow Israel's enemies become OUR enemies. Whose war?
Refugee groups blast lack of US help for Iraqis Current US efforts to help resettle Iraqi refugees are slow, poorly funded and ignore Syria which hosts the largest number of displaced people, refugee and human rights advocates said on Tuesday.
War on Iran cannot be ruled out: Albright ** Albright, who was born Marie Korbelova in Prague in 1937, defends the idea of a missile defence system in Central Europe despite resistance from Moscow.
Findings of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty due to continuing pressure by the pro-Israel lobby in the United States, this attack remains the only serious naval incident that has never been thoroughly investigated by Congress; to this day, no surviving crewmember has been permitted to officially and publicly testify about the attack; .....That a danger to our national security exists whenever our elected officials are willing to subordinate American interests to those of any foreign nation, and specifically are unwilling to challenge Israel's interests when they conflict with American interests; this policy, evidenced by the failure to defend USS Liberty and the subsequent official cover-up of the Israeli attack, endangers the safety of Americans and the security of the United States
Fineman: Intel Community To Release ?Three Iran Reports? To ?Slow Down? Bush?s Warmongering ** On the Chris Matthews Show today, NBC?s Howard Fineman revealed that the intelligence community will release ?three different reports? in upcoming weeks to ?slow down? the administration?s current drumbeat for war with Iran:
Navy veteran questions why six nuclear missiles were flown on combat aircraft to staging area for Middle East Stormer doesn't buy reports that the missiles were simply lost.
U.S. warns against Turkish action in Iraq
Barak plans U.S. trip The itinerary has not yet been finalized, but Barak is expected to meet with Bush administration officials for discussions on Israeli-U.S. arms deals and strategic cooperation.
In pictures: Palestinians await camp return
UNHCR deeply concerned about fire in Iraq refugee camp The UN refugee agency UNHCR expressed deep concern on Tuesday after 25 Palestinians were injured when a big fire swept through a refugee camp in Iraq at the weekend.
Lebanon's Hariri urges strong UN words on killings
Certification sought on 'smart' weapons U.S. Reps. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Christopher Carney (D-Pa.) wrote the letter, which has the backing of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Headlines for 10-08-07
'War on terror' has been a 'disaster': British think tank The Oxford Research Group (ORG) said in a report that Western strategy since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States had failed to extinguish the threat from Islamist extremism and even fuelled it.
US steps up accusations against Iran ** Statements like those by General Petraeus could be part of an attempt to turn US public opinion in favour of military action against Iran - in particular, air strikes against revolutionary guard bases.
6 years later, US expands Afghan base Originally envisioned as a temporary home for invading U.S. forces, the sprawling American base at Bagram, a former Soviet outpost in the shadow of the towering Hindu Kush mountains, is growing in size by nearly a third.
Blast fuels fears Iran is involved Making the case for war.
Hundreds of Iraqi refugees in Syria protest against US Senate Hundreds of Iraqi refugees staged a sit-in in Damascus on Saturday to protest against a recent nonbinding US Senate resolution that encourages splitting Iraq along ethnic and religious lines.
Giuliani raps Clinton on Iraq, Iran Giuliani said he has made it clear that he would not allow Iran to become a nuclear power and would not rule out military action to stop that from happening.
Iran to re-open its border with Iraq Iran will re-opens its border with Iraq on Sunday after a two-week closure to protest at the detention of an Iranian by US troops, the semi-official news agency Fars reported.
The Ron Paul Breakthrough Ron Paul - one of the good guys.
The Big Lie: 'Iran Is a Threat' by Scott Ritter ** On every point, the case made against Iran collapses upon closer scrutiny. ....Most if not all the claims made by the United States concerning Iranian military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan have not been backed up with anything stronger than rhetoric, and more often than not are subsequently contradicted by other military and governmental officials, citing a lack of specific evidence. Iran as a nation represents absolutely no threat to the national security of the United States, or of its major allies in the region, including Israel......The fact of the matter is that the ?Iranian Threat? is derived solely from the rhetoric of those who appear to seek confrontation between the United States and Iran, and largely divorced from fact-based reality.
Rep. Ron Paul: I advocate the same foreign policy the Founding Fathers would A Paul administration would see Americans engaged overseas like never before, in business and cultural activities. But a Paul administration would never attempt to export democracy or other values at the barrel of a gun, as we have seen over and over again that this is a counterproductive approach that actually leads the United States to be resented and more isolated in the world.
GOP candidate calls for troop withdrawal Rep. Ron Paul believes political leaders are pumping up the threat of terrorism to accomplish political goals. Paul, the 10-term Texas congressman, told Monitor reporters and editors that concerns about the country's security have been overblown to justify needless foreign invasions and domestic surveillance programs....."As long as we occupy Muslims' countries, our danger is always growing," he said. "So, I think we're in a much more dangerous time now than we were before 9/11 because instead of wising up, what we've done is more of the wrong thing."
13 Turkish soldiers killed near Iraq border Kurdish fighters from the separatist group PKK have killed 13 Turkish soldiers in an attack near the border with Iraq, one of the heaviest losses suffered by the Turkish military in conflicts with the group.
'Jewish, Armenian groups defaming us' Babacan said Ankara expected the US administration, the Iraqi government and the administration in northern Iraq to take action against the PKK operating from northern Iraq.
Fire ravages border camp for Palestinian-Iraqi refugees A raging fire swept through the Al-Tanf refugee camp on the Syrian side of the Syrian-Iraqi border on 6 October injuring 25 Palestinian-Iraqi refugees and burning down 53 tents in the isolated camp, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on 7 October.
Clinton's Iran Vote Prompts A Harsh Back-and-Forth ** Rolph asked Clinton to explain her Senate vote Wednesday for a resolution urging the Bush administration to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Rolph interpreted that measure as giving Bush authority to use military action against the Iranians.
Neocons Converge Around Giuliani Campaign Podhoretz is in favor of bombing Iran because of the country's unwillingness to suspend its uranium-enrichment program. He also believes America is engaged in a "world war" with "Islamofascism" and that Giuliani is the only man who can win it......what's left of the neocon movement does seem to be converging around the Giuliani campaign, to some degree, because he embraces their common themes Clue: The Israel Factor, a site that ranks candidates based on their support of Israel, has Giuliani ranked at number 1. The author of this piece goes on to suggest that neocons are in line with Giuliani's pro-Israeli views, as are most American voters. Hogwash. The name of this game is which candidate can kowtow the lowest to the Israeli Lobby.
WJC officials meet Pope Benedict Lauder and Schneider were scheduled to meet later Monday with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. They were expected to call on Italy to take a firm stance against the intentions of Iran to develop nuclear capabilities.
Turkey says not to let airspace be used against Syria
Israeli president brands Iran 'centre of global terror' "Iran is the greatest terrorist centre in the world today," he said, adding that "it is openly building an arsenal of long-range missiles and, secretely, nuclear weapons.
US steps up accusations against Iran ** Statements like those by General Petraeus could be part of an attempt to turn US public opinion in favour of military action against Iran - in particular, air strikes against revolutionary guard bases.
6 years later, US expands Afghan base Originally envisioned as a temporary home for invading U.S. forces, the sprawling American base at Bagram, a former Soviet outpost in the shadow of the towering Hindu Kush mountains, is growing in size by nearly a third.
Blast fuels fears Iran is involved Making the case for war.
Hundreds of Iraqi refugees in Syria protest against US Senate Hundreds of Iraqi refugees staged a sit-in in Damascus on Saturday to protest against a recent nonbinding US Senate resolution that encourages splitting Iraq along ethnic and religious lines.
Giuliani raps Clinton on Iraq, Iran Giuliani said he has made it clear that he would not allow Iran to become a nuclear power and would not rule out military action to stop that from happening.
Iran to re-open its border with Iraq Iran will re-opens its border with Iraq on Sunday after a two-week closure to protest at the detention of an Iranian by US troops, the semi-official news agency Fars reported.
The Ron Paul Breakthrough Ron Paul - one of the good guys.
The Big Lie: 'Iran Is a Threat' by Scott Ritter ** On every point, the case made against Iran collapses upon closer scrutiny. ....Most if not all the claims made by the United States concerning Iranian military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan have not been backed up with anything stronger than rhetoric, and more often than not are subsequently contradicted by other military and governmental officials, citing a lack of specific evidence. Iran as a nation represents absolutely no threat to the national security of the United States, or of its major allies in the region, including Israel......The fact of the matter is that the ?Iranian Threat? is derived solely from the rhetoric of those who appear to seek confrontation between the United States and Iran, and largely divorced from fact-based reality.
Rep. Ron Paul: I advocate the same foreign policy the Founding Fathers would A Paul administration would see Americans engaged overseas like never before, in business and cultural activities. But a Paul administration would never attempt to export democracy or other values at the barrel of a gun, as we have seen over and over again that this is a counterproductive approach that actually leads the United States to be resented and more isolated in the world.
GOP candidate calls for troop withdrawal Rep. Ron Paul believes political leaders are pumping up the threat of terrorism to accomplish political goals. Paul, the 10-term Texas congressman, told Monitor reporters and editors that concerns about the country's security have been overblown to justify needless foreign invasions and domestic surveillance programs....."As long as we occupy Muslims' countries, our danger is always growing," he said. "So, I think we're in a much more dangerous time now than we were before 9/11 because instead of wising up, what we've done is more of the wrong thing."
13 Turkish soldiers killed near Iraq border Kurdish fighters from the separatist group PKK have killed 13 Turkish soldiers in an attack near the border with Iraq, one of the heaviest losses suffered by the Turkish military in conflicts with the group.
'Jewish, Armenian groups defaming us' Babacan said Ankara expected the US administration, the Iraqi government and the administration in northern Iraq to take action against the PKK operating from northern Iraq.
Fire ravages border camp for Palestinian-Iraqi refugees A raging fire swept through the Al-Tanf refugee camp on the Syrian side of the Syrian-Iraqi border on 6 October injuring 25 Palestinian-Iraqi refugees and burning down 53 tents in the isolated camp, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on 7 October.
Clinton's Iran Vote Prompts A Harsh Back-and-Forth ** Rolph asked Clinton to explain her Senate vote Wednesday for a resolution urging the Bush administration to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Rolph interpreted that measure as giving Bush authority to use military action against the Iranians.
Neocons Converge Around Giuliani Campaign Podhoretz is in favor of bombing Iran because of the country's unwillingness to suspend its uranium-enrichment program. He also believes America is engaged in a "world war" with "Islamofascism" and that Giuliani is the only man who can win it......what's left of the neocon movement does seem to be converging around the Giuliani campaign, to some degree, because he embraces their common themes Clue: The Israel Factor, a site that ranks candidates based on their support of Israel, has Giuliani ranked at number 1. The author of this piece goes on to suggest that neocons are in line with Giuliani's pro-Israeli views, as are most American voters. Hogwash. The name of this game is which candidate can kowtow the lowest to the Israeli Lobby.
WJC officials meet Pope Benedict Lauder and Schneider were scheduled to meet later Monday with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. They were expected to call on Italy to take a firm stance against the intentions of Iran to develop nuclear capabilities.
Turkey says not to let airspace be used against Syria
Israeli president brands Iran 'centre of global terror' "Iran is the greatest terrorist centre in the world today," he said, adding that "it is openly building an arsenal of long-range missiles and, secretely, nuclear weapons.
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