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June 4, 2006
Ahmadinejad: The world is moving in favor of Islam
While Moscow rules out any use of force against Iran, Condi Rice says this is a 'moment of truth' because Russia and China are now in full support of robust penalties for Tehran if it does not scale back. Iran's representative says they will 'review' the offer being presented and give their response next week.
But, the mullahs' have officially declined:
Iran's Mullah's Foreign Minister, Manoucher Mottaki, rejected the US proposal saying, "the talks should take place under the conditions we have set forth." source
In the meantime, Iran's President Ahmadinejad continues with his rally of the Arab nations. In a telephone conversation with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz on 'issues affecting the Islamic world'.
King Abdullah, who praised the "friendly" and "increasing" ties of his country with Iran, called for increased cooperation and consultations by the two sides to help resolve issues affecting the Islamic world as well as reinforce security and stability in the region. source
Ahmadinejad also talked to Kofi Annan on the telephone, saying, "that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to hold talks on the nuclear program adding that Iran prefers the negotiations to be held democratically without any precondition or any threat" and "The United Nations and the Secretary General are expected to handle the crisis situation certain states have created for Iran. They fail to observe Iranian rights...".
Many in the west are not very optimistic about the possibility of talks:
For the past few years EU-3 (Britain, France and Germany) have engaged themselves with Iran over the nuclear issue, believing ayatollahs in Tehran and Qom, with their hand-picked politicians, can be appeased with carrots of peaceful nuclear technology if they renounce their ambition of acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran instead has only raised the price for European surrender. Now Ahmadinejad threatens Europe with untold consequences if Iran's nuclear ambitions are thwarted. source
On Friday evening Ahmadinejad met the wife and other family members of the late Father of the Islamic Revolution, the late Imam Khomeini.
The meeting, which was held at the late Imam's house, was in anticipation of the 17th anniversary of the demise of the late founder.
Praising the personality of the late Imam, the president said the Father of the Islamic Revolution was a true example of piety, justice, courtesy and affection. source
More scary rhetoric from Ahmadinejad, who said on Friday that the West must not be allowed to act as the voice of Islamic nations.
"The enemies are after creating divisions and void in the relations of Islamic states. The enemies of the Islamic world must not be allowed to act as spokespersons of Muslim countries in order to sow discord", the official news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in a meeting with the secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The general conditions of the world were moving in favour of the Islamic world, he said. source
Well, that is what Ahmadinejad wishes, that the world would all move toward Islam with HIM as the supreme leader of all Muslims. Reminds me of the old song, (He's got high hopes, he's got high hopes, high apple pie in the sky hopes.) What do the experts think can be done to thwart his high hopes?
The U.S. should mobilize an international coalition to raise the diplomatic, economic, domestic political, and potential military costs to Tehran of continuing to flout its obligations under its nuclear safeguards agreements. This "coalition of the willing" should seek to isolate the Ahmadinejad regime, weaken it through targeted economic sanctions, explain to the Iranian people why their government's nuclear policies will impose economic costs and military risks on them, contain Iran's military power, and encourage democratic change. If Tehran persists in its drive for nuclear weapons despite these escalating pressures, then the United States should consider military options to set back the Iranian nuclear weapons program. (James Phillips, The Heritage Foundation)
The article is very good and I suggest you read it all. On the 'military option' Mr. Phillips suggests the following:
(1) expanding and strengthening the proliferation security initiative;
(2) theater missile defense;
(3) robust special operations forces and human intelligence (HUMINT) assets;
(4) assured access to bases and staging areas in the theater for both special operations and conventional ground, air, and sea forces; and
(5) energy security preparations.
Intelligence officials say Iran has options of it's own, including directing Hezbollah to enlist its widespread international support network to aid in terrorist attacks.
Hezbollah's fund-raisers, recruiters and criminal elements could be adapted to provide logistical help to terrorist operatives.
Such help could include obtaining forged travel documents or off-the-shelf technology - global positioning equipment and night goggles, for example - that could be used for military purposes.
(Hezbollah was responsible for the 1983 bombings of the U.S. Embassy and the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. The group's Saudi wing, in coordination with the larger Lebanese Hezbollah, is blamed for the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia in 1996, which killed hundreds of American servicemen.
Hezbollah is a militant Lebanese group classified as a terrorist organization. Its terrorist wing, the Islamic Jihad Organization, is a global threat with cells in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, South America, Asia and North America. Before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Hezbollah was responsible for more American deaths than any other terrorist organization.) source
Hezbollah already has connections in South America and some experts believe they are well established in the United States.
Extensive operations have been uncovered in South America, where Hizbullah is well connected to the drug trade, particularly in the region where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet. The area has a large Shiite Muslim immigrant population. source
One writer believes that the 'military action' was never really on the table and that "when it comes to the nuclear issue, Iran is holding all the cards".
... a number of reports surfaced claiming that the Pentagon, under specific instructions from the vice-president's office, has been using an Iranian terrorist organisation called the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) to conduct stealth military and intelligence operations in Iran in anticipation of a possible military attack. ...
In the Palestinian territories, Iran has long had a ready-made militia in the form of Islamic Jihad. Now, thanks to the tens of millions of dollars Iran is pouring into the new Palestinian Authority, Iran can also rely on Hamas to act as an extension of its military forces.
But Iran can do the most harm in Iraq, where Iran's infiltration of Shia militias, especially the ruthless and well-equipped Mahdi army of Moqtada al-Sadr, gives it the ability to attack not just American interests, but American soldiers. source
It may look like Iran is holding all the cards, but I'm putting my faith in the west, specifically the United States.
Cross Posted at Right Truth and In the Bullpen
Posted by Debbie at June 4, 2006 9:59 AM
