Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 12.17.2005:

German Intelligence Warns That Iran Has New Missiles

Deutsche Presse-Agentur:

German intelligence believes Iran has now bought 18 longer-range missiles from North Korea, giving Teheran the capability to attack targets in central Europe, the German daily newspaper Bild reported Friday.

The study by the foreign intelligence service BND said the BM-25 missiles were being purchased from Pyongyang in the form of kit sets. The mobile missiles, which are based on the Russian SS-N-6 missile for submarine launch, will have a nominal range of 2,500 kilometres.

However it was possible to upgrade them to hit targets 3,500 kilometres away, the Munich-based BND said. READ MORE

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

• Dow Jones Newswires reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday there is no evidence that Iran intends to back down in a diplomatic standoff over its disputed nuclear program.
• Reuters reported that U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday called Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad an "odd guy."
• Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post warns us that Iran is arming for Armageddon. A must read,
• Ze'ev Schiff, Ha'aretz examined the question: Is There a Military Option?
• The New York Sun reported that Israel's top general during Operation Iraqi Freedom said: Saddam Hussein moved his chemical weapons to Syria six weeks before the war started.
• Iran Focus reported that Iranian agents in Iraq carried out a widespread campaign of poll manipulation to ensure victory by Shiite groups allied to Tehran.
• IranMania reported that most Israelis want their government to use diplomacy rather than military power.
• Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki voiced Iran's concern over the increasing human rights violations of the US.
• Reuters reported that an influential Republican congresswoman expressed frustration on Friday over President George W. Bush's approach to Iran.
• Kiarash Kianmehr, Rooz Online reported that some of the passengers on board the C-130 military transport aircraft that crashed last week died of asphyxiation due to the lack of emergency oxygen on board.
• Maryam Kashani, Rooz Online published several strange accounts of Ahmadinejad's recent trip to Saudi Arabia.
• Phyllis Chesler, FrontPageMagazine published a speech given before the US Senate this past week: Islamic Gender Apartheid.
• A photo that answers the question: Where do the Iranian people get their news?
• And finally, a Cartoon about Ahmadinejad: Mullah's Wild Dog.