Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 4.17.2006:

Why Iran wants the bomb.

• Amir Taheri, The Telegraph revealed the frightening truth of why Iran wants a bomb. Hint: ever heard of a "clash of civilizations?"

Calls for a change in US policy towards Iran.

• Mark Steyn, Chicago Sun-Times argued that our policy on Iran Nukes seems to be off-target.
  
• Richard Clarke, The New York Times argued that bombing Iran will backfire on the US.
• The National Review in an editorial argued that the US should massively increase our pro-democracy broadcasts into Iran, and called for a major shift in direction in Voice of America's content.

Sen.Lugar for direct US/Iran talks.

• The Washington Post reported that GOP Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said that direct talks between the US and Iran "would be useful." Iranian dissidents already fear the US will sell them out. And some wonder why the Iranians haven’t risen up against their oppressive regime?

Iran prepares for US attacks.

• Reuters reported that new satellite imagery indicate Iran has expanded its uranium conversion site at Isfahan and reinforced its Natanz underground uranium enrichment plant against possible military strikes.
  

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

• Yahoo News reported that Iran announced that it was giving 50 million dollars in aid to the cash-strapped Hamas-led Palestinian government.
• YNet reported that while the world is expressing its concern over Iran's progress toward a bomb, the US Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte estimates Tehran will have a bomb within four to nine years.

Tags: iran, news, nuclear