Thursday, August 31, 2006

Friday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 9.1.2006:

UNSC deadline for Iran passes with no immediate action.
  • Reuters reported that the UN said Iran failed to meet its nuclear deadline.
  • Vital Perspectives published a copy of the IAEA report being distributed to diplomats at the UN today on Iran's nuclear program.
Bush: There must be consequences for Iran's defianace.
  • Reuters reported that President George W. Bush said "It is time for Iran to make a choice... We've made our choice. We will continue to work closely with our allies to find a diplomatic solution, but there must be consequences for Iran's defiance and we must not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon."
But Europe wants still more talks with Iran.
  • Reuters reported that European foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, agreed on Thursday to meet soon to discuss Iran's response to incentives to curb its nuclear activities.
Why sanctions on Iran won't work.
The Pentagon assumes Iran is 5-8 years from a nuclear bomb.
  • The Washington Times reported that the U.S. military is operating under the assumption that Iran is five to eight years away from being able to build its first nuclear weapon, a time span that explains a general lack of urgency within the Bush administration.
Khatami arrives in the US to meet with those of "kindred spirit."
  • Chicago Sun-Times reported that former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami was expected to arrive Thursday in Chicago to speak at two Muslim conventions over the weekend. The report added that a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago said American Muslims consider Khatami "a kindred spirit in faith."
  • The New York Sun in an editorial examined why Harvard University is choosing to mark the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks by hosting Mohammed Khatami, a former president of Iran, an enemy state levying a terrorist war against America.
Here are a few other news items you may have missed.
  • Iran Focus reported that hundreds of new “judicial police” have begun to roam the streets of Tehran arresting those who the judiciary suspected of “illegal activities”.
  • Michael Ledeen, The New York Sun argued that the Islamic Republic is in fact a clerical fascist, a violent anti-Semite and an intensely chauvinistic anti-American. This evidence is readily available to anyone willing to look at it. He reviewed the origins of its ideology and the astonishing sympathy these leaders receive from the West.
  • Ottawa Citizen reported that an Iranian-Canadian man, Ramin Jahanbegloo, held in a Tehran prison for four months without charges was released on bail, but news of his freedom was tempered by reports of a supposed confession made to national media shortly after his release.
  • Bob Gorrell, Town Hall published a cartoon, I call: Why Talking to Ahmadinejad is a waste of time.
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