Leading article: An admiral and a self-serving administration13 Mar 2008Summary: Admiral Fallon is not the first to fail to persuade the White House to adopt a more constructive approach to Iran. The 2006 Iraq Study Group recommended bringing neighbouring states, including Iran, on board to improve the security situation in the country. Yet despite commissioning the report, Mr Bush did exactly the opposite, seeking to isolate Iran and ordering the surge into Baghdad. source: The Independentread more
Israel raises the ante against Iran13 Mar 2008Summary: “We are in no danger at all of having an Iranian nuclear weapon dropped on us. We cannot say so too openly, however, because we have a history of using any threat in order to get weapons … thanks to the Iranian threat, we are getting weapons from the US and Germany.” – Israeli author, Martin van Crevled, June 2007. source: Asia Times Onlineread more
Iran still a target?13 Mar 2008Summary: KinzerWhy is the U.S., which maintains good relations with other odious regimes, unable to offer a hand of peace to Iran? The reasons are psychological as much as political. Powerful Americans have never forgiven Iran’s mullahs for overthrowing the shah in 1979, taking U.S. diplomats hostage and opposing Western interests in the Middle East and beyond. They feel the mullahs must be given the punishment they have thus far escaped. source: Baltimore Sunread more
Global Public Opinion Turns Against the U.S. on Iran’s Nuclear Program13 Mar 2008Summary: Bushehr ReactorFor months, diplomats and analysts have been suggesting that the Bush administration-led effort to pressure and isolate Iran over its nuclear defiance was losing steam. Now, with the release Tuesday of a BBC World Service Poll, there are some hard indications that indeed?at least in terms of global public opinion?that has been happening. source: U.S. News & World Reportread more
Iran ‘dove’ Fallon flies Bush coop12 Mar 2008Summary: Does the sudden resignation of the top US military commander in the Middle East, Admiral William Fallon, signal that the Bush administration is planning to attack Iran? source: Guardianread more
6 Signs the U.S. May Be Headed for War in Iran12 Mar 2008Summary: Here are six developments that may have Iran as a common thread. And, if it comes to war, they may be seen as clues as to what was planned. None of them is conclusive, and each has a credible non-Iran related explanation source: U.S. News & World Reportread more
‘Fox’ Fallon Fired12 Mar 2008Summary: RaimondoAfter calling your congressional representatives and asking them what they intend to do to stop this madness, call Obama’s Senate office. Be polite, be clear, and be brief. Let them know how you feel about the prospect of war with Iran, and tell them it’s time for Obama to speak out loud and clear: (202) 224-2854. source: AntiWar.com read more
Fallon’s Exit Provokes Concern on Path of Bush’s Iran Policy12 Mar 2008Summary: March 12 (Bloomberg)—Admiral William Fallon’s resignation as U.S. commander in the Middle East provoked criticism that President George W. Bush won’t tolerate dissent and fed speculation his Iran policy could become more confrontational. source: bloomberg.comread more
Dissenting Views Made Fallon’s Fall Inevitable12 Mar 2008Summary: PorterAdm. William Fallon’s request to quit his position as head of the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) and to retire from the military was apparently the result of a George W. Bush administration decision to pressure him to resign. source: AntiWar.com read more
Lavrov urges new nuclear talks with Iran11 Mar 2008Summary: PARIS, March 11 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the international community on Tuesday to launch new talks with Iran over the country’s controversial nuclear program. source: RIA Novostiread more
Blowback of War Likely to Be “Terrible”11 Mar 2008Summary: WASHINGTON, Mar 10 (IPS) – Since the release of the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran’s nuclear capabilities last December, the prevailing conventional wisdom has been that the report’s finding that Iran is not currently pursuing nuclear weapons had derailed the possibility of the George W. Bush administration launching a military strike before leaving office. source: IPSread more
Top admiral resigns after criticizing Bush Iran policy11 Mar 2008Summary: Admiral FallonAdmiral William Fallon, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East who recently publicly criticized the Bush Administration?s Iran policy, has resigned his command. source: Baltimore Sunread more
A way to stave off Iran sanctions11 Mar 2008Summary: YudhoyonoAs the head of the largest Muslim nation in the world which traditionally has played an important role in the formation and evolution of the NAM, Yudhoyono has already jolted Western nations opposed to Iran’s nuclear program by ending the consensus on Iran at the Security Council and thus putting South Africa, Vietnam and Libya, who voted for the sanctions resolutions irrespective of this initial objection, on the defensive. source: Asia Times Onlineread more
Int’l Support Ebbs for West’s Nuclear Hard Line11 Mar 2008Summary: Public support for stronger measures, including possible military strikes, to curb or destroy Iran's nuclear program has declined significantly in most countries around the world compared to 18 months ago, according to a new survey of public opinion [.pdf] released Tuesday by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). source: AntiWar.com read more
Iran’s nuclear program: talk of international consortium10 Mar 2008Summary: MottakiTehran, Iran – Interest is growing in a possible US-Iran nuclear compromise that could enable sensitive atomic work on Iranian soil, lower the risks of proliferation, and ease Iran’s isolation. source: Christian Science Monitorread more
Israeli minister says sack ElBaradei over Iran10 Mar 2008Summary: ElbaradeiIsraeli Housing Minister Zeev Boim was quoted in local media reports as saying IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei should be sacked and then alleged in a Channel One television interview that he was an agent for the Islamic Republic. source: Reutersread more
U.S. Regime Change in Iran9 Mar 2008Summary: Stephen KinzerKinzer then carefully outlined the long-term consequences of the Iranian coup, including the U.S. government?s partnership with Saddam Hussein in his war against Iran. Kinzer then pointed out the obvious lesson ? that U.S. interventions into other countries produce horrific long-term consequences, including for the American people. source: Future of Freedom Foundationread more
Admiral Fallon and His Empire9 Mar 2008Summary: Fallon himself has long denied the hearsay evidence that he had declared, upon taking over Central Command, that a war on Iran “isn’t going to happen on my watch.” source: Counterpunchread more
Direct talks between U.S.-Iran only realistic path8 Mar 2008Summary: The Bush administration has said it is willing to talk with Iran, but only after Iran stops enriching uranium. Such preconditions prevent any real progress. And by leaving open the possibility of a military attack, we are left with the specter of another war in the Middle East. source: Desmoinesregister.comread more
Operation Merlin II8 Mar 2008Summary: But what if CIA-Mossad hoped that the Iranians would at least put the Operation Merlin stuff into their files, perhaps even correcting the errors and building working prototypes, to be found by the IAEA at a later date, providing “evidence” that the Russians were helping the Iranians develop nuclear weapons? source: AntiWar.com read more
Fallon’s ‘No Iran War’ Line Angered White House8 Mar 2008Summary: Admiral FallonA new article on CENTCOM commander Adm. William Fallon confirms that his public statements last fall ruling out war against Iran last fall were not coordinated with the White House and landed him in trouble more than once with President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. source: Anti-War.com read more
The losers’ game7 Mar 2008Summary: I have seen this game played before: as a chief inspector with the United Nations in Iraq, I participated in similar efforts to construct briefings composed of fragmentary sourcing of questionable quality. The end product, comprising visually-pleasing organisations charts, communications diagrams and procurement records, was used to brief the security council members in an effort to strengthen their resolve to confront a recalcitrant Iraq. source: The Guardianread more
The Iran hawks’ latest surge7 Mar 2008Summary: John McCainU.S. and Israeli hard-liners—some with close ties to John McCain—are once again hyping the Iranian nuclear threat. source: Salon.comread more
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII)