Archive for the ‘Iran’ Category
December 28th, 2011 | 
Author: AMERICA'S DRIVE FOR MIDDLE EAST … – The Race for Iran
www.raceforiran.com12/28/11
We largely agree with his more specific criticisms of Kroenig's article, although we take issue with his drive-by assertion that some of the Iranians who would be victims of a U.S. attack on their country “despise the clerical …
Preparing to Attack Iran with Nuclear Weapons: “No Option can be …
Preparing to Attack Iran with Nuclear Weapons: “No Option can be taken off the Table.” by Michel Chossudovsky. Global Research, December 26, 2011. “When a US sponsored nuclear war becomes an “instrument of peace”, …
Seems like Obama understands that Panetta is an anti-Semite!
According to a just released report, the "Israelis went ballistic", after US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said earlier this month that,
"An attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities could consume the Middle East in a confrontation and a conflict that we would regret".
Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren lodged a formal diplomatic protest, which prompted the White House to reassure Jerusalem that the administration had its own "red lines" that would trigger a strike on Iran and that there would be no need for Israel to operate unilaterally.
And a short time later Panetta told CBS’s ’60 Minutes’ that,
"Should Iran proceed with developing a nuclear weapon then we will take whatever steps necessary to stop it".
Will Israel Attack First?
Three senior US military officials have confirmed that analysts in the Pentagon were trying to predict which developments in Iran could lead to a preemptive Israeli strike on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities.
The report said that despite repeated requests going back to 2009, Netanyahu’s government has not agreed to ask the US for permission or give significant advanced warning of any pending strike.
What Are The Red Lines?
Matthew Kroenig, who served as special adviser on Iran to the Office of the Secretary of Defense between July 2010 and July 2011, offered some of the possible, "red lines" for a military strike on Iran.
"If Iran expels international nuclear weapons inspectors, begins enriching its stockpiles of uranium to weapons-grade levels of 90%, or installs advanced centrifuges at its main uranium-enrichment facility in Qom".
Kroenig also mentioned that the Islamic Republic announced in 2009 that it was set to construct ten new uranium enrichment sites.
"I doubt they are building 10 new sites, but I would be surprised if Iran was not racing to build some secret enrichment facilities".
"Progress on new facilities would be a major factor in our assessment of Iran’s nuclear program and shape all aspects of our policy towards this including the decision to use force".
And in a recent Foreign Affairs article he argued that the US should strike Iran’s facilities!
Posted in administration, democracy, government, Iran, islam, Israel, Israeli, Middle East, politics | 
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Supreme Leader Ups Ahmadinejad Fight – TIME
 Fox News |
Supreme Leader Ups Ahmadinejad Fight
TIME … Oct. 19, 2011 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivers his speech under portraits of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah ALi Khamenei (L) and Iran's founder of Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (R) on the eve of the 22nd anniversary …Iran's Supreme Leader Warns Ahmadinejad's Post Could Be Removed A strange vision of Ayatollah |
Iranians see Ahmadinejad as disconnected from alleged plot – Washington Post
 Telegraph.co.uk |
Iranians see Ahmadinejad as disconnected from alleged plot
Washington Post Vahid Salemi/AP – In front of portraits of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, left, and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sings Iranian national anthemin June. By Thomas Erdbrink, TEHRAN — As … Will the Washington Bomb Plot Force Obama Into War With Iran? Iran's Act of War US Moves to Isolate Iran, Push Stronger International Action |
Iran’s Supreme Leader Warns That Ahmadinejad’s Post Might Be Removed
Iran’s most powerful figure recently warned that the post of "elected president" might have to be scrapped, which was equal to bringing out the big guns!
Since the mere mention of eliminating Iran’s highest elected office shows the severity and scope of the ongoing power struggle that’s taking place between Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The Background To The Statement
For months, Iran’s ruling theocracy has been putting more and more pressure on Ahmadinejad, as well as arresting many of his allies for attempts to challenge the near-absolute authority of the cleric-ruled system that has controlled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Khamenei Theat Is Serious!
The blunt words by Khamenei on Sunday suggest a twofold agenda:
Diminish Ahmadinejad.
Demonsrate to those in the wings that Iran’s rulers are ready to take drastic measures if they deem it necessary!
Views From Inside
Mehrzad Boroujerdi who follows Iranian affairs at Syracuse University says:
"There is bad blood, Khamenei is trying to make it very clear that the system can only handle so much discord and that he holds the stronger cards".
And this is one of the first clear hints from the ruling clerics that they’re ready to use hardball strategies during the parliamentary elections in March.
Khamenei and his allies are expected to use their many tools, including the ability to vet and block candidates, to steamroller Ahmadinejad’s backers, and to push Ahmadinejad, who was once Khamenei’s protege, further into the political margins.
Huma Rights And The Nuclear Program
The ruling power structure in Iran, which includes not only hard-line clerics, but also the hugely influential Revolutionary Guard, appears increasingly eager to stop the internal bickering.
This squabbling is viewed as a very unwelcome distraction at a time when the country is confonting critical issues, such as whether to restart nuclear negotiations with the West, complaints about its human rights record, and most recently U.S. allegations that a special unit of the Guard was linked to a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington.
"This is not a time when Iran wants anything that will rock the boat".
said Boroujerdi.
The Political System
Under Iran’s Islamic republic system, both the president and the parliament are elected, but the system is overseen by an unelected clerical hierarch that vets candidates for office; is also in charge of the powerful judiciary; and is tightly linked to the Revolutionary Guard.
"The president is elected by direct vote of the people, which is a good and effective method,"
Khamenei told a gathering in the western city of Kermanshah.
"But if someday, probably in the distant future, it is felt that a parliamentary system is better, there will be no problem to change the current structure".
How Would It Work In Practice?
In theory, cutting out the elected president post would streamline the ruling clerics’ control by allowing them to weed out everyone that was not allied to the parliament.
The lawmakers, in turn, would then presumably pick a less confrontational prime minister.
The History
After the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s system included a prime minister as head of government and a president, but it was then seen as a merely ceremonial position.
The prime minister’s post was already dropped once however, in 1989 by the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after internal bickering that was similar to today’s.
The Future
Although Khamenei made no mention in his speech about the unraveling of the former system, he did say:
"Rrefreshing" the political order. It means changing policies, which can prevent stagnation".
Khamenei didn’t however raise any objections to the forming of new political parties in Iran, which already has dozens of factions and blocs that effectively serve as parties.
But his comment should perhaps be seen as a subtle nod towards a more aggressive party-style campaign in the upcoming parliamentary races.
William O. Beeman, who is a University of Minnesota professor that has written on Iranian affairs says:
"The supreme leader has fired a clear warning shot. He is telling anyone trying to challenge the system, ‘Look, we are tired of this and we are willing to turn the clock back if needed’".
Posted in Ahmadinejad, fanatics, Iran, islam, jihad, koran, muslims, Nuclear, politics, rogue states, terrorists |
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