World-News

Slate
by Shmuel Rosner

01/12/07

Donald Rumsfeld’s tenure as secretary of defense is quickly fading from memory, but yesterday, as his successor shuttled from briefing to hearing, one of Rumsfeld’s famous aphorisms came to mind: If you can’t solve a problem, enlarge it. Coming from Gates, it sounded technical rather than slick. ‘We are beginning to move aggressively to try and identify and root out the networks that are involved in helping to bring Iranian-supplied [bombs] into Iraq,’ Gates said. If you can’t solve Iraq, enlarge it. While you were sleeping, the war with Iran might have begun...

http://www.slate.com/id/2157489/


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Warning that investors might be "in for a shock," a major investment bank has told the financial community that a preemptive strike by Israel with American backing could hit Iran's nuclear program.

http://tinyurl.com/ybnrd9


From Information Clearing House

U.S. Navy nuclear submarines maintaining vigil off the coast of Iran indicate that the Pentagon’s military plans include not only control over navigation in the Persian Gulf but also strikes against Iranian targets, a former commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Eduard Baltin has told the Interfax news agency.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16186.htm



Rice: UN sanctions on Iran 'not enough'

Talk of a military strike against Iran shows how serious it would be for the Iranians to continue down the path of nuclear development, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview with Channel 10 Sunday evening.

http://tinyurl.com/yhh4lo



U.S. says it will 'go after' Iran, Syria networks in Iraq

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday that increased U.S. military activity in the Persian Gulf is meant to counter "very negative" behavior by Iran and undercut its belief that American forces are overcommitted in Iraq.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/813691.html



Rafsanjani calls for vigilance vis-a-vis United States

Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said that given the US failure to achieve its goals in the region, it is seeking to embark on a new adventure to cover up its defeat and urged the need for vigilance.

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-203/0701158741153520.htm


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Condoleezza+Rice
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=SunBurn

AntiWar.Com
by Justin Raimondo

01/15/07

So the official Democratic Party spokesman’s line on the crisis in the Middle East goes something like this: Gee, it’s too bad we’re stuck in a quagmire in Iraq, when the real imperative is to attack Iran. We’re in the wrong war — and, thanks to George W. Bush, the American people have ‘no stomach’ for attacking what amounts to a genuine threat. You’ll notice, if you follow the link and read the whole quote, how Dean wimped out in the end, only agreeing with the Bushies’ rush to war as far as imposing sanctions. However, you can bet Dean and his fellow Democrats, especially presidential wannabes and the congressional leadership, are not about to stand up to the War Party when the bombs begin to fall on Tehran...

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10328


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

CNN

01/14/07

The White House said Sunday it is not planning military action against Iran, but refused to rule out the possibility, bucking pressure from several senators who said the administration is not authorized to do so. Asked whether the United States is preparing for a potential military conflict with Iran, President Bush’s national security adviser Stephen Hadley told NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ ‘No, the president has said very clearly that the issues we have with Iran should be solved diplomatically’...

http://tinyurl.com/yhzwa6


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

Retired general Wesley Clark drew harsh criticism this week after reportedly saying that “New York money people” are pushing America into a war against Iran.

http://www.forward.com/articles/top-dem-wesley-clark-says-ny-money-people-pu/


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Wesley+Clark

US accuses Iran over officials seized in Iraq

Mr Bush signed the clandestine directive after he was given new intelligence on the scale of Iranian operations to foment violence in Iraq.

http://tinyurl.com/yxyc33



US forces turn on Iranians

The United States accused five Iranians it arrested in Iraq of running arms and money to Iraqi militants as Iraq joined Iran in calling for the men's release. Washington also told Arab allies it would do more to contain Tehran.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1487138.htm


From Information Clearing House

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

The attack will be launched from the sea and Patriot missiles will guard all oil-producing countries in the region, they add. Recent statements emanating from the United States indicate the Bush administration’s new strategy for Iraq doesn’t include any proposal to make a compromise or negotiate with Syria or Iran.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16169.htm