There is No Evidence of An Iranian Nuclear Weapons Programme

[fluffybiscuits]

Fluffy, it’s well established that the primary reason the US would intervene to keep the Straight open is to benefit the Asians and Europeans who are much more dependent on Gulf oil than is the US. Other navies do not have the capacity to keep the straight open, so it falls to the US. Your “so what” if the Iranians close it is a bit naive.

So let me get this right. US is going to invade the waters of another soverign nation so that they can keep the world in cheap oil and lifestyle we are accustomed to?

[Count Bobulescu]

So let me get this right. US is going to invade the waters of another soverign nation so that they can keep the world in cheap oil and lifestyle we are accustomed to?

That's about the height of it.

[fluffybiscuits]

That's about the height of it.

Virtue of the American actions, they are defenders of capitalism...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...RRW_story.html

There is accusations floating about that nuclear scientists have been killed by French and German securitiy services but this is unlikely...

[Count Bobulescu]

Here’s a call in today’s WaPo by an ex Bushie to get tough and threaten to spill the gunpowder. Not likely to happen, but these guys are still out there talkin tough.

By Michael Singh, Published: July 8
Michael Singh is managing director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. From 2005 to 2008, he worked on Middle East issues at the National Security Council.
Predictably, last week’s “expert level” talks between Iran and world powers were no more fruitful than previous rounds, leaving little optimism for a negotiated resolution to the nuclear crisis anytime soon. Western policymakers, buoyed by their success in reducing Iran’s oil exports , appear content to give sanctions more time to work, in the hope that once Tehran feels their full effect negotiators will return to the table, more ready to compromise.
The evidence, however, suggests that sanctions’ effect on oil exports will not increase over time.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...c=nl_headlines

[Count Bobulescu]

The Ponce is in place.

WASHINGTON — One of the Navy’s oldest transport ships, now converted into one of its newest platforms for warfare, arrived in waters off Bahrain late last week, a major addition to the enlarged presence of American forces in the Persian Gulf designed as a counter to Iran.

The keel for the ship, the Ponce, was cast in 1966, and the vessel, nearing the end of its service, was to have been scrapped. But the Ponce was reborn as a floating forward base for staging important military operations across the region — the latest example of the new American way of war.
The first mission of the reborn Ponce was designed to be low profile and defensive, as an operations hub for mine clearing in the Strait of Hormuz, a counter to threats from Tehran to close the vital commercial waterway. In that role, the Ponce will be a launching pad for helicopters, a home to underwater diver teams and a seaborne service station providing fuel and maintenance for minesweeping ships.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/wo...ay-of-war.html

[Count Bobulescu]

Another tightening of the ratchet.

A federal grand jury has indicted Iranian and Chinese nationals on charges stemming from an alleged plot help Iran acquire advanced metals and other sensitive U.S. technology for its nuclear program, the Justice Department announced Friday.
The indictment of the two men was the latest to target what U.S. officials say is a global procurement network operated by Iran to obtain needed parts for its uranium enrichment plants as well as its most sophisticated missiles. At least some of materials appear to have made it to Iran, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...c=nl_headlines

Federal investigators are probing a major Chinese telecom firm and its U.S. subsidiary for allegedly selling banned U.S. surveillance equipment to Iran, according to a newly disclosed document.
The investigations into ZTE and its Texas subsidiary, ZTE U.S.A., by the FBI and Commerce Department reflect two major U.S. policy concerns — blunting Iran’s appetite for advanced technology that could be used in warfare and understanding the activities of Chinese companies in the United States.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...c=nl_headlines

[Andrew49]

A US ship has fired on a boat off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), US officials say.

The USNS Rappahannock fired on a vessel after it 'ignored warnings and rapidly approached the ship', the US Navy says. There is no confirmation of casualties although a UAE official said an Indian fisherman had been killed and three more wounded. Source

The boat appeared to be a civilian vessel about 30ft (9m) long and powered by three outboard motors, the report said.

[fluffybiscuits]

A US ship has fired on a boat off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), US officials say.

The USNS Rappahannock fired on a vessel after it 'ignored warnings and rapidly approached the ship', the US Navy says. There is no confirmation of casualties although a UAE official said an Indian fisherman had been killed and three more wounded. Source

The boat appeared to be a civilian vessel about 30ft (9m) long and powered by three outboard motors, the report said.

Bit like bombing the Chinese embassy in Belgrade years ago and then apologising. Dylan Moran was articulate when he put it like

The US and world are flat mates and the world says to the US, "You broke my stuff again" and the US responds, "Sawee I'll you a new one..."...

[Andrew49]

The Obama administration's top security official has briefed Israel's prime minister on US plans for a possible attack on Iran, an Israeli newspaper reports. The Haaretz daily says National Security Adviser Tom Donilon sought to reassure Israel that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program. Source

Full Text is only available to subscribers!!!

[Holly]

Mitt Romney in Israel today gave support to Israel in the event that it attacked Iran should that country develop the "capability" of developing an atomic weapon. The Jewish lobby could make the difference in the American election. There are no votes in promoting the Palestinian cause.

[Dr. FIVE]

Fisk - Syrian war of lies and hypocrisy

The West's real target here is not Assad's brutal regime but his ally, Iran, and its chemical weapons


http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion...y-7985012.html

[fluffybiscuits]

Mitt Romney in Israel today gave support to Israel in the event that it attacked Iran should that country develop the "capability" of developing an atomic weapon. The Jewish lobby could make the difference in the American election. There are no votes in promoting the Palestinian cause.

Morally there is but there is a corrupt elite in the American establishment. The abuse of Palestinians goes on but tis ignored. There is not one back bone in American politics . Dont forget Im sure there is profit to be made somewhere along the lines as well...

Meanwhile Iran is losing $133m a week because of sanctions

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...il-buoys-obama

Again not a moral backbone among a lot of those supposed christians..

[Count Bobulescu]

David Ignatius in The Washington Post on negotiations with Iran. Negotiations with Iran to prevent a war have been on recess during Ramadan, but even when they start up again, Ignatius doesn't hear "any hint of a breakthrough that would ease the war fever," he says. There's still "a significant gap" between Iran and P5+1 countries, the U.S., Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany. An interesting proposal: Iran could agree to a "zero stockpile" of low-enriched fuel and cap enrichment at 5 percent. Any uranium would be converted immediately into fuel rods and exported. "This intriguing proposal lacks official Iranian support, but it would address Israel’s biggest concern and would surely interest U.S. officials."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...e9c_story.html

[Sam Lord]

[B]
"This intriguing proposal lacks official Iranian support, but it would address Israel’s biggest concern and would surely interest U.S. officials."

The only thing that will interest US officials is a regime subservient to the US.

[TotalMayhem]

The Jewish lobby could make the difference in the American election. There are no votes in promoting the Palestinian cause.

There are votes in promoting Diageo.