About Me

Name: Joe
Biography
Loading...

Create Your Own Blog Find Other Townhall Blogs

Comments

Archives

Search

Shocker -- Iran Defies International Community On Uranium Enrichment

Posted by Joe on Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:01:58 PM

The sun rises, the sun sets, another rogue regime refuses to cooperate with the international community and sanctions appear unlikely because two of the Security Council members are likely to exercise their vetoes.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged European members of the council against resorting to sanctions, saying punishment would not dissuade his country from pursuing its disputed nuclear program.

Iran could theoretically still announce a full stop to enrichment before the deadline set by the Security Council. But that appeared unlikely, considering Tehran's past refusal to consider such a move and findings by the International Atomic Energy Agency that it was enriching small quantities of uranium as late as Tuesday.

Iran could "theoretically" convert to Christianity and open a museum honoring the victims of the Holocaust but somehow I doubt either will happen.

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Ahmadinejad -- Blogger To Debator?

Posted by Joe on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 10:43:33 AM

What is it with the heads of tyrannical regimes and debates?  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has challenged President Bush to a televised debate to discuss world affairs.  This is oddly reminiscent of a similar challenge posed by deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during the run-up to the Iraq War.   Ahmadinejad had better be careful in mimicking the dynamics of the Iraqi confrontation because that one sure didn't end well for Saddam. 

Here's a screamer:

"The debate should be go uncensored in order for the American people to be able to listen to what we say and they should not restrict the American people from hearing the truth."

Riiiiiight.  So the head of a tyrannical regime is condemning censorship.  Isn't this the same regime that engages in rampant censorship of opinions contrary to those endorsed by the mullahs?  I have a counter-offer for President Ahmadinejad.  Instead of debating President Bush, why doesn't he have a globally televised debate on neutral ground with an Iranian dissident about regime "affairs."  Of course, the dissident's entire family should be allowed to leave the country prior to the debate.  We need to keep things fair, after all.

Obviously, as with Saddam, Ahmadinejad's call for a debate is just a rank little political stunt.  Even so, perhaps C-Span might see an opportunity to launch a new series called "Debates With Dictators."  I can see it now:  "And this concludes the debate between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Join us next week as President Bush debates global affairs, hemispheric politics and the issue of U.S. hegemony with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.  I'm Mike Wallace.  See you next week."
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Iran Tests Missile While UN Telegraphs Inaction

Posted by Joe on Sunday, August 27, 2006 1:52:39 PM
Iran has test-fired a sub-to-surface missile during military exercises in the Persian Gulf.  Meanwhile, the dithering has begun among members of the UN Security Council with Russia opposing the imposition of sanctions and France opposing the use of force.  I suppose the only viable option remains calling in the knights who say "ni."
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (1) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Iran Moves Another Step Closer To Obtaining A Nuclear Weapon

Posted by Joe on Saturday, August 26, 2006 12:34:40 PM

Iran just gave the international community the finger. 

An Iranian plant that produces heavy water officially went into operation on Saturday, despite U.N. demands that Tehran stop the activity because it can be used to develop a nuclear bomb.

Reactors fueled by enriched uranium use regular - or "light" - water as a "moderator" in the chain reaction that produces energy. Reactors using "heavy water" contain a heavier hydrogen particle, which allows the reactor to run on natural uranium mined by Iran, foregoing the enrichment progress.

But the spent fuel from a heavy water reactor can be reprocessed to extract plutonium for use in a bomb.

This gives the regime a way around the uranium enrichment process and therefore makes international demands to stop trying to enrich uranium moot.  I would hazard a guess that this was the announcement originally scheduled for August 22 but was delayed for technical reasons.  The regime still needs to construct a heavy water reactor for plutonium extraction.  The reactor is reportedly scheduled to go on-line in 2009.

The gauntlet has been thrown down before the UN Security Council.   I'm not optimistic that the Council will move beyond dithering and more "final" chances.  The United States or Israel may need to step up and impede Iran's progress.  It appears that the heavy water plant would make for an ideal, fat target considering that it was built right out in the open unlike other components of the regime's nuclear program that are either scattered around the country or protected within deep bunkers.  A military strike would receive international condemnation in public, but would likely be supported in private.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Chavez Compares Israel To Hitler

Posted by Joe on Friday, August 25, 2006 9:57:18 AM

Hugo Chavez has just publicly revealed that he inhabits some kind of Seinfeldian bizzarro world.

"Israel often criticizes Hitler ... but they have done the same thing, perhaps even worse," Chavez told reporters Friday in a briefing during his six-day visit to China.

Denouncing the "fascist attitudes" of Israel, he said: "What has happened was a genocide. They must be brought in front of an international tribunal."

This guy will be posting on Daily Kos soon.  
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Expect Endless Talk And No Action On Iran

Posted by Joe on Friday, August 25, 2006 9:40:48 AM
When is the international community going to move from being "concerned" and take action on Iran?  We are rapidly approaching the August 31 deadline after which the United Nations is supposed to take up the issue of sanctions if, as expected, the Iranian regime doesn't cease and desist from it's uranium enrichment program.  I completely agree with Regime Change Iran on the likely outcome for any sanctions following the Iranian expression of interest in further negotiations:
This very temptation has worked wonders for the Iranians. Holding out the possibility of negotiations effectively neutralizes the Europeans, who love the idea of dialogue and engagement and hope that it will lead to solving the problem peacefully and reasonably, and it also makes it difficult for Russia and China to go along with sanctions in the United Nations Security Council, because they will argue that the diplomatic channel was not exhausted.

This is exactly why the American Left cannot be trusted with our national security.  The Left never met a conflict they didn't want to solve with layer upon layer of diplomacy.  There is nothing inherently wrong with diplomacy as a concept, but it can only be effective if it includes both carrots and sticks.  The problem is that while the international community largely agrees on the carrots it can rarely, if ever, reach unity on the sticks.  The French, Russians and Chinese in particular are loathe to impose sanctions when it might effect their own financial interests and all it takes is for just one of these powers to exercise a veto on the United Nations Security Council to prevent sanctions.  These nations are just looking for excuses to avoid or delay sanctions.  Rogue regimes know this and exploit the hesitancy with calculated ruthlessness.  The entire UN system is not designed appropriately to impose any meaningful penalties on malcontent regimes.  

What the Left completely fails to comprehend is that the U.N. Security Council "diplomatic" process is actually an impetus to military action outside of the U.N. model.  There may have been no need for the "coalition of the willing" in Iraq if the United Nations had acted swiftly and forthrightly in convincing Saddam to change his behavior.  Right up to the liberation, Saddam was convinced that Russia or France would prevent any serious consequences from befalling him.  If Saddam had been told by his allies early on during the "diplomatic" process that he had better come clean or else, he would not have been under the illusion that he could cheat fate again.  

The current diplomatic process so beloved by liberals is corrupt to its core.  Diplomacy is a good and noble thing.  A diplomatic process enveloped in the tentacles of corruption and graft is doomed to empower our enemies. 

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (1) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

State Department Briefing On Cuba

Posted by Joe on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 8:45:34 PM

The State Department held a briefing today on the state of the Cuban government.  Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon stated the following:

 “We believe that …  what we're seeing in Cuba today is effectively a slow motion transfer of power. That Fidel Castro given his age and given the kind of health crisis he went through … does not appear at least to be in a position to return to the kind of day-to-day management of affairs that he had effectively enjoyed for so many decades,” Shannon said.

Let's hope that's the case and that the Cuban people will soon have a real opportunity to choose their own destiny after being released from underneath the tyrant's boot.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Was Iran's August 22 Announcement Date Premature?

Posted by Joe on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 5:18:30 PM

At least one outlet is reporting that Iran may be on the verge of announcing a "nuclear breakthrough."  

If this is true, it would perhaps explain the drama created by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he declared that Iran would give its response on August 22 to the incentive package offered by the international community.  Selecting an earlier date than that set by the international community coupled with the fact that the date also possessed religious significance to Shiite Muslims created a certain degree of anticipation for some kind of big announcement.  This anticipation quickly fizzled upon the curious declaration on the 22nd that Iran would like to begin serious negotiations over its nuclear program. 

Just speculation on my part, but I wonder if the anticipated August 22 announcement was canned for lack of readiness which would also explain the bizarre (non)announcement that Iran was ready to engage in "serious negotiations."  The regime may have just been looking to buy some time.

H/T Regime Change Iran

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Iran Responds But Don't Hold Your Breath

Posted by Joe on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 10:26:35 AM

While no details are yet forthcoming, Iran has issued a reply to the incentive package offered by the international community to convince Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program.  Speculation is that Iran will refuse to end the program, putting the onus on the United Nations to consider the imposition of economic sanctions.  Sanctions would likely go nowhere because of the persistent threat of a Security Council veto by Russia and China -- both nations having extensive trade relations with Iran.  Regardless, Iran technically has until the end of August before they are deemed to have officially rejected the incentive package.

Should China and Russia veto the institution of sanctions, Iran will have officially faced down the international community and achieved an apparent victory.  The present composition of the U.N. Security Council and the existence of an absolute veto mitigates against international solutions to many intractable problems and further underscores the impotence of the United Nations as anything other than a global debating society.  The tragedy of this truth is that malcontent regimes know all they must do to prevent action being taken against them in most cases is to buy off one of the Security Council members.  Saddam was a master at this, but grossly underestimated the will of President Bush to work outside of this tainted and corrupt international institution.

The only remaining question will be what action might be taken by either the United States or Israel.  President Bush has repeatedly stated that he will not allow Iran to go nuclear on his watch. 

This entry is cross-posted at Scottish Right.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Getting The Scoop In Cuba

Posted by Joe on Friday, August 18, 2006 3:26:33 PM
Make sure that you read Townhall's own Val Prieto's column on life as an independent journalist in Cuba.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

China Accused Of Covering Up Typhoon Casualties

Posted by Joe on Friday, August 18, 2006 11:15:25 AM
You can never count on statist regimes to provide accurate information about what goes on within their borders.  Compare this to the media frenzy surrounding Hurricane Katrina.  Despite some documented gross exaggerations and mis-reporting on Katrina, there is a HUGE difference between free societies and dictatorial regimes like China.  For better or worse, everything comes out in the wash in a free society whether the information is factual or not.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Ahmadinejad The Blogger

Posted by Joe on Thursday, August 17, 2006 12:55:08 AM
So, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has launched a blog.  My favorite line from the Newsweek story was this:

Freedom of expression is also somewhat circumscribed. While readers do have a chance to submit comments, a pop-up window promptly informs them that their remarks will be reviewed before posting.

There's probably also a disclaimer that any unwelcome opinions will be met with removal of the offending fingers that typed the comments.  I wonder if Mike Wallace will be a frequent commentator?  
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (1) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Nana-Nana-Nana

Posted by Joe on Thursday, August 17, 2006 12:39:51 AM
Isn't this a little childish? 

An exhibition of cartoons about the Holocaust opened this week, reflecting Iran's response to last year's Muslim outrage over a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper.

The display, showing 204 entries from Iran and abroad, was strongly influenced by the views of Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who drew widespread condemnation last year for calling the Holocaust a "myth" and saying Israel should be destroyed.

I mean, come on.
Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

What Are The Vegas Odds On Castro Being Dead Or Alive?

Posted by Joe on Thursday, August 17, 2006 12:31:25 AM
There's still uncertainty over the authenticity of the recently released Castro pictures.  At least one unnamed U.S. official seems to believe they are authentic:

"Given the fact that he had major surgery two weeks ago, he looks pretty good for a man his age," a U.S. official said, adding that intelligence officials were conducting further analysis. "There is no reason to doubt the authenticity of the photos."

Some Cuban exiles in Miami believe the photos to be fraudulent:

The sickroom photos showing the Cuban leader sitting up, holding a telephone, and chatting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez two weeks after surgery for intestinal bleeding were apparently released to reassure Cubans that Castro was recuperating.

But some in Miami who fled his communist government thought they had been cobbled together from older images to falsely suggest Castro was still hearty and in charge.

Most interestingly, a key member of the Bush Administration said the following:

White House spokesman Tony Snow disagreed, telling reporters on Monday: "First you have the cheesy Photoshop picture. At least the second one was a little better,"

Where does that leave us?  I wish I knew! 

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive

Castro Video Released

Posted by Joe on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 12:39:17 PM
The regime has released video of Castro meeting with Chavez but the clip drowns out their voices with music.  I don't know if this means anything, but I found it interesting nonetheless.

Castro appeared tired and pale, yet alert in the videotaped encounter, speaking quietly but clearly enjoying himself as he chatted with Chavez, his close friend and political ally. Acting president Raul Castro was also present for the encounter on his brother's 80th birthday.

As the men bantered back and forth, Castro's voice was inaudible. He was later shown in animated conversation with Chavez, but music played over his words.

Email ItEmail It | Print ItPrint It | CommentsComments (0) | TrackbacksTrackbacks (0) | Flag as offensiveFlag as Offensive
« Previous123Next »