24 March, 2009

Atlas Shrugs: Iran Has Started a Mideast Arms Race
By Pamela Geller
Iran Has Started a Mideast Arms Race States throughout the region are looking to establish nuclear programs. Amir Taheri, WSJ In the capitals of Western nations, Abdul Qadeer Khan, the man regarded as the father of the Pakistani atom …
atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/03/
iran-has-started-a-mideast-arms-race.html

ThreatsWatch.Org: RapidRecon: Foreign Policy Bewilderment …
By Steve Schippert
“The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right…and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that …
threatswatch.org/rapidrecon/2009/03/foreign-policy-bewilderment-me/

Obama Takes to YouTube to Deliver His Nowruz Message to Iran(ians …
By Nancy Scola
President Barack Obama managed to pack into a three-and-a-half-minute YouTube video clip both well-wishes to Iranians marking the celebration of Nowruz and the extension of a semi-open hand to Iran’s leaders — deriding“threats” but.
techpresident.com/blog-entry/obama-takes-
youtube-deliver-his-nowruz-message-iranians

Right-Thinking from the Left Coast
By West Virginia Rebel
So, let’s begin the process of negotiations with Iran. It will be hard, long, and painful. But here’s my guess: Iran as a society is more middle class and more prone to democracy than any other country in that part of the world. …
right-thinking.com/index.php/weblog/dealing_with_iran1/

Lucianne.com News Forum – Thread
WASHINGTON — The White House said Monday it hoped Iran would change the way it does business, in a cautious response to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s reaction to President Barack Obama’s video address. Obama’s spokesman Robert Gibbs gave a …
www.lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=459493

In response to Stephen M. Walt and Roger Cohen’s recent writings …
By David Rothkopf
The New York Times’s Roger Cohen and his soul mate Steve Walt have both written recently about U.S. policy toward Iran, embracing a new direction that Walt characterizes as realism. Hailing President Obama’s recent speech to the Iranian …
rothkopf.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/03/23/
detente_without_deterrence_you_call_that_realism

‘Just World News’ with Helena Cobban: Was Peres trying to …
By Scott H
Two days ago, in the discussion under my note about Obama’s NowRuz message to Iran, I noted that Israel’s President Shimon Peres had issued his own NowRuz message to Iran and suggested that it appeared calculated to“sabotage” Obama’s …
justworldnews.org/archives/003469.html

Congress Continues Criticism of US Missile Defense System in Europe
Voice of America – USA
“Iran would face in a dramatic way a growing unity against her pursuit of dangerous nuclear technology.” The senator says the downside of such an approach …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-23-voa66.cfm

India, Iran and Russia mull co-op against Taliban
Xinhua – China
NEW DELHI, March 24 (Xinhua) — India, Iran and Russia are considering cooperative actions to contain the rising influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/24/content_11063356.htm

The Jews in Iran, and Iran’s Rank in the World
New York Times – United States
Roger Cohen says that the “rage” in response to his claim that Iran’s Jews are safe and secure erupted because “the hawks’ case against Iran depends on a …
www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/opinion/lweb24cohen.html

Message to Iran Shows Strategy Shift
Wall Street Journal – USA
By GERALD F. SEIB When President Barack Obama sent a video message to Iran marking the Persian New Year last week, it ran to just 556 words. …
online.wsj.com/article/SB123783781669
516971.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Power Line – How Iran Views Obama
By John
From the Iranian point of view, the United States has made two fundamental demands of Iran. The first is that Iran halt its military nuclear program. The second, a much broader demand, is that Iran stop engaging in what the United …
www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/03/023147.php

Did Iran reject Obama’s overture? | AfterDowningStreet.org
By davidswanson
First, instead of attempting, like President George W. Bush before him, to go over the heads of Iran’s government and talk “directly” to the Iranian people, Obama pointedly directed his remarks to both the Iranian people and their …
www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/41015

Swords and Shields: Facing nuclear Iran
Washington (UPI) Mar 20, 2009 – On March 1, 2009, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, said Iran has stockpiled enough fissile material to build a nuclear bomb. This is the first such definitive commentary …
www.spacewar.com/reports/Swords_and
_Shields_Facing_nuclear_Iran_999.html

Levin: U.S., Russia should unite against Iran – Army News …
Army News. Exclusive, original, in-depth, late breaking army news and analysis – Army Times.
www.armytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_levin_iran_russia_032309/

200903234124 | Iran’s View of Obama | / | Global Terrorism
By George Friedman
your online newspaper, publishing accurate information about threats against Western civilization.
www.rightsidenews.com/200903234124/
global-terrorism/iran-s-view-of-obama.html

JPost.com: ‘Postcards for Iran’ campaign spotlight on human rights …
By admin
The Jerusalem Post has published a story about the Middle East Youth organization’s initiative encouraging people to send postcards to Iranian officials in an.
iran.bahai.us/2009/03/23/jpostcom-postcards
-for-iran-campaign-spotlight-on-human-rights/

Will Obama Listen to Iran’s Bloggers?
Wall Street Journal – USA
By BRET STEPHENS Barack Obama extended the olive branch to Iran’s leaders last Friday in a videotaped message praising a “great civilization” for …
online.wsj.com/article/SB123785115192919205.html

Dyer: Obama must start dealing with Iran in a new way
Salt Lake Tribune – United States
You have to admire Barack Obama’s attempt to reopen the lines of communication with Iran — but you don’t have to admire it much. …
www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_11978897

Emptywheel “ Cheney’s Assassination Squads and Iran-Contra and …
By emptywheel
And Hersh revealed that Cheney had convened a meeting not long after 9/11
where he and other alumni of Iran-Contra brainstormed how to avoid the leal problems they had with Iran-Contra. A recent Congressional Research Service article …
emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/03/23/cheneys
-assassination-squads-and-iran-contra-and-findings/

‘Postcards for Iran’ campaign spotlight on human rights | Middle …
Postcards are written by volunteers from all over the world, and urge government officials to bring the human rights violations to an end.
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=
JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1237727518693

Iran dismisses Obama’s video message | Worldfocus
By Worldfocus
Geneive Abdo of the Century Foundation discusses how to interpret Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s apparent dismissal of Barack Obama’s recent overture to Iran.
worldfocus.org/blog/2009/03/23/iran-
dismisses-obamas-video-message/4593/

On Iran, bravo, Mr. President – OregonLive.com
By Goudarz Eghtedari, guest opinion
Get opinion articles on Oregon and national issues with political analysis and views from The Oregonian columnists. See letters to the editor and political cartoons by Jack Ohman at OregonLive.com.
www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/
2009/03/on_iran_bravo_mr_president.html

Iran and the Persian Gulf
The claim by Iranian advisor Nateq Nouri that Bahrain was formerly a province of Iran incensed Bahrain and led to shows of solidarity with Bahrain throughout the Arab world.
www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_mult
imedia/English/eng_n/html/iran_e005.htm

Instapundit “ Blog Archive “ AZIZ POONAWALLA: Obama’s video to …
By Glenn Reynolds
AZIZ POONAWALLA: Obama’s video to Iran provokes fear. I hope he’s right. Posted at by Glenn Reynolds at 6:17 pm. RSS Feed · Podcast RSS Feed· Email Instapundit. Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc! …
pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/74327/

23 March, 2009

India, Iran, Russia mull ways to take on Taliban
Times of India – India
NEW DELHI: It’s still part of conversations, but old partners, India, Iran and Russia, are dusting out an old mechanism to take on the Taliban in …
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India-Iran-Russia
-mull-ways-to-take-on-Taliban/articleshow/4306744.cms

Levin: US and Russia should unite against Iran
The Associated Press
If the US and Russia set aside differences on missile defense and began cooperating against Iran they could make a decisive difference in weakening Iran as …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM
5icpFh7PNspk5AU61bw2ck_uJM4wQD973UUNG3

Obama’s Overture to Iran: Why Khamenei Won’t Budge
TIME – USA
23, 2009 Left; Kristoffer Tripplaar / Pool / Getty: Hasan Sarbakhshian / AP Barack Obama’s Persian New Year message to the leaders and people of Iran…
www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1887133,00.html

Levin: US and Russia should unite against Iran
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — If the US and Russia set aside their differences on missile defense and began cooperating against Iran they could make a decisive …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM
5icpFh7PNspk5AU61bw2ck_uJM4wQD973UD300

Iran’s primary target – the US :: Political News and commentaries …
Although Barack Obama seems to think we can casually deal with Iran diplomatically, a JP opinion piece suggests that the prevention of a nuclear Iran should constitute a top US national security priority. At stake is a nuclear powered …
www.hyscience.com/archives/2009/03/irans_primary_t.php

A new Day has dawned with Iran! : The Sirens Chronicles
By Jim
A new Day has dawned with Iran! Good, uniting against the Taliban is job one! Transcript of Obama’s 600 word address to Iran INSTANT VIEW: Reaction to.
sirenschronicles.com/2009/03/23/a-new-day-has-dawned-with-iran/

Stanley’s blog “ Blog Archive “ Iran: Obama gets his message wrong
By Stanley Crossick
Stanley Crossick on international and European affairs.
crossick.blogactiv.eu/2009/03/23/
iran-obama-gets-his-message-wrong/

The Spectator
But since the Iranians also, I think, crave respect and, in the end, some form of international rehabilitation, then the prospect of a nuclear Iran permits Persia to enagage with the rest of the world, and specifically the United States …
www.spectator.co.uk/alexmassie/346
6461/living-with-a-nuclear-iran.thtml

Reading between the lines of Iran’s response to Obama | Worldfocus
By Worldfocus
Worldfocus editorial consultant Peter Eisner, the former deputy foreign editor of the Washington Post, dissects Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s response to President Obama’s video message to Iran and both countries’ political …
worldfocus.org/blog/2009/03/23/reading-betwe
en-the-lines-of-irans-response-to-obama/4585/

Afghanistan Conflict Monitor: Plight Of Child Deportees From Iran
By Human Security Report Project
‘Plight Of Child Deportees From Iran’, IRIN News, 22 March 2009 EXCERPT:“The more than 1000 children deported from Iran to Afghanistan’s western province of Herat in 2008 face poverty and are at risk of abuse, according to the UN…
www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/2009/03/
plight-of-child-deportees-from-iran-.html

Internet & Democracy Blog “ What’s Filtered in Iran?
By Bruce Etling
Hamid Tehrani at Global Voices has a great primer on what is currently filtered in Iran that is well worth the read. He reports that popular sites like Balatarin and BBC Persian service are top priorities for filtering,…
blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2009/03/23/whats-filtered-in-iran/

US lawmaker: missile threat from Iran exaggerated
Boston Herald – United States
By AP WASHINGTON — A candidate for a top nonproliferation post in the Obama administration played down today the threat from Iran’s long-range missile …
www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/2009_03_23_US
_lawmaker:_missile_threat_from_Iran_exaggerated/srvc=
home&position=recent

Nuclear-Powered US Sub Involved in Collision
Global Security Newswire – Washington,DC,USA
A nuclear-powered US submarine operating in waters near Iran was involved in a collision Friday with an amphibious US vessel, Reuters reported (see GSN, …
www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090323_6689.php

Clinton to attend Afghan meeting, no word on Iran
Reuters – USA
Earlier this month, Clinton said Iran’s foreign minister also would be invited to attend The Hague conference, setting up her first chance to meet a senior …
www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSN23532118

Andy Ostroy: Obama’s Iran Strategy is Not Appeasement
By Andy Ostroy
Obama’s Iran Strategy is Not Appeasement – The Huffington Post.
www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-ostroy/
obamas-iran-strategy-is-e_b_177981.html

Yourish.com “ Breaking the ice with Iran
By Soccerdad
Iran’s preconditions are unacceptable. Whatever preconditions Obama would have, if he had any, would almost certainly be unacceptable from the point of view of the Islamic Repubic. The interests of the U.S. and Iran are diametrically …
www.yourish.com/2009/03/23/7043

Harry’s Place “ Obama’s positive New Year message to Iran
By Your View
Harry’s Place – Liberty, if it means anything, is the right to tell people what they don’t want to hear.
www.hurryupharry.org/2009/03/23/obamas
-positive-new-year-message-to-iran/

Obama and Iran, Geithner’s Explanation, and Israel’s Military …
By Council on Foreign Relations
In Monday’s roundup: President Obama’s video offer to Iran; Timothy Geithner explains his plans to beat the economic crisis; and criticism of Israeli soldiers for their actions in Gaza.
feeds.cfr.org/~r/cfr_main/~3/2BVQyRh2C34/obama_and
_iran_geithners_explanation_and_israels_military.html

Kristol Complains That Obama?s Iran Message Is 'Weak' And …
By HL
Kristol Complains That Obama?s Iran Message Is ?Weak? And ?Embarrassing? In his latest column for the Weekly Standard, super-hawk Bill Kristol addresses President Obamas recent Persian New Year message to the Irans leaders and its …
www.thehollywoodliberal.com/2009/03/23/kristol-complains
-that-obamas-iran-message-is-weak-and-embarrassing/

RealClearWorld – Articles – Why Iran Wants Russia in OPEC
By Kevin Sullivan
Pro-western Ayatollah Khatami’s decision to withdraw his presidential bid does not spell the end of Iran’s efforts to break out of isolation. The Iranian government has decided to lobby the OPEC oil-producing cartel to invite Russia in …
www.realclearworld.com/articles/2009/
03/why_iran_wants_russia_in_opec.html

Iran not shutting door on U.S. relations
Iran has responded to US President Barack Obama’s offer of better relations by demanding policy changes.
www.nationalpost.com/most-popular/story.html?id=1416267

Iran’s response to US shows mind-set of leadership
The Iranian leader’s rebuff on Saturday to President Barack Obama’s offer for dialogue was swift and sweeping: Words from Washington ring hollow without …
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090321/ap_
on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_us_what_s_next

The Osterley Times: Brit On Iran Vid: ‘Pres Obama Has Joined The …
By Kel
He obviously prefers the Bush/Cheney form of diplomacy in which countries perceived as being enemies of the US – Iran, North Korea – are asked to give up whatever it is that they are doing before talks can even begin into whether what …
the-osterley-times.blogspot.com/2009/03/
brit-on-iran-vid-pres-obama-has-joined.html