Iranian nuclear crisis update.
Kenneth Timmerman, author: Former figurehead widely praised in the West as “moderate,” Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has been at the center of Iran’s nuclear weapons program since 1985. Additionally, the US can defeat Iran with air power alone. (*)
Debka: Rafsanjani’s current mission is to subtextually threaten Israel with terrorism from Iranian-controlled Palestinian terror groups. (†)
National Review: Rafsanjani the moderate Iranian: “the Muslim world will “vomit [Israel] out from its midst,” since “a single atomic bomb has the power to completely destroy [it].”" Furthermore, the Bush Administration should support labor unions in Iran, says William F. Buckley’s magazine. (‡)
NYT author James Risen: CIA botched operations in 2000, ended up giving Iran a working nuclear weapon plan, and list of all CIA spies in Iran. CIA issued vague denial. (§)
Sidney Zion, columnist: Israeli intelligence thinks the US can destroy Iran’s nuclear arsenal using only conventional weapons. (**)
Liz Cheney heading US group to promote democracy in Iran. (††) (Nepotism?)
US military preparing contingency plans against Iran. (‡‡)
Prior to IAEA chief Elbaradei’s arrival, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: “Our answer to those who are angry about Iran obtaining the full nuclear cycle is one phrase. We say, be angry and die of this anger.” Furthermore, the Arabs are now terrified of Iran, as evidenced by Arab newspaper editorials. (§§)
AFP syndicated in the Australian: Iranian General Hassan Firouzabadi: “When a people master nuclear technology and nuclear fuel, nothing can be done against them. The West can do nothing and is obliged to extend to us the hand of friendship.” (***)
Bill Scher: The Left’s talking points on Iran are: Bush’s evil is causing Iran to seek nukes; Iran is rational; there is time to negotiate; get rid of Bush and Iran will be palsy-walsy. (†††) (Iran’s nuclear program goes back twenty years, according to the United Nations.)
Iranian figurehead Ahmadinejad on 15 March 2006: “One of the main reasons why the big powers oppose Iran on the nuclear issue is for the sake of the Zionist regime, so as to let this regime live on.” (‡‡‡)
Supreme Leader and head dictator of Iran Khamanei on 14 March 2006: no retreat on nuclear issue. (§§§)
Washington Times: China is sending an envoy to Iran and Russia on the issue. (****)
Washington Post: Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, regarding Elbaradei’s proposal to suspend enrichment: “Such proposals are not very important ones.” Elbaradei stood next to Larijani as Larijani said it. (††††)
Michael Ledeen, regarding Iran’s sub rosa war against the US in Iraq, and US proffer to Iran of negotiations on Iraq: “Iran has been at war with us for 27 years, and we have discussed every imaginable subject with them. We have gained nothing, because there is nothing to be gained by talking with an enemy who thinks he is winning. From Khamenei’s standpoint, the only thing to be negotiated is the terms of the American surrender. . . . ” (‡‡‡‡)
Breaking: US military will not attack Iran. Instead, Dick Cheney is going to Tehran with a hunting license. (§§§§)