VS - Iran [#27]: Centraal Topic

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Warnings from world leaders all within 72 hours

“The problems will always be there and there’s going to be a crisis which will come along on the 21st, 22nd of January that we don’t even know about right now.” Powell told Meet the Press

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Op zondag 21 december 2008 00:28 schreef Terecht het volgende:

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Hmmm, daar had ik in de gauwigheid niet aan gedacht . Maar met zoveel berichten de laatste tijd dat Iran niet bezig is met het ontwikkelen van een kernwapen verwacht ik dat een Israelische aanval niet goed zal vallen bij het publiek, en zeker niet in de Islamitische wereld. Ik vermoed dat Israel zich er terdege van bewust is dat een dergelijke actie serieuze consequenties kan hebben, en dat de spanningen eerst een stuk hoger moeten oplopen, hoger nog dan vorig jaar het geval was, voor zo'n aanval uitgevoerd zal worden.

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Op maandag 12 januari 2009 01:15 schreef Resonancer het volgende:
tvp , en iets dat ik las.
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nog ff.

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Op maandag 12 januari 2009 01:26 schreef Man-E-Faces het volgende:

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Je schrijft het alsof je graag wilt dat Iran wordt aangevallen.

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Op maandag 12 januari 2009 11:45 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

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Het lijkt er op dat hij zegt dat obama hoe dan ook een crisis te verwerken krijgt en dat de eerste waarschijnlijk vlak na zijn beëdiging al zal plaatsvinden.
Is geen waarschuwing maar zoiets van er zijn altijd problemen en crisissen.

Ik zou dan eerder israel palastina gokken

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Iran Capable of Producing Nuclear Bomb 'This Year'

Iran will have enough enriched uranium to make a single nuclear weapon later this year, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported on Tuesday.

The think tank made the prediction in its 'Military Balance 2009,' an annual assessment of global defense and military developments.

Announcing the new report on Tuesday, Mark Fitzpatrick said the threat may not necessarily as big as it sounds.

"Being able to enrich uranium is not the same as having nuclear weapons," he said.

In addition, the report placed doubts over U.S. intelligence estimates that Iran halted its work on nuclear weapons six years ago and pointed to Tehran's continued development of long-range ballistic missiles able to reach targets in Israel and beyond.

Russia, on the other hand, made a great show of its military last year, including naval exercises with Venezuela. But the IISS study found that Russia is much less threatening than it would like to appear.

A Times of London report on the study described the former Soviet powerhouse as a "paper tiger," noting that study's conclusion that Russia's displays of its naval fleet were mere symbolic gestures.

The country was only able to deploy a small number of ships, while the rest were anchored at home — there wasn't enough money to keep the whole fleet at sea, according to the study.

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Ahmadinejad Demands Apology for U.S. 'Crimes'
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for "profound changes" in U.S. foreign policy on Wednesday, including giving up support for Israel, during an address to thousands of people in the western city of Kermanshah.



President Obama on Tuesday, in an interview with Arabic television, called for more dialogue with Iran to express difference and see "where there are potential avenues for progress."

Without mentioning President Barack Obama by name, Ahmadinejad Wednesday repeatedly referred to those who want to bring "change," a word used often in Obama's election campaign, and indicated that Iran would be looking to see if there would be substantive differences in U.S. policy.

"We welcome change but on condition that change is fundamental and on the right track," Ahmadinejad said. "When they say 'we want to make changes', change can happen in two ways. First is a fundamental and effective change... The second ... is a change of tactics."

Ahmadinejad also demanded the U.S. apologize for 'crimes' committed against Iran; specifically, criticizing and trying to block their nuclear program.

"Those who say they want to make change, this is the change they should make: they should apologize to the Iranian nation and try to make up for their dark background and the crimes they have committed against the Iranian nation," Ahmadinejad said.

Later Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that the U.S. administration is undertaking a wide-ranging and comprehensive survey of U.S. foreign policy options toward Iran.

Clinton also said Iran had a "clear opportunity" to demonstrate some willingness to engage meaningfully with the international community.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari, speaking in Athens, Greece, said Tuesday that it was too early to say whether relations with the United States would improve with Obama as president.

Washington is at odds with Tehran over Iran's nuclear program and its Mideast policy that seeks to destroy Israel and supports the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas.

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Clinton: initiatief voor toenadering ligt bij Iran

Washington/Teheran, 28 jan. Het is aan Iran om als eerste stappen te zetten richting toenadering met de Westerse wereld. Dat heeft de nieuwe Amerikaanse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Hillary Clinton gisteren gezegd in een ontmoeting met journalisten.

De VS en Europese landen zijn al jaren in conflict met Iran, dat ze er van beschuldigen heimelijk aan een kernwapen te werken. Teheran zegt dat het alleen voor vreedzame doelen uranium verrijkt.

Clinton werd gisteren gevraagd naar president Obama, die maandag tegen de Arabische nieuwszender Al-Arabiya zei dat als „landen zoals Iran bereid zijn hun vuist te openen, zij een uitgestoken hand zullen aantreffen”.

Volgens Clinton „ligt er een duidelijke kans voor de Iraniërs, zoals de president zei in het interview, om enige bereidheid te tonen op zinvolle wijze aan te haken bij de internationale gemeenschap. Of die hand minder stevig dicht geklemd blijft, is echt aan hen.”

Clinton: „Als we kijken naar de kansen die er voor ons liggen, zullen we een brede verkenning plegen van wat we kunnen doen. De P5+1 gesprekken [de vijf permanente leden van de VN-Veiligheidsraad en Duitsland, red.], die volgende week weer aanvangen, zijn een reeds bestaand vehikel dat we zullen bekijken. En er is van alles dat we ook overwegen, dat ik hier niet kan bespreken.”

De Iraanse president Ahmadinejad reageerde vanochtend dat „zij die het over verandering hebben, hun excuses moeten aanbieden aan het Iraanse volk om hun oude misdaden goed te maken.”

„Verandering kan via twee wegen plaatsvinden”, aldus Ahmadinejad in een op nationale tv uitgezonden toespraak. „De eerste weg is een fundamentele en wezenlijke verandering. De tweede is een tactische verandering. Het is zeer duidelijk dat als de betekenis van verandering de tweede is, dat snel bekend zal worden.”

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Op woensdag 28 januari 2009 12:18 schreef Frutsel het volgende:

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Don't Exaggerate Iranian Nuclear Threat

Published: January 11, 1995

To the Editor:

"Iran May Be Able to Build an Atomic Bomb in 5 Years, U.S. and Israeli Officials Fear" (news article, Jan. 5) contains no new information and relies on biased Israeli sources.

In December 1992, Robert M. Gates, Director of Central Intelligence, said Iran was 8 to 10 years from a nuclear bomb. His successor, R. James Woolsey Jr., said the same last September. Have events turned drastically worse in four months?

Last July one analyst added that, "given the immense difficulties standing in Iran's way, such as lack of finances, infrastructure, and R. & D. culture, as well as international scrutiny, it would be years before Iran could become a nuclear weapons state." The new time frame of five years is based on rhetorical assertions, not on a substantive change in Iran's nuclear efforts.

The real story here is the Israeli campaign to draw world attention to Iran, a security threat in Israeli eyes. While the Israelis are rightly concerned about Iran's intentions, the media should investigate more closely. JEREMY PRESSMAN Associate, Middle East Project Carnegie Endowment for Intl. Peace Washington, Jan. 5, 1995

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Op woensdag 28 januari 2009 18:53 schreef Monidique het volgende:

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Iran Capable of Producing Nuclear Bomb 'This Year'

Alweer of nog steeds? .
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http://query.nytimes.com/(...)32A25752C0A963958260

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“Late 1991: In congressional reports and CIA assessments, the United States estimates that there is a ‘high degree of certainty that the government of Iran has acquired all or virtually all of the components required for the construction of two to three nuclear weapons.’ A February 1992 report by the U.S. House of Representatives suggests that these two or three nuclear weapons will be operational between February and April 1992.”

“February 24, 1993: CIA director James Woolsey says that Iran is still 8 to 10 years away from being able to produce its own nuclear weapon, but with assistance from abroad it could become a nuclear power earlier.”

“January 1995: The director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, John Holum, testifies that Iran could have the bomb by 2003.”

“January 5, 1995: U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry says that Iran may be less than five years from building an atomic bomb, although ‘how soon…depends how they go about getting it.’”

“April 29, 1996: Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres says ‘he believes that in four years, they [Iran] may reach nuclear weapons.’”

“October 21, 1998: General Anthony Zinni, head of U.S. Central Command, says Iran could have the capacity to deliver nuclear weapons within five years. ‘If I were a betting man,’ he said, ‘I would say they are on track within five years, they would have the capability.’”

“January 17, 2000: A new CIA assessment on Iran’s nuclear capabilities says that the CIA cannot rule out the possibility that Iran may possess nuclear weapons. The assessment is based on the CIA’s admission that it cannot monitor Iran’s nuclear activities with any precision and hence cannot exclude the prospect that Iran may have nuclear weapons.”

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Op zondag 21 december 2008 02:11 schreef Terecht het volgende:

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Die omschrijving lijkt me toch een behoorlijk subjectief waardeoordeel, bestaat er eigenlijk wel iets als een algemeen, universeel geaccepteerde norm voor gedragingen?

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Op woensdag 28 januari 2009 19:11 schreef Monidique het volgende:

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Of:
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http://www.cato-at-libert(...)-in-which-direction/

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Saudi Minister: Arabs Should Stand Up to Iran

Print ShareThisCAIRO — Saudi Arabia's top diplomat urged Arabs on Tuesday to stand up to Iran's ambitions in the region, including its nuclear program.

Prince Saud al-Faisal told a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo that non-Arab countries should not interfere in Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories — all places where the predominantly Persian Iran has been accused of supporting militants.

Arabs fear that the Obama administration's expected efforts to engage Tehran might lead to a deal that would bring U.S. and Iran closer at the expense of Arab interests.

Saud stressed that resolution of disputes among Arabs depended on "a unified and a joint vision" in dealing with the "Iranian challenge in regard to the Arabian Gulf security and the nuclear issue."

The Arabian Gulf is also known as the Persian Gulf.

The predominantly Sunni Arab Middle East has been wary of the growing influence of Shiite Iran, and Saud's comments were a clear call for Arab unity.

His remarks came a day after he and his Arab counterparts expressed their concerns about Iran to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The ministers and Clinton met on the sidelines of an international conference in Egypt that raised $5.2 billion in pledges to rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip after Israel's recent offensive.

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Iran: Israel a 'Cancer,' Holocaust a 'Big Lie'

Iran's leader said on Wednesday that President Barack Obama is pursuing the same "wrong path" as his predecessor George W. Bush in supporting Israel and described the Jewish state as a "cancerous tumor."

The comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are likely to frustrate the new U.S. administration which has been seeking to engage Iran but has called on Tehran to "unclench its fist."

"Even the new president of America, who has come to power with slogans about changing Bush's policies, is defending state terrorism by talking about unconditional commitment to Israel's security," Reuters reported Khamenei said at a conference on the Palestinian issue in Tehran.

"Another big mistake is to say that the only way to save the Palestinian nation is by negotiations," Khamenei said.

"Negotiations with whom? With an occupying and bullying regime, who does not believe in any other principle other than force? ... Or negotiations with America and Britain who committed the biggest sin in creating and supporting this cancerous tumor ... ?" he added.

"The way to salvation [for Palestinians] is standing firm and resisting," the supreme leader said.

Khamenei also said the Holocaust was used to "usurp" Palestinian land and said the West and Israel showed the weakness of their cause by not allowing anyone to question the Holocaust.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who previously drew fury from the West by saying the Holocaust was a "myth," told the conference: "The story of the Holocaust, a nation without a homeland and a homeland without a nation ... are the big lies of our era."

"The continuation of the Zionist regime even on one inch of the land of Palestine, because of the nature of that regime, means the continuation of crime, occupation, threat and insult to the nations," Reuters reported Ahmadinejad as saying.

The remarks came after the U.S. on Tuesday joined other major world powers in urging Iran to curb its nuclear program, in a statement notable for its moderate language and for its commitment to diplomacy to defuse the atomic standoff.

Diplomats at the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board meeting said they could not remember such a joint statement from Washington, Moscow, Beijing and the three big European powers in Vienna. The statement urged Tehran to heed U.N. Security Council demands to limit its nuclear activities and thereby reduce fears it was trying to make atomic arms

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Op woensdag 4 maart 2009 11:36 schreef buachaille het volgende:
Wat een kanker TT