Iran’s Latest Nuclear Plan Tests Limits of Obama’s Wait-and-See Approach

December 1st, 2009

clipped from www.foxnews.com

Iranian technicians have moved highly sophisticated technical equipment into the uranium enrichment site in preparation for starting it up, the nuclear watchdog reported Monday.

“Cooperation with Iran in the nuclear field is in the interests of Westerners. Their opposition will make Iran more powerful and advanced,” Ahmadinejad said in a statement posted late Sunday on the presidential Web site.

By:FoxNewsChannel

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk

Iran warned Saudi Arabia yesterday not to become further entangled in supporting the Yemen Government’s drive to put down Shia Muslim rebels.

“Those who pour oil on the fire must know that they will not be spared from the smoke that billows,” said Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian Foreign Minister, in a clear warning to Saudi Arabia — which attacked Huthi rebels after they took control of a Saudi border town last week.

clipped from www.debka.com

Iran is ready to launch its second homemade spy satellite, with the Safir 2 rocket (Messenger of Ambassador) already in position on its pad, DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report. The new satellite weighs 200 kgs, ten times more than Omid 1 (Hope), which was successfully tested only ten months ago, on Feb. 2. Tehran’s missile program is clearly rushing forward at a rapid pace. In fact, some Western and Israeli missile experts suspect it may have overtaken North Korea and that Iran no longer stands in need of technical assistance from Pyongyang or Beijing.

clipped from www2.debka.com

DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report that a mammoth arms train has been running to Hizballah for months via Egypt. They identify the ship which offloaded the arms shipment at the Egyptian port of Damietta, where it was picked up by the Francop as the Iranian Visea, which is now on its way from the British port of Felixtowe to Hamburg, Germany. An international operation is afoot to apprehend the Iranian ship as of Wednesday, Nov. 4, when Israeli naval forces commandeered the Francop with hundreds of tons of Iranian arms bound for the Lebanese Hizballah near Cyprus. The arms were unloaded at the Israeli naval base at Ashdod port.

clipped from www2.debka.com

DEBKAfile’s US intelligence sources report indications of impending war preparations against Iran after Tehran’s rejections of the UN-brokered proposal to ship its enriched uranium overseas for further enrichment. These sources reveal that the administration is seeking congressional authorization to open America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Furthermore, the US-Israeli joint US-Israel Juniper Cobra ballistic exercise is in full swing. Finally, US and Israel officials have been instructed to warn Moscow that the military option is still on the table if Iran’s nuclear program is not halted by diplomatic means.

clipped from www2.debka.com

Saturday, president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a veiled warning: “We hope the negotiations continue and evil powers don’t indulge in mischief because the Zionist regime and other domineering powers are unhappy with the talks,” he said in an Iranian state TV interview: “Today, Westerners know that without engaging Iran, they cannot rule the world, because Iran… rules world public opinion.”

Within hours, fellow hardliners in Tehran chipped in: Deputy parliament speaker Aleddin Boroujerdi said the second time this week: “We are completely opposed to the proposals. We have deep mistrust of Westerners.”

clipped from www2.debka.com

French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner warned that Iran’s nuclear ambitions have started a “race to confrontation” with Israel and the world’s leading powers must break the deadlock before the Jewish state “reacts.”

The French minister added: “There is the time that Israel will offer us before reacting because Israel will react as soon as they know clearly that there is a threat. They will not tolerate an Iranian bomb,” he stressed.

By:FoxNewsChannel

Amil Imani

An American Artist Immortalizes Neda
October 7, 2009
 

One dreadful day, the bullet of a henchman of tyranny pierced the young heart of Neda Agha Sultan, and she collapsed on the pavement, gasped for air as her crimson blood painted the black asphalt. Her music teacher along with a young doctor tried desperately to revive her. They kept frantically telling her not to be afraid, not to be afraid. The music teacher was witnessing the death of his young student and all he could do was to breathe encouragement in the vain hope of keeping her alive. Her mouth began to spurt blood and her eyes rolled to the side. As people crowded around her in screams and wails, she stared serenely into the cell phone camera that captured the final moments of her life.

Neda, the young and beautiful freedom-loving Iranian music student was slain in cold-blood by the current Islamic regime in Iran. Almost instantly, Neda became, not only the divine call of the Iranian revolution, but she symbolized the call for liberty around the world.

Like millions of people around the globe who were profoundly saddened by the untimely death of a young and innocent Iranian woman, the Master Sculptor, Paula Slater, was also deeply affected by the death of Neda on that graphic video. In fact, waves of human soul cried out loud for the injustice in Iran.

This was the moment of unity, people of all races, classes and nationalities became one people and one voice in expressing their revulsion at the barbarity of a murdering regime and its savage henchmen.

No sooner the final shovels of dirt covered the precious body of Neda that on the other side of the world Paula—a distinguished artist and daughter of humanity – devoted endless hours sculpting a bust of the murdered young woman.

No one commissioned this talented artist, no one even asked her to do the magnificent work of immortalizing Neda. The sensitive artist later reported: “My schedule was packed with Public Art commissions to complete, but I was so saddened by the tragic events in Iran that I needed to turn the pain I felt into art before I could precede with my other sculpting projects.”

“Paula Slater is a full-time professional sculptor and has been awarded many important commissioned monuments and prestigious bronze portraits installed throughout the United States and Canada. Believing in the old-world ideal of ‘nothing rushed or left undone’, she gives the time needed to bring each exquisite detail to life. This generous giving of time is rare in the art world today, setting her sumptuous sculptures apart and elevating the demand for her fine art ever higher.”

She started to sculpt a life size portrait bust of Neda, also known as “The Angel of Iran,” based on the photo that was released the day of her murder. It was the photo with the veil. She presented the first bronze bust at a rally, organized by a group called “United 4 Iran,” on the steps of San Francisco City Hall. It was Paula’s divine call. She wanted to memorialize the fallen Persian martyr. Only the spark of talent and genius can produce beauty and true art of lasting value.

The second portrait bust of Neda— she says, “It is the face on the other side of the coin.” The first sculpture was a historical portrait of Neda ”Angel of Iran”. It showed a strong and proud Neda whose spirit could not be broken by an oppressive dictatorship under which she lived and died. However, this second sculpture is of Neda “the Angel of Freedom” with her hair uncovered, and she is radiating the hope of her people for a free Iran.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe, Paula was asked how she came up with the idea of making a sculpture in Neda’s honor: “Well, you know, I saw the videotape of the shooting of Neda and it just touched me so deeply. It was like a shot to the heart. And what I do when I’m feeling a lot of pain is sculpt, and I thought I just needed to sculpt her. I need to turn this pain that I’m feeling into art and I just wanted to sculpt her portrait and to show my solidarity with the people in Iran,” she replied.

Slater goes on to say, “I am normally a commission sculptor, however, I chose to sculpt the first portrait of Neda and to donate it so that we could have a memorial for her in the U.S.–the present government in Iran banned Neda’s family from holding a memorial for her, but they can’t stop us from having one here.”

Paula was overwhelmed by so many loving e-mails she received by Iranians all over the world in appreciations of Neda’s sculptures that she started to sculpt another life size portrait bust of a 19-year-old fallen martyr, Sohrab Arabi, to represent all the brave young male heroes who have given their lives in this revolution for freedom and human rights in Iran. “I feel that I have become joined at the heart with the Iranian people and I want to continue to do all that I can to help, because I believe that the only way bad people can win is if good people aren’t willing to stand up to them,” says Paula.

For the most part, Slater’s sculptures capture and set forth a message with the force of a sudden wind storm. And the sculpture of Neda breaks free from formality and brings one quickly into a realm of light and spirit, which only folded, hammered, heated and burnished bronzes can do. Paula’s work directs, without speaking.

She is considered by many art lovers one of the best sculptors in the country. This talented American artist has an eye for detail and her powerful compositions are capturing the attention of art enthusiasts worldwide.

Her skill with bronze sculpture vividly captures the spirit and movement of her subjects, both in human sculpture and animal sculpture, and only is surpassed by her sensitive attention to detail. Paula is deservedly celebrated for the compelling realism of her bronze sculpture.

We salute Paula Slater, by all accounts, for distinguishing herself as a tireless and devoted artist who stands for freedom, justice and liberty. We salute Master Sculptor, Paula Slater, for her stand on the right side of history at this critical juncture and for lending her invaluable support to the people of Iran.

Whilst we mourn Neda’s passing, let us celebrate her life through the hands of a brilliant artist, Paula Slater.

Paula’s devotion to sculpture has been acknowledged through the awards and recognitions that have been bestowed upon her and her work. And she really wanted to donate her time and talents to immortalize Neda’s image in bronze. “These two portraits of Neda are gifts from my heart to the Iranian people to show my solidarity with their fight for freedom and democracy. I want them to know they are not alone,” says Paula.

Here is our message to you dear Paula: We, free Iranian expatriates as well as the diverse people of Iran, express our deepest appreciation for your magnificent work and support. You have energized us by your passion, compassion and the beautiful creation of Neda’s sculptures. You have given us great courage and hope to continue our struggle for freedom and justice in Iran. We will meet any challenge and pay any price to defeat tyranny and we will not rest until Iran is completely free of the despotic rule of the Mullahs.

With all the talk and speculation about a nuclear Iran, it is impossible, living in Israel – especially in the centre of Tel Aviv (the intersection of the lines forming the “X” on Ahmadinejad’s map is widely believed to be Melchett) – not to ponder the possible, dreaded scenarios.

No one here appears to be any the wiser about the likelihood, or the timing, of an Israeli attack on Iran. And those who are certainly don’t talk about it. What I did, however, hear about a year ago – from a journalist who claims to “know people” in “defence circles” – is the following:

The US State Department has resolved that it is not in America’s interests to spearhead, participate in, or even to be seen to be behind, an attack on Iran. It prefers to leave the Israelis and Iranians to their own devices, to fight matters out – to the death, if necessary – between themselves (ironically, the quintessentially Jewish “don’t get involved” approach).

On learning of this decision, Israel – in order to force America’s hand and deter it from a policy of isolationism – informed the US that, if Israel were to suffer an obliterative (could there be any other for a country of this size?) nuclear attack, it would use its nuclear-armed submarines to take the rest of the world down with it.

Farfetched, I know, but it does possess a certain cold logic. And, if Iran were to strike first, part of me certainly would want Israel to at least take out all of those enemies that have made our lives so difficult for the past sixty-odd years.

My guess is that the reality will be somewhat of an anticlimax. On turning on Sky News, on waking up on one seemingly ordinary morning, we will be greeted with the news that the deed has been done: Israel and/or the US has bombed Iran.

But then it’ll be “nappy time”: Will Iran still have the capability to return the favour? Would there be a warning? And, if so, how much?

Not living in a modern building, my apartment does not have a mamad (reinforced room). And, despite having lived on Melchett during the Second Lebanon War, I have absolutely no idea where the nearest communal shelter is.

Anyway, given a few minutes or thirty, I would still choose to do the same thing . . . and it does not entail squeezing into a dark, dank monolith with scores of platzing Israelis.

Being single, however, the big question would be “With whom?” Pardon the egocentrism, but,  if the worst were to happen, it should at least be at a time when I am in a relationship. I mean imagine having to work through lists of past dates, flings and girlfriends in the knowledge that there is a nuclear missile on its inexorable way.

Although at least, in the latter scenario, there would be no need to pretend . . . you know, that you really do love them, that you miss them, or just really want to catch up. You’d just scream “Get yer arse over here, girl . . . and quick! And NO undies!”

And, if no one were available, well . . . it would just have to be Mrs. Palmer and her five lovely daughters. From one wanker – a dickhead with a warhead – to another.

But that would be a depressing final act, and – to quote Lenny again – really “no way to say goodbye”.

No way to say goodbye (Allenby, yesterday morning, on the way to the shuk)

State TV has shown the short-range, surface-to-surface rocket launches in a desert in the centre
of the country.

By:itnnews

There has been a great deal of speculation as to whether or not Iranian officials have been secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. David Martin reports on the revelation of a secret test site.

By:CBSNewsOnline