Israel's Debate Over an Iran Strike

By TIM MCGIRK AND AARON J. KLEIN / JERUSALEM
Fri Jul 25, 2:05 AM ET

Despite President Bush's insistence that the military option remains "on the table" for dealing with Iran's nuclear program, Israeli officials have recognized that a U.S. air strike on Iranian nuclear sites is increasingly unlikely in the waning days of the Bush Administration. The Israelis, along with everyone else, are now counting on European-led diplomatic efforts to persuade the Iranians to halt their uranium-enrichment program. But they know diplomacy may fail, which is why a debate now rages in the highest circles of Israel's government and military: If the Europeans fail and the Americans remain reluctant to launch another war in the Middle East, should Israel strike alone against Iran?

Economic, political pressure on Iran is best: Pentagon

by Jim Mannion
56 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Washington believes economic and political pressure are the best ways to dissuade Iran from seeking atomic weapons, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday, following an appeal by Israel's defense minister to keep "all options" on the table.

Iran's Ahmadinejad backs 'just' nuclear talks

by Farhad Pouladi
23 minutes ago

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday Tehran would continue talks with world powers aimed at resolving the crisis over its atomic drive provided these are "on equal footing."

Iranian president: 'Big powers' going down

By GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jul 29, 8:38 AM ET

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's president on Tuesday blamed the U.S. and other "big powers" for global ills such as nuclear proliferation and AIDS, and accused them of exploiting the U.N. for their own gain and the developing world's loss.

Iran says nuclear talks 'positive and progressive'

by Farhad Pouladi
1 hour, 34 minutes ago

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said on Tuesday that talks with world powers aimed at resolving the crisis over its atomic drive were "positive and progressive," local media reported.

U.S. to establish presence in Tehran: report

1 hour, 47 minutes ago

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States will announce in the next month that it plans to establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran for the first time in 30 years, a British newspaper said on Thursday.

Would an attack on Iran be legal?

By Paul Reynolds
World Affairs Correspondent, BBC News website

As diplomatic attempts continue in the UN Security Council to get Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment activities, the question has been raised about an American attack on Iran and whether it would be legal under international law.

Bush's big Iran problem

By Hooman Majd

It is foolish for the Bush administration not to negotiate seriously with Iran at this point, thanks to circumstances largely of its own making.

Foreign Affairs; World War III

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: September 13, 2001

As I restlessly lay awake early yesterday, with CNN on my TV and dawn breaking over the holy places of Jerusalem, my ear somehow latched onto a statement made by the U.S. transportation secretary, Norman Mineta, about the new precautions that would be put in place at U.S. airports in the wake of Tuesday's unspeakable terrorist attacks: There will be no more curbside check-in, he said. I suddenly imagined a group of terrorists somewhere here in the Middle East, sipping coffee, also watching CNN and laughing hysterically: ''Hey boss, did you hear that? We just blew up Wall Street and the Pentagon and their response is no more curbside check-in?''

I don't mean to criticize Mr. Mineta. He is doing what he can. And I have absolutely no doubt that the Bush team, when it identifies the perpetrators, will make them pay dearly. Yet there was something so absurdly futile and American about the curbside ban that I couldn't help but wonder: Does my country really understand that this is World War III?

Rice says US will defend Gulf; Iran tests missiles

WASHINGTON July 10, 2008, 02:44 pm ET ·

Condoleezza Rice flexed America's muscles in the Middle East Thursday, forcefully warning Iran the U.S. won't ignore threats and will take any action necessary to defend friends and interests in the Persian Gulf.

How might Israel attack Iran's nuclear sites?

Tue Jul 8, 2008 8:45am EDT

(Reuters) - Iran would retaliate against any attack on its nuclear facilities by "burning" Tel Aviv and U.S. assets in the Gulf, an aide to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

G8 says concerned about Iran proliferation risk

Tue Jul 8, 2008 10:40am EDT

TOYAKO, Japan (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Eight rich countries expressed serious concern on Tuesday at the proliferation risks posed by Iran's nuclear program.

Iran says will hit Tel Aviv and U.S. ships if attacked

Tue Jul 8, 2008 1:43pm EDT
By Parisa Hafezi and Zahra Hosseinian

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will hit Tel Aviv, U.S. shipping in the Gulf and American interests around the world if it is attacked over its disputed nuclear activities, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Study urges long-term policies to influence Iran

Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:52am EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A military strike on Iran would be unlikely to force changes in Tehran's nuclear policy, the Rand research organization said on Thursday in an analysis recommending long-term policies to deal with the country.

Israel backs Iran sanctions but says might act

Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:33am EDT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday he favored the use of diplomatic pressure and sanctions against Iran's nuclear program but cautioned that Israel was "not afraid to take action".

Iran tests more missiles as U.S. vows to defend allies

Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:36pm EDT

By Alistair Lyon

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran tested more missiles in the Gulf on Thursday, state media said, and the United States reminded Tehran that it was ready to defend its allies.

McCain on Iran: Bush all over again

An alarmist John McCain is using Iran as a political weapon against Barack Obama -- even as he misjudges our Middle East adversary.

By Hooman Majd

Iranian president says no war with US, Israel

By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 8 minutes ago

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that he sees no possibility of a war between his country and the United States or Israel.

Panel calls for new war powers legislation

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
47 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Congress should pass legislation to require the president to consult lawmakers before going to war, according to a bipartisan study group chaired by former secretaries of state James Baker III and Warren Christopher.

Iraq insists on withdrawal timetable

By SALLY BUZBEE, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 32 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Iraq's national security adviser said Tuesday his country will not accept any security deal with the United States unless it contains specific dates for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces.

Medvedev: No progress with US after Bush meeting

By STEVE GUTTERMAN, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jul 8, 6:34 AM ET

TOYAKO, Japan - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that his meeting with President Bush at a summit of the Group of Eight industrial powers resulted in no progress toward bridging deep disagreements between the former Cold War foes.

Iran to "hit Tel Aviv, U.S. ships" if attacked

By Parisa Hafezi
Tue Jul 8, 6:12 AM ET

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will hit Tel Aviv, U.S. shipping in the Gulf and American interests around the world if it is attacked over its disputed nuclear activities, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Iran indicates it has no plans to halt enrichment

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 19 minutes ago

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran indicated Saturday that it has no plans to meet a key Western demand that it stop enriching uranium, a day after Tehran sent the European Union a response to an international offer of incentives for halting enrichment

Iran warns of Gulf blitzkrieg, Hormuz closure

Sat Jul 5, 8:24 AM ET

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's military chiefs warned on Saturday that the Islamic republic would shut down the Strait of Hormuz vital for oil exports and use "blitzkrieg tactics" in the Gulf if it came under attack.

The Coming Catastrophe?

The finishing touches on several contingency plans for attacking Iran

by David DeBatto

Books: The Third World War

By John Hackett - July 15, 1987

Books: Opening Guns of World War III: Washington's Assault on Iraq

by Jack Barnes (Author), Mary-Alice Waters (Editor)

Get Ready for World War III

by Paul Craig Roberts

August 15, 2005

With every poll showing majorities of Americans both fed up with Bush's war against Iraq and convinced that Bush's invasion of Iraq has made Americans less safe, the White House moron proposes to start another war by attacking Iran. VP Cheney has already ordered the U.S. Strategic Command come up with plans to strike Iran with tactical nuclear weapons.

Bush's World War Three

by Michel Chossudovsky


" We got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel. So I've told people that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon. I take the threat of Iran with a nuclear weapon very seriously...." (George W. Bush, 17 October 2007)

McCain Watch

McCain Uses Swift Boat Vet Bud Day To Rebut Wesley Clark
June 30, 2008 06:05:31 AM EST

The Huffington Post News Team

Sen. John McCain's campaign on Monday launched the McCain "Truth Squad" - a group of political and Vietnam contemporaries who would counter attacks on the Senator's military record.

Iran foreign minister dismisses threat of attack

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
37 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday dismissed talk of a U.S. or Israeli attack against his country, calling the prospect of another war in the Middle East "craziness."

Iran says any attack would provoke fierce reaction

By GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 50 minutes ago

MADRID, Spain - An attack on Iran would provoke a fierce response, the country's oil minister warned Wednesday at the World Petroleum Congress in Madrid.