So far this is world-class saber-rattling. But will President Karl pull the trigger?
Iran Decries US Gulf Proliferation Exercises
Called US & Gulf States' PSI Exercises 'Dangerous and Suspicious,' Warned Arabs Over Cooperation
By Steve Schippert
In April 2006, Iran conducted a very public show of force with their much publicized ‘Great Prophet Exercises’ in the Persian Gulf which included press conferences on their latest proclaimed advances, such as stealth aircraft and MIRV warheads.
Six months later in the waters of the Persian Gulf, as the United Nations Security Council expects to meet and debate potential Iran sanctions, the United States and Persian Gulf Arab states are quietly conducting training exercises related to maritime non-proliferation cargo inspections. The exercises are part of the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). The counter-proliferation exercises by American, Bahraini and Kuwaiti forces are planned to begin Sunday, October 29.
Iran yesterday denounced the coming PSI exercises as “dangerous and suspicious,” and warned regional Arab states against taking part in “any initiative which could help the Zionists and the United States.”
The harsh Iranian criticism - and veiled threats to cooperating regional Arab states - come as the United States seeks to enact sanctions on Iran similar to those imposed on North Korea. Even still, the draft proposal of sanctions for eventual UNSC consideration is said to have been watered down in order to entice Russia and China to support some form of sanctions against the Islamic Republic for its clandestine nuclear program.
...
As the Security Council barters amongst its members in preparations for formal debate on sanctions, Iran’s second centrifuge cascade is ready to be fed with uranium gas for enrichment and Russia’s construction of Iran’s Bushehr light water nuclear reactor continues, though Russia said that the Bushehr plant’s launch will be delayed for technical reasons. Russia now expects the plant to come online in
September 2007. The United States objects to the Russian construction while Iran’s nuclear program is under Security Council scrutiny and, potentially, sanctions.
http://inbrief.threatswatch.org/2006/10/iran-decries-us-gulf-prolifera/ This from the Russian press.
Note the US Press is not covering ANY of this, so people don't even know that the Iranians have started up a SECOND series of 164 centrifuges. This could be used by Bush as the excuse he needs to sneak attack under the Authorization of Force on the War on Terror:
Iran Revs Up Its CentrifugesThe world powers began discussing the draft UN Security Council resolution on Iran yesterday. That document was prepared by Great Britain, Germany and France and forwarded to the United States. After that, China and Russia joined in the discussion.
The main stumbling block for Moscow is the point in the resolution that extends sanctions to the atomic energy station at Bushehr, which would require it to break off its cooperation with Iran in atomic energy to fulfill. Iran responded to the discussion of sanctions by launching the second stage of the centrifuges to enrich uranium. Press secretary of the U.S. State Department Sean McCormack stated that the U.S. was not yet supporting the draft resolution. He did not specify what the sources of disagreement were, saying only that the resolution had “wide but not full” support. Washington is not expecting to reach agreement on the document with China and Russia before the end of the week.
A leak from diplomatic sources sheds some light on the differences over the resolution. The U.S. and the European countries have not agreed on whether the sanctions against Iran should include an inspection of all cargo entering or leaving the country. Washington sees a need for such a measure, which has been imposed on North Korea as well. The Europeans say that Iran's nuclear program is less well-developed and calls for less harsh measures.
Russia will enter the fray opposing sanctions on the Bushehr atomic energy station, which is the center of Russian-Iranian nuclear cooperation. European and American diplomats admitted informally last week that those sanctions would have to be omitted before Russia would agree to the resolution. Information appeared on Monday, however, that the U.S. had pressured its Western partners into adopting a stricter position. “We are reaching apposition where there will be no exceptions for anybody,” a source in the U.S. administration said under conditions of anonymity.Tehran has responded to the discussion of the resolution this week with
new statements threatening responsive actions against “the enemies of the Islamic Republic.” On Tuesday, it started up a second cascade of centrifuges to enrich uranium. Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani warned the Europeans not to take any radical steps in relation to Iran and called the proposals in the resolution “adventuristic” and threatened to break off negotiations for good if more pressure was applied to Iran.Iran's position received unexpected support from IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei. Speaking at Georgetown University in Washington, ElBaradei stated that sanctions are not a panacea and urged the U.S. to normalize relations with Tehran. He said that the Iranians want “respect and acknowledgment as a regional leader.”
An IAEA source said yesterday that the Iranians began the test launch a second cascade of 164 centrifuges to enrich uranium this week. The centrifuges are running empty now, but observers interpret Iran's gestures as an expression of disagreement with the draft UN Security Council resolution.
http://www.kommersant.com/p716127/r_527/Iran_Revs_Centrifuges/
This looks like the whole situation could ignite with Bush putting additional pressure on the talks and the Russians over the nuke reactor and whammo! The Iranians say the talks are over for good and it's incident time.
I sure hope this does not ignite into an incident and an attack.
Please RECOMMEND if you think this should be getting covered in the press just a little teensy bit.
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