Cyprus-Forum.com

[insan]

My optimism lies in the assumption that American rocket scientists will be able to create a pill that gives people actual brains, and that the attempt to spike Bush's bourbon with it will prove successful.

Very realistic assumption, Jimmy!


Let's keep an eye on developments conceerning Iran... Here's some more news about Iran's nuclear programe and Erdogan's opinions:


Weymouth interviewed Erdogan and Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, two key figures who have a strained relationship with Washington, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The interviews appear in the February 7 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, January 31).

ElBaradei tells Weymouth that the agency is being tough on Iran and its nuclear weapons program. "We understand how complex and extensive that program is," he says. "Through our tenacity, Iran's facilities that could produce fissile material are frozen. And we are still going everywhere we think we need to go to be sure there are no undeclared activities in Iran. Between our tenacious verification and the diplomatic process, I hope we will be able to get a package solution to the Iranian issue."

He says the best way to stop Iran from going nuclear is to keep up the inspections, but also through diplomacy. "If a country is going nuclear, you need to understand why are they going nuclear. You need to address their sense of isolation and their need for technology and economic [benefits]. They have been under sanctions for 20 years."

And the U.S. should play a large role. "I don't think you will get a permanent solution to the Iranian issue without full U.S. engagement. The U.S. engages with North Korea, so I don't see why they can't engage with Iran." But ElBaradei said talk of a U.S. strike against the Iranian nuclear program "at this stage is very unhelpful. I cannot see how a military solution can resolve the Iran issue."


http://www.forbes.com/feeds/prnewswire/ ... SU013.html

[insan]

US ignoring PKK terrorism: Erdogan

The Turkish Prime Minister said that the Iraqi general elections have a unhealthy result due to the unbalanced ethnic participation.

February 1 -


Turkey’s Prime Minister has accused the United States of disregarding the activities of the terrorist group the PKK in Northern Iraq


http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/307545.asp#BODY



It seems US have already been using its super trump card against Turkey.

[insan]

Gul warns Iraqi ethnic turmoil could force Turkey into action

ANKARA: Turkey’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned on Monday that Ankara could be forced to take action if the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk plunges into ethnic turmoil due to attempts by Kurds to change the demographic structure of the oil-rich city. “We are observing that the situation has reached dangerous proportions,” Gul said in an interview published in the English-language Turkish Daily News newspaper. “Now our fear is the possibility that these gross changes in the demography of Kirkuk could trigger an ethnic confrontation, which has not been seen so far,” Gul added. Turkey is categorically opposed to Kurdish control of Kirkuk, which many Kurds would like to see as the capital of an independent Kurdish state, a nightmare scenario for Iraq’s northern neighbour. Earlier this month Kurds reached a deal with the Iraqi government that cleared the way for an estimated 100,000 Kurds, said to have been expelled from Kirkuk in the past, to vote for the new local government in Sunday’s elections.The deal effectively tipped the balance of power to the Kurds, fanning ethnic tensions in the city, which is also home to a large number of Turkmen, a community of Turkish descent backed by Ankara. The elections saw thousands of Kurds turning out to cast votes in a development which Turkish newspapers say will give them a strong share in the country’s future parliament. afp


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 005_pg4_11

[insan]

United States will maintain terror war alliances, says Bush

* Says Musharraf working on removing propaganda from madrassas

WASHINGTON: President George W Bush has said the United States will maintain the alliances forged in its war on terrorism during his second term in office, including with countries that are not entirely democratic.


---------------


Bush stressed that he was determined to inject into his strategy abroad a healthy dose of realpolitik. “I think you can be an idealist and a realist at the same time,” he said. “And we have a war to fight and win. It’s a very different kind of war.” He also stressed the importance of preserving constitutional liberties in the United States itself, saying that “in order for us to lead the world and call others to make the world more free, we, ourselves, have to be as free as we can be at home”.



http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 2005_pg7_8

[Saint Jimmy]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=cdf3254c2759bd33

Israel's Knesset and the U.S. Congress have begun a joint effort to convince European Union parliamentarians that Iran's nuclear weapons program is an imminent threat (Tuesday, 1 February 2005)


http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/iraqimminent.html

A somber and steely President Bush [said] that Saddam Hussein's regime poses an imminent danger to the world (January 29, 2003)



May God be with us

[brother]

Bush just can not help himself, he needs a war so his arms industry doesn't dry up or just a war fanatic, i don't know what it is but for heavens sake not another war.

[-mikkie2-]

Regarding future action of US against Iran, what do people think?

My view is the only action the US would take is to bomb what they think are military and nuclear installations. An invasion of Iran is out of the question. It is twice the size of Iraq, it has twice the population, it has not been subject to previous military action by the West, has had plenty of time to advance their military after the Iran/Iraq war and has widespread support by most muslim countries.

Bombing missions to Iran would probably be confined to B-2 long range bombers, probably flying from Diego Gacia (British base in Indian Ocean) and cruise missiles from shipbourne launchers in the Gulf. I think Incirlik would be too far to provide effective cover over Iran so Turkish involvement would be minimal I would suggest.

We saw how sure the Americans were about WMD in Iraq! How sure are they that they will find Iranian fascilities?

Will be interested to see how things develop!

[Saint Jimmy]

Well, this 'preemptive strike' doctrine is pretty rigid... Any country that is seen as a threat and does not comply with US wishes is a possible/probable target. Also, Dubya's obsession with being (or just appearing) resolute and not budging an inch from his stated positions, even in the light of new evidence or events, is not an encouraging sign... And don't forget his 'legacy' and all that s**t: the guy thinks his legacy is going to be 'the man who freed the world and spread democracy'... Plus, Israel is getting involved in this whole mess... No good signs out there, man

I think the turning point is when the Iraq war is over and American troops pull out. That's when The Man will have his troops back at his disposal, to use as he wishes.

EDIT:

Bombing missions to Iran would probably be confined to B-2 long range bombers, probably flying from Diego Gacia (British base in Indian Ocean) and cruise missiles from shipbourne launchers in the Gulf. I think Incirlik would be too far to provide effective cover over Iran so Turkish involvement would be minimal I would suggest.

How about bases in Iraq??? They'll obviously keep some

[insan]

In an interview aired on MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning" show a few hours before President Bush's inaugural address, Cheney warned that Israel "might well decide to act first" militarily to eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities if the United States and its allies fail to solve the standoff with Tehran diplomatically.

"Given the fact that Iran has a stated policy that their objective is the destruction of Israel, the Israelis might well decide to act first, and let the rest of the world worry about cleaning up the diplomatic mess afterwards," Cheney said. In 1981, Israel sent warplanes to destroy Iraq's nuclear reactor.

"We don't want a war in the Middle East, if we can avoid it," he said.

Iran says its nuclear facilities were built to support a peaceful energy program; the Bush administration disagrees.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... Jan20.html

[insan]

Israel Remembers Auschwitz, Keeps Eye on Syria, Iran Nukes

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Shlomo Brum says, however, such missiles in the hands of Syria or Syrian-supported terrorist groups such as Hizbollah would present a challenge though it would not likely change the balance of military power between Syria and Israel. But, Yuval Steinitz says there is information that Syria is also attempting to acquire nuclear capability, making the threat more complex. "This is a terrorist-supporting country and if such a country will also get new ballistic missiles from Moscow or anti-aircraft missiles and if such a country will be able to acquire nuclear capability it will be disastrous for the Middle East and the entire world," he added. Mr. Steinitz says both Syria and Iran present a global threat and therefore the international community must act. He says western governments should apply continuous diplomatic pressure, invoke sanctions and, if need be, use force to deal with these dangers. The United States already lists Syria and Iran as state sponsors of terrorism and has imposed sanctions. Washington also says Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and has not ruled out the use of force to prevent that from happening. The United States also raised concerns about any Syrian attempts to purchase new weapons.

Israel, which was born from the ashes of the Holocaust, now turns it eyes to it's Arab neighbors.
The words "never again" should be heard loudly, seriously by those in Damascus and Tehran who are presently planning Israel's destruction.

With Reuters, APand HonestReporting.com