Larijani, Solana kick off talks

Larijani, Solana kick off talks Thu, 31 May 2007 19:02:28

Larijani (L) meets Solana (R)         EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana and Iran’s nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani have begun a fresh round of talks in Spain’s capital of Madrid.      http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=11616&sectionid=351020104

Iran Envoy Rejects Enrichment Suspension

By NASSER KARIMI

The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 30, 2007; 10:35 AM

TEHRAN, Iran — On the eve of talks with the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Iran’s nuclear negotiator Wednesday rejected the possibility of Iran suspending its uranium enrichment program

"Suspension is not the right solution for solving Iran’s nuclear issue," the state news agency quoted Ali Larijani as saying before he left for Spain. "Past experiences have shown that suspension is not acceptable, at all."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/30/AR2007053000428.html

 

 

27 Years Later

today’s blogs: The latest chatter in cyberspace.

By Christopher Beam
Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at 6:20 PM ET

Liberal Middle Eastern-studies professor Juan Cole at Informed Comment argues that there’s plenty Iran and the United States can agree on. Both count al-Qaida and the Baathists as enemies, and both want to see the Shiite government succeed. Cole also dismisses claims that the talks are futile: "Effective diplomacy can often lead a country to see the advantages of cooperation on some issues, so that its leaders stop sulking and actually turn to accomplishing something."

 

Liberal Matthew Yglesias doubts that talks over Iraq can accomplish anything as long as the two nations are so fundamentally at odds: "Insofar as our goals in the Middle East include overthrowing the regime in Tehran and, short of regime change, doing everything possible to destroy the Iranian economy then, naturally enough, the Iranians are going to seek to thwart our goals." California liberal D-Day agrees that the United States can’t just ignore everything but Iraq: "Iraq can be a launching pad for negotiations, a way to build consensus and trust so that the other issues can be brought into play, but it can’t be the only issue. Otherwise the cries of ‘Iran would never help the United States’ become a self-fulfilling prophecy."

 

Is he listening to himself?

 

http://www.slate.com/id/2167245/

 

U.S., Iran Open Dialogue On Iraq

U.S., Iran Open Dialogue On Iraq  

By John Ward Anderson

Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, May 29, 2007; Page A01

BAGHDAD, May 28 — The United States and Iran held their first official high-level, face-to-face talks in almost 30 years Monday to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, and officials emerged generally upbeat about the renewed dialogue, suggesting additional meetings were likely

At his news conference, Qomi said allegations that Iran is supplying insurgents with weapons, munitions and training have been denied by Iran on numerous occasions and “don’t prove anything.”

http://tinyurl.com/2ahg7e

 

 

U.S. and Iran Begin Talks in Baghdad

U.S. and Iran Begin Talks in Baghdad

Monday May 28, 2007 12:01 PM

AP Photo BAG102, BAG101

By STEVEN R. HURST

Associated Press Writer
`We are hopeful that Washington’s realistic approach to the current issues of Iraq by confessing its failed policy in Iraq and the region and by showing a determination to changing the policy guarantees success of the talks and possible further talks,” Mottaki said

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6665727,00.html

 

US Has Two-Part Strategy With Iran

US Has Two-Part Strategy With Iran

Sunday May 27, 2007 5:46 PM

By ANNE GEARAN

AP Diplomatic Writer

`In the American mind, the two tracks sort of complement each other,” with the muscle-flexing and threats serving to push Iran to the bargaining table, said Ray Takeyh, an Iran specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations

“Iran only sees one track” and thinks it is a trap, Takeyh said. He does not hold out much hope the diplomats will get beyond talking points on Monday

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6664356,00.html

Iran says it has uncovered Western spy networks

Iran says it has uncovered Western spy networks

Sat May 26, 2007 7:21PM BST 

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran has uncovered spy networks on its territory organised by occupying forces in Iraq and Iraqi groups, the Intelligence Ministry said in a statement published on Saturday.

The statement gave few details, saying more would be published in the next few days

http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKBLA66287720070526

 

Fiery anti-U.S. cleric reappears in Iraq

Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr delivers his sermon before 6,000 worshippers in holy Shiite city of Kufa 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, May 25, 2007. Al-Sadr appeared in public for the first time in months on Friday, delivering a fiery anti-American sermon to thousands of followers and demanding U.S. troops leave Iraq. (AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)

http://tinyurl.com/2ry7p4

 

 

CIA warned of risks of war in the Mideast

NBC: CIA warned of risks of war in the Mideast

Pre-war reports say agency predicted dangers of toppling Saddam’s regime

Men place the coffin of an attack victim atop a vehicle in By Lisa Myers and Robert Windrem NBC News Investigative Unit Updated: 7:04 a.m. ET May 25, 2007 In a move sure to raise even more questions about the decision to go to war with Iraq, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will on Friday release selected portions of pre-war intelligence in which the CIA warned the administration of the risk and consequences of a conflict in the Middle East Baghdad on Friday.  View related photos

Kareem Raheem / Reuters http://g.msn.com/0NL66760/8479

Bush: Tough, ‘bloody’ summer in Iraq

 

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So, according to Bush, one measure of progress is an exceptionally bloody August. He is intentionally throwing soldiers into the meat grinder, and if there are more casualties, well, mission accomplished. He is intentionally inflaming a greater level of violence against civilians, further DEstabilizing the region, further inflaming terrorism, exactly as the NIE warned four years ago. And the Democrats are signing the check.

I am beginning to understand how our founding fathers felt when they wrote:

"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it" – Declaration of Independence

Are we there yet?

Posted by: Rich C | May 24, 2007 1:03:35 PM

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/05/bush_tough_bloo.html