Clipmarks | masbury's 'iran' clips

Obama's Senate service, Part 2

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:28:00 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Especially focused on foreign policy and veterans' affairs; becomes chair of Foreign Relations' Committee's subcommittee for European Affairs.

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Later in 2007, Obama sponsored an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges

sponsored the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry

co-sponsored legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism

sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program providing one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries

Committees

assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations

Environment and Public Works

Veterans' Affairs

ook additional assignments with Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

has made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa

Tags: obama, senate

Biden brings long-time push for Iran talks

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:29:37 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: But McCain rejects even current Bush approach, favors returning to pre-conditions

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

The Biden factor in US-Iran relations

Senator Barack Obama's choice of Senator Joseph Biden as his running mate for the Democratic ticket for the US presidency is a good omen for troubled US-Iran relations and will likely translate into positive developments on that front in the event Obama moves into the White House.

Biden, who has chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a strong advocate of engagement with Iran and a vocal opponent of any military action against Iran as a result of the nuclear standoff. He has participated in a number of forums sponsored by Iranian expatriates in the US, and has denounced some anti-Iran measures, such as the US's labeling of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist outfit.

The trouble with McCain's position on Iran, however, is that it does not sit well even with the Iran policy of the George W Bush administration

in light of the recent meeting of Iran's chief nuclear negotiato

with US Under Secretary of State

Tags: biden, mccain

Asia Times: Bush hid Musharraf's Al Qaeda links

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:29:46 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: al-Qaeda "was a creation of the jihadist culture of the Pakistani army; Bush whitewashed connections to nuclear technology sales.

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

Bush buried Musharraf's al-Qaeda links

What has not been reported is that the Bush administration

covered up the Musharraf regime's involvement in the activities of the Abdul Qadeer Khan nuclear technology export program and its deals with al-Qaeda's Pakistani tribal allies.

the Pakistani military, over which Musharraf presided, was the real terrorist nexus with the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

al-Qaeda "was a creation of the jihadist culture of the Pakistani army

After 9/11, the White House created the political myth that Musharraf, faced with a clear choice, had "joined the free world in fighting the terrorists". But

on September 19, 2001

Musharraf gave a televised speech in Urdu in which he declared, "We are trying our best to come out of this critical situation without any damage to Afghanistan and the Taliban."

The Bush administration also gave Musharraf and the military regime a free ride on the Khan network's selling of nuclear technology to Libya and Iran

Tags: bush, war, pakistan, al qaeda

Why McCain is more dangerous than Bush

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:06:43 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Caught up in his fear that a military failure would encourage America's enemies, McCain can see no alternative to military victory, no matter what the cost.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

During the hottest days of the Cold War, Gen. Thomas Power headed the Strategic Air Command, whose nuclear-armed B-52s were meant to deter the Soviet Union. General Power, like many of the Air Force brass at the time, believed that nuclear war with the Soviets was inevitable. He thought the United States would do better to fight that war sooner rather than later and believed we could emerge victorious. "At the end of the war," he argued in 1960, "if there are two Americans and one Russian, we win!"

Counter-insurgency and nuclear obliteration are poles apart, I know. But McCain's insistence on "winning in Iraq," remaining there "until Iraq is secure," and "bomb-bomb-bombing Iran" reveal the same mindset that made General Power so dangerous. Caught up in his fear that a military failure would encourage America's enemies, McCain can see no alternative to military victory, no matter what the cost. This

could prove extremely self-destructive in a commander in chief.

Tags: mccain, politics

Foreign policy experts: Get US out of Iraq.

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:41:16 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Annual survey of experts from left and right.

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

REPORT: 69 percent of foreign policy experts favor redeployment from Iraq.

Today, the Center for American Progress and Foreign Policy released their annual “Terrorism Index,” a survey of more than 100 U.S. foreign policy experts, conservatives and liberals alike, on developments in international affairs. Some highlights:

– 80 percent say that the U.S. has focused too much on the war in Iraq and not enough on Afghanistan.

– 69 percent recommend that the majority of U.S. forces in Iraq be redeployed in the next 18 months, up one percent from last year.

– Zero percent say Iraq is most likely to become the next al Qaeda stronghold; 51 percent say Pakistan will be.

– 81 percent say U.S. policy towards Iran has negatively impacted national security.

Tags: war, iraq

16 things McCain supports and formerly opposed

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:04:23 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Perhaps you can think of more.

Clip Source: am1090.wordpress.com

He’s also FOR Off shore drilling, after being against it for 26 YEARS.

He was Against Torture, now he’s for it.

Against Warrantless Wiretapping now he’s for it

Against Tax Cuts then for tax cuts, then against tax cuts and now is FOR RAISING FICA taxes

Against Privitizing Social Security and now he’s FOR it

FOR protecting Abortion Rights now he’s against it

Against storing Nuclear Waste at Yucca Mountain now he’s for it

Against engaging in diplomacy with Hamas now he’s for it.

Against diplomacy in Syria now he’s for it.

Against going after Al Qaeda in Pakistan now he’s for it.

Against talking to Iran and now he’s for it.

Against talking to North Korea and now he’s for it

For Liberman-Warner to curb Global Warming now he’s Against it.

Thought we were on the RIGHT COURSE in Iraq in 2004 now says he’s always been against Rumsfelds strategy in Iraq.

For Affirmative Action until he was against it

For the troops until he voted

against

R&R at home after a one year deployment and Senator Webb’s GI Bill.

Tags: mccain, politics

Newsweek: "Forget Harvard" - try Iran's top Sharif University

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:34:52 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: One of the best undergrad electrical engineering programs in the world

Clip Source: www.payvand.com

Tehran, Aug 12, IRNA - One of the best universities of the world is in Iran, the Newsweek weekly said in its latest edition, referring to Iran's Sharif University of Science and Technology.

"Forget Harvard _ one of the world's best undergraduate colleges is in Iran," said the news weekly in an article appeared in its August 9 edition.

It said that Sharif University has now one of the best undergraduate electrical-engineering programs in the world.

"In 2003, administrators at Stanford University's Electrical Engineering Department were startled when a group of foreign students aced the notoriously difficult Ph.D. entrance exam, getting some of the highest scores ever.

the majority came from one country and one school: the Sharif University of Science and Technology in Iran

Iranian students are developing "an international reputation as science superstars," the weekly added

Tags: education, iran

USAF study: Invading Iran "negative" for USA

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:08:54 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Urges patience, engagement, toning down policy statements

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

a major study produced for the U.S. Air Force by a top defense think tank concluded that U.S. military action against Iran was "likely to have negative effects for the United States".

Entitled "Iran's Political, Demographic, and Economic Vulnerabilities," the 156-page report also called for Washington to "tone down" its policy statements supporting "regime change" and to "discourage Iranian ethnic groups from revolting against the regime". Both policies, it said, are likely to be counter-productive.

Instead, according to the three main authors of the study, Washington should adopt a more patient approach, "designed to create conditions for effective relations (with Tehran) over the long haul."

the RAND study bolsters those who favor engagement with Iran, even as it also supports the maintenance of certain kinds of sanctions, notably the embargo on certain high-tech gas liquefaction technologies, as a bargaining chip for future negotiations with Tehran

Tags: iran, war on terror

Hersh: Cheney meeting discusses ways to provoke Iran to war

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:02:57 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "why don’t we build—we, in our shipyard—build four or five boats that look like Iranian PT boats, put Navy Seals on them with a lot of arms, and, the next time one of our boats goes through the Straits of Hormuz, start a shoot-up" Who are the bad guys here?

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Hersh: US Considered Ways to Provoke War with Iran

Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has revealed the Bush administration recently held a meeting in Vice President Cheney’s office to discuss ways to provoke a war with Iran. Hersh said it was considered during the meeting to stage an incident where it would appear that Iranian boats had attacked US forces in the Straits of Hormuz.

Seymour Hersh: “There was a dozen ideas proffered how to trigger a war. The one that interested me the most was, why don’t we build—we, in our shipyard—build four or five boats that look like Iranian PT boats, put Navy Seals on them with a lot of arms, and, the next time one of our boats goes through the Straits of Hormuz, start a shoot-up. Might cost some lives. And it was rejected, because you can’t have Americans killing Americans. But that’s the kind of—that’s the level of stuff we are talking about: provocation. But that was rejected.”

Tags: iran

Rep. Tammy Baldwin to House Judiciary re: Impeachment

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:48:50 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Americans "wonder whether this administration will forever change what it means to be an American."

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

REP. TAMMY BALDWIN:

Over the past several years, serious questions have been raised about the conduct of high-ranking administration officials in relation to some of the most basic elements of our democracy: respect for the rule of law, the principle of checks and balances, and the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

Americans want to know whether our nation’s highest-ranking officials broke the law to justify the invasion of Iraq

whether today the Bush White House is planning to illegally attack Iran

whether their private conversations are being listened to by government officials unconcerned about restraints placed upon them by the Constitution; whether our nation is holding individuals in secret prisons

who authorized torture and rendition

They wonder whether this administration will forever change what it means to be an American.

Tags: impeachment

Rep. Hank Johnson to House Judiciary re: Impeachment

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:42:31 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "if this administration ... decides to attack ... Iran, then Americans will look back and ... rethink whether or not it would have been worth pursuing impeachment at this time to deter any further misdoing by this administration"

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

REP. HANK JOHNSON: While, Mr. Chairman, today’s hearing is not an impeachment hearing, I fear that in the event that the current administration continues with its secret actions, with motives and purposes that are not known or not revealed, if this administration during the last six months decides to attack the sovereign nation of Iran, then Americans will look back and think and rethink whether or not it would have been worth pursuing impeachment at this time to deter any further misdoing by this administration.

Tags: impeachment

Iran Literacy Quiz: A Decent Respect for the Opinions of Mankind

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:36:57 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: See the answers to these and other questions, as well as supporting material at the link. Those without answers listed are true-false questions.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Iran Conflict Literacy Quiz

1. Iran's leaders have declared their intention to acquire nuclear weapons.

2. Iran is training, arming, financing, and politically supporting Al Qaeda in Iraq

3. Iran's leaders have declared that the acquisition of nuclear weapons would be contrary to Islam

about what proportion of Iranians believe that it is "very important" that Iran master the nuclear fuel cycle?

a) 1%
b) 2%
c) 3%
d) 81%

what proportion of the Iranian population think that Iran should pursue the acquisition of nuclear weapons?
a) 100%
b) 99%
c) 98%
d) 20%

8. Iran's leaders have pledged to destroy Israel.

9. In Iran's government system, the Leader with Supreme authority over the government, especially foreign and military affairs and the country's nuclear program, is
a) Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
b) President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad

10. In 1953, the democratic government of Iran was overthrown in a coup organized by the US Central Intelligence Agency

Tags: iran, foreign policy

Jt Chiefs Chairman warns against striking Iran

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:20:10 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Scholar adds that such a strike "could be a political bonanza for Iran" "Just as Hezbollah became so popular [in the aftermath of the war between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006], Iran could gain credibility in the Arab street."

Clip Source: www.chicagotribune.com

WASHINGTON — The words Wednesday from Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were notable for their blunt pragmatism: An Israeli airstrike on Iran would be high-risk and could further destabilize the region, leading to political and economic chaos.

Mullen's words of caution underscored the Pentagon's belief that a move against Iran—by the U.S. or one of its allies—would have an undeniable effect on the ongoing U.S. missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Opening up a third front right now would be extremely stressful on us,"

An Israeli airstrike on its nuclear reactor sites might not be as damaging for Iran as it would be to the United States and Israel, said Vali Nasr, a professor of international politics at Tufts University.

"The upside could be a political bonanza for Iran," Nasr said. "Just as Hezbollah became so popular [in the aftermath of the war between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006], Iran could gain credibility in the Arab street."

Tags: iran

CIA accused of falsifying Iran nuclear intel

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:07:58 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Motion filed in fed court; claims agent ordered to falsify reports on Iran nuclear weapons development

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Ex-CIA Operative Accuses Agency of Suppressing Intel on Iran

A former CIA operative has accused the CIA of deliberately suppressing evidence that showed Iran had suspended work on developing nuclear weapons. In a motion filed in federal court, the onetime undercover agent asked the government to declassify documents related to Iran’s nuclear program. Before his firing in 2004, the former operative says he was repeatedly ordered to either falsify his reporting on WMDs in the Middle East or not to file his reports at all.

Tags: cia, war on terror

Democrats agree to escalate covert ops in Iran

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:35:53 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: I'll be returning to "Independent."

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Democrats Agree to Fund Major Escalation Of Covert Operations Against Iran

Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh of the New Yorker magazine has revealed the Democratic-led Congress agreed to a request last year from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran. Congress approved $400 million in spending for covert activities ranging from spying on Iran’s nuclear program to supporting rebel groups in a bid to overthrow the Iranian government.

Tags: democrats, iran