Tag: iran

Rethinking World War III

In 2007, just as the Bush administration was hyping the alleged "threat" from Iran’s ostensible nuclear ambitions – and facing renewed pressure from the Israel lobby to go after Tehran – the CIA issued a National Intelligence Estimate that punctured the War Party’s balloon. The NIE, which represents the considered opinion of all 16 U.S. … Continue reading “Rethinking World War III”

Congress Begins Pressing Iran Sanctions Legislation

As the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama prepares for a critical series of talks about the fate of Iran’s nuclear program, Congress has begun moving long-pending legislation to impose new unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic. In just the past few days, the Senate approved a measure, already passed by the House of Representatives, … Continue reading “Congress Begins Pressing Iran Sanctions Legislation”

Will Tough Sanctions Against Iran Be Effective?

Negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group – the five permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council plus Germany – began on Oct. 1. Iran’s negotiating team was led by Saeed Jalili, the hard-line secretary-general of its Supreme National Security Council and an ally of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The U.S. team was led by … Continue reading “Will Tough Sanctions Against Iran Be Effective?”

US Public Skeptical and Hawkish on Iran

Despite strong support for diplomatic engagement with Iran, most U.S. citizens believe such efforts will ultimately fail and that Washington should be prepared to use military force to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, according to a new poll [.pdf] released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. Sixty-one … Continue reading “US Public Skeptical and Hawkish on Iran”

Countering the Conniptions Over Qom

Iran’s nuclear program is once again center stage, the dominant subject of discussions at the national and international levels. On Sept. 21, Iran sent a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informing it of the construction of a uranium enrichment facility near the holy city of Qom, 90 miles south of Tehran. In … Continue reading “Countering the Conniptions Over Qom”

Cold War’s Ghost Blocks Mideast Peace

And you thought “don’t ask, don’t tell” was a U.S. law on gays in the military that Barack Obama has promised to change. As it turns out, the same phrase plays quite a different role in the Middle East, where Obama seems to have no intention of changing it at all. Successive administrations have adhered … Continue reading “Cold War’s Ghost Blocks Mideast Peace”