The Middle East and Western Asia: Bit of a hot spot?

Tim said:

I haven't been watching this forum much recently, but not much has changed.

Still full of arm-chair theorists who clearly have nothing better to do with their lives than rack up thousands of posts on any subject they feel knowledgeable about.

I'll check back in 6 months or so. But I'd be surprised if the standard of posting improves even slightly.

Life is for living, not posting!

(Yes, and if I've upset you, you can delete this post. I'm won't be here to care.)

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Tim said:

I haven't been watching this forum much recently, but not much has changed.

Still full of arm-chair theorists who clearly have nothing better to do with their lives than rack up thousands of posts on any subject they feel knowledgeable about.

I'll check back in 6 months or so. But I'd be surprised if the standard of posting improves even slightly.

Life is for living, not posting!

(Yes, and if I've upset you, you can delete this post. I'm won't be here to care.)

Click to expand...

wayneL said:

I've decided to leave it as a testament to all condescending hypocrites everywhere... and I know you'll be here to read this

Other mods may feel different and it may disappear nevertheless.

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wayneL said:

I've decided to leave it as a testament to all condescending hypocrites everywhere... and I know you'll be here to read this

Other mods may feel different and it may disappear nevertheless.

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2020hindsight said:

bel, I watch both when I can, not always of course.
That's how I can confidentaly say there is no bias with either.
but ABC bias is getting off fthe track - you proposed that the poms were lily livered cowards as I recall. I suggest they had more intelligence than to aggrevate a delicate international incident
a) I notice their superiors agree with me, not you, and
b) shame USA didn't takes some notes
USA is as much a part of the problem as of the solution - many would say the biggest part of the problem, including the likes of Nelson Mandela and many thinkers out there.
PS My guess is that you will find some reason to find a bias in Mandela as well

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Tim said:

I haven't been watching this forum much recently, but not much has changed.

Still full of arm-chair theorists who clearly have nothing better to do with their lives than rack up thousands of posts on any subject they feel knowledgeable about.

I'll check back in 6 months or so. But I'd be surprised if the standard of posting improves even slightly.

Life is for living, not posting!

(Yes, and if I've upset you, you can delete this post. I'm won't be here to care.)

Click to expand...

kennas said:

This is absolute gold, and should go down in the 'ASF best post ever' hall of fame. Wonderful. Will keep a smile on my face for days. Thanks!

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Tim said:

I haven't been watching this forum much recently, but not much has changed.

Still full of arm-chair theorists who clearly have nothing better to do with their lives than rack up thousands of posts on any subject they feel knowledgeable about.

I'll check back in 6 months or so. But I'd be surprised if the standard of posting improves even slightly.

Life is for living, not posting!

(Yes, and if I've upset you, you can delete this post. I'm won't be here to care.)

Click to expand...

From ABC, April 10, 2007

IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM NOW 'INDUSTRIAL'


Iran's President has vowed world powers will not be able to stop Iran's nuclear drive, saying the atomic program is on its way to the "summit".
President Mahmood Ahmadinejad made the announcement to a gathering at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran.
"The great Iranian nation, which for past centuries has been a pioneer of science, will not allow some bullying powers to put obstacles in its path of progress by influencing the international community," he said.
"We will go on to reach the summits. Today... this country has joined the countries that produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale.
"They should know that our nation with awareness and faith has stood by its leadership and will defend its rights to the end."
Mr Ahmadinejad gave no figures over how many centrifuges Iran had now installed at the Natanz plant.
The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, said Iran has entered the "industrial stage" of nuclear fuel production.
"Today we celebrate the entry of the nuclear program to the industrial stage," he said.
Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful and has rejected UN demands that it halt uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to make bomb-grade material or nuclear reactor fuel.
The UN Security Council has passed two sanctions resolutions on Iran since December after talks to end the row collapsed last year.
Iran says it is open to fresh negotiations but without preconditions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog, says it has gaps in its knowledge about Iran's plans that must be filled before it can say they are peaceful.
The IAEA is pushing Tehran to agree to let it install cameras in the underground section of Natanz to monitor Iran's work.
Iran says such intrusive surveillance goes beyond its basic safeguards commitment to the IAEA.
- AFP/Reuters

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From ABC, April 10, 2007


US 'VERY CONCERNED' AS IRAN NUKE PROGRAM 'GOES INDUSTRIAL'


The White House says it is "very concerned" about Iran's claim to be producing enriched uranium on an industrial scale, and has warned against "unacceptable" limits on the country's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
"We are very concerned about Iran's announcement that they entered an 'industrial stage' of nuclear fuel production," national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters.
"Iran continues to defy the international community and further isolate itself by expanding its nuclear program, rather than suspending uranium enrichment. Iran's decision to limit even further its cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) is unacceptable."
Mr Johndroe appeared to be referring to lead Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani's warning that Iran will quit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] if international pressure on its enrichment program continues.
"If they pressure us further, we will have no choice but to reconsider our membership of the NPT as parliament has ruled," Mr Larijani said.
He was referring to a law approved by Iran's parliament last year allowing the government to reduce cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which conducts inspections of atomic plants under the treaty.
The UN Security Council has already imposed two packages of sanctions against Iran over its failure to heed ultimatums from the world body to suspend uranium enrichment.
"These actions deny the Iranian people the benefits they otherwise might enjoy under the incentives package offered by the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany. We call on the Iranian regime to comply with its obligations to the IAEA and UN Security Council," said Mr Johndroe.
Britain, France, Germany and Russia - backed by the United States - have offered Iran a package of economic and political incentives if it agrees to freeze sensitive nuclear work.
Meanwhile US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the move showed United Nations' sanctions against Tehran were justified.
"They've had numerous opportunities over the past months to take up the offer that's been extended to them of negotiations so that they can realise their stated goal of a peaceful nuclear energy program," he said.
"But clearly they have decided against that course and the international community is going to take a look at where Iran stands vis-a-vis its compliance with those international demands."
Iran's government denies the American charge that its nuclear program is cover for an atomic weapons quest.
-AFP

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Happy said:

And US is concerned:





UN has issued usual blah blah statement with paper weight properties.

I wander if there isn’t some of the Iraq WMD never found 5 years ago, just wander.

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news.com said:

Prince Harry 'targeted by Iraqi insurgents'
Saturday Apr 28 10:26 AEST

Insurgents in Iraq will seek to kidnap Prince Harry when the army sends him there, a commander of Iraq's biggest Shiite Muslim militia, the Mahdi Army, said in remarks published today.

"One of our aims is to capture Harry, we have people inside the British bases to inform us on when he will arrive," Abu Mujtaba, a commander in the southern city of Basra, told The Guardian.

"We have a special unit that would work to track him down, with informants inside the bases," according to the commander of the militia led by radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, quoted by the newspaper.

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bel532 said:

The world is certainly a scary place when you have people who believe it is better to die and (hopefully)meet 72 virgins then try and improve life on this earth.

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purple said:

Yeah, until I started working in the Middle East, then I noticed that instead of negotiating around the table, the work flavour here is more of aggression and intimidation.

In the rich Middle East countries fueled by petro-dollars (no pun intended), they use aggression as their language in business; in the poor MidEast countries, they live by aggression.

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The Age said:

79 die as camp battle rages
May 22, 2007 - 7:20AM

Battles engulfed a Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon in the second day of fighting between the Lebanese army and al Qaeda-inspired militants that has killed 79 people.

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The Age said:

Israel extends Gaza bombardment
Gaza
May 22, 2007

ISRAEL bombed a Hamas stronghold in the Gaza Strip yesterday in an escalating air campaign and a senior cabinet minister said all the group's leaders should be killed to try to end cross-border rocket fire.

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The Age said:

Syria or al-Qaeda at work?
Tim Butcher
May 22, 2007

WHILE al-Qaeda has struggled to establish itself among Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the most recent violence in Lebanon suggests the Palestinian diaspora there may be more receptive.

The group that clashed with the Lebanese army was named Fatah al-Islam but it has no connection whatsoever with the long-established Fatah movement, which has always emphasised its secularism.

Fatah al-Islam is tiny ”” estimated to have just 200 members ”” and fiercely religious, advocating violence not just against Jews in the Holy Land but all "infidels", including Muslims who do not support its radical agenda.Syria or al-Qaeda at work?

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The Age said:

Iran planning strike on Europe: analyst
May 23, 2007 - 6:34AM

Iran is attempting to draw up plans to strike targets in Europe and has reconnoitered European nuclear power stations, a security analyst told a meeting at Britain's parliament.

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kennas said:

I don't think this could really be on the cards but the fact it's been raised is concerning for two reasons.

One, that some 'analyst' is so paranoid, or misguided, to truly believe that an isolated country such as Iran would even consider a self destroying tactic.

Or two, that Iran could actually really do this.

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