Monday, October 23, 2006

Ahmadinejad: Now Israel has no reason to exist

Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran.
Ahmadinejad: Now Israel has no reason to exist.
  • The New York Times reported that Ahmadinejad also said that “Hezbollah shattered the myth that Israel is undefeatable,” he said. “Now Israel has no reason to exist.”
Ahmadinejad adds Israel will be gone, definitely.
  • The Independent Online reported that Ahmadinejad on Friday predicted that Israel would not survive and that its allies would face the "boiling wrath" of the people if they continued to support the Jewish state. He added, "This regime ( Israel ) will be gone, definitely."
Ahmadinejad then threatens Europe.
  • The Times Online reported that Ahmadinejad, the outspoken Iranian President, has accused Europe of stirring up hatred in the Middle East by supporting Israel, warning that it "may get hurt" if anger in the region reached a tipping point.
Israeli PM hints Israel might be forced to take action.
  • The Los Angeles Times reported that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Iran would have "a price to pay" if it did not back down from its atomic ambitions and hinted that Israel might be forced to take action.
Taheri: No UNSC resolution on Iran is better than one like North Korea's.
  • Amir Taheri, The Jerusalem Post argued that when the text of the North Korean resolution was published, Teheran's reaction was a sigh of relief. Their response went something like this: if this is all the UN can do against a regime that admits having tested a nuclear device, there is little that it can do against the Iranian regime that swears it does not want the bomb.
US increases military forces in the Persian Gulf.
  • DEBKAfile reported that the Iwo Jim a Expeditionary Strike Group steamed into the Persian Gulf to join the US naval, air and marine concentration piling up opposite Iran ’s shores.
Here are a few other news items you may have missed.
  • Forbes reported that Chinese officials have told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that China will play a constructive role on the Iranian nuclear issue.
  • San Bernardino County Sun reported Steve Forbes said the United States and Israel could be on a collision course with Iran over the nuclear buildup in the latter Middle East power. "I expect a confrontation with Iran , possibly within a year."
  • TMC Net two recent decisions--one to slow down internet transmissions, the other to decentralize planning and budget operations in Iran 's 30 provinces--appear to have political overtones, signifying a fresh drive by the president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to strengthen his authority in the face of both liberal and conservative opposition.