From The Washington Times:
Iran’s new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has placed the military firmly in control of his nation’s nuclear program, undercutting his government’s claim that the program is intended for civilian use, according to a leading opposition group.
Leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the force created specifically to defend the 1979 Islamic revolution, now dominate Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the country’s top foreign policy-making body under the constitution.
Mr. Ahmadinejad, a little-known former mayor of Tehran before his surprise election in July, is a former IRGC commander, as is new council Secretary-General Ali Larijani, who has taken the lead in negotiations about Iran’s nuclear programs.
Revolutionary Guard commanders also have taken charge of the council’s internal security, strategy and political posts, according to a report issued by the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran. A Revolutionary Guard veteran even serves as the council’s press spokesman.
“The military under the new president is firmly in control of the nuclear program and the nuclear negotiations with the United Nations and the West,” said Mohammad Mohaddessin, chairman of the NCRI’s foreign affairs committee, in a telephone interview yesterday.
The personnel changes “make it less and less credible that Iran is pursuing nuclear programs for peaceful uses,” he said.
Yeah. I know I’m stunned…
(h/t Tom Pechinski, via Rantburg)
I always found it darkly hilarious that the media and those laughable UN eunuchs gave that claim ANY kind of credibility.
Dog bites man, story at 11.
I can’t believe the Iranian govenment can be so agressively stupid. You know this just hastens the day the Israeli hammer comes down on them. If faced with extinction, the Israelis are going to feel justified in taking every measure necessary to prevent it–they’ve already said as much. Plus, this action will also energize those Iranians who hate the government–which includes virtually the entire population. Weather forecast: gathering clouds, possible storms.
tw: bring. Bring me the head of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
“personnel changes”
The art of understatement.
Does anyone else think that when “Revolutionary Guard commanders have taken charge of the council’s internal security, strategy and political posts,” some might call that a coup? Junta? Military dictatorship?
Or are these “loaded terms”? Better to call them “personnel changes.”
The way the Nazi take-over of the Reichstag was a “personnel change”,” I guess.
ahem,
Agree. As I have said before, Israel will not allow Iran (or any other Arab Country) to possess a nuclear weapon. We did sell them “Bunker Buster Bombs” for a reason, didn’t we?
The Usless Nations and the EUnuchs didn’t see this coming? Then they’re worse than usless, they’re idiots.
TW: serious. No shit, Sherlock.
Yes,
You can almost certainly count the days before the Sword Of Gideon comes down upon Iran. This is
possibly the most stupid case of suicide…
The army needs the nuclear power plants to charge the batteries in their new hybrid tanks.
tw: opened, one can, Israeli whoopass.
I hear planes.
Going to a full-on fascist footing, looks like. Not that they were far from it before.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. Barnum or somebody. Cynical bastard.
Time to stop pussy-footing around. Full economic sanctions, rigidly enforced. Sub-rosa assistance to resistance groups increased, whatever they want or need, give it to ‘em.
Weather forecast: gathering clouds, possible storms.
More like Ragnarok.
SB: law
jungle
I’m not sure why anyone would say that fear of Israel is a motivating factor for Iran. They know that the global body seems to despise that nation, and the UN will condemn any act by Israel that is not fully conciliatory in nature. As will those of the United States, should it be we who decides to bring down the hammer on the nuclear ambitions of a country known for ending it’s parliamentary sessions with cries of ‘Death to America’.
Israel knows it too. Hell, they’ve had the condemnation of the world all along. I really believe that Iran fears Israel much more than the US or the International body.
No way in hell will Israel allow any Arab nation to possess a nuclear weapon.
*You can almost certainly count the days before the Sword Of Gideon comes down upon Iran. *
Unfortunately, as we all know, the UN and the libs will side with Iran if this happens. Whereas our “unilateral action” in Iraq could really only be grumbled about by the world community, I can see many arab states trying to push the UN to take military action against Israel, as they’re far less a daunting target then the US. The worst part is, I don’t think its beyond the realm of possibility that the uN listens to the complaints and tries to militarily get involved.
I was actually EXCITED when I read that headline, then I realized Jeff wasn’t talking about OUR army.
How cool would THAT have been?
Turing word: Could, as in “The 101st could secure those nukes tomorrow – if we really wanted to.”
We need to export some of our “Give peace a chance” and “No blood for oil” personnel to the middle east. I’ll bet they could get those Iranians to simmer down a bit.
The UN can’t take a whole lot of military action against anyone without the help of the U.S. No matter what verbal crap comes out of Washington, I don’t see the U.S. ever taking military action against Israel.
Actually, it might be interesting if the UN tried such a move. It might be the impetus that gets us out of the UN entirely. Time and past time for that.
Unfortunately, as we all know, the UN and the libs will side with Iran if this happens. Whereas our “unilateral action†in Iraq could really only be grumbled about by the world community, I can see many arab states trying to push the UN to take military action against Israel, as they’re far less a daunting target then the US. The worst part is, I don’t think its beyond the realm of possibility that the uN listens to the complaints and tries to militarily get involved.
Military action can’t happen w/o Security Council OK, and that obviously won’t happen while the U.S. has anything to say about it. My concern is economic. Israel is tied very strongly into the global economic community, and if the EU/Arab nations decide to bring the hammer down, Israel could be looking at a major boycott. That would necessitate a rather large infusion of additional U.S. aid, which is not really in anyone’s interest.
I don’t think there’s a pretty solution to this, no matter what direction it goes. Short of a velvet revolution in Iran, we’re going to come to blows with them. Better sooner, rather than later, as a delay of too long means large fields of glass, possibly in multiple locations.
Hey Mojo,
Thanks so much for utilizing “Ragnarok”.
In the past few years of reading blogs, I’ve never seen the word used.
Last train to Asgard, eh?
The benefits of a large comic book collection, Vladdie.
I’se an innulectshual, I is…
mojo, i wasn’t gonna mention the comic connection, but thanks. it makes me feel better.