Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Who would have thought the President of Iran would reference Paul the Octopus in a speech demonizing the west. Very few actually believe that Paul the Octopus is a supernatural force, but that didn’t stop Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from claiming in a speech in Tehran that Paul the Octopus spreads “western propaganda and superstition.”

This coming from the leader of a country whose clerics infamously blamed earthquakes on women being dressed “immodestly.” Both examples clearly mix correlation with causation, but to claim a cephalopod in Germany is a source of evil is insane, even for Ahmadinejad. Then again, in 2007, Iran arrested 14 squirrels on “charges of espionage.”

“Those who believe in this type of thing cannot be the leaders of the global nations that aspire, like Iran, to human perfection, basing themselves in the love of all sacred values,” quipped Ahmadinejad in an ironic remark.

The above quote is disturbing because when Iran “aspires” to human perfection, that means limiting human rights in general, especially women’s rights. According to him, “sacred values” are the subjugation of women, torture, killing infidels, and building a nuclear arsenal.

If Paul the Octopus is on Ahmadinejad’s “hitlist,” no one is safe.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A year after Iran’s controversial election and subsequent crackdown of dissent, the UN issued a statement this week condemning Iran’s campaign of brutality and violence against human rights activists and peaceful protesters.

Said the United States’ representative to the HRC, Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahue, “Today’s joint statement on the human rights situation in Iran is a significant accomplishment for the Human Rights Council. Fifty-six states from every region of the world came together in this joint statement of solidarity with the Iranian people, bringing much-needed focus and world attention to the human rights conditions in Iran.”

The United States joined 55 other countries in supporting the statement, which can be read in its entirety here. Among the signatories were all 27 members of the European Union.

In a message to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the statement says, “Mr. President, it is in that spirit that the States that have joined in making this Statement wish to express their concern at the lack of progress in the protection of human rights in Iran, particularly since the events surrounding the elections in Iran last June– including the violent suppression of dissent, detention and executions without due process of law, severe discrimination against women and minorities including people of the Bah’ai faith, and restrictions on freedom of expression and religion. We cannot let this Human Rights Council session go by without marking the one year anniversary of these events this month.”

Today’s statement is a clear message from the free world. Together with the Security Council resolution passed last week concerning sanctions against Iran, it reflects the international community’s impatience with the nature of the regime in Iran.

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Photo: GPO

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Israel for a series of meetings with top Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Two major issues on the agenda include Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and putting an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “Progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there’s simply no space between the United States and Israel,” stated Biden. “There is no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to Israel’s security and for that reason and many others addressing Iran’s nuclear program has been one of our Administration’s priorities. We’re determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and we’re working with many countries around the world to convince Tehran to meet its international obligations and cease and desist.  Iran must also curb its other destabilizing actions in the region, well beyond their desire to acquire nuclear weapons and that is their continued support for terrorist groups that threaten Israel and I might add our interest as well. President Obama and I strongly believe that the best long-term guarantee for Israel’s security is a comprehensive Middle East peace with the Palestinians, with the Syrians, with Lebanon, and leading eventually to full and normalized relationships with the entire Arab world. It’s overwhelming in the interest of Israel, but it’s also overwhelming interest to the Arab world and it’s in our interest as well.  The goal is obviously to resolve the final status issues to achieve a two-state solution with Israel and a Palestine living side by side in peace and security. A historic peace is going to require both parties to make some historically bold commitments. You have done it before and I’m confident for real peace you would do it again”.

During his visit to Israel, Biden commended the Israeli moratorium on new building in the West Bank, and stated that on the Palestinian end there is a real commitment to reach an agreement.

In the coming weeks, Israeli and Palestinian officials will resume proxy talks that will eventually reignite official dialogue between the two administrations: “I appreciate the Administration’s effort to advance peace in the region,” added Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I know that this has been difficult and has required a great deal of patience, but I’m pleased that these efforts are beginning to bear fruit and we have to be persistent and purposeful in making sure that we get to those direct negotiations that will enable us to resolve this conflict.

“I look forward to working with President Obama, and with you and your entire Administration to forge a historic peace agreement in which the permanence and legitimacy of the Jewish State of Israel is recognized by our Palestinian neighbors and in which Israel’s security is guaranteed for generations to come.”

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Maximum range of Iranian medium-range missiles. Image Credit: Der Spiegel

In an article published in Der Speigel on January 25th, the intelligence community has discovered that Iran has conducted secret tests and leadership structures that proves Western concern regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“According to the classified document, there is a secret military branch of Iran’s nuclear research program that answers to the Defense Ministry and has clandestine structures. The officials who have read the dossier conclude that the government in Tehran is serious about developing a bomb, and that its plans are well advanced. There are two names that appear again and again in the documents, particularly in connection with the secret weapons program: Kamran Daneshjoo and Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.”

Click here to read the Der Spiegel article.

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Iran’s recent withdrawal from a deal to export its uranium has caused many to question what course of action will produce results. Sanctions? Another treaty? According to an editorial featured in the New York Times by Alan J. Kuperman, the answer is a targeted military strike. Kuperman cites Israel’s successful 1981 airstrike on the Osirak reactor in Iraq as an example of the use of military action to sever the legs of a nation’s nuclear program.

As the director of the National Proliferation Program at the University of Texas at Austin, Kuperman is a highly respected figure on the subject.

You can find his full piece, entitled “There’s Only One Way to Stop Iran,” by clicking here.

Photo provided by Wikipedia Commons.

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Reuters Image

During the week of November 10th,  President Shimon Peres took the fight against Iran’s growing nuclear program across seas and continents to Brazil. A modest friend of Ahmadinejad’s regime, Brazil is scheduled to host the Iranian President in late November. As South America’s largest country, Brazil can play a crucial part in deciding how far Iranian presence reaches in the Americas. What was once America’s proverbial backyard has become a coalition of extreme left-wing states whose leaders, such as Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, have all too much in common with the anti-American and anti-Semitic leadership in Iran.

As Brazil is transforming from a regional to a global economic powerhouse, which side it chooses to ally itself with will have a tremendous impact. Amidst growing fears that Brazil, the world’s sixth largest producer of uranium, will look to be an attractive business partner and ally to Ahmadinejad, the timing of the Israeli President’s trip is not to be ignored. By preempting such a discussion with the first state visit by an Israeli president to Brazil in 40 years, Israel had hoped to discourage Brazil from hosting, let alone dealing, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Unfortunately, Ahmadinejad’s visit will likely take place, despite objections from not only the West but also Brazil’s sizeable Jewish population.

The proposed visit by current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signals that Brazil is trying to put itself at the center for the peace negotiation process. While their international clout is sure to increase as a result of such high profile visits, they appear more interested in using their newfound popularity to gain allies rather than push countries away. Israel might not take Brazilian leader Lula da Silva seriously as a moderator for the peace process if they also decide to strike nuclear trade agreements with Iran.

For more information go to:   President Shimon Peres on state visit to Brazil and Argentina (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the IDF and the Navy for their successful operation to foil an attempt to “harm Israel’s cities.”

To take a look at the massive weapons cache discovered, click here.

“This is another success in the endless struggle against attempts to smuggle weapons and military equipment whose goal is to strengthen terrorist elements who threaten the security of Israel,” Ehud Barak, Israel’s Defense Minister said. “I congratulate the IDF troops for the successful operation.”

Knesset Speaker Reuven said, “This is a reminder that we are in the midst of a constant existential struggle. We must not let terror run our lives. Today’s session on the Goldstone Report makes it very difficult for us and for nations of the free world to lead this struggle….[the weapons ship] shows once again that the terrorists do not take a moment to rest from efforts to undermine Israel’s existence.”

Click here to read more.

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