"Report says detained hikers weren't in Iran" by Associated Press | June 25, 2010
MINNEAPOLIS — The mothers of three American hikers held in Iran on suspicion of espionage said yesterday that they hope a report that their children’s arrest last year took place on the Iraqi side of the border will help lead to their release.
Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, and Josh Fattal were arrested July 31 during what their families have said was a simple hiking trip along the Iraq-Iran border. They have said if the hikers crossed into Iran it was an accident.
Who goes on a hiking trip in a war zone?
Related: Occupation Iraq: Iranians Capture AmeriKan Spies
Oh, right.
The Nation reported yesterday that two witnesses from a Kurdish village near the border say the Americans were on Iraqi soil when they were arrested by Iranian forces. The publication said the witnesses would not allow their names to be used for fear of retaliation from Iran.
An Iraqi border security official contradicted the account, saying the hikers were arrested on Iranian soil....
Now we know who The Nation serves. I guess that's why vanden Heuvel makes the TV from time to time.
Iraqi border police Brigadier General Ahmed Gharib said that the three Americans passed through Zalem, a village near the border, on the way to climbing a mountain — the peak of which he said is in Iran.
“The three Americans were arrested inside Iranian territory,’’ said Gharib, who is based in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah.
Laura Fattal, Josh’s mother, said she didn’t know what to make of Gharib’s remarks. She said she was grateful that the magazine’s report had put the hikers back in the news.
“If this helps gain their release, it’s wonderful,’’ she said.--more--"
Also see: A Quick Hike Through Iran
Is there ever an instance when the AmeriKan MSM does not lie?
Related: Iran executes accused leader of insurgent group
And if that doesn't make you ready for war, Americans, maybe this will:
"Iran adds to its stock of enriched uranium" by Associated Press | June 24, 2010
TEHRAN — Iran’s nuclear chief said yesterday that his country has produced 37 pounds of uranium enriched to 20 percent, defying UN calls to halt the controversial program.
Yeah, still FAR BELOW what is needed for a BOMB!
The 20 percent level, needed to produce fuel for a medical research reactor, is far below the more than 90 percent required to build a nuclear weapon, but....
BUT WHAT?
Related: Iran's Isotopes
Yeah, they want to treat cancer patients; what is the big deal?
Iran is producing the further enriched material from its stocks of low enriched uranium, which at 3.5 percent purity is the level needed to fuel an electricity-generating reactor.
Iran says it needs the 20 percent enriched uranium to produce fuel rods to power a research reactor that produces isotopes for treating cancer and other medical material.
How would YOU FEEL if someone DENIED YOU or your loved ones CANCER TREATMENTS, Americans?
Then WHY WOULD it make Iran happy?
--more--"
What, still not ready to go to war yet?
The European Union adopted new unilateral sanctions against Iran on Thursday, a day after the Obama administration imposed penalties aimed at closing loopholes that enabled companies to evade previous international sanctions.
Related: The E.U. Sanctions Sieve
Israeli Oil Shipments Exempt From Iran Sanctions
That's why it is a sieve.
Ali Ahani, a deputy Iranian foreign minister, denounced the unilateral sanctions by the European Union on Thursday in a meeting with a German official, Wolf-Ruthart Born, a state secretary in the Foreign Office.
--more--"
How about now? No?
Looks like Congress is going to have to PUSH YOU into war AGAIN!
But they can't cut you an unemployment extension.
WASHINGTON — Congress has overwhelmingly approved tough new sanctions against Iran, telling Tehran that its suspected pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability will not come without an economic price.
The Senate and House acted in quick succession yesterday to agree to the penalties targeting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the nation’s imports of gas and other refined energy products.
President Obama is expected to sign the bill soon.
The congressional action comes after a year in which the diplomatic efforts by the Obama administration to persuade Iran to change its nuclear policies have made little headway. It also comes two weeks after the United Nations approved a new round of sanctions against Iran.
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said the legislation, coming after a year in which the Obama administration’s direct diplomacy efforts were largely rebuffed by Iran, represents “the most powerful sanctions ever imposed by the Congress on the government of Iran.’’
Foreign companies will be given a choice, McCain said. “Do you want to do business with Iran, or do you want to do business with the United States?’’
Are you WITH US or AGAINST US, 'eh?
Also see: Doing Business in Iran
Oh, the HYPOCRITICAL STENCH!
One provision added in final House-Senate negotiations specifies that foreign banks interacting with the Revolutionary Guard or certain Iranian banks will be shut out of the US financial system.
Probably doing them a favor.
That measure has “the potential to be a game changer’’ in Iran’s defiance, said the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Howard Berman, Democrat of California.
The Senate vote was 99 to 0. The House vote was 408 to 8.
The Brave Eight?
Related: Eight (Lonely) Votes For Common Sense Regarding U.S. Relations With Iran
Six Democrats -- Washington's Brian Baird, Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin, Oregon's Earl Blumenauer, Michigan's John Conyers, Ohio's Dennis Kucinich and California's Pete Stark -- were joined by two Republicans, Arizona's Jeff Flake and Texan Ron Paul. California Democrat Maxine Waters voted "present."
How about a ROUND of APPLAUSE, huh?
The European Union is considering its own penalties and last week the Treasury added three dozen more companies and individuals to those blacklisted because they contribute to Iran’s nuclear program or help Iran evade sanctions.
As long as Israel's oil gets through we don't care.
Related: Iran bans two UN nuclear inspectors for ‘false’ reports (By Thomas Erdbrink, Washington Post)
Remember, readers, the US used the UN teams to spy on Iraq.
