Tag Archives | Iran

Former Congresswoman Claims US Lawmakers Forced To Pledge Support to Israel

By Mallon Khan on August 24, 2012 in News 27

In June of 2011, former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney travelled to Iran to attend an International Anti-terrorism Conference. The conference, despite being also anti-western, had the support of the United Nations.

McKinney sat down with Press TV to discuss the relationship between the US and Iran as well as the inner workings of the US Congress. A supporter of 9/11 truth among other alternative viewpoints, McKinney is no stranger to controversy. In this interview she drops a bomb about the close relationship between the US Congress and the State of Israel. Watch the whole interview here.

U.S. Steps Up Sanctions, Says Iran Violates International Obligations

By Danny Schechter on August 7, 2012 in News 5

Sheldon Adelson & family.

What are “international obligations? Does the United States have to uphold them along with other counties? Does Washington even know they are defined as “obligations owed by states to the international community as a whole, intended to protect and promote the basic values and common interests of all.” By this very definition, no one state can decide what’s best for all.

When the United States stepped up its sanctions on Iran last past week, it cited Iran’s failure to adhere to its “international obligations.” There was, of course, no reference to domestic politics where President Obama, under attack from adversary Mitt Romney, criticized his failure to stop Iran’s nuclear program.

Romney did so in Israel hoping to curry favor and donations from Jewish voters. Scholars like Juan Cole found the exercise distasteful for many reasons:

“There is a convention in US politics that you don’t criticize the sitting president, even if you are an opposition politician, while on foreign soil.

… Read the rest

Federal Magistrate Rules Against Al-Qaeda, Taliban and Iran in 9/11 Civil Case

By Disinformation on August 1, 2012 in News 7

Via CBS News:

Federal Magistrate Frank Maas has recommended that Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Iran be held liable for six billion dollars in a 2011 civil suit brought against them by relatives of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The assessment is symbolic in nature, as it will be impossible to collect damages. Still, at least some of the plaintiffs are pleased with the results:

Plaintiff Ellen Saracini … is happy about Manhattan Federal Magistrate Judge Frank Maas’ recommendation Monday. Her husband, Victor, was the captain of one of the planes that struck the World Trade Center.

Read the entire story at CBS News.… Read the rest

Iran Sentences Banker Criminals To Death Penalty

By JacobSloan on August 1, 2012 in News 10

Perhaps this is one instance in which we could learn something from Ahmadinejad and company? Via the BBC:

Four people have been sentenced to death for their roles in Iran’s biggest-ever bank fraud scandal. Two other defendants received life sentences, while 33 more will spend up to 25 years in jail, the chief prosecutor was quoted as saying. The scandal involved forged documents reportedly used by an investment company to secure loans worth $2.6bn.

The case broke in September 2011 when an investment firm was accused of forging documents to obtain credit from at least seven Iranian banks over a four-year period. The money was reportedly used to buy state-owned companies under the government’s privatisation scheme.

As part of their probe, authorities froze the assets of an Iranian businessman thought to be the mastermind behind the scam. The BBC’s Sebastian Usher said the firm at the heart of the scandal had moved from a small start-up capital to being worth billions of dollars.

… Read the rest

The Ignorance of ‘Intelligence’

By Danny Schechter on July 31, 2012 in News 7

Some years ago, I met a major in American intelligence, a member of the “Red Cell Unit.”

As he explained it to me, his unit was actually charged with assessing other spy shops by offering other views, critiquing intelligence estimates and perhaps even evaluating security systems like the specialists who test airport systems by probing for their soft spots and vulnerabilities, and seeing if they can beat them.

This soldier had been sent as one more gung-ho officer into the war in Iraq only to return, like many, if not disillusioned, aware that all was not working well. He was actually involved in guarding so called HVP’s (High Value Prisoners) including Saddam Hussein himself, who he came to respect for his intelligence before his untimely demise with a rope around his neck.

Saddam’s many crimes and errors were often dwarfed by our own.

The United States today has a vast intelligence apparatus, on the ground, in the sky and even in space.… Read the rest

AC/DC Virus Unleashed On Iranian Nuclear Program

By majestic on July 24, 2012 in News 8

I so want this to be true, but really it does seem to be a stretch… From RT:

Iranian nuclear facilities have reportedly been attacked by a “music” virus, turning on lab PCs at night and blasting AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”

Mikko Hypponen, Chief Researcher at Finnish digital security firm F-secure, publicly released a letter he received from an unnamed Iranian scientist. The researcher, who claimed to work for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said that another virus has struck the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran and a secret underground research facility at Fordo, southwest of Tehran.

The letter’s author reported that the virus shut down equipment (made by Germany’s Siemens Corporation) and automated systems at both research centers.

Hypponen published the letter on his blog, but cautioned that there is no way for him to verify the accusations. He was able to confirm, however, that the letter did originate from the AEOI’s servers.

… Read the rest

Iran/Contra: Oliver North Questioned About Plans to Suspend the U.S. Constitution

By Good German on July 22, 2012 in News 9

Oliver North questioned over plans to suspend American Constitution by Jack Brooks.

Notice how angry Oliver North looks at about 10 seconds into it when he folds his arms. If looks could kill eh?!

Also at about 40 seconds into it check out the guy on the back row who puts his head in his hands. Guilt? Shame? Embarrassment? Stress levels appear to shoot through the roof either way…

Media Roots Radio – Rand Paul: Just Another Politician, Libertarianism, Stuxnet

By Abby Martin on July 9, 2012 in Podcasts 7

MEDIA ROOTS – Abby and Robbie Martin talk about Rand Paul: catering to the GOP establishment and revealing his true political nature; Libertarianism: what aspects are good and which are bad; entertainment: the current industry dumbing down culture with movies and television; Stuxnet: US covert war against Iran.

Gaming An Iran War: How Washington Plans For Aggression

By Danny Schechter on July 9, 2012 in News 1

When we hear that the United States government is announcing a new policy, it is usually the result of a detailed process, a calculated weighing of options and scenarios in which planners seek to calculate the likely impact and reaction to policies they are advocating.

The stepped-up anti-Iranian sanctions strategy now underway was not an off the top of the head impulsive decision, but one reached through a process of careful strategizing — as in, if we do this, what are they likely to do?

It’s just one step of an ongoing process with many stages that usually leads to armed conflict even if it is always presented as a way to reduce conflict.

Sometimes strategists seek to provoke the very responses they decry. Sometimes, they calibrate policies with allies; sometimes they undertake initiatives that are suggested or planned by allies, especially Tel-Aviv which has been promoting the crusade, at first loudly, threatening unilateral action, but then, quietly, maneuvering Washington publicly into the lead.… Read the rest

Salman Rushdie Fatwa To Be Turned Into Iranian Video Game

By JacobSloan on June 27, 2012 in News 8

The religious bounty on the head of Satanic Verses author Salman Rushie will be the basis for a video game under development in Iran, the Guardian reports:

Salman Rushdie was the target of a notorious fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic of Iran, 23 years ago.

The Stressful Life of Salman Rushdie and Implementation of his Verdict is the title of the game being developed by the Islamic Association of Students, a government-sponsored organisation which announced this week it had completed initial phases of production.

News of the game came as Tehran on Tuesday played host to the country’s second International Computer Games Expo. Little has been revealed about the game but its title suggests players will be asked to implement Khomeini’s call for the killing of Rushdie.

… Read the rest

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