China Confidential
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Khamenei Praises Iranian Nuclear Program
AFP reports from Tehran:"Some domineering countries and their worthless followers want to get their own way with the Iranian nation, but the nation, the president and the government have stood up to them," he was quoted by state television as saying.
"Adopting an aggressive spirit against world bullies is a sign of the government's loyalty to revolutionary slogans and discourse," it quoted him as saying in a meeting with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his cabinet.
Iran risks a fourth round of UN sanctions for failing to give a clear response to an incentives offer by six world powers in return for halting uranium enrichment, a process to produce nuclear fuel that can also make the core of an atomic bomb.
Iran says it has the right, as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to enrich uranium and insists that its atomic programme is aimed solely at generating energy for a growing population.
The United States, which has been pushing for tougher sanctions, has never ruled out a military option to thwart Iran's nuclear drive.
Ahmadinejad on Saturday dismissed the impact of sanctions, citing last Sunday's launch of a home-produced missile that Tehran says can put a satellite into orbit.
"You have imposed sanctions on us, but today young people in this land do not need your help to have a satellite-carrying missile," he told a rally in the central city of Arak carried live on state television.
"Iran does not need you in any way," he said, vowing to launch the country's first communications satellite soon.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Nogovitsyn Says Russia Will Stay in Georgia
A top Russian general--who recently threatened to attack Poland with nuclear arms--says his forces will remain in parts of Georgia. He also accuses Tbilisi of preparing a new wave of attacks in South Ossetia.
Russian Deputy Chief of General Staff Col.-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn told reporters in Moscow Saturday that his country's forces will continue to patrol the Black Sea port city of Poti, as well as other areas that lie outside a designated security zone.
Nogovitsyn also warned that Russia could increase the size of its force in Georgia if the United States begins to help Georgia rebuild its military.
Accuses Georgia of Planning New Attacks
The general defended Russia's actions, saying they were in agreement with the terms of a French-brokered cease-fire. He also accused Georgia's special services of preparing further actions in South Ossetia.
Earlier, Georgian officials and witnesses said Russian forces are still entrenched north of the key city of Gori and near the town of Senaki.
Hundreds of Georgians have been taking to the streets to express their unhappiness with Russia's continued presence, waving flags near Russian posts in Gori and Poti.
The Georgian parliament voted unanimously Saturday to extend emergency wartime powers for President Mikheil Saakashvili for another 15 days.
Meanwhile, the leader of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, says he will visit Moscow Saturday.
Kokoity says he will ask Russia to recognize South Ossetia's independence.
Threatened Poland with Possible Nuclear Strikes
Last Friday, Nogovitsyn told reporters that Poland's agreement to accept a US missile interceptor base exposes the ex-communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons.
It was the strongest threat that Russia has issued against the plans to put missile defense elements in former Soviet satellite nations.
Poland and the US last Thursday signed a deal for Poland to accept a missile interceptor base as part of a system the US says is aimed at blocking attacks by rogue nations. Moscow contends it is aimed at Russia's missile force.
"Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike—100 percent," Nogovitsyn said.
He added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia's military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them."
Nogovitsyn said that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Iran's top clerical fascist, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday praised the country's government for resisting international pressure on the Islamic republic to halt its controversial nuclear program.
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