The Two- Faced Iran Complains About the Two- Faced Negotiations of Kerry

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                

1979, the Shah is overturned and the religious Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned.

Not too long ago, on June 20, 2009, there was a demonstration of the Iranian people who were aroused by the Arab Spring against their rulers, but that has been forgotten since their hard-line factions have seized more power. They were holding protests during their elections, and a beautiful Iranian girl was shot to death by the name of Neda Agha-Soltan, age 26.

Neda, a college student, was forced to quit school because of her dress and appearance of not covering her head and body.  That's why she attended the protest.  "She was shot in the heart by a Basij militia member who insisted he was not trying to kill her. Her death was captured on video by bystanders and broadcast over the Internet and the video became a rallying point for the opposition. It was described as "probably the most widely witnessed death in human history"

This time on Tuesday, millions of Iranians participated in rallies that the government backed which marked the 35th anniversary of the  Islamic revolution in 1979.  That was when on February 11th, Iranian religious revolutionaries declared victory over Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi who was backed by the USA.  Then the Shiite Muslim clerics came to power

The largest rally took place in their capital, Tehran,  where nuclear talks between Iran and and the USA and their allies were recalled, dominating the event.  They had posters and placards given out to the crowd which had slogans referring to John Kerry's recent remarks that, despite the discussions over the nuclear program, the military option remained on the table.   The placards therefore read, "We are eager for all options on the table."  Evidently they noticed a two-facedness from Kerry.  Young families pushing baby strollers were seen shouting, "Death to America!"  Other posters said, "We are ready for the great battle."  Other people called for the deaths of Obama and Kerry.

Back on the home front, Wendy Sherman, under secretary of state in the State Department  for political affairs,  conceded that the US failed to "shut down" Iran's working  on ballistic missiles.  These have long ranges and are the weapon to deliver a nuclear payload.  It's been 6 months of negotiating and they have to address this problem as part of a comprehensive agreement which will not be agreed on for at least another 6 months.  Tehran had a large window to perfect its weapons systems now.

The USA knows that Iran is going to launch 3 new satellites into space in the next few weeks.  This technology is like those used for ballistic missiles.  Leading experts are saying that Iran's space program is a cover for its ballistic missile work.  Iran's year ends on March 20th and they feel one of them will be launched by then.

Kerry and Wendy left all these problems unsolved.  They didn't address the delivery mechanism, the militarizing of nuclear arms.  Iran had breached a threshold everyone acknowledges and now they can build a bomb.  Senator Bob Corker, Republican from Tennessee, the committee's ranking member, asked them why this had happened.  Iran already has advanced centrifuges.  The situation had been left so that Iran is allowed to continue to perfect their nuclear delivery mechanism.  Few countries in the world possess both   the capability to enrich uranium to high levels and also have an advanced ballistic missile program.  Iran is now a nuclear power.  All they have to do now is to ramp up their uranium production.
                                                                         

Sherman said she is depending on the US to successfully convince Iran to give up its nuclear program.  In her opinion, Iran doesn't need to continue its work at Fordow or any need to the partially constructed heavy water reactor at Arak.  She has no doubt that Iran will have to scale back the number of nuclear centrifuges it is operating.  The question remains as to what will force them to do such a thing.  They are impervious to Kerry's suggestions.
                                                                         
Rouhani, the President of Iran, criticized the US threats against Iran already.  He said that if the negotiators respected Iran's rights, they would get a positive and appropriate answer from Iran, but he also warned that threats would only bring down the nuclear talks to a halt.  He didn't like the way they approached him in the past and doing so had put their nations, region and global welfare and stability in jeopardy.

The rally included re-enactments of scenes from the 1980s war between Iran and Iraq.  That war was so bad that children were serving as soldiers on both sides.
                                                                         

Remember when Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, warned the UN of how close Iran was in being able to make atomic weapons on September 27, 2012?   "Iran is 70 percent of the way there and ... well into the second stage," Netanyahu said while displaying the chart. "By next summer, at current enrichment rates, they will have finished the medium enrichment and moved on to the final stage. From there it is only a few more weeks before they have enriched enough for a bomb."  Everyone pooh-poohed him.  Now the window of opportunity is shut for Israel to halt their progress.  Kerry didn't comply with his warnings at all and now he can't call back the steps taken get Iran to the table to talk in the first place.  Everyone is just too eager to sell them their products being they have come into money.  What was working has been undone by the negotiators.

The Cuban missile crisis  happened when Russia and the USA were at odds.   "After the US had placed nuclear missiles in Turkey and Italy, aimed at Moscow, and the failed US attempt to overthrow the Cuban regime, in May 1962,  Nikita Khrushchev proposed the idea of placing Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter any future invasion attempt. During a meeting between Khrushchev and Fidel Castro that July, a secret agreement was reached and construction of several missile sites began in the late summer."  Luckily that was averted. 

North and South Korea were going at each other just last year.   " It began because of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2087, which condemned North Korea for the launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2. The crisis was marked by extreme escalation of rhetoric by the new North Korean administration under Kim Jong-un and actions suggesting imminent nuclear attacks against South Korea, Japan, and the United States.  North Korea denounced sanctions UNSC imposed under UNSC Resolution 2087. on the January 23 the government of North Korea announced the continuation of their tests not only devoted to missiles, but clearly with an effort to facilitate nuclear weapons purposes. Moreover, North Korea directly threatened the U.S., announcing that they could launch long-range missiles against that country.

Cuba and North Korea are enough to give the USA a headache as they are the opposite of such a Democratic country, but they are not in any way having a war of religion.  It's territory.  As with Iran, a Shiite country, this is a war of religions, and is much more serious.  Kerry doesn't seem to understand this.  Iran sees the end of the world coming and sees them in the power seat with the return of the 12th Iman.  It means to destroy Israel.  You can't put Iran in the same basket with Cuba and North Korea.  Netanyahu warned that you can't trust  Rouhani.  The negotiators did just that.  

Re: Oregonian newspaper, 2/12/14 page A7, Rallies back Iran's regime, draw millions, by Thomas Erdbrink, NY Times News Service
Act for America actforamerica@donationnet.net, Wendy Sherman/AP 2/4/14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Neda_Agha-Soltan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_missile_crisis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Korean_crisis
http://www.dw.de/eleven-days-in-february-the-iranian-revolution/g-17423004
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/netanyahu-red-line-cartoon-twitter-202454562.html

Surprise Unclassified Paper Reveals Ability of North Korean Missiles

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                 

Word was just announced on CNN that a US intelligence report concluded that North Korea does have advanced nuclear know-how where it can arm a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead.  This is a new revelation about this threatening and unpredictable communist regime.

Since North Korea and Iran have been very close since 2002 at least in their endeavor to create nuclear arms, this means that Iran must be almost or nearly just as close. Iran has visited North Korean and has been at the sites.   "Iran has been hiding nuclear work and sites since about the same time, although it was one of the treaty’s original signatories. Like Iran, North Korea was soon suspected of hiding things after that initial show of clean hands. It stiffed inspectors and made lame excuses for doing so. And, like Iran, North Korea built plants that generated fissile material that was useful for making bombs, but unnecessary for producing civilian nuclear power."  Iran just had an 6.1 earthquake with the epicenter in Kaki, 60 miles from Bushehr, where the nuclear plant built by Russia lies.  37 died and hundreds were injured, but they say the nuclear plant is okay.  They are proceeding with advancing their nuclear capabilities.

Today's  revelation came about when Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado read out loud what he thought was an unclassified parragraph from a secret Defense Intelligence Agency report that was given to some members of Congress.  It took him by surprise as he hadn't seen the report before and couldn't answer any questions about it.

The Pentagon press secretary, George Little remarked that it would be wrong to suggest that the North Koreas have fully tested, developed or demonstrated the kinds of nuclear capabilities referenced.  The USA has been closely monitoring their nuclear program and asks them to honor their international obligations.  This report is said to have come out in March.

This morning's Oregonian reported that North Korea hasn't tested many of its short-range Scud and medium-range Rodong missiles.  Also, they haven't flight-tested the longer-range Musudan with a range of 2,175 miles, either.  If the tests were successful it would show they could hit South Korea, all of Japan and US military bases on Guam.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told a hearing yesterday that such a test would violate UN resolutions banning the country from testing ballistic missiles.

The US and South Korean troops are on a high level of vigilance.  Monday is the birthday of North Korea's founder, Kim II Sung.  They often stage military provocations around such dates.  Japan is also on guard for a missile launch and have missile interceptors around Tokyo for a precaution.  The US military has 2 Navy missile-defense ships closer to the Korean Peninsula monitoring any missile launchings and to intercept any if they threaten us.

Kim has threatened to attack the USA, so we're not sure just how long a range their missiles might have.

You have to admire the residents of Pyongyang.  They are showing no panic.  People are busy planting trees and dancing in the plazas before the holiday.

General Martin Dempsey said that N. Korea has conducted 2 nuclear tests and several successful ballistic missile launches.  We have to assume the worst case by increasing our missile defense capabilities in the Pacific.

Obama said from the Oval Office that he preferred to see the tensions resolved through diplomatic means, but will take all necessary steps to protect the American people.  Today North Korea let out more war rhetoric and claimed it has powerful striking means on standby.  They obviously are trying to scare and pressure South Korea and the US into changing their policies.

Kim, the grandson of North Korea's founder, Kim II Sung, who took control after his father, Kim Jong II died in 2011, is trying to show the US, the world and his people that he is firmly in control in North Korea while trying to force the international community into concesssions in future negotiations.  Kerry is headed for East Asia where he will talk with officials in Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo about North Korea.

Resource: http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-nkorea-could-launch-nuclear-missile-183109878--politics.html
Oregonian Newspaper 4/11/13 page A9, News Update, Korean tensions
CNN news on TV
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-north-korea-nuclear-warheads-20130411,0,2231502.story
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/04/11/heads-up-pentagon-report-suggests-north-korea-might-already-have-nuclear-missiles/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/10/iran-earthquake-death-toll-rises
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/03/14/iran-north-koreas-axis-of-evil-revived-by-new-nuclear-ties/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/north-korea-missile-test-powerful-striking-means-preparing-medium-range_n_3060318.html

North Korea and Iran: A Twosome Sharing Nuclear Information?

Nadene Goldfoot
Netanyahu just said yesterday that Iran is getting closer to the red line that he had set at the UN.  I note that they've been slowed down by computer viruses like the Stuxnet in June 2010, thought to have been planted by the USA and Israel but not proven.  Iran claimed that 5 Iranian nuclear scientists were killed and they hung an Israeli.   They're building centrifuges that enrich the uranium needed to make nuclear bombs at 3 times the pace.  They could cross that red line and get to a high enrichment of 90% enriched uranium in a much shorter time.

In 2007, the Israelis bombed the al-Kibar nuclear site in Syria which the North Koreans helped to design.  It was a plutonium facility.

Lee Smith, Senior Editor at the Weekly Standard and Fellow at the Foundation For Defense of Democracies and writer about the ties between Iranians and North Korean scientists, feels that they may already have the bomb.  His background gives him some skills to learn about what the Iranians have been doing.  Smith has a B.A. from George Washington University, where he received awards in English and Latin.  He received the Sage Graduate School Fellowship at Cornell University, and studied Arabic at the American University in Cairo and Universite Saint-Joseph in Beirut.  He knows Spanish, Arabic, French and Latin.  English must be his native language.

For at least the last 10 years, the North Koreans have cooperated with Iran on nuclear and missile issues.  The Iranians have several full-time weapons engineers on site in North Korea.  This has not been a secret.

Last fall, North Korea and Iran signed a paper regarding science and technology.  The North Koreans published the names who signed, including the head of Iran's atomic energy organization and the defense minister.  They are exchanging information.  There are precedents for states passing on designs.  The New York Times spoke with a senior US official who said that the North Koreans are testing for 2 countries.

North Korea has been into nuclear goals since December 12, 1985 when they acceded to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.  They then withdrew from the IAEA in 1994.  By July 9th, President Kim II Sung died and Kim Jong II took over.  By August 31, 1998, their 3 stage rocket was fired with a range of 93-1,240 miles which went over Japan.  By July 4, 2006 they had a 7 ballistic missile fail but by October 9th had an underground test.  April 5, 2009 they tested a 3 stage rocket.  May 25, 2009 was a 2nd underground test.  December 17, 2011, Kim Jong II died and Kim Jong-Un took over.  On April 13th, a satellite rocket failed but by December 12, 2012, they launched the Unha-3.

January 2013:  Kim Jong-un, about 20 years old, said that the USA was the prime target for Pyongyang's nuclear  and missile tests.  "North Korea is a "serious threat" to the United States and Washington must be prepared to deal with it, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned after Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test.

"We saw what North Korea has done these last few weeks with a missile test and now a nuclear test,"  said Leon Panetta, the outgoing Defense Secretary, at a farewell ceremony.  Their goal is to be a force to be reckoned with.  Now South Korea is planning to build ballistic missiles.

On February 2013:  Iran's Ali Khomeini rejected negotiation with the USA over their nuclear ability.  Both North Korea and Iran feel that no one can stop them.  They are both paranoid, secretive regimes.  Jeffrey Lewis, Director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at Monterrey Institute feels it's hard to know if North Korea would give the blueprints to Iran.  They do need money, though, and Iran would pay.

North Korea's 1st test most likely used plutonium.

Iranians were at North Korea's 2nd nuclear test.  In May 2009 the explosion was half the size as its 3rd test.  They probably used plutonium then, too.

Iranians were at North Korea's last nuclear test on Tuesday the 12th.  It was a 5.0 in magnitude, half the size of the Hiroshima blast.  It was believed to be an enriched uranium devise.  "Pyongyang appears to detonate a nuclear device with regional monitors detecting an unusual seismic event, of a magnitude between 4.9 and 5.1, in the same location as the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site.  Seoul estimates the blast yield at six to seven kilotons."

I'll be listening to Lee speak tomorrow night.  There might be more insights into just what is going on.

Resource:  Why Iran Already Has the Bomb, by Lee Smith  originally on Tablet Magazine. http://www.realclearworld.com/2013/02/14/why_iran_already_has_the_bomb_145279.html
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130212/key-dates-north-korea-nuclear-missile-programmes
http://www.hudson.org/learn/index.cfm?fuseaction=staff_bio&eid=LeeSmith
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuxnet
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/05irran-scientist-assassinations-state-tv-confessions_n_1744862.html
http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/the-iran-north-korea-connection/2013/02/18/
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/world/asia/test-seen-as-push-by-kim-for-credibility.html?_r=0

What's the Worst Danger For Israel?

Nadene Goldfoot
There are many dangers surrounding Israel. It's almost hard to pick the worst one. The biggest for Defense Minister Ehud Barak is that old ancient kingdom, Persia, which today is called Iran. It is the biggest because they are able to manipulate the system and are about to obtain nuclear weapons. Of course, who else would they use such weapons on? They've threatened Israel so many times already.

The USA is also in harm's way. Iran is getting away with disobeying the Security Council decisions and directives from the International Atomic Energy Agency. As they see they can get away with moving toward military nukes, they will just keep on going. North Korea and Pakistan have nuclear weapons now, even though they had tough sanctions. Where's the reason to stop Iran from doing so?

Israel can't afford a lot of time for the world to decide to act and prevent Iran from reaching this destructive goal. The longer they wait, Iran will have the time to  finish the job. Israel would like to see world cooperation in working on a solution and they feel all options are on the table. Israel and Egypt have had good relations ever since Sadat came to Israel and made peace. Mubarak was able to continue that relationship. Now that the Muslim Brotherhood is stepping into power, that peace is on the line. They have just had a commercial dispute over their gas supply agreement with Israel. Usually, trade or business between two countries can keep them on a peaceful relationship. I hate to see this happen.

 Resource: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/
News/News.aspx/155155