Letters to the Editor
wobbly
Published Letters: 8
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Iran's Supreme Cleric's ruling on Nukes
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[Read more letters about this article: Here]From Deusxhe Welle:
Europe | 04.06.2006
Iran's Supreme Leader: "Using Nuclear Weapons is Un-Islamic"
Khamenei defended Iran's nuclear program in front of a picture of his predecessor, Khomeini
Iran's supreme leader on Sunday rejected international demands that his country suspend sensitive nuclear work, vowing the Islamic republic would not buckle in the face of "threats and bribes."
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also gave the United States a staunch warning that any "mistake" in its dealings with oil-rich Iran would lead to consequences for global energy supplies.
"We have achieved a lot of scientific goals," Khamenei said in a speech marking the 17th anniversary of the death of Iran's Islamic revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. "This is an historic investment. It represents our political independence and national self confidence. We should not sell out this precious resource because of the enemies' threats and we should not be fooled by enemy bribes."
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are poised to present Iran with an offer of incentives and the prospect of fresh multilateral talks -- involving the United States -- on the condition that Iran first suspends uranium enrichment.
That activity is at the center of fears the country could make nuclear weapons. Iran insists it only wants to make reactor fuel -- and not bombs -- and that enrichment is a right enshrined by the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Solana to travel to Tehran
Solana (right) with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani during a March meeting in the German embassy in ViennaBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Solana (right) with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani during a March meeting in the German embassy in Vienna
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana is expected in Tehran in the coming days to present the proposals. Iran has been given just weeks to make up its mind -- or else face Security Council action including possible sanctions.
But Khamenei added to indications that the offer could end up being dead on arrival by shrugging off any fear of the consequences.
"There is no consensus against Iran," he said. "It is only the Americans and some of their allies. This is all about a political monopoly of energy. They want others to beg for energy."
Speaking at Khomeini's mausoleum on the southern outskirts of Tehran, Khamenei insisted that "Iran is no threat to anyone.
Khamenei: Nuclear weapons un-Islamic
"We have friendly relations with all the region and Asia," he said. "We have good and healthy relations with Europe, and in the close future, because they need our gas, these relations will become even better. They accuse us of developing nuclear bombs. This is an absurd lie. We do not need nuclear weapons and bombs. We don't have any target to use them on.
"Using nuclear weapons is against Islamic rules," he continued, according to AFP news service. "We will not impose the costs of building and maintenance of nuclear weapons on our people. Our explosive source is the power of our faith."
Ahmadinejad with a giant poster of Khamenei on SundayBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Ahmadinejad with a giant poster of Khamenei on Sunday
On Saturday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad revealed that in a telephone conversation earlier Saturday with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, he had been asked "to examine the proposals and not act hastily."
"I said that we will not act hastily and that we will examine the proposals," Ahmadinejad said while ruling out any halt to the country's enrichment program.
"Negotiating our absolute right would be like accepting to negotiate on our independence," he said, according to news report
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Iran and Nukes, followup....
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[Read more letters about this article: Here]As a followup to my previous post on the Supreme Iranian Cleric's opinion....
This can't be taken at face value, of course, but it's pretty consistant with what the Iranians have been saying. There are, apparently other clerics in Iran who disagree with this rather traditional view, but they don't call the shots in Iran, no matter what Jihad Watch says.
I'd like to know, but don't know whom to ask, what is the status of the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount in Jerusalem in Shi'ia Islam?
The Sunnis refer to it as "The Third Mosque", only slighter lower on the holiness scale than Mecca or Medina. My guess is that the Shia's feel the same way.
If they do, how the hell would they "wipe Israel off the map" with nuclear weapons without destroying and contaminating the Third Mosque???
I, mean are they religious fanatics or aren't they?
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After hell freezes over and the ADL goes after FOX....
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[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sic 'em on these losers, Glenn:
FROM HAARETZ
Last update - 14:41 06/10/2007
MK Gal-On blasts Lieberman's comparison of leftists, Nazis
By Haaretz Service
The chairwoman of the Knesset Meretz faction, MK Zahava Gal-On, called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to dismiss Avigdor Lieberman from the cabinet after he compared leftists to Nazi collaborators.
Lieberman, Yisrael Beiteinu chairman and minister of strategic affairs, said on Channel One television Friday evening that anyone who breaks the "national consensus" or incites against Israel abroad reminds him of kapos during World War Two.
Kapos were prisoners in Nazi concentration camps who worked as guards and were known for their brutality.
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Israel Radio reported that Gal-On responded by saying Lieberman is employing incitement that is reminiscent of that leading to the death of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin at the hands of extreme rightist Yigal Amir in 1995.