US Advised to Sabotage Iran Nuclear Sites, Wikileaks

Breaking News
Wikileaks reveals that German think tank advised US to sabotage Iran nuclear sites by undercover operations.

The United States was advised to adopt a policy of covert sabotage of Irans clandestine nuclear facilities, including computer hacking and unexplained explosions, by an influential German think tank, a leaked US embassy cable reveals. Volker Perthes, director of Germanys government-funded Institute for Security and International Affairs, told US officials in Berlin that undercover operations would be more effective than a military strike in curtailing Irans nuclear ambitions.

A sophisticated computer worm, Stuxnet, infiltrated the Natanz nuclear facility last year, delaying Irans programme by some months. The New York Times said this week that Stuxnet was a joint US-Israeli operation. Irans top nuclear negotiator blamed the US for the cyber-attack.

US and Israeli officials refused to comment on their reported involvement with Stuxnet yesterday. However, the leaked cables show that more covert methods of infiltrating Irans nuclear programme including powerful cyber attacks was a proposal gaining traction inside US diplomatic circles last year.

Wikileaks also disclosed that President George Bush approved $300m (189m) on joint covert projects aimed at Iran, understood to have included Stuxnet, before leaving office in 2009.

US sees Iran rift, says strike would unite country

WASHINGTON: Sanctions against Iran are biting hard and triggering divisions among its leadership, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday, as he argued against a military strike over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iran has agreed to meet with a representative of the six big powers for the first time in more than a year over its uranium enrichment drive, but diplomats and analysts see little chance of a breakthrough in the long-running dispute.

Gates said he saw little choice, however, to pursuing a political strategy that includes sanctions and renewed his concerns that a military strike would only delay Iranian nuclear capabilities by two or three years.

He added that sanctions “have really bitten much harder than (Iranian leadership) anticipated,” and suggested Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was increasingly at odds with Supreme Leader

Iran unveils long-range drone to counter "aggressors"

TEHRAN: Iran unveiled a prototype long-range unmanned bomber on Sunday, the latest in a stream of announcements of new Iranian-made military hardware as tension mounts over its nuclear programme.

On a stage in front of military officials, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pulled a sheet away from the aircraft, called the Karrar, which Iran says is its first long-range drone.

With the United States and Israel saying they do not rule out a military strike to stop Iran getting a nuclear bomb, the Islamic Republic has showed off new mini-submarines, a surface-to-surface missile and announced plans to launch high altitude satellites over the next three years.

The presentation of the drone came a day after Iranian and Russian technicians began fuelling Iran’s first nuclear power station, something Israel called “totally unacceptable”.

In a speech at the

Iran guards warn US against attack over nuclear work

TEHRAN: Iran will make the strategic Gulf region unsafe for all if it comes under attack by the United States over it nuclear programme, the deputy head of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday.

“If the Americans make the slightest mistake, the security of the region will be endangered. Security in the Persian Gulf should be for all or none,” Yadollah Javani told the official news agency.

“The Persian Gulf is a strategic region and if it is endangered they (Americans) will suffer losses and our response will be firm.

“We will defend ourselves if America or Israel resort to any hostile measures against our vital values,” he added.

The international community led by the United States has stepped up pressure on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme amid concerns that the Islamic republic is engaged in a covert nuclear weapons programme, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out a military strike to stop Iran”s alleged atomic ambitions.

Javani”s declaration preceded comments by the top US military officer on Sunday that a plan to attack Iran was ready, if needed to stop the Islamic republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was “extremely concerned” about the possible repercussions of such a strike.

Iranian officials have frequently vowed a crushing response to any US and Israeli attacks.

Pearl Harbor Day,December 7 1941

TrendPK.com Pearl Harbor Day,December 7 1941:As the nation celebrates Pearl Harbor Day 2009, there are many quotes about the historical day back in 1941 when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened. Quotes from the past and present relate to what was an unannounced military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the

TrendPK.com Pearl Harbor Day,December 7 1941:As the nation celebrates Pearl Harbor Day 2009, there are many quotes about the historical day back in 1941 when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened. Quotes from the past and present relate to what was an unannounced military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the [...]

Pearl Harbor Day,December 7 1941

TrendPK.com Pearl Harbor Day,December 7 1941:As the nation celebrates Pearl Harbor Day 2009, there are many quotes about the historical day back in 1941 when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened. Quotes from the past and present relate to what was an unannounced military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the

TrendPK.com Pearl Harbor Day,December 7 1941:As the nation celebrates Pearl Harbor Day 2009, there are many quotes about the historical day back in 1941 when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened. Quotes from the past and present relate to what was an unannounced military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the [...]

Iran rejects IAEA resolution as “illegal”

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejected on Wednesday as “illegal” a U.N. nuclear watchdog resolution over the country’s disputed nuclear activities, state television reported.

Ahmadinejad also said Israel could not do a “damn thing” to stop the Islamic state’s nuclear programme, which the West suspects is a front to build bombs. Iran denies the claim.

“Under pressure of a few superficially powerful countries … the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed an illegal resolution against the Iranian nation,” Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech in the central city of Isfahan.

The IAEA passed a resolution on Friday censuring Iran for covertly constructing a second enrichment plant near the holy city of Qom, in addition to its IAEA-monitored one at Natanz, and demanding a construction halt.

Tehran said on Sunday it would build 10 more uranium enrichment sites in retaliation for the resolution, which sailed through with unusual Russian and Chinese support.

Israel, which Iran refuses to recognise, has said a nuclear- armed Iran would be a threat to its existence and points to Ahmadinejad’s calls for Israel to be wiped off the map.

That has raised concerns that Israel could ultimately carry out a military strike against Iranian nuclear sites.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Washington wanted Iran’s nuclear dispute to be resolved through diplomacy but has not ruled out other options.

Ahmadinejad said Israel could not harm Iran, ruling out any further talks with six major powers over the nuclear dispute.

“The Zionist regime (Israel) and its (Western) backers can not do a damn thing to stop Iran’s nuclear work,” Ahmadinejad told a crowd to chants of “Death to Israel” and “death to America”.

---

Iran rejects IAEA resolution as “illegal” was first posted on December 2, 2009 at 8:07 pm.

President Shimon Peres hospitalized

Israeli president Shimon hospitalized, JERUSALEM: Israeli media reports that President Shimon Peres has fainted on stage while speaking at an event in Tel Aviv.

The 86-year-old Peres passed out Saturday while answering questions from the crowd. He regained consciousness a few seconds later.

According to media reports, Peres refused to be taken to hospital and is still at the venue.

---

President Shimon Peres hospitalized was first posted on September 13, 2009 at 6:08 am.
©2009 “News Trends“.