Middle East News
There have been some interesting developments in the Middle East today.
Iran may be six months from having the knowledge to construct a nuclear weapon. Or so says, Israel’s Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. Iran, of course, continues to deny assertions that they have a nuclear weapons program.
Iran’s Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi stated that Iran would shoot down unknown flying objects, which he had stated were primarily American spying equipment, i.e. unmanned aerial vehicles. Thus, reaffirming Iran’s position since December, 2004.
Additionally, Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has agreed to support Syria on "all grounds to confront threats." This, like the others, is not a "new" development, as much as it is a new statement of what has been the de facto position for some time. It is also telling given Syria’s renewed significance under the microscope given the death of Rafik Hariri. U.S. policy with regard to Syria may now be less likely to achieve a "balanced" resolution of tensions, with Syria foolishly believing Iran levels the playing field. Again the EU and UN must be willing to address the issues with something other than bribes and platitudes.
And then, this morning, Iran startled the world and many Iranians when they announced that a missile fired by an unknown aircraft had caused an explosion near the Bushehr nuclear reactor. They later clarified and stated that the explosion was caused by construction work for a dam.
Here in the U.S., Porter Goss and Vice Adm. Lowell Jacoby, in a refreshingly direct tone, updated Congress on the threat of al-Qaeda, Iran and islamofascist terror groups aligned with al-Qaeda.
Tensions have definitely increased. I’ll say it again; the EU and UN need to step forward. Similar to the tension with North Korea, the voices most likely to be heard remain either silent or a distant whisper at best.
