Russian fuel rods delivered to Bushehr

First Russian fuel rods were already delivered secretly to Bushehr on June 2-3, DEBKAfile

DEBKAfile reported last month that, shortly before the G-8 summit of industrialized nations opened in Germany, the Russian manufacturers Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant tankers loaded the first consignment of nuclear fuel for activating Bushehr on a special train. It was unloaded at the Iranian reactor a few days later.

Moscow and Tehran have been bickering for years over how to calculate the payment due from Iran but, most of all, Russia’s latest warning to withhold further fuel shipments to Bushehr is linked to its energy interests.

President Vladimir Putin, who manages this policy in person, is using the warning to pressure Iran to pull out of its recent agreements with Turkmenistan and Turkey on a new gas pipeline, which would cut into Moscow’s monopoly control over the gas routes from Central Asia to Europe.

Putin is also watching the debate in the Bush administration between advocates of harsher UN Security Council and other sanctions against Iran, a third round of which is due shortly, and those who urge military action to halt the Islamic Republic’s advance toward a nuclear weapons capability. Moscow calculates that its threat to twist Iran’s arm on its nuclear secretiveness by delaying completion of the Bushehr reactor until late 2008 will boost the camp in Washington favoring diplomacy and sanctions over military action.

Such delaying tactics will also help Iran by dragging out the unresolved military option up until the US presidential election at the end of next year and Bush’s departure from the White House.

From FRÉDÉRIC ENCEL, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, here:

Just because we cannot wipe the dictatorial or genocidal hopes of all dictators off the map, we should at least start with the most dangerous of them. Recall Pascal’s words –that everyone knows by heart: “Not being able to fortify justice, they justified force.”

Russia and Iran’s Nuclear Programme by Simon Barrett at Insight Into Today's Middle East:

One of the most important links between Russia and Iran is the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Russia took over the project in 1995. Although the complex was supposed to complete by 20038, it has still not been commissioned. Russia wants to complete Bushehr that is reportedly valued at between $800 million and $1 billion. An extra incentive for Russia to have taken on the Bushehr project was that 80% of the cost was to be paid in cash.9 Bushehr is also an important source of employment for Russians.

Also of great reading interest is, "Ahmadinejad's Demons -- A Child of the Revolution Takes Over"
By Matthias Küntzel:

During the Iran-Iraq War, the Ayatollah Khomeini imported 500,000 small plastic keys from Taiwan. The trinkets were meant to be inspirational. After Iraq invaded in September 1980, it had quickly become clear that Iran’s forces were no match for Saddam Hussein’s professional, well-armed military. To compensate for their disadvantage, Khomeini sent Iranian children, some as young as twelve years old, to the front lines. There, they marched in formation across minefields toward the enemy, clearing a path with their bodies. Before every mission, one of the Taiwanese keys would be hung around each child’s neck. It was supposed to open the gates to paradise for them. (read it all here)

Other reading:

Leftists Want American Taliban Traitor John Walker Lindh Set Free, Blue Star Chronicles

Muslim Apostate Attacked in Netherlands, The Amboy Times

Founder of A Dutch Organization For Muslim Apostates Attacked Near Home, Right Wing Rebel

Comments

[Steve Harkonnen]

So if the reactor is attacked by the west, will Russia impose a counterstrike? And, if so, using what effective measures?

[Rastaman]

How good of the Ayatollah to give these doomed children a plastic key in exchange for being blown apart. How sweet. How thoughtful, that he cared so much for the children that he planned this all out in advance.

Whatta guy!

You know, it hardly matters that Islam is growing almost entirely because of population growth, because they have no regard for life. The only ones among them who do are their cowardly leaders, who run and hide at every threat while exhorting their hapless subjects to die "for Islam". They kill themselves off faster than their enemies do.

Rastaman

[Layla]

There just is never an end to the bad news Debbie. When will it end? These folks are insanity du jour! SPIT!