Iran Continues Nuclear Program, and more

The IAEA confirms that Iran is testing technology that could give it the means to enrich uranium much faster in defiance of international demands that Tehran halt all sensitive nuclear activity or be hit with broader UN sanctions.

The report said Iran was avoiding meaningful responses to intelligence pointing to covert efforts, under military auspices, to "weaponise" nuclear work by linking uranium processing, high explosives tests and missile warhead design.

Such activities were applicable to atomic warheads, it said.

"The (weaponisation) studies are a matter of serious concern and critical to an assessment of a possible military dimension to Iran's nuclear program," said the confidential report, issued by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei and obtained by Reuters.

"The agency will not be in a position to make progress towards providing credible assurances about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran before reaching some clarity on the nature of the alleged (weaponisation) studies, and without implementation of the additional protocol" on wide-ranging, snap inspections.

Without that, it said, there could be "no confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the program". (YNET)

"Only in America: Boundless Technology; Brilliant Youth", By John E. Carey

In the twinkling of an eye, America demonstrated new, or at least unknown and unproven, technology and capability. The United States, for the first time, exploded a satellite in shallow space or just before reentry using tactical systems: ships and missiles and men trained to fight “in the air” were reaching into space: for the first time ever. [snip] We are a nation at war.

Aurora at The Midnight Sun asks:

The hit this week by America on the spy satellite has been touted as a success. But the fact that it took 24 hours to ascertain whether or not it was successful could be a real concern. What happens if or when one of America’s many enemies starts firing missiles? When $1 billion buys you only 75 interceptors, the U.S. would hardly be in a position to match over a thousand missiles that Russia and China alone possess between them. And how would we know if we’d got the missile if it takes 24 hours to confirm the target was hit?

Good question, I would love to hear some answers. In spite of that, the shoot down was a huge success. The media actually mentioned this success. That's success in itself. More good news:

Gates hopes to continue Iraq draw-down of troops. (AP) More good news.

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr opted Friday to keep the cease-fire order for his Mahdi Army militia in place for another six months, a step that will hold down U.S. and Iraqi casualties while bolstering al-Sadr's importance as a political player as Iraqi factions jostle for power. (AP) Does the media spread this good news? Atlas Shrugs says:

Apparently al Reuters is playing fast and loose with news yet again. This time in regard to Muqtada al Sadr's ceasefire in Iraq.

Read Greenwald's blog post "Reuters' Sadr Story Vanishes" at Commentary.

On politics:

What Will Critics Of Iraq Say Now That Reconciliation Is Under Way?, Charles Krauthammer, Investor's Business Daily, (hat tip Steve T. Internet Radio Network)

"No one can spend some 10 days visiting the battlefields in Iraq without seeing major progress in every area. ... If the U.S. provides sustained support to the Iraqi government — in security, governance and development — there is now a very real chance that Iraq will emerge as a secure and stable state." —Anthony Cordesman, "The Situation in Iraq: A Briefing From the Battlefield," Feb. 13, 2008

Joseph Farrah, WND:

Farah says that while Senator John McCain is accused, by unnamed sources, of having a romantic interest in a female lobbyist nine years ago, Senator Barack Obama is accused of having a risky homosexual dalliance with someone he picks up in a bar, while scoring powdered cocaine for his partner and crack cocaine for himself, about nine years ago.

In the McCain scandal, there are no specific allegations of sexual or drug-related incidents, notes Farah, and both McCain and the lobbyist deny this activity ever took place between them.

In the Obama scandal, however, Farah says the alleged partner makes his charges public, agrees to a polygraph and files a lawsuit reiterating the charges and accusing Obama of harassment and intimidation. Unlike McCain, Obama refuses to deny the allegations.

Farah says he is an independent journalist who supports neither Obama nor McCain, and says WND will continue to report both stories regardless of whether he supports either candidate.

I don't know if the accusation about Obama is true or not, but I respect Mr. Farah, so we will follow this.
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