Carter warns against war with Iran

[Scurrilous]

Former US president says criteria for a 'just war' have yet to be met in Tehran's case

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4220310,00.html

<snip>

"Former US President Jimmy Carter warned against a possible war with Iran, as he decried his nation's involvement in unjust conflicts at a summit of Nobel Peace Prize laureates in Chicago.

Carter, a naval veteran who served as Democratic president from 1977 to 1981, said Monday that while he is "not against conflict when necessary," the criteria for a just war are often not met.

War is only just when it is a "last resort" after "every other possible peaceful resolution" is exhausted, when all efforts are made to protect civilians, when the purpose of the conflict is to make the situation better, not worse, when society in general agrees it is just and when the level of violence is "proportional to the injury received," he said.

"That would obviously exclude our recent policy of preemptive war," Carter said in a keynote address.
The United States has been "almost constantly at war" in the past 60 years – in Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, El Salvador, Libya, Panama, Haiti, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and many others.

"And now we are contemplating going to war again perhaps in Iran," said the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner."


Drums of war beat again: Israel’s military says ready to hit Iran

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=51851

Gantz says Israeli forces will be ready to attack Iran if ordered as Iranian military commander says Islamic republic is building copy of US spy drone.

<snip>

"Israeli forces are carrying out more special operations beyond the country's borders and will be ready to attack Iran's nuclear sites if ordered, the chief-of-staff said in an interview on Sunday.

In an extract from an interview with the top-selling Yediot Aharanot daily, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz said that 2012 would be a critical year in efforts to halt what Israel and much of the international community believe is an Iranian nuclear arms programme.

"We think that a nuclear Iran is a very bad thing, which the world needs to stop and which Israel needs to stop -- and we are planning accordingly," Gantz said.

"In principle, we are ready to act.

"That does not mean that I will now order (air force chief) Ido (Nehushtan) to strike Iran," he added in the interview which will be published in full on Wednesday, on the eve of Israel's 64th anniversary as a state."

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=51851

[oberliner]

1. What exactly is that second website you linked to?

You have the tendency to sneak in a second link to a tenuously related article from lesser known websites in the same posts (You did the same recently with Mondoweiss). What is that all about?

In any case, to the first of your two articles posted here, the former president gave a really powerful speech critical of the various "pre-emptive wars" the US has been involved in over the years.

He also appears to oppose economic sanctions.

[Purveyor]

2. Oh dear lord. You posted a link to an article that isn't officially approved by the forum locals.

What to do, what to do.

Personally I thank you for posting from those "lesser known" sites as it broadens everyone's perspective of the region.

[azurnoir]

3. oh but they have Arabic writing on them

must be terrorist sites or something

[oberliner]

8. Bizarro World

Who has ever said anything negative about sources with "Arabic writing" or used the phrase "terrorist site" in relation to shame?

Sarcasm generally only works if it references something in reality.

[azurnoir]

12. yes I agree it is quite bizarre to complain about a secondary link n/t

[oberliner]

13. The bizarre thing was the reference to Arabic writing

That was off the charts strange.

[azurnoir]

18. perhaps you need to see the obvious sarcasm in my comment

or not as suits you

[oberliner]

7. Good to let your guard down

Too often people just post articles without comment so it's difficult to know their own POV on matters.

It's nice when folks give a window into their own personal views.

[Purveyor]

11. I let nothing 'down'. A quick perusal of my posts in this forum should make it quite apparent my

views on the I/P issues, indeed.

With that said, does this mean I finally and official get my name on 'the list'?

LOL...

[oberliner]

14. I mean both of us

Usually we both just post articles so I think it's good when we let our guard down a bit and show our own personal point of view.

Too often I think we both just let the articles we post speak for themselves - posting without comment.

No idea what "list" you are referencing.

[Scurrilous]

4. Iran's FM hopes talks to mark end of nuke issue

Ali Akbar Salehi expresses hope next round of negotiations with powers will help conclude turmoil surrounding its nuclear program

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4220801,00.html

<snip>

"Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expressed hope on Tuesday that Tehran's next round of talks with the six powers will mark "the beginning of the end of the nuclear issue."

"We hope this meeting will be the beginning of the end of the Iranian nuclear issue," Salehi, who is visiting Tunis, told reporters following a conversation with Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki.

On Monday, the Iranian foreign minister said he was "optimistic" about the upcoming negotiations with the United States, France, Russia, China, Germany and Britain over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, planned to take place on May 23 in Baghdad.

"The results of the Istanbul meeting were satisfactory, and I am optimistic about the next meeting in Baghdad," he said."

[Purveyor]

5. Well we can't have that now can we. Anyone heard from Bibi yet? eom

[Jefferson23]

6. Yes, he spoke with Erin Burnett from CNN, broadcasted this last hour.

Netanyahu: "We know" what Iran is doing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says sanctions are taking a bite out of Iran's economy but it is not enough.

"So far they haven't rolled back the Iranian program, or even stopped it by one iota," Netanyahu told CNN's Erin Burnett in an exclusive interview that will broadcast on Tuesday night.

"I can tell you the centrifuges are spinning. They were spinning before the talks began recently with Iran. They were spinning during the talks. They were spinning as we speak," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also expresses confidence that Israel knew what Iran was trying to do with its nuclear program. "We know," he said.

"This is not the case, the questions, people had about Saddam Hussein," Netanyahu said, referring to the faulty intelligence that was relied on ahead of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Watch the whole interview tonight at 7pET on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront.

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/24/netanyahu-we-know-what-iran-is-doing/

[oberliner]

10. Warmonger

He needs to be shown the door by the Israeli voters in the next election.

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Hopefully a strong candidate can emerge who is less eager for conflict and can inspire the populace.

[oberliner]

9. This is great news!

Let's hope this dispute ends peacefully.

[LeftishBrit]

15. Agree with Carter; I hope there is no war with Iran - and doubt that there will be

[oberliner]

16. Imminent sure does seem to last a long time

Folks in certain quarters have been saying they were on the verge of an attack for quite some time.

[Scurrilous]

17. Israel’s top general says Iran unlikely to make bomb

<snip>

"Israel’s military chief said he does not believe Iran will decide to build an atomic bomb and called its leaders “very rational” - comments that clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment.
Lt. General Benny Gantz’s remarks, in an interview published on Wednesday in the left-wing Haaretz newspaper, drew little attention in Israel on its annual remembrance day for fallen soldiers, when political discourse is suspended.

But they will add fuel to an internal debate on the prospects of Iran weaponising its uranium enrichment program and the wisdom and risks of any Israeli military strike to try to prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power.

“Iran is moving step-by-step toward a point where it will be able to decide if it wants to make a nuclear bomb. It has not decided yet whether to go the extra mile,” Gantz said.

But, he said, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could opt to produce nuclear weapons should be believe that Iran would not face reprisal.

“In my opinion, he will be making a huge mistake if he does that and I don’t think he will want to go the extra mile,” Gantz said."

http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article618380.ece