US to target anti-Iraq activity

[TechBear_Seattle]

US to target anti-Iraq activity

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned that the US will take action against any country seeking to destabilise Iraq.

Her statement comes hours after US forces stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil.

In a major policy speech, President George W Bush said the US would take a tough stance towards Iran and Syria, whom he accused of destabilising Iraq.

Full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6252567.stm

Preparation for an invasion of Iran? Syria? Perhaps Saudi Arabia (since they are the primary exporters of radical Islam)?

[ixion]

1. uh, are we going to 'take action' on ourselves, then? seems like we're the ones

who've done and are doing the vast majority of destabilising there.

[maddezmom]

2. Rice warns Iran against aggression after US arrests Iranian consular staff

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran that the United States won't "stand idly by" if Tehran tries to disrupt Washington's renewed effort to stabilize Iraq.

Speaking hours after US troops raided Iran's consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil and arrested five employees, Rice said Washington was determined to crack down on Iran's "regional aggression".

Rice declined to comment specifically on the operation in Arbil, which came shortly after President George W. Bush announced a new US strategy to end the violence in Iraq that included stepped up moves to counter Iranian and Syrian involvement in the country.

She also declined in three television interviews Thursday morning to rule out US military action against Iran, which she and Bush accused of supporting anti-US insurgents and "terrorists" in Iraq and of trying to develop nuclear weapons.

more:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070111/pl_afp/iraqusiranunrestrice_070111142703


Rice offers to meet Iran if it gives up enrichment
WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday she was ready to meet "any time, anywhere" with Iran's leadership if it suspended its enrichment of uranium.

"I repeat an offer that I have made several times, today. If Iran suspends its uranium enrichment, which is an international demand and not just an American one, then the United States is prepared to reverse 27 years of policy and I will met with my Iranian counterpart any time, anywhere," Rice told a news conference.

If such a meeting took place, Rice said both sides could discuss "every facet" of our relationship, which is strained over Iran's nuclear program. The United States says the program is aimed at building weapons, while Tehran says it is for peaceful, civilian power purposes.

Rice said until Tehran gave up its uranium enrichment program, the international community should continue to hold it accountable. Last month, the United Nations imposed financial sanctions against Iran.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N11403869.htm

[Jacobin]

3. blech

yaddayadda

[leesa]

4. Iran has every right to enrich uranium.

Condi should actually try reading the anti-proliferation agreement once.

[mainegreen]

5. Hell, I'd enrich uranium just to *avoid* meeting her!

:rofl:

[xchrom]

6. holy water would do the trick.

[rodeodance]

7. she is on msnbc now

'Vital region'

US troops raided the Iranian consulate in Irbil at about 0300 (0001 GMT), taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials.

The top US diplomat said Iran and Syria should "end their destabilising behaviour" in the region.

"The United States will defend its interests and those of our friends and allies in this vital region," she added.

She also said she was ready to meet Iran's leadership if it suspended its enrichment of uranium and pursuit of nuclear weapons.

"I repeat an offer that I have made several times, today. If Iran suspends its uranium enrichment, which is an international demand and not just an American one, then the United States is prepared to reverse 27 years of policy and I will met with my Iranian counterpart any time, anywhere."

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. How is this not already an invasion?

Through hundreds of years of diplomatic protocol, embassies and consulates are the sovereign territory of their country. By invading the Iranian embassy and taking embassy computers, we have, for all intents and purposes, invaded Iran and stolen government materials. This was a deliberate act of war.

[mike_c]

9. yep-- this was deliberate provocation....

eom

[donkeyotay]

10. So. we're going to war with Iraq, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan

but hopefully not Pakistan, China or Russia? Saudi Arabia will be/ will not be on our(?) side. Are we killing Sunnis and Shia, or just Sunnis? I'm so confused. I don't think Condi will ever meet her counterpart in Iran because I doubt there is one. The Vulcans are all ours. War! War! Armageddon! We will be victorious, or dead and broke. I wonder who's going to take over the US when the World Bank has the auction.

[rodeodance]

11. Rice warns Iran after US nabs Iranians in Iraq by David Millikin

Rice warns Iran after US nabs Iranians in Iraq by David Millikin
55 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran that the United States won't "stand idly by" if Tehran tries to disrupt Washington's renewed effort to stabilize Iraq.


Speaking hours after US troops detained six Iranians in a raid in northern Iraq, Rice said Washington was determined to crack down on Iran's "regional aggression."

Rice declined to comment specifically on the operation in the northern city of Arbil, which came shortly after President George W. Bush announced a new US strategy to end the violence in Iraq that included stepped up moves to counter Iranian and Syrian involvement in the country.

In a spate of television interviews and testimony in Congress to defend the new Bush plan for Iraq, Rice declined repeatedly to rule out US military action against Iran -- accused by the administration of supporting anti-US insurgents and Shiite radicals in Iraq and of trying to develop nuclear weapons.

"I don't want to speculate on what operations the United States may be engaged in, but you will see that the United States is not going to simply stand idly by and let these activities continue," she said in one interview.

......
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070112/ts_afp/iraqusiranunrestrice_070111232249

[Bitwit1234]

12. I read that the Iranians were remove land mines

I think the article in the UK papers said the Kurds had asked the Iranians to help remove the old land mines that Saddam's former army had placed in the Kurdish area. Is that correct. That could explain why they were there. Did the US check it out first.

[IndyOp]

13. War! War! War! War! War! War! We Want War! Death! Death! (n/t)

[HuffleClaw]

14. yeah, she's in this DEEEEEEP

sure picked the wrong horse.

[katsy]

15. I agree with pat buchanan only on matter he brought up last night:

Iran has every right to try and do what's in Iran's best interests.