Tough New Sanctions on Iran - USA

The Times: Reports that the news it broke last night that Iran has been working on a nuclear trigger could mean that UN passes tougher sanctions, the Obama Administration is moving in that direction. Its down to the simple question, do the UN sanctions pass the smell test of Israel, any Israeli Government will want to see tough and harsh sanctions to prevent them attacking Iran. If the UN passes weak sanctions then Israel will see that UN and the Obama Administration can not be trusted and will take action. Lets hope POTUS gets this right or it could be a hot new year in 2010.

The West on Iran's Nuclear Trigger

Sky News/Foreign Matters: Excellent article by Tim Marshall of Sky News on how the UN and the West has been quite since the news broke last night that Iran could have a nuclear trigger since 2007. It has been interesting watching the news today, not a lot of comment on the fact that Iran could be weeks or months away from having a nuclear trigger. Of course Iran as always is playing a double game, thus the recent news that the three American holidaymakers would crossed the border between Iran and Iraq by accident are to be tried as spies. The Government in Tehran it can be postulated will throw the book at the Americans, even the death penalty as way to force the the USA to talk to them, of course Iran could drag this out for weeks or months, you get the idea, the end result Iran has the bomb. Thus we come back to my favourite hobby horse, when is Israel going to get off its backside and take care of this problem, Israel cant count on Obama, his dithering over Afghanistan is a classic example of weakness that would have shown up on the radar of Iran. Thus Israel its down to your, this 1981 again, and of late Syria, time for you take action, for your own protection and the region.

Iran to place Americans on TRIAL

BBC News: Reports that Iran is to place three US holidaymakers on trial after they crossed the border between Iran and Iraq by mistake. This is North Korea all over again folks, Iran will expect that the Obama Administration will send former President Bill Clinton over to pick up the Americans, the cost will be that Iran will try to get Clinton in to discussions about the growing nuclear problem of Iran. Thus the USA should place pressure on Iran but should not allow itself to be dragged in to direct talks, Iran is playing a game, the trial could take months, the idea to prevent an attack by Israel or the USA on the nuclear plants in Iran. An endless game folks.

Health Care Stalled in the US Senate Redux

The New York Times: Reports that the Independent Senator Joe Lieberman has refused to back the compromise new version of health care reform, the NYT writes the following on the remarks of Senator Lieberman, " said on Sunday that he would vote against the health care legislation in its current form. " One has to admire Senator Lieberman, he cares more about the country than the fixed ideology of the Democratic Party, Lieberman supported Bush 43 over Iraq and now showing the Democratic Party that you have to have logic in any reform, the present health care reform bill would allow those under sixty to enter the Medicare, this would bankrupt the system, also Lieberman is opposed to the public option that would give medical cover to a majority of Americans but at the cost of higher taxes, this would place the USA further in to recession. Thank God for Senator Lieberman, lets hope the Democrats take his wise advice, and start again with health care reform.

Iran's Nuclear Trigger - The Smoking Gun for War?

The Times: Reports that Iran has been working on a nuclear trigger for its nuclear bomb. As the evidence for this research comes from 2007 it can be argued that Iran could have the trigger for the bomb already. As noted in recent Telegraph article the Government in Tehran has been smuggling special equipment from Taiwan, thus one would not be surprised if Iran announced to a shock world that it had the bomb at the start of 2010. Also as it has been noted that Iran has been working on miniature warheads for smaller missiles, missiles that could reach Israel. This technology it seems came from North Korea. Lets recall President Obama in Norway stated that Iran and North Korea could not be allowed to play the system. Also as this blog has followed there are reports out of Tehran that Islamic system itself has come under attack by protesters, thus the regime in Tehran needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat soon, a big rabbit would be that Iran had the bomb. The Year long search by Obama for talks with Iran has failed, it even might have allowed Iran more time to get the bomb. In 2010 we have crunch time folks, either the West appease Iran or Israel hits, tense days ahead folks.