From Syndey Morning Herald:

February 2006: The Navy’s budget request for FY 2007 includes $503 million to develop 96
conventional warheads on 24 Trident II D5 missiles with deployment scheduled for 2008. Two
conventional missiles will be deployed alongside nuclear armed Trident II D5 missiles on each
of 12 operational SSBNs

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, in a January 18 discussion with the daily, Nezavisimaya gazeta, stated, ‘It is not profitable for Russia to impose sanctions on Iran, since we just recently signed an agreement to sell them nearly $1 billion worth of medium-range anti-aircraft weapons. These modern weapons are capable of hitting targets up to 25 kilometers away and will probably be used to defend various testing sites in Iran. Therefore, if some attempt is made to strike at the country and the deliveries from Russia are made quickly enough, we can expect a strong response. In other words, Iran will be able to defend itself.’
Ivanov added a significant caveat: ‘However, if ballistic missiles are used, then nuclear sites can be targeted effectively. We must not forget that Russia has its experts working on some of these sites, and is not interested in a military scenario, if only to protect them.’

The Jerusalem Post Internet Edition

Israel may 'go it alone' against Iran
Herb Keinon, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 24, 2006

Israel is carefully watching the world's reaction to Iran's continued refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, with some high-level officials arguing it is now clear that when it comes to stopping Iran, Israel "may have to go it alone," The Jerusalem Post has learned.

One senior source said on Tuesday that Iran "flipped the world the bird" by not responding positively to the Western incentive plan to stop uranium enrichment. He expressed frustration that the Russians and Chinese were already saying that Iran's offer of a "new formula" and willingness to enter "serious negotiations" was an opening to keep on talking.

"The Iranians know the world will do nothing," he said. "This is similar to the world's attempts to appease Hitler in the 1930s - they are trying to feed the beast."

He said there was a need to understand that "when push comes to shove," Israel would have to be prepared to "slow down" the Iranian nuclear threat by itself.

Having said this, he did not rule out the possibility of US military action, but said that if this were to take place, it would probably not occur until the spring or summer of 2008, a few months before President George W. Bush leaves the international stage. The US presidential elections, which Bush cannot contest because of term limits, are in November 2008.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, in a meeting in Paris with French Foreign Minister Phillippe Douste-Blazy Wednesday, said Iran "poses a global threat" and needed to be dealt with by the whole international community.

"The first thing they need to do is stop the enrichment of uranium," Livni said. "Everyday that passes brings the Iranians closer to building a nuclear bomb. The world can't afford a nuclear Iran." She said the Iranian reply to the Western incentives was just an attempt to "gain time."

Government officials said Israel's role at this time is to warn the world of the dangers of an Iranian nuclear potential. Some government officials are sending the message to their counterparts abroad that the firm implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 on Lebanon will send a strong message to Iran - which is testing the world's resolve - that it is serious about implementing Security Council resolutions.

Meanwhile, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported Wednesday that the Iranian news service Al-Borz, which it said is known to have access to sources in the Iranian government, predicted that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would announce what the news service called Iran's "nuclear birth" on the first anniversary of his government later this month.

In addition, an article Tuesday on the Teheran Times Web site, considered to be affiliated with the Foreign Ministry, implied that Iran's nuclear technology had already reached the point of no return. "If the West is seeking to impede Iran's nuclear industry, it should realize that Iran has passed this stage," the report read.

Diplomats from Europe, the US, Russia and China were poring over details of Iran's counterproposal to the Western nuclear incentives package Wednesday. Initial comments from Russia and China made clear Washington is likely to face difficulty getting at least those nations to agree to any tough sanctions against Iran.

In Paris, however, Douste-Blazy made clear that his government was sticking by the UN demand for Iran to halt enrichment by the end of this month as a precondition to further talks. Israeli officials said France has consistently advocated a firm position with Iran regarding the nuclear issue.

"I want to point out again that France is available to negotiate, and to recall that, as we have always said... a return to the negotiating table is linked to the suspension of uranium enrichment," Douste-Blazy said.

However, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it would continue to seek a political, negotiated solution to the dispute with Iran. China appealed for dialogue, urging "constructive measures" by Iran but also urging other parties to "remain calm and patient, show flexibility, stick to the orientation of peaceful resolution and create favorable conditions for resuming talks as soon as possible."

In London, a British Foreign Office spokesman predicted "some hard discussions" when the Security Council takes up the Iran issue in the coming weeks.

Iran said Tuesday it was ready for "serious negotiations" on its nuclear program and cast the counterproposal as a new formula to resolve the crisis with the West. But a semiofficial news agency said the government was unwilling to abandon uranium enrichment.

The world powers, the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany, have given Iran until August 31 to accept the incentives package.

AP contributed to this report.

This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite? ... 2FShowFull

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Turkish F-16 Jets Carry out Strikes Against PKK Targets in N. Iraq

8/24/2006 Cihan News Agency
Turkish jet fighters have commenced air strikes against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PPK) bases in northern Iraq.

F-16 jets carried out air strikes against targets in the Kanimasi and Snaht regions in northern Iraq.

Army officials stated that the F-16 jets which took off during the night had inflicted serious casualties on the PKK.

In addition to the air strikes, Turkish security forces are continuing their operations along the Iraqi border.

The U.S. government is looking into allegation of Kurdish reports of a joint Turkish-Iranian operation against the PKK in northern Iraq.

Speaking in Baghdad, spokesman for the U.S. and its allies in Iraq Maj. Gen. William Caldwell stated that there had been shelling in northern Iraq. "I'm not sure exactly where the shelling came from. So I'd be hesitant to say exactly who was responsible for it," the US general said.

IPR Middle East News
August 24, 2006

IRAN: PIPELINE EXPLOSION DISRUPTS GAS FLOW FROM IRAN TO TURKEY

According to "Tehran Times", following an explosion in the pipeline carrying Iran's natural gas to Turkey, the gas flow to this neighboring republic was disrupted. A strong explosion hit a natural gas pipeline from Iran to Turkey in the eastern Turkish province of Agri. The explosion occurred in the natural gas transfer unit of the Turkish Natural Gas Pipeline Company (BOTAS) on Saturday night at around 9.30 pm near the village of Gecitalan. A fire broke out and several firefighting vehicles were sent to the region to bring it under control after four hours of heavy fight. Agri Governor Halil Ibrahim Akpinar, who arrived at the scene after blast, said that they suspect of a terrorist sabotage.

PKK terror organization had carried out attacks in the region in the past. The blast was so strong that it was even heard nearly 40 kilometers away. The flames reached to the heights of 80 meters. The fire also damaged the power lines in the region, causing blackout in the city of Agri.

IRAN has test fired a long-range missile from a submarine in the Gulf as part of military exercises that began earlier this month, state television reported. It said the missile was called Sagheb, which means Piercing...

...Analysts interpreted those wargames as a thinly veiled threat that Iran could disrupt vital oil shipping lanes if pushed by an escalation in the nuclear dispute...

Tehran - Iran will launch a series of large-scale military manoeuvres across the country and has not made plans for an end to the ongoing war games, the army said on Thursday.

"The manoeuvres are aimed at introducing Iran's new defensive doctrine," military spokesperson Mohammad Reza Ashtiani was quoted as saying by state-run television.

He said the exercises would begin on Saturday in the south east of the country.

"It will continue in the whole of Iran, stage by stage for an unspecified period," Ashtiani said...

North Korea has condemned the annual joint United States-South Korea military drills, saying the exercises could lead to an actual war.

A North Korean People's Army (KPA) spokesman described the wargames, which have been under way in South Korea since Monday, as an "undisguised military threat and blackmail" against Pyongyang.

A statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, warned that it could lead to an actual war, while repeating its regular warning that North Korea had the right to take "pre-emptive" measures in self-defence.

Seoul and Washington say the exercises, which have been held annually since 1975, are for defence.

Conclusion
China needs new allies and privileged access to the oil reserves in the Middle East. Iran appears to be the best target for such an approach. The importance of energy reserves for China rests on the country's desire to develop its economy, which is the foundation of its attempts to play a stronger role in the international system. Also, Tehran's position in the Middle East is stronger than before, so it can help Beijing in the fight against unrivaled US influence.

Free> thanks for the interesting materials..

On a cynical note, the US attack on Iran under whatever falseflag pretense or lie would pierce the very last veil about the current state of affairs in the US. Actually, the world would see under the bride's veil the Rumsfeld's cranium which is increasingly looking like a prop from a horror blockbuster..

This would be a full fledged imperial comming out about energy wars and I doubt the msm could put effective spin on that any more. There would be some side effects like further cracks in the "Atlantic aliance" US-EU which might be rather healthy..

So, in any case autumn of falseflags would be certainly part of the plan for the above mentioned reasons..

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and China agree that using or threatening force against Iran is unacceptable and presenting Tehran with ultimatums is counter-productive, Interfax news agency quoted a Russian Deputy Foreign Minister as saying.