IRAN
Iran boosts anti-U.S. rhetoric ahead of nuclear report
Ramin Mostafavi, Reuters – November 4, 2011
Iran marked the anniversary of the 1979 seizure of the U.S. embassy on Friday with burning flags and chants of “Death to America,” escalating its anti-U.S. rhetoric ahead of the release of a pivotal U.N. report on its nuclear programme.
Iran’s nuclear ambitions have already started a war with west – a covert one
Julian Borger, The Guradian – November 4, 2011
The covert war on Iran’s nuclear programme was launched in earnest by George Bush in 2007. It is a fair assumption that the western powers had been trying their best to spy on the Islamic Republic since the 1979 Iranian revolution, but the 2007 “presidential finding” put those efforts on a new footing.
China urges Iran be flexible on nuclear program
Reuters – November 4, 2011
China urged Iran on Friday to show flexibility over its controversial nuclear program and warned that the use of force to resolve the issue was the last thing the Middle East needed at the moment.
ISRAEL
Israel Faces Questions About News Reports of Eyeing Iran Strike
Isabel Kershner & David E. Sanger, NYT – November 3, 2011
Israel’s top leadership has spent the week answering and evading questions about widespread reports that it is once again considering a strike on Iran’s nuclear complexes, while President Obama said Thursday that he and his allies would maintain “unprecedented international pressure” on Tehran to keep it from producing a nuclear weapon.
Israeli PM orders investigation into Iran leak
Ian Black, The Guardian – November 3, 2011
Israel’s prime minister has ordered an investigation into alleged leaks of plans to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, it has been reported.
AFGHANISTAN
US says its civilian aid to Afghanistan has peaked
Susan Cornwell, Reuters – November 3, 2011
U.S. civilian aid to Afghanistan has peaked, the State Department said in a new report, declaring the United States would spend less on development assistance there as it withdraws troops from the country.
PAKISTAN
US reins in drones over diplomatic concerns: report
AFP – NOvember 4, 2011
The US spy agency has quietly tightened its rules on drone strikes in Pakistan over concerns about their impact on tense relations with Islamabad, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The Ally From Hell
Jeffrey Goldberg & Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic – NOvember 3, 2011
Pakistan lies. It hosted Osama bin Laden (knowingly or not). Its government is barely functional. It hates the democracy next door. It is home to both radical jihadists and a large and growing nuclear arsenal (which it fears the U.S. will seize). Its intelligence service sponsors terrorists who attack American troops. With a friend like this, who needs enemies?
UNITED STATES
Former deficit hawk Leon Panetta now fights budget cuts as defense secretary
Melina Mara, Washington Post – November 3, 2011
The last time the Pentagon was forced to shrink, two decades ago, one of its nemeses was a determined deficit hawk named Leon E. Panetta.
Perry would back Israel strike on Iran nuke sites
Reuters – November 4, 2011
Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry said on Thursday that as president he would support an Israeli air strike on Iran if there is proof Tehran is moving closer to having a nuclear weapon.
