[Condi said the 9/11 attacks came with no warning. She lied. Condi said
there were WMDs in Iraq. She lied. Condi said "Now is the time for
diplomacy." Maybe she's telling the truth, but all the signs suggest that
her old pattern still holds. Here's a new sign: something has just caused a
major explosion in Daylam, an Iranian port city only 150 km from that
country's nuclear project at Bushehr (pronounced BUSH - ERR). Witnesses
report seeing a missile launched from an aircraft.
Perhaps the ancient civilization of Persia, for all its contemporary
horrors, has something to teach the executive branch of the US government
and their supporters, something "Old Europe" already knows:
Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda: A great flame follows from a little spark.
-- Dante, Paradiso I, 34
-- JAH]
[A Note of Caution - Conflicting early reports indicate that this reported
blast may have been either from a falling fuel tank (not likely), the result
of an airborne missile assault, or Iranian overreaction to blasting at a
large earthworks project near Daylam, a Persian Gulf port. Obviously a
missile attack on Iran would have originated from only the US or Israel and
would signal the start of a possible superpower nuclear confrontation. But
until there is more clarity on the readers should not conclude that an
actual missile attack has occurred until there is absolute confirmation. --
MCR]
Powerful blast in Iran
By Siavosh Ghazi in Tehran
17-02-2005
From: Agence France-Presse
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117...-23109,00.html
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for research and educational purposes.
A powerful blast occurred near Iran's Gulf port of Daylam today and
witnesses reported seeing a missile being fired from an unidentified plane,
local television reported.
The blast came at a time of high tensions between the US and Iran, which is
under intense international pressure over its nuclear activities.
Local officials have been dispatched to the site to identify the cause of
the explosion in an uninhabited area in the south of the country, according
to Arab-language television Al-Alam.
A government source told the television the explosion could have been the
result of a fuel tank falling from an Iranian plane, contradicting reports
that it was a missile.
Daylam is about 150km from Bushehr, where a controversial nuclear plant is
being built with Russian help.
The United States has warned of possible military action over Iran's nuclear
activities, charging that its efforts to develop nuclear fuel are a cover
for an atomic weapons program.
News of the blast sent the US stock market lower.
US media reports have said the US has been flying drones over Iran since
April 2004, seeking evidence of nuclear weapons programs and probing for
weaknesses in Iran's air defences.
Earlier today, Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Younessi confirmed the
presence of "American spying instruments" in the skies over Iran and warned
that they would be hit. However, he spoke of satellites rather than spy
planes.
"We have the means to hit them (these instruments) and if (they) get near,
our anti-aircraft defence systems will attend to it," said Younessi.
"Americans have been conducting spying activities in Iranian sky for a long
time."
Washington, which accuses Iran of being a prime sponsor of terrorism, claims
Iran's nuclear program is a cover for plans to build atomic weapons.
However, Iran has staunchly denied the allegations and the head of the UN
nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, said in an US interview published today
there was no evidence that Tehran was developing nuclear weapons.
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom claimed during a visit to London that
Iran was six months away from having the knowledge to build a nuclear bomb,
and said the problem must be tackled by the entire world.
Relations between Tehran and Washington have deteriorated since US President
George W. Bush took office for the second time in January, caused
principally by the nuclear standoff and Iran's alleged interference in Iraq.
Mr Bush has refused to exclude the possibility of military strikes should
Iran continue with its alleged atomic armaments program.
To stave off the threat of UN sanctions, as demanded by Israel and the US,
Britain, France and Germany are trying to convince Iran to stop uranium
enrichment in exchange for economic and political rewards.
Linear Mode
