Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree against North Korea that is inline with the U.N. resolution 1718, which recalled previous relevant resolutions 825 from 1993; 1540 from 2004 and 1695 from 2006 banning:

“trading with North Korea in materials, goods and technology which could contribute to North Korea's development of weapons of mass destruction-related programs such as those of missiles and nuclear weapons.”

“It also prohibits exports of luxury goods to North Korea and those to the North from third countries by way of Russia or Russian business corporations.”

U.N. resolution 1718 reaffirmed, expressed the gravest concern, expressed profound concern, expressed a firm conviction, deplored, deplored further, condemned, demanded and decided. Perhaps this is why Putin took as long as he did in issuing his presidential decree.

According to first deputy head of the State Duma Leonid Slutsky:

‘”Pyongyang isolated itself from the world community and tries to develop its nuclear program on its own."’

In related news:

“U.S. President George W. Bush admitted during his talks in April with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the U.S. government failed to fully read North Korean actions over the recent banking impasse.”

The “recent banking impasse” the agreement with North Korea:

“which has many parts, working groups, and rewards for Pyongyang, all spun out of the Six-Party talks in Beijing, and described by Hill, State’s envoy to the talks, as “an excellent plan.” This Saturday (4/15/07) marks the deadline for the initial 60-day phase in which Kim was supposed to have spent the time shutting down his Yongbyon reactor, providing a map of his entire nuclear program and opening wide for inspections.”

Concerns at the time were that North Korea would miss the deadline referred to above; which surprisingly North Korea missed….hmmmm.

Kim and the Gang are all worked up today with the accusation that South Korea has failed to honor “a promise to ship it more rice aid.” The South for its part will only provide the rice as promised, once the North actually gets around to honoring its pledge to start nuclear disarmament.

Ali Shakeri, a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen, businessman from CA and serves on an advisory board of the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding was visiting Iran. He was expected back a few weeks ago and has not been heard from since March 8^th.

This comes after “at least three Iranian-Americans have been arrested, detained or otherwise prevented from leaving Iran in recent months in what appears to be an Iranian crackdown on dual citizens.” The missing people are:

Haleh Esfandiari of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

From the Statement of her Arrest from the Center for Scholars (very interesting and worth a read): “Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and a dual Iranian-American national, was arrested in Tehran on May 8 and incarcerated in the Evin Prison.”

Kian Tajbakhsh, consultant for the Open Society Institute

Statement from the Open Society Institute regarding the detention of Dr. Tajbakhsh in Iran on or about May 11^th.

Parnaz Azima (From April 16, 2007: Parnaz Azima, a reporter for Radio Farda – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Persian service), on a trip to Iran to visit a sick relative had her Iranian passport seized by Iranian authorities who “have failed to return it to her, it said. It was not clear what the reason was. The statement said Azima was once asked to cooperate with Iran's intelligence services, which she refused.”

More on Ms. Azima at RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty

Iran is big on hostages, yet it never seems to effect reality enough for those involved to do anything about it.

In an effort to catch up and not be the only nation holding citizens, Iran’s foreign ministry called for the release of Iranian engineer Mohammad Alavi, not a dual citizen, arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of “transferring classified computer code to Iran” according to IRNA.

According to authorities:

“Mohammad Alavi, who worked at the triple-reactor Palo Verde power plant west of Phoenix, was arrested April 9 at Los Angeles International Airport when he arrived on a flight from Iran. He is charged with a single count of violating a trade embargo that prohibits Americans from exporting goods and services to Iran.”

Summary worth noting; Reuters sees the story as Iranians cracking down of dual citizenship individuals, which is comparable to Navin R. Johnson believing a snipers hitting oil cans was evidence of his hatred of them and not the reality that the sniper was shooting at him. Could his middle name be Reuters?

The supposedly free and democratically elected government of the Islamic Republic of Iran doesn’t like people openly visiting their country and possibly spreading any kind of ideas outside the Mullah’s Islamic leadership and its Islamic penal code.

Funny thing with peace deals with entities in the Middle East; they never manage to remain peaceful. Ultimately this all revolves around the fact that the main aim is the destruction of Israel, not a Palestinian state as so often is claimed. If a state were actually what they were all after, there would be a state.

Be sure to remember that those killed are not just by Israel when the twisting propaganda chooses to paint it so; Reuters:

“Lebanese tanks shelled Islamist militants in a Palestinian refugee camp on Monday and at least nine civilians were killed, raising the death toll in two days of fighting to 66, security sources said.”

“Palestinian sources in Nahr al-Bared said the bombardment had killed nine civilians and wounded 20. They feared the toll would rise. Aid workers, who earlier evacuated nine civilians, waited on the edge of the camp for a lull in the fighting.”

The NYTimes reports that:

“The Israeli Air Force launched new strikes against targets in Gaza today, a day after bombing the home of a Hamas Parliament member in Gaza, killing eight people.”

“At least four members of the group Islamic Jihad, on their way to launch rockets at Israel, were killed in a strike that destroyed their car near the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, according to Reuters, which cited the militant group.”

As is often the case in the Middle East, sides run into vision problems that allow each to see different things. The vision issue here regards the death of one man reported as being killed by an Israeli strike at what Israel says was a “rocket making facility,” while the Palestinians called it “a stonemason’s shop.”

I have faith in Israeli vision, as the others vision tends to see what will work as the best propaganda. When the nation of Israel does as much as it can conceivably to do honor efforts aimed at peace with Palestine; Palestine dishonors them.

“More than 150 rockets have been launched at Israel since Tuesday,” which is what started this whole conflagration.

Syria Adds to the Mix

According to Reuters:

“Lebanese government ministers say Fatah al-Islam is a tool used by Syria to stir instability in an effort to derail U.N. moves to set up an international court to try suspects in the 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.”

Syria's Assad buddies with Iran's ever lovable Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; a tidbit on a military purchase Syria recently made with Russia:

“Syria struck a $730 million deal with Russia earlier this year for some 50 Pantsyr-S1E self-propelled short-range gun and missile air defense systems.”

Syria however will not deploy all of the 50 Pantsyr-S1E systems, it actually has plans to offload 10 of the systems to…surprise!!!!....Iran!!! Haaretz reports that:

“Jane's said Iran would take delivery of the systems in late 2008. To reward Syria for its middleman role, Tehran would part-finance Syria's Pantsyrs as well as paying for its own.”

My friend X at The Middle East Interest dropped me an e-mail, which brought my attention to a charity for our military in Iraq; Operation Bedding.

A worthy cause, “Operation Bedding,” which was initially set up by Mary Conboy in response to a request from her son, a Marine in Anbar Province Iraq, from Serendip:

“During a Sunday morning phone call from the Anbar province, he described staying 20 men per room in an old schoolhouse, packed into bunk beds in the scorching heat. The stench, he said, was overwhelming.”

Sheets, he, they, wanted sheets, clean sheets.

The Sunday call was placed a week before he was killed on Friday May 12, 2006.

“Operation Bedding has since grown from a son's spontaneous quip to a mother's tribute to her fallen Marine. Mary Conboy runs a homespun charity effort from her backyard, sending troops in Iraq packages that contain everything from bedding to sweat socks to canned tuna.”

President Bush “predicted that after more than three months of stalemate, a deal was within reach to pay for the war through Sept. 30.” Adding this:

‘“We will work through something we can all live with and enable us to get the job done.”’

One side wants to win the Iraq Theater; the other has already lost: 2+2=3 ok…

Unconscionable mathematics aside, all is not lost. “The US can count on Iranian help to get out of the current stalemate in Iraq.”

Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali “Larry” Larijani, hot off the “peaceful nuke” negotiations it is assumed said:

‘"This method, diplomatic shuttle on the warship, is not helpful. It is somewhat desperate roaring and is far away from logic. Of course, I do not have objection to diplomatic tours, but, they will get nowhere. There is some countries which cherish the dream of establishing great civilization through unilateral action. Iran cannot help in this case.”’

‘"But, if they change their method in a bid to get out of the current stalemate, they can count on Iranian help.”’

Perhaps the Mullahs and Democrats can work on that one; leave it to the Majority “leadership,” they’re real fighters when it comes to a wet paper bag.

Jonah Goldberg, that silly little man is confused and wonders in writing, if not aloud; “why is it obvious that intervening in a civil war is not only wrong, but so self-evidently wrong that merely calling the Iraqi conflict a civil war closes off discussion?”

Why indeed…

The EU and Russia meet regarding economic issues and ties, yet not much in the way of results is expected. There is concern from many EU countries:

“about rising energy dependence on Russia, which supplies a quarter of Europe's oil and more than two-fifths of its gas. Those worries increased after Moscow briefly halted gas supplies to Ukraine and Belarus in 2006 and 2007, resulting in supply shortfalls to EU countries.”

Concerns or worries are unfounded as earlier this week, “U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said ‘“there were no grounds for talk of a new Cold War.”’

Certainly not the Cold War we consider when the terminology is used and that the definition of war is evolving; no two snowflakes are alike.

Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani meeting with Moroccan Parliament Speaker Abdelwahed Radhi said on Tuesday regarding Israel:

"The Zionist regime's policy is based on more control and domination over Beit-ul-Moqaddas. Now, the world of Islam is duty-bound to confront such policies."

Rafsanjani spoke of the importance of fostering solidarity among Arab states and Iran in an attempt to empower Iran uh Iranian led Islamic extremism er Islamic extremism eh, the Islamic world.

Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Mohammad-Ali Hosseini condemned Israel's latest attacks on Palestinians in Gaza strip as “savage and terrorist”:

‘"Targeting residential areas and slaughtering innocent children, women and men in Palestine as well as demolishing their houses through bombardments indicate the depth of the hostility and hatred of the Zionist regime and its ally, the US which has hidden itself behind the mask of loving peace and democracy, towards Palestinians and people of the region."’

He stressed the need, “for further strengthening of unity among different Palestinian groups to safeguard their national interests and maintain values of their Islamic resistance.”

The assumption made that the continuation or maintenance of Palestinian Islamic resistance is illustrated thusly:

16 rockets landed on Wednesday (5/16) seriously injuring a 70-year-old woman plus 18 others.

On Tuesday (5/15), 24 rockets hit Israel and wounded 30 people.

47 rockets have landed in Israel this week.

Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Palestinian terrorists have fired more than 1,300 rockets into Israel.

Setting aside reality; Keep up the good work kiddies!

Charles Krauthammer believes the 40^th anniversary of the Six Day War should be celebrated beginning May 16, 1967…he has a good point.

What would a Friday be without a Friday Sermon from Iran? Aside from the fact that it would probably be better; Tehran's substitute Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani spoke of the Islamic Republic’s and Iran’s in general, past glories:

‘"We should not allow anyone to destroy our past glories and nobody should dare to take these honors from the nation. We should also defend our far past history"’

Also, let us not forget the “Great Satan:”

‘"If the US lays aside its arrogance aims in Iraq and follows the United Nations regulations concerning occupation, the establishment of security in the country will be possible."’

Lastly, Rafsanjani:

“commemorated "Communication Week" and spoke about its importance in the current world.”

Unfortunately, there appears to be nothing communicating just what “Communication Week,” is in the Islamic Republic News Agency. Go figure…

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference or OIC, “urged Muslim intellectuals to help improve the atmosphere of tolerance and dialogue among Muslim and the Western worlds.”

The unfair treatment of Islam has created a lopsided fear or Islamophobia, key points made:

“Increasing discrimination and intolerance against Muslims, particularly in Europe and the North America, is a serious issue.”

“The distortion of Islam and attempts to defame it as an extremist faith would have negative effects on world peace.”

“Confronting the concept of Islamophobia, rectifying the increasing negative discourse of the Western politicians and media and disseminating the true message and tenets of Islam could not be possible only by relying on the efforts of the 57-member OIC. “

‘"Active support of the member states is essential for countering negative propaganda against Islam and Muslims."’

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, in a departure from the uneven handedness of his predecessor said recently of the OIC:

‘“I look forward to strengthening these ties even further in the months and years to come.”’

Ki-moon also spoke of:

‘“The OIC, as a leading multilateral institution, is well placed to play a leading role in addressing all these challenges (Islamic States instability…). I would especially like to commend the excellent cooperation between the Untied Nations and the OIC.”’

As a follow up to this “peace in the offing,” an article by Anne Bayefsky at National Review Online regarding the replacement to the UN’s Commission on Human Rights; the new and improved (as oxymoronic as the name UN implies), the “UN Human Rights Council.”

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez doesn't like his country's media coverage on him, so he has put rules into affect that he feels are fair.

Fred Thompson, the presidential non-candidate upon the fence, takes a moment to compare the business as usual actions of a tyrant with that of the Democrat party and its resurrection of the Fairness Doctrine.

From National Review Online, Fred Thompson's "Radio Free Congress:"

"I had planned on talking a bit today about Venezuela. The president there doesn’t like the way his media is covering him, so he’s doing away with the free press. He’s established rules on what he thinks is fair, and he’s denying licenses to television and radio stations that don’t play by government rules.

I can’t criticize him now, though. After all, how would it seem for me to complain about another country, when our own congressional leadership is trying to put the same sort of rules in place here? To do so, they’re pulling the Fairness Doctrine out of the dustbin of history.

The Fairness Doctrine is an artifact from the days when there were only a handful of television channels and radio stations on our dials. Then, there might have been something to the fear that somebody might get control of all the media outlets in an area — so equal time rules were put in place.

As television and radio stations increased, it became clear that the rule was a bust. Instead of protecting free speech, it imposed costs on broadcasters that killed political discussion entirely. Why run the risk of dealing with anything controversial and having the regulators and the lawyers come down on you? Instead of talking about issues, news directors used stopwatches to measure candidates’ airtime.

Finally, in 1987, the Federal Communications Commission ended the antiquated policy. Today, with more cable and local access channels than anybody can keep track of — the equal time rule makes even less sense. Throw in the Internet, and it’s absurd.

The real issue here is not what you “can” see or hear — which is what the Fairness Doctrine was about originally. It’s what you’re “choosing” to see or hear.

Insiders say it was the collapse of the radio station “Air America” that led to this attempt to retool the Fairness Doctrine as a form of de facto censorship. I guess the idea is that, if you can’t compete in the world of ideas, you pass a law that forces radio stations to air your views. In effect, it would force a lot of radio stations to drop some talk show hosts — because they would lose money providing equal airtime to people who can’t attract a market or advertisers.

The funny thing is that the success of the current crop of radio talk show hosts is due, in part, to a lot of people’s perception that broadcast television doesn’t give the views of their audience a fair shake. Maybe I shouldn’t admit it, since I dabble in radio myself, but this media used to be viewed as a kind of broadcast ghetto. The bicoastal elite had such a grip on the major newspapers and television networks; they pretty much ignored the hinterlands. It was media flyover country.

Now congressional leaders say they want to “level the playing field” there too — meaning they want to diminish the importance of conservative talk radio. In other words, they don’t trust the results of freedom and the marketplace. Why am I not surprised?"

Roughly a week ago “Wake Up America,” posted regarding presidential hopeless, John Edwards and his new effort at redefining Support the Troops. The former senator has launched a new website, “Support the Troops. End the war.”

Not willing to stomach the site; a quote as quoted by Wake Up America (bold mine):

“Throughout our history, military men and women and their families have sacrificed for America. The troops in Iraq and their families continue to sacrifice today. So this Memorial Day Weekend, John Edwards is asking the American people to give some part of their weekend in return—to honor and remember all those who have gone before in service to our country, and to let our government know we want to honor our troops by ending the war and bringing them home.”

As has been said endlessly, this is not support for the troops; it is slick marketing for the support of ending our participation in the Iraq Theater in the war on terror. The Democrats have spoken and voted for quite some time now, promising to end the war; de-funding or no longer funding the war is not ending the war; that is more accurately described as retreating, running away or escaping and evading. The Democrats like to “imply” an end, but that will only lead to a new beginning, as voting is easy but ending something like what is going on in Iraq is not simply done in ink.

What is the Spirit of the bayonet?

To KILL, KILL, KILL!!!!!!!!!

Our soldiers are in Iraq and elsewhere doing what they have trained to do; Some of the skills/subjects the infantry recruit trains to:

Survive on the NBC battlefield (Nuclear Biologic Chemical), Train for Land Mine Warfare, Marksmanship (oddly the M16 is the basic tool of the infantry soldier), Rifle Bayonet Pugil Fighting, M203 Grenade Launcher (familiarization), M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (familiarization), M240 Machine Gun (familiarization), Introduction to burst fire mode and firing in Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) protective equipment, Infantry tactics proficiency, Hand Grenade Training, Night Infiltration, Fire Team, Urban Operations, Mortar Training, Defensive fighting positions, Squad tactics, FTX.

Supporting the troops is supporting them in the efforts they have been trained for and are involved in now. Our soldiers do not practice the skills above to be treated as mere children, nor are the skills above related in any way to a home economics course/class in high school. Their skills are honed on the battlefield for the antithesis of what the Democrat party represents.

The U.S. Army Values

• Loyalty
• Duty
• Respect
• Selfless Service
• Honor
• Integrity
• Personal Courage

These values are something the Left, msm and Democrats are lacking. The soldier does not likely wish to leave the battlefield as innocent Iraqi civilians are butchered. Nor do they likely wish to desert their fallen comrades in what to them is their duty and honor to defend and support in their efforts to vanquish the enemy. Supporting the troops is not guaranteeing their failure, which by pulling them out before the singing of the fat lady is heard is a failure over which they have no control. This is not ending the war, this is a lack of support that which they do each and every day.

Old news from Washington

As a continuing example from Democrats and the msms definition of victory; CNN published an article this morning entitled, “Iraq funding deadline fails but gains more support.”

In the article, CNN acknowledges (they have to) that the Anti-war Democrats “failed,” but of course there is a silver lining as the:

“lopsided bipartisan vote that masked growing impatience within both political parties over President Bush's handling of the four-year conflict.”

The talking point according to Russ Feingold and taken hook, line and sinker by CNN was to Feingold the “fact” that stopping the war, ‘”was considered absolute heresy four months ago."’ A heresy one might note not really uttered by the Democrat minority prior to November.

Four loser Democrat presidential hopefuls actually stuck their necks out on this one and voted for the sad, misguided legislation. They were; Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Hillary Clinton, who said:

“has adamantly opposed setting a date for a troop withdrawal, and she gave conflicting answers during the day when asked whether her vote signified support for a cutoff in funds.”

Conflicting answers? Do you mean like:

‘"I'm not going to speculate on what I'll be voting on in the future," she said at midday. But a few hours later she said: "I support the ... bill. That's what this vote ... was all about."’

Far be it for Senator Hillary Rodham (Clinton) to indicate anything resembling integrity prior to the latest poll.

According to Arnaud de Borchgrave in a commentary piece in The Washington Times:

“The Bush administration wants an understanding with Iran that would end the conflict in Iraq. And Iran, at the highest clerical level, wants to end the 28-year-old break in diplomatic relations.”

“If Mr. Bush were willing to talk geopolitical turkey with Iran's ranking theocrats, putting diplomatic recognition, an end to all sanctions, and a non-aggression treaty on the table in return for (1) Tehran ending uranium enrichment and resuming full international monitoring of all its nuclear facilities; (2) ending all support for terrorist activities; (3) non-interference in Iraq -- a promising deal could be negotiated. But to insist that Iran end all nuclear fuel activities before the U.S. is willing to embark on a bilateral negotiating track is a diplomatic cul-de-sac.”

Demanding an end to all nuclear fuel activities as a starting point for negotiations is a requirement of the U.S. government; Iran has said, it will not abide by a demand of this kind as an onset to talks. Regardless of a “cul-de-sac” or any other kind of sac, Tehran will not likely end its uranium enrichment activities, nor would it end support for terrorism; terrorism is and has taken Iran to the point that it is today in the international arena. Terrorism, in the mind of the Mullahs and words of Ahmadinejad is what will help them unite the Islamic world in its quest to defeat all that is infidel.

From two countries involved in the EU-3 negotiations with Iran (Russia involved, but not really counted in the numerical number), comes the opinion by a number of British and Russian experts that believe:

“Iran will test a North Korean-designed, plutonium-based nuclear device underground in the fall. Others among the same group of experts say it will be an enriched uranium device fueled by pre-enriched uranium feed stock obtained on the international black market.”

Plutonium or uranium is not the point; with the negotiations responsibility handed to these nations, a farce from the beginning has resulted in no results. From the beginning, the nations involved have played the diplomacy game knowing full well what the diplomacy game ends in. Talk is cheap, talk often leads to nothing but a delay of something bigger and nastier.

Experts now see possibilities of Iranian success in nuclear development. Why even the ever prescient Mohamed ElBaradei openly sees the light, the light that he would not admit existed in the run up to the endless chattering. Personally I do not believe he ever had any intention of stopping the Iranian “peaceful nuke” game. That is not the job of a diplomat; their job is to talk and agree, regardless of the results. If they talk, they have succeeded and no doubt El Baradei sees accomplishment. Following the U.N. and others taking action, El Baradei today announces the tough love truth:

‘“We believe they pretty much have the knowledge about how to enrich. From now on, it is simply a question of perfecting that knowledge. People will not like to hear it, but that’s a fact.”’

Some European nations along with Russia are beginning to see that new sanctions are pointless citing the logic:

“of demanding suspension was that it would delay the day that Iran gained the knowledge to produce its own nuclear fuel.”

If there was ever logic to the diplomacy and sanctions, why did Russia and others do so much to thwart these efforts? Why not do it while it was logical? Could it be that they were too interested in talking?

The entire situation is one of diplomatic circles playing with words, enjoying wonderful catered meals, posh hotels, self-importance and regardless of outcome a job well done.

Speaking for the great, respected and tough organization that is the U.N., El Baradei points out that:

‘“Quite clearly suspension is a requirement by the Security Council, and I would hope the Iranians would listen to the world community.”'

Yes, I would hope; that and UN-esque diplomacy will get you a big fat zero or if you are Iran a new vantage point that requires the international organization to view it, according to El Baradei from the perspective of proliferation since:

‘“the fact of the matter is that one of the purposes of suspension — keeping them from getting the knowledge — has been overtaken by events.”’

Missing from El Baradei is any sense of irony that he and his cohorts are the very ones responsible for the events outpacing talks. Outpacing talks is never a challenge; consider the EU’s agreement with the Mullahs regarding “peaceful nukes,” that is laying of the groundwork for the 2010 conference. Sounds like this is kind of behind the eight ball as well, no? Not really, at least not according to an esteemed diplomat like El Baradei:

‘“The focus now should be to stop them from going to industrial scale production, to allow us to do a full-court-press inspection and to be sure they remain inside the treaty.”

Basketball analogies or not, the game they are playing for us is over; the game they are playing for a paycheck is not. It is no wonder that a diplomats job is never done.

El Baradei

An article in The New York Times this morning said:

“The search for three missing American soldiers abducted after an attack south of Baghdad continued Monday as the Qaeda group that claimed responsibility for the ambush said the soldiers would never be found.”

According the group Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia:

‘“What you are doing searching for your soldiers will be in vain and lead to nothing but fatigue and unrest. Your soldiers are in our hands. If you desire safety do not look for them.”’

The Times article put forward the belief that:

“The statement suggested that the group was reveling in a manhunt that required a hefty deployment of resources.”

In its supposition, the toilet paper is perhaps painting or suggesting the statements of the group as “reveling,” because the toilet paper itself revels daily in its attempts at painting everything Iraq wrong; excepting deaths of course.

Where The Times sees revelry, others like me see the possibility that perhaps the Al Qaeda affiliates and militia groups working with them do not like the concentration of soldiers in the area.

Though many want Iraq to be about the biggest terrorist of them all, Bush and believe it is about WMDs, it is about much more. The New York Times and others report as though this ambush and the taking of the soldiers as a failure of our military, but mistakes, errors, mishaps, death and all the rest happen on a daily basis in war; this is nothing new.

Since Saturday’s ambush “4,000 American soldiers have been scouring the orchards;” prior to the ambush, 4,000 American soldiers were not. Leader of the Dulaimi tribe in Mahmudiya Sheik Ali al-Hatim said “Al Qaeda has been knocking on people’s doors and telling them that their sons between the ages of 20 and 30 must join their organization.” He added to that, “Americans have detained at least 50 people in the search.”

The article points to and supposes the upper hand to the enemy; as if this is a windfall for them. With the statements of al-Hatim you have to wonder how the concentrated presence of 4,000 soldiers is hampering Al Qaeda’s forced enlistment drive in the region. If the toilet paper could look beyond itself it might wonder the same; including how the Al Qaeda affiliate and militias feel about the 50 people detained thus far as that number will most definitely change.

The group cannot like any of those facts regardless of whether or not the toilet paper sees their statements as revelry in what The Times sees as a waste of time and resources.

Friday during expressions of love for all mankind Provisional Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani during the weekly Friday Sermon said of the U.S. in Iraq:

‘"The only important point for the US statesmen is that 4,000 US soldiers have got killed in Iraq, not caring a bit about the huge number of the innocent Iraqis that have got killed at home due to the US arrogant policies."’

Today, in the interest of peace and reconciliation, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered these dove-like remarks:

'"They realize that if they make such a mistake the retaliation of Iran would be severe and they will repent. All people know they cannot strike us. Iran is capable of defending itself. It is a strong country. Superpowers cannot prevent us from owning this energy."'

'“We in the Persian Gulf are faced by difficulties and enemies. Those do not want the region to live in safety ... peace can be achieved by getting rid of these forces. They intervene in the region and make it insecure. They claim that lack of security is the reason for their presence (but) the problem is the intervention of foreign powers."'

'"They know that their plans have failed in Iraq, their vision is wrong. As long as you are plotting against the Iraqi people, failure will be there day after day."'

We love you too Momo! Sounds like we’re almost there…

So, how go negotiations with the nation that is ready to talk?

The suspension of uranium enrichment would be unacceptable as a precondition to talks…Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said:

'"Iran will accept no precondition. The idea can be discussed, if it causes no illegal limitation for Iran's legal activities."'

Further expressing the reality we in the West wish to ignore; Minister of Defense Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said the following:

'"The wrong and unilateral strategy pursued by the enemies of Iran made Iranian scholars determined to attain self-sufficiency."'

One of the summations by the IRNA news source of the Defense Ministers statements:

“Domestic unity and Islamic solidarity as well as attention to scientific issues will bring about a big change in the world, adding that the global arrogance is afraid of development of Muslim nations.”

“He noted that the westerners copied the Islamic knowledge and then misused the sciences against the Muslim nations.”

It all boils down to the West’s need for the Iranian technology:

"The West chants mottos such as 'human rights and knowledge has has no border' in order to make use of knowledge and capabilities of Iranian talented people."

Remember, next time some neo whatever says Iran is a danger…

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said “there were no grounds for talk of a new Cold War,” adding:

‘"I know people talk about, throw around terms like new Cold War. As somebody who came out of that period as a specialist in it I think the parallels ... frankly, they have no basis whatsoever."’

Our disagreements with Russia are by no means what they used to be, and “throw around” terms as stated by the Secretary of State and the “parallels” between then and now sounds like an apt response. But, just as Iraq is no Vietnam, a new Cold War would not have to be based word for word on the old Cold War.

Russia is none too thrilled about the U.S.’ planes of placing missile interceptors in Poland, nor the planned radar in the Czech Republic; if it makes them feel any better, Democrats don’t much care for it either.

Russia is also not all gushy-eyed about the possible independence of Kosovo. Setting aside any media alarmist reactions to the previous disagreements, Secretary Rice, as a means of allaying fears and hoping to proactively address any media onslaughts, offered:

“Areas where Russia and the United States cooperated, such as reining in nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.”

"It's not an easy time for the relationship. It's not. But it's also not a time in which ... catastrophic things are happening in the relationship. It's mixed."

"If you look at the actual ... facts on the ground and you look at the level of cooperation that we have had on North Korea, on Iran, if you look at the WTO agreement that we've signed with Russia ... it just doesn't accord with some of the rhetoric that does sometimes come out."

"It's a big, complicated relationship, but it's not o