Iran Going Nuclear

“It's no exaggeration to say that everything we've been trying to achieve in the Middle East and beyond is at stake here. The mullahs know it, which is why they risked international censure through sham elections to consolidate their power and are now risking a confrontation with the Security Council.”

Iran Rejects European Nuclear Proposal to provide fuel to help Iran generate electricity from nuclear reactors, as well as economic, political and security cooperation in exchange for abandoning all uranium activities, including conversion, enrichment and reprocessing.

German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, called it a "confrontational course".

The showdown now moves to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. watchdog agency that has called an emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss Iran's stance.

A UN team is heading to Iran with nuclear monitoring
equipment to install cameras to monitor a crucial site where Iran wants to resume nuclear fuel work in defiance of the international community. The European Union has threatened to bring Tehran before the UN Security Council for possible sanctions if the Iranians go ahead with conversion. Iran insists it is not worried about sanctions.

This international crisis looms as Iran's long-time ally, Syrian President al-Assad visits Tehran to discuss, among other things, Iraq. Both Syria and Iran have been accused by the United States of supporting anti-coalition insurgents inside Iraq.

Tehran is seeking closer alliance with Syria in the face of pressure on both countries from the United States. "The existence of common threats requires more cooperation between Tehran and Damascus," said Iran's President Ahmadinejad. Tehran and Damascus are both on the U.S. list of state sponsors of
terrorism. "Common threats" translated means the United States and a democratic Iraq. Ahmadinejad was a leader in the movement behind the 1979 terrorist hostage crisis, and may be denied the US visa required to speak at the UN.

John Bolton, US Ambassador to the UN, recently urged all nations "to meet their obligations to stop the flow of terrorist financing and weapons, and particularly on Iran and Syria." Syria's reaction was indignant.

US believes Iraqi roadside bombs, including "shape charges" come from Iran. Iran issued a typical denial. But, American commanders say these bombs closely matched those that Hezbollah (Iranian-backed, anti-Israeli terrorist group Hezbollah,) has used against Israel.

Recently, Donald Rumsfeld criticized Syria for "not behaving in a wise manner"; conduct that could come back to haunt them. Rumsfeld was referring to Syria's refusal to return Iraqi funds, housing of Baathists from Saddam's fallen regime and the flow of insurgents across the border. He said Syria was also "undoubtedly financing" some of the Iraqi insurgency. Rumsfeld cited Iraq as a a bigger and richer country than Syria, saying Iraq will be a more powerful country. The inference is clear.

These events heighten tensions centered on Iran's quest for nuclear arms as Iran and Syria become more closely allied against the United States.

Israel estimates that Iran could have a nuclear weapon as early as 2008.

"Iran is not a democratic country. And it is patently wrong to treat the ruling mullahs as if they were likely to observe international law."

"A nuclear umbrella would remove any inhibition Iran might still have about using conventional terrorism in an all-out assault on U.S. democracy-promotion in the region." A democratic Iraq is that threatening to the autocratic regimes of Iran and its toady, Syria.

Now that Iran intends to resume uranium enrichment, the Europeans' promises to "get tough" with Iran, if diplomacy and proposals fail, is about to be put to the test.