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Rafsanjani: Russian Comment on Moscow-built Nuclear Plant MisleadingTEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's former influential President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani voiced dissatisfaction Friday at a Russian executive's remarks that a Moscow-built nuclear plant in Iran would not start work until late next year. By The Associated Press سخنان رفسنجانی در نماز عید قربان امروز جمعه در تهران

After NIE, More BMD
The new National Intelligence Estimate has led many to call for a new policy towards Iran. Sen. Hillary Clinton "vehemently disagree[s]" that "nothing in American policy has to change." Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the report confirmed the Russian view that "there is no military element in [Iran's] nuclear program." By Weekly Standard

Abdullah, Ahmadinejad Hold Wide-Ranging Talks
MINA -- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held talks here yesterday with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on major regional and international issues as well as ways of strengthening bilateral ties, the Saudi Press Agency said. By Arab News

Bush's 'Axis of Evil,' Six Years Later
Just four months after Sept. 11, George Bush identified Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the "axis of evil" and declared that defanging these rogue regimes was America's most urgent national security task. Bush will be judged on whether he succeeded. By The Washington Post

Rice: Tactical Differences Remain on Iran
WASHINGTON -- There are still tactical differences between major powers about a third U.N. sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear program, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday. Political directors from the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain held a conference call on Thursday to discuss piling more U.N. sanctions on Iran for its refusal to give up sensitive nuclear work. By Reuters

US its at Chinese Oil Deal with Iran
The US has complained to Beijing about a new deal between Sinopec, the Chinese state-owned energy company, and Iran, in a sign of the rift between the world’s big powers about Tehran’s nuclear programme. By The Financial Times

Dubai Reacts to US Pressure on Iran
Mention sanctions to Iranians and their answer is, often, Dubai. As the US has tightened the squeeze on financial dealings with Tehran and other countries have slowly followed, Iranians have sought to do business through neighbouring Dubai, an open, free-wheeling emirate and transhipment hub that has long welcomed them

1) Pentagon reports security gains in Iraq (Peter Spiegel and Julian E. Barnes)Security in Iraq has improved consistently and dramatically in nearly every major category over the last three months, the most sustained period of such gains in nearly two years, according to the first Pentagon report to attempt to quantify recent progress in detail.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-usiraq19dec19,1,2848223.story

2) U.S. practicing balancing act on Kurdish question (Alexandra Zavis)Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cautioned Tuesday against any action that could destabilize Iraq after Turkey sent about 300 troops across the border in pursuit of Kurdish separatist guerrillas.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq19dec19,1,6802252.story

3) Al Qaeda in North Africa takes new tack amid losses (Sebastian Rotella)The twin suicide bombings in Algeria's capital that took at least 37 lives last week have given the enigmatic militant group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb a sharp burst of publicity. But experts say the reality is more complex than the propaganda or media reports depicting an overwhelming and ubiquitous menace.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-algeria19dec19,1,2144560.story

4) COLUMN ONE: Story of the scarf still waits to be told (Erika Hayasaki)
Stained with the blood of a journalist killed in Iraq, it bonds two women -- the widow who loved him and the translator who served him.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-translator19dec19,1,105005.story

5) Palestinian militants die in Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip (Rushdi abu Alouf and Ken Ellingwood)Israel on Tuesday carried out more airstrikes against Palestinian rocket squads based in the Gaza Strip, killing at least six more militants a day after slaying Islamic Jihad's military chief.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gaza19dec19,1,576322.story?coll=la-headlines-world

U.S. Frees Iranian Prisoner Held in Iraq
BAGHDAD -- The United States has released one of about 10 Iranian prisoners it is holding in Iraq, U.S. forces and the Iranian embassy said on Wednesday. The embassy named the prisoner as Hayder Alami, while U.S. forces gave his name as Hadir Alwai Mohammed. Both said the prisoner had been held since July 2004 and was freed on Tuesday

Why Iran's Mullahs Must Have the Bomb?
Amil Imani -- Why Iran’s Mullahs must have the bomb? Because their very survival depends on it; because they know how vastly unpopular they are at home; and because they have absolutely no legitimacy to exist, and the bomb would give them a greater freedom to obliterate the freedom-loving Iranian people with impunity and export their brand of Islam outside Iran’s boundary with carte blanche.

Ex-CIA man predicts U.S. war with IranPortsmouth Herald, New Hampshire 11:05 19-Dec-07
Iran vs USDaily Observer 13:01 19-Dec-07
Putin hopes U.S. had no hidden agenda in Iran...RIA Novosti 16:06 19-Dec-07
The Phrase that Could Defeat Hillary ClintonAfterDowningStreet.org (Weblog) 17:32 19-Dec-07
Praying for a riftGuardian Unlimited 14:53 19-Dec-07
UK MPs urge US to open unconditional talks with...IRNA 11:17 19-Dec-07
Analysis: U.S. military & Iran -- Part 5UPI 22:44 19-Dec-07
Major powers set to discuss Iran sanctionsWashington Post 21:39 19-Dec-07
Wife of missing former FBI agent arrives in IranMonsters and Critics 19:12 19-Dec-07
John Bolton Hates Bush for Listening to a Girl...Wonkette (Weblog) 17:59 19-Dec-07