[sapedotru]

Anyone want to place bets as to the form of this "punch". Detonation maybe? Ideas?

Whatever form it takes, it looks as though the Iranian leadership is poised to dig their country into an even deeper hole.

Iran anniversary 'punch' will stun West: Khamenei

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that Iran is set to deliver a "punch" that will stun world powers during this week's 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.

"The Iranian nation, with its unity and God's grace, will punch the arrogance (Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11) in a way that will leave them stunned," Khamenei, who is also Iran's commander-in-chief, told a gathering of air force personnel.

The country's top cleric was marking the occasion when Iran's air force gave its support to revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a key event which led to the toppling of the US-backed shah on February 11, 1979.

His comments came as Iran said it would begin to produce higher enriched uranium from Tuesday, in defiance of Western powers trying to ensure the country's nuclear drive is peaceful.

This year's anniversary is expected to become a flashpoint between security forces and supporters of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who charge that the June re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was rigged.

Opposition supporters are expected to stage anti-government protests on Thursday when the traditional regime-sponsored marches to mark the revolution take place across the country.

Mousavi renewed his call for demonstrations on the February 11 anniversary.

Just over a week ago, he and Karroubi had implicitly called for a gathering of their supporters.

"The 22nd of Bahman is upon us, truly it should be called the day of gathering," Mousavi said on his Kaleme.org website Monday.

"I feel we have to participate while maintaining the collective spirit as well as our identity and leave an impression," Mousavi said.

"Anger and bitterness should not take our control away.

"The clerics should know that since imprisonment, beatings, and other confrontational methods are done in the name of Islam and the Islamic regime, it is hurting Islam and we all should try to stop," he added.

Anti-government protests were first triggered after the June 12 presidential election won by Ahmadinejad.

Over the past eight months, several thousand people were arrested. Some were released and others were given hefty prison terms, among them politicians, journalists and human rights activists.

Two protesters were tried, convicted and hanged in the aftermath of the election.

Khamenei told the air force personnel the "most important aim of the sedition after the election was to create a rift within the Iranian nation, but it was unable to do so and our nation's unity remained a thorn in its eyes."

[wmtravelservice]

More sabre-rattling and threats from "peaceful" Iran.

What a surprise.

[Eromereorybig]

Sounds like domestic posturing to me.

Andrew

[PlanTaleks]

They going to fire more zionist turtles into space?

I wouldn't rule out an atomic test. The way they've been going at the enrichment process tells me they are not worried about developing the trigger charge.

Then the goose will hit the turbofan.

[limpoporanique]

Sounds like domestic posturing to me.

Andrew

That's sure not how you would see it if it were the US......

[tuszit]

Of course it's less the form of the (apparently) impending display of military capability by Iran than it is the reactions of the world powers that really matter.

[Abanijo]

That's sure not how you would see it if it were the US......

Right, cause the US never uses foreign policy to appeal to domestic sentiment.

Andrew

[Kiliunjubl]

I predict Israel to attack soon, kick some Iran ass.
And I for one don't blame them for doing it.

[dupratac]

That's sure not how you would see it if it were the US......

Okay Matt, lets make a deal.

You make a list of all the nations ("peacefull") Iran has attacked in the last 50 years, and I shall make a list of all the nations America has attacked in the last 50 years.

Then we compare the list`s, and the winner ( the one with the longest list ), shall recieve a case of the finest Carlsberg beer.

What do you say Matt?


Jeen

[occurrini]

Okay Matt, lets make a deal.

You make a list of all the nations ("peacefull") Iran has attacked in the last 50 years, and I shall make a list of all the nations America has attacked in the last 50 years.

Then we compare the list`s, and the winner ( the one with the longest list ), shall recieve a case of the finest Carlsberg beer.

What do you say Matt?


Jeen

He'll just say you hate america. That is pretty much his entire vocabulary.

Andrew

[DoctorBretonDen]

Okay Matt, lets make a deal.

You make a list of all the nations ("peacefull") Iran has attacked in the last 50 years, and I shall make a list of all the nations America has attacked in the last 50 years.



Jeen

why stop at 50?

[gunhijala]

I think the world is tired of war. These Iran headlines just don't seem to resonate with anyone anymore. There are bigger problems like the economy and health care for Americans to deal with. If Iran wants the bomb I predict they'll get it. That being said, I'm not as concerned as some on the right since Pakistan has it, has a population that are arguably more anti-US and has Taliban fighting them 100 miles from their capital. Where is the outrage on this??

[Vikonbarius]

why stop at 50?

It has only been an islamic state for ~30 years, so 50 puts them at a disadvantage.

[Arexytece]

Okay Matt, lets make a deal.

You make a list of all the nations ("peacefull") Iran has attacked in the last 50 years, and I shall make a list of all the nations America has attacked in the last 50 years.

Then we compare the list`s, and the winner ( the one with the longest list ), shall recieve a case of the finest Carlsberg beer.

What do you say Matt?


Jeen

Pretty faulty argument, and is nothing but a blatant red herring. Are you suggesting that Iran get some sort of pass simply because America's history, in your eyes, isn't spotless?

[Lapsinuibense]

Pretty faulty argument, and is nothing but a blatant red herring. Are you suggesting that Iran get some sort of pass simply because America's history, in your eyes, isn't spotless?

Lets pick a random country which could potentially be threatened by Iran if Iran gets nukes.

Syria.

Do you think Syria is more worried about Iran or the US taking military action against them?

I think you could pose this question about every single country in the middle east and the only one who wouldn't be more afraid of US military action against them is Israel. Saudi Arabia might be a toss-up.

[Z1IRo4Ap]

Pretty faulty argument, and is nothing but a blatant red herring. Are you suggesting that Iran get some sort of pass simply because America's history, in your eyes, isn't spotless?

No.

I am suggesting that Iran gets a pass, because the threat it is supposed to be against the rest of the world, is a blatant red herring.

There is not one shred of credible evidence, that they have any wishes whatsoever, to develope nuclear weapon. None..

And ThorHammer, just because Miss. Clinton, Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu says so, doesn`t mean that it is proven beyond any doubt, that they are guilty of that. Not by a long shot.
They deffinately all says a lot of bull..

No matter what you are saying, Iran has a very long history of NOT attacking any other nations.

I don`t think the nations, which the above mentioned politicians represents, together with a lot of others who are very busy to strangle Iran with sanctions, can say the same.

That is what I am saying ThorHammer.

And by the way, my conclusions dosn`t spring from the fact, that I love the Iranian political elite.
I don`t, and I think they sucks.

Jen

[xsVfF9Em]

No matter what you are saying, Iran has a very long history of NOT attacking any other nations.

Tell that to the families of the innocent, defenseless merchant sailors Iran murdered in the 80s.

Matt

[Grzqbmhy]

Okay Matt, lets make a deal.

You make a list of all the nations ("peacefull") Iran has attacked in the last 50 years, and I shall make a list of all the nations America has attacked in the last 50 years.

Then we compare the list`s, and the winner ( the one with the longest list ), shall recieve a case of the finest Carlsberg beer.

What do you say Matt?


Jeen

Completely irrelevant to the comment you are replying to. But if mental masturbation excites you, have fun.

I'll occupy my time with more useful endeavors, though, and won't be joining you.

Matt

[SDorothy28]

He'll just say you hate america. That is pretty much his entire vocabulary.

Andrew

Not at all - in your case, though, the observation is true. I'm surprised you don't just admit it with pride, though.

Matt

[JMLot]

Not at all - in your case, though, the observation is true. I'm surprised you don't just admit it with pride, though.

Matt

But in your defensive jingoism with all things american you tend to narrow it down to just america as if i love other modern industrial states.

Andrew