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Atta Kenare / AFP - Getty Images
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad flashes a victory sign in Tehran on Thursday.
The Obama administration on Friday called Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Latin American tour a sign of desperation as international sanctions increasingly isolate Tehran over its nuclear program.
The State Department said that Ahmadinejad's planned visit to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Ecuador showed Iran was "desperate for friends" and that “now is not the time to be deepening ties” with Tehran.
Ahmadinejad was scheduled to arrive in Venezuela on Sunday, NBC News reported.
Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the international community should make clear to Iran that it will only grow more isolated if it fails to comply with demands to come clean about its nuclear ambitions.
"As the regime feels increasing pressure, it is desperate for friends and flailing around in interesting places to find new friends,” Nuland said. “We are making absolutely clear to countries around the world that now is not the time to be deepening ties, not security ties, not economic ties, with Iran."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ahmadiniajad's BFF's include Chavez(dying of cancer) Fidel Castro (Alzheimers), Kim Jong Il(Ill doesn't describe him, he is dead), al-Assad (now has a PO Box address) and Gaddafi (buried in an unmarked grave). Friends are hard to find when you are insane.
There will be a glut of oil after the liberal base in Iran embraces the Arab Spring, and gets rid of the clerics and Ahmadinijad, and then petroleum will flow freely.
It seem they are just trying to make up some of the lost cash from its oil cuts from the embargo. I thought all nuke countries had to let in the UN over watch and make sure all goes well? And Iran, and N korea won't let in the inspectors.
And when may I ask is the United States going to let the UN inspect it's nuclear arsenal and power facilities????
@McCarthy
To answer your question:
1968. (When the US signed the Non-Prolifereation Treaty creating the IAEA)
Although I have no idea what that has to do with anything....
Am I the only one who see's that our governments favorite thing to do is bully small developing nations? If Iran removed our democratically elected president in 1953 and replaced him with a Shah we would be pretty upset about it. Add to that Iran taking over Canada and Mexico and surrounding us. And finally add Iranian warships to the Gulf of Mexico. I can guarentee we would be out "Flailing for friends" as well. Whats more unbelievable is you people fall for this war propaganda.(Just like Germans fell for it) Iran hasnt started a war in modern history. BUT AMERICA has started plenty. Iran has a population of over 25,000 jews who live like jews anywhere else, they even serve in Iranian govt. So listening to the Israeli propaganda is even worse. Muslims saved millions of jews from Germany in WWII and they have lived peacefully together for thousands of years. Please understand these are not true Jewish people. Real jewish people agree Israel shouldnt even exist since it is forbidden in the Torrah. Please do your research you make Americans look stupid. Also please understand Iran has an enormous amount of uranium in their nation and they also understand oil will not last forever. So what is wrong with them developing nuclear technology? Do they not have the right? Even if they do create a bomb (Which they have the right to do also) they do not have an airforce or missiles that can reach America. They also cannot even create their own Gasoline. They have to export crude and have it sent back to them as gasoline. Please tell me how they are any threat to us? They would run out of fuel after a month into the war with us. THINK FOR YOURSELVES. WE DONT NEED TO FIGHT ANYMORE WARS FOR ISRAEL. THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES OR COME TO AMERICA. AMERICA WILL GLADLY ACCEPT 8 MILLION MORE IMMIGRANTS
Am I the only one who see's that our governments favorite thing to do is bully small developing nations? If Iran removed our democratically elected president in 1953 and replaced him with a Shah we would be pretty upset about it. Add to that Iran taking over Canada and Mexico and surrounding us. And finally add Iranian warships to the Gulf of Mexico. I can guarentee we would be out "Flailing for friends" as well. Whats more unbelievable is you people fall for this war propaganda.(Just like Germans fell for it) Iran hasnt started a war in modern history. BUT AMERICA has started plenty. Iran has a population of over 25,000 jews who live like jews anywhere else, they even serve in Iranian govt. So listening to the Israeli propaganda is even worse. Muslims saved millions of jews from Germany in WWII and they have lived peacefully together for thousands of years. Please understand these are not true Jewish people. Real jewish people agree Israel shouldnt even exist since it is forbidden in the Torrah. Please do your research you make Americans look stupid. Also please understand Iran has an enormous amount of uranium in their nation and they also understand oil will not last forever. So what is wrong with them developing nuclear technology? Do they not have the right? Even if they do create a bomb (Which they have the right to do also) they do not have an airforce or missiles that can reach America. They also cannot even create their own Gasoline. They have to export crude and have it sent back to them as gasoline. Please tell me how they are any threat to us? They would run out of fuel after a month into the war with us. THINK FOR YOURSELVES. WE DONT NEED TO FIGHT ANYMORE WARS FOR ISRAEL. THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES OR COME TO AMERICA. AMERICA WILL GLADLY ACCEPT 8 MILLION MORE IMMIGRANTS
Yeah except for the fact that Iran had close ties with Nazi Germany.
Nothing at all if their leaders weren't bat@!$%# crazy.
If there was a successful rebellion in Iran and the oil flowed freely the result would be catastrophic to the banking industry/N.W.O. So why do you think that the USA and Israel are keeping the "military option" on the table ? It's for just such an emergency. Want proof ? Look at Iraq.
I have yet to learn why Iran doesn't have its own oil refineries. They have to export the oil and import the gas, so spending their attention on nuclear instead of taking care of their own citizens...and I bet that the citizens there wonder about the same thing.
I'm suspecting that the citizens there are just biding their time, waiting for ALL of Iran's leaders to line up somewhere and get rid of them all at one. Ahmadinejad is just a pretty face for the Chief Clerics and Co.
Well, I don't know for sure, but I'd have to guess it's a combination of technical incompetence and economic disincentives.
Extracting oil is easy, low-tech, and has huge profit margins. Refining is hard, high-tech, and has thinner margins. Thus their government (which controls their oil industry) probably can't manage it, even if they wanted to.
Quit propagandizing this story ... Washington is always sending Obama or his sidekick Hillary on one of these fence-mending trips around the world and no one is accusing it of "flailing for friends" ... simply put Iran is trying to be paid in some other currency besides dollars for her oil and who can blame her. America's currency is worthless today, especially with the Fed churning out billions and billions of colored paper, further debasing those dollars already in circulation, and putting at risk the life savings of millions of Americans who are already facing rising prices and loss of jobs.
Gee whiz, Judson, you sound like a p.r. man for Achmininutjob and his cleric pals in Iran....you almost sound like you are on the side of Iran instead of America, by the way you so bitterly critize Obama and Hillary Clinton, almost like you WANT them to fail. Sounds like you're just another GOIP traitor who would rather see America fail in order to get at your much-hated President Obama. Big patriot you are. Yes, I think yoiu should emigrate to Iran. You'd be muchhappier there among your peers and we'd be rid of you. America does not need your kind, if you are indee\d an American. Which I hope you are noit.
I agree with your first point:
But this?
Uh, you had better tell the Iranian people that, because they are furiously converting their rials to US dollars (still the international reserve currency of choice). This has been reported in several stories here on MSNBC and elsewhere. Look it up.
I hope millions of people come out in these 4 countries come out and scream and shout."nazi Islamic terrorist pyscho go home"Nice fantasy..The 4 countries he`s going to are dictatorships..But be brave Latinos shout and scream anyway.You just might help the world a little..Last time Iran sent their defense minister to Bolivia,hr had to be hustled out of the country.Interpol has a arrest and detain order for ghim.He was involved in the 2 massive bombing and mass murders in Buenas Aires,,This PM. also.Nice if he could be detained also..Nice fantasy anyway...
There was never any proof of Iranian involvement in the Buenos Aires murders of many years ago. Some people claimed Hizbullah was involved. The Argentine government dropped the investigation. Possibly the traditional anti-semitic Argentine military may have been involved.
Lil Debbie, you are a real patriot, yes? And anyone with a different opinion, or who thinks, or has a brain instead of vomiting up the US propaganda line is a traitor, yes?
You are the worst kind of citizen the most dangerous type of citizen, one who is intolerant of others opinions and knows nothing except what you are told by the propagandists.
Send us your worthless dollars!
Why can't we all be friends?
To Tom Pom..Argentina on the contrary continues to demand that the Iranians hand over the demons to either an internationla criminal court or to Argentina,Every year the president of Argentina says this to the General Assembly.And the names of the demons are known.Stop spreading big lies that Argentina has dropped the case., And.. as for this Iranian prez the stench of his visit will make America Latina a VERY nasty place to be for 4 days. Only those with gas mask will survive!!
Tompom
The wikipedia summary of the case notes charges of a coverup - that suggested Argentine officials were involved in the bombing and suggests that the charge that some Iranians were involved isn't fully plausible.
Excerpt from Wikipedia:
"
Over the years, the case has been marked by incompetence and accusations of cover-ups. All suspects in the "local connection" (among them, many members of the Buenos Aires Provincial Police) were found to be not guilty in September 2004. In August 2005, federal judge Juan José Galeano, in charge of the case, was impeached and removed from his post on charge of "serious" irregularities and of mishandling of the investigation.[5]
On October 25, 2006, Argentine prosecutors Alberto Nisman and Marcelo Martínez Burgos formally accused the government of Iran of directing the bombing, and the Hezbollah militia of carrying it out.[6][7] According to the prosecution's claims in 2006, Argentina had been targeted by Iran after Buenos Aires' decision to suspend a nuclear technology transfer contract to Tehran.[8] This however, has been disputed, because this contract was never terminated, and Iran and Argentina were negotiating on restoration of full cooperation on all agreements from early 1992 till 1994, when the bombing occurred.[9"
Lil Debbie,
I disagree with Judson's opening comment as well. But because you disagree with him, he is not welcomed in this country? Whatever happened to free speech and the RIGHT to disagree? "America does not need [his] kind..."? Exactly what "kind" is that? That is truly a terrible anti-democratic thing to say, Lil' Debbie.
I am a conservative but am neither impressed by the spend-happy Democrats nor the uninformed Republicans (e.g., Perry & Bachman). I happen to like President Obama a GREAT DEAL, but am thoroughly against his economic polciies that are bankrupting this country. "Hatred" has absolutely nothing to do with it Lil' Debbie. Like I said, I happen to like him as a person quite a bit. I also firmly believe that he is very genuine in his thinking that he is on the right track (one doesn't get that many grey hairs in 3 years because they don't care!) I just happen to believe he is dead wrong in his economic policies, throwing Israel under the bus, and a number of other issues that I don't have time to go into. So should I leave the country as well? Does the fact that I have a Purple Heart and a few medals as a Ranger with the 173rd ABN BDE and 101st ABN DIV make a difference? Do I have your permission to stay?
McCarthy-2924647........DITTO!
McCarthy...Aren't you accusing Lil Deb of the same thing you are doing? You are the mirror and she is the reflection. She has the same right to her opinion as do you. You are just more insulting. If you believe that we are such a bully and our administration is so inept, why are you living here? The freedom of movement is one of the advantages of our society. You can take that opportunity whenever you choose. Expressing your opinion is also a product of our Amendments--as is hers. She doesn't agree with you and you don't agree with her. Let it go.
Hey @!$%# you Amerikkkan Government, If i want i will deepen my ties and even join their military and shoot your ass up.
No kidding, you sound like some of the leftists over here....are you an OWS member.
Gengis...Bring it @ssho!le.
Everything else aside....they have enriched uranium to 20% (typical reactor only needs 4%) claiming it is needed for medical research isotopes AND they are building an underground facility to expand production. Why do that if it is not to make a bomb. They have already proven they can make 20% so why expand? How much isotope crap do ya need? How many people out there want a nuclear armed Iran raise their hand! About as many as dance in the streets after mass because a bomb went off somewhere in the mideast and killed Afghani, Pakistani, Syrian, Iraqi ,or Iranian muslims. See a difference here anyone?
please explain where the 150 nukes in Israel are inteded for?
Mostly for preventing nonsense like this.
It didn't really work.
Enemy of my enemy becomes my friend. The US became friends with communist Russia in World War II against the Germans even though we didn't like them. If the US keeps responding to Netanyahu's call for a war with Iran (controversial within Israel), we may push them into the arms of other enemies - such as Al Qaeda - traditional the enemies of the Shias. Israel assassinated Iranian scientists in the streets of Iran but that wasn't enough to start a war. But they keep trying to find ways to sucker the US into a war with Iran. Not surprising if Iran seeks any friends it can find. (similarly under South African Apartheid, South Africa and Israel became close friends)
Iran has 77 million people - three times the population of Iraq and ten times the population of Israel. Israeli military leaders quoted in Haaretz have said that bombing won't eliminate the nuclear capability. So they will have to be occupied. There are plenty of educated people in Iran, many of whom would like to change their oppressive govenrment. But if we attack them or keep threatening to, they will respond the way the British responded to German bombing - unification against the foreign aggressor.
The Shia government we just installed in Iraq would likely support the Iranians against us and Hizbuallah in Lebanon would also enter the war. This would be a horrible, expensive quagmire for the US.
Iran is a long way from Israel. If Iran (like Israel) had nukes, their missiles could be intercepted and shot down over Iraq. If the Iranians tried to launch a nuclear war the US would invade them with conventional weapons and execute their leaders (with some popular support in that case). But Iran has never threatened to directly attack Israel and has not been an expansionist power in recent centuries. The Israelis can even shoot down short range missiles form Gaza thanks to the $200 million Obama gave Israel for the Iron Dome technology - which has worked and could also work against Lebanon if Hizbullah (which hasn't attacked Israeli in recent years) launched missiles in response to an attack on Iran.
There is no reason for the US to go to war with Iran, but some interests (US defense industries and the extremist right wing in Israel) are pushing for it.
Nukes are useless, that is a proven fact. 1973 Israel was about to deploy tactical nukes into war against Egypt. Black bird legacy prevented that mistake...ref to SR71.
Iran just like any other country has sought having the knowledge going back to 1971 when Shah, a US friend was in power & that is a well known fact.
Now I just like to ask all those who belive that Israel is a just nation & I do belive the majority are liberal & peace loving people just like all the rest of us, aside 25 muslim targets...where the other 125 nuclear bombs are intented for?
That's actually a very good series of points, Tompom... you've changed my mind on this particular issue.
Really, with so many nuclear weapons rusting in silos all over the world, why start such a mess over a few more when the threat can be neutralized in other ways?
If we can live with Pakistan, a failed state masquerading as a democracy, having nuclear weapons, do we really have to start a war over Iran.
I'm a supporter of Israel, but they don't run our foreign policy. The war hawks currently in power shouldn't be allowed to lead America into conflict.
Here is another clear cut case of the United States acting like the imperialist slave master of the world. Now every country has clear it's diplomatic relationships with the United States first or else?
There seems to be no end to the bulling and down right evil war mongering intentions of this administrations foreign policy. It is not the business of the United States to dictate who and who not a country will associate or trade with. The Obama administration is treating South American countries as if they were colonies and the US Administration knows what is good for their little brown slaves that must comply with the Washington, US Corporate cabals edicts or else.
These types of threats to our neighbors will not serve United States interests and only be counter productive to peace and stability in the region and world.
There was no threat reported. Only advice that this was not a good time to strengthen their ties with Iran. Good advice, I would say. Where do you get that we are bullying our friends? We are encouraging them to stay neutral and not do business with a country that seems hell bent on poking us with their not so big stick at every opportunity. It seems to be not stop these days. How would you advise our allies to react to Iran's overtures? Tell them to make friends and do vigorous business at the expense of their own oil industry? You read to much into this article and your unamerican stance is interesting.
If Iran does stupid acts, US should destroy all their nuclear sites. Iran is a threat to that region if they get nukes. Iran is ruled by idiots that live in a fantasy world. If its leaders get their heads out of their a*s, perhaps their country will prosper and its citizens will enjoy a decent life. I feel sorry for the citizens there.
Joe, I feel sorry for their citizens as well, particularly the female population....However, their nuclear facilities are in fortified underground bunkers and it would take a full scale war to destroy them. Citizens would be lost in the battle by the thousands. I don't think that is what we really want to see happen here. We would do better to try a bit of detaunt, if Iran would stop all the chest pounding we could actually profit from some trade agreements with them. However, they are so tied up in this religious infidel, rule the world crap that it is hard to get through that wall to demonstrate that we could be mutually beneficial partners. Too bad really.
Mahmoud is just a traveling salesman right now, on a sales trip in case Europe stops buying his goods. So he plans for defiance against the sanctions. And if he plans on defiance and succeeds, he will turn his anger into more sponsoring of the bad guys. I think I can guarantee that. There will be no open war, except if we give them one, just more terrorism via other groups. That is why cutting off their international banking ability is key to averting sales and terror sponsoring.
I as much as hate the ruling party in Iran but just like almost all Iranians, we support enrichment or as its called: The knowledge of having a bomb eventhough it's been proven to be a useless arsenal.
Personally have no problem with Israel having over 150 nuclear bombs, though wondering aside possible 25 muslim destinations where the other 125 are intended for?
Facts of life = The world does not revolve arround Israel & against popular belief in the settlements...sorry guys no one but your sorry self agrees with your chosen status...so chill as you are part of this society just like the other billions of us.
These kind of bullying and threats is just proving to the hard-liners in Iran why they need the bomb.I don't like any country having nuclear weapons,and I mean ANY country.But the way to get countries to not want to have them is through showing them you are not a threat to them and want to have good relations with their nation.In other words,the opposite of the way we are acting.
Apparently, you have been missing the reporting for the last few months. Iran has been saber rattling and spoiling for a fight for a long time. We have largely ignored the rhetoric and just continued to sanction them for their efforts to make nuclear bombs. I agree that it won't work. There is no stopping the progress of technology, but these are people that would die in order to see us dead. That is a bit scary, don't you think? It would be to our benefit to assume that they have nuclear war capabilities and deal with it, because eventually they will. Just leave them alone and keep a very close eye on them.....Very close. Continue covert ops as necessary and watch. Limiting their ability to do business is just good common sense because it will also limit their ability to make war. We are not the bullies in this particular case. Iran is doing the chest pounding and we are just listening and tightening the noose so far as we are able for the protection of mankind.
You don't have to be friends with America or Israel or any other western country to realize that Iran ain't real good friendship material. They look for friends because they are desperate, and not because their holy book tells them to befriend the infidel....
Listen to the Ahmedinijad speeches to the UN. The Iranian leadership is drunk on delusion, and they have modern weapons.
If we cannot supply the world with manufactured goods like the Chinese, we could help to create chaos around the world. We have seen the product of our democracy now in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen... ? Iran. If we could power our electricity with nuclear why not Iran. If Iran develop nuclear weapon... and so what? What a nice way to continue to plant seeds of chaos around the world under the umbrella of Dis-United Nations
This is almost like a political version of the playground.
You call them names, they call you names. You say this is your slide, they say its their slide....