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Russia supported Litvinenko murder, says security official

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:42:31 GMT

The Russian government supported the murder of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, it was reported last night. A senior security official told BBC's Newsnight there were "very strong indications it was a state action" and that the Russian security services continued to have a "willingness to consider operations against people in the west". Litvinenko, a fierce critic of the former Russian president Vladimir Putin, died from polonium poisoning in London in 2006. Scotland Yard named the former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi as their prime suspect, but he has always denied any involvement. Last year, the CPS issued an extradition warrant to bring Lugovoi back to the UK from Russia, but Putin refused to hand him over, saying it would be in breach of his country's constitution to do so. Newsnight said it was told Russia's internal security organisation, the FSB, operated with far more autonomy than organisations usually entrusted with foreign espionage operations. The source said: "We very strongly believe the Litvinenko case to have had some state involvement." The source used an MI5 operation last summer in which officers arrested and deported a man they believed to be on a mission to kill another Russian dissident, Boris Berezovsky, as an example of "continued FSB willingness to consider operations against people in the west". A Kremlin spokesman, Sergei Prikhodko, suggested today the timing of the report was not coincidental. "We are working to bring Russian-British relations out of what is to a large degree a dead-end and such leaks and citations demonstrate that not everybody in Britain is in the mood for such constructive work as we felt the prime minister himself is," he said. Downing Street refused to be drawn on the claims. "The police carried out their investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service issued a warrant. That warrant is still outstanding," a spokesman said. The accusations of tacit state involvement in a murder on UK soil come at an awkward time for Anglo-Russian relations. As part of the fallout over the rejected extradition warrant, the British government expelled four Russian diplomats. In a retaliatory gesture, Moscow expelled four diplomats working at the UK mission and the country's foreign ministry forced the closure of two British Council offices. In December 2006, the Anglo-Dutch oil company, Shell, was pressured into selling a majority stake in its operations in the country to the state-controlled energy group Gazprom. BP, now the only major oil company in the country partially controlled by foreigners, has found itself under siege from Russian partners trying to control the boardroom. Yesterday, Gordon Brown held his first face-to-face talks with the new Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, at the G8 summit in Japan. He is reported to have brought up the Litvinenko case with his opposite number, but made little headway in the matter, nor was there any sign that relations between the two countries were thawing. The latest claims will have done little to improve the relationship. Last November, the head of MI5, Jonathan Evans, expressed concern that there had been "no decrease" in the number of Russian covert intelligence officers operating in the UK since the end of the Cold War. The service believes there are around 30 operating from Russian diplomatic missions here. Source: Agencies Kavkaz Center

British 'super-spy' in coma amid fears of poisoning by Russian assassin

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:18:45 GMT

Britain's leading spy was today fighting for his life after he mysteriously fell into a coma. Alex Allan, the head of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, was found unconscious at his west London home on Monday and taken to hospital. The 56-year-old chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee's condition deteriorated after he complained of feeling unwell towards the end of last week. Friends say he is a keen athlete who is extremely fit and doctors are trying to find out whether he has contracted pneumonia. Toxicology experts were also carrying out tests. Gordon Brown was immediately informed of Mr Allan's condition, which was described as critical, because of his role at the top of the intelligence services. The civil servant had direct access to the Prime Minister and gave him regular briefings about the terrorist threat to Britain. His unexpected coma has raised fears of an assassination attempt which coincide with a warning from intelligence sources today that Russia is now the third biggest threat to national security after Al Qaeda and Iranian nuclear proliferation. Sources say the three main Russian spy agencies have 'flooded' Britain with agents dedicated to military and industrial espionage.

Former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko was murdered in London in November and Russian agents have been accused of poisoning his drink with radioactive polonium.

The members of the Joint Intelligence Committee Mr Allan chairs include the heads of the UK's three intelligence agencies, MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. The committee is responsible for giving ministers assessments of the country's security. Security expert Chris Dobson said of the sudden illness: 'Alex Allan's illness raises suspicions of foul play simply because of his job. 'He oversees and coordinates every aspect of our intelligence community. 'He is therefore a prime target for an assassination attempt by Britain's enemies. The nature of his sudden illness, if it is an assassination attempt, points towards the FSB, successors of Russia's KGB. 'They are acknowledged masters of assassination by poison,' he told The Sun. 'Al Qaeda is another suspect. They would see his death as a great victory, fulfilling Osama Bin Laden's threat to strike at the heart of the �infidel' enemy. What better target than the man whose job is dedicated to wiping them out?' Despite the fears security sources say they are 'as certain as we can be at this stage' that Mr Allan was not the target of a sinister attack by Bin Laden's operatives in Europe. A Whitehall colleague who saw him recently said: 'He was fit, he was in cracking form when I saw him. He was very upbeat. Although his wife's death was a tragedy, it had happened some time ago.' Mr Allan's 58-year-old Australian wife Katie Clemson died from cancer in November. The senior civil servant had also been asked to explain why top secret documents were found on a train and handed to the BBC last month. Despite these concerns, colleagues insisted he was upbeat and that his job was safe. The Whitehall source added: 'It's a tragedy because he was such a lovely man. I can't believe it is anything other than natural causes.' Intelligence sources added there would be a huge challenge replacing Mr Allan if that were necessary. His role as chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee was changed significantly in the wake of the Butler inquiry into the intelligence failings n the lead-up to the Iraq war. The report specified that the Committee chairman should be someone of high standing within Whitehall but who had no further career ambitions. 'It is extremely difficult to find someone who is both extremely talented and willing to accept a job knowing that it will be their last,' the source said. Mr Allan's career includes a spell as private secretary to former prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair. Source: Dailymail

Kavkaz Center

Case of gas attack in Nord Ost Moscow theater seizure gets classified

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:32:24 GMT

The Strasbourg Court has classified the case about the events that happened in the fall of 2002 in the theatrical center in Moscow. Moscow-based RIA-Novosti news agency reported that this information came from the attorney of the victims of the theater seizure, Igor Trunov. "From the negotiations with the chancellery of the European Human Rights Court it turned out that the access to the materials is restricted," the defender said. Thus, the Court has complied with the request of Russia's plenipotentiary representative in the European Human Rights Court, who asked to restrict the public access to the materials of the case. Russia has motivated its position that it is going to produce the criminal docket on the terrorist act to the Strasbourg Court in full. Reminder: Back in 2002 Chechen sabotage group took hostages in Moscow theatrical center on Dubrovka, where the popular Nord-Ost musical show was going on. The hostage-takers were demanding that the war operations in the former Chechen Republic of Ichkeria are stopped. 130 hostages died as a result of the gas attack carried out by the Russian KGB. Kavkaz Center

President Yushchenko bans speaking Russian among officials

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:31:19 GMT

President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko demands that the state officials speak the Ukrainian language, Kiev-based UNIAN news agency reported. This statement was made as a reaction to the speech that Chairman of State Tax Administration, Sergei Buriak, made in Russian at the Power and Business Partners Forum in Kiev. President Yushchenko emphasized that as President, he addresses to the state power officials with the demand to comply with the law on the official language of the state. "As far as everybody else goes - it is their right: the right to choose (which language to speak). Even the notes coming from parliament members in the Russian language I can tolerate. But when you are talking about a state official, remember that we are living in Ukraine, where there is a law on the official language and the other law about state officials as well," President Yushchenko said. He also added that state officials get extra pay for knowledge of the official language. Kavkaz Center

U.S. admiral warns against war with Iran

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:50:00 GMT

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen said that a possible aggression against Iran would have been "extremely stressful" for the US troops. BBC reported that during a news conference in the Pentagon Admiral Michael Mullen commented on a possibility of military action by the US and Israel in response to Iran's refusal to curtail its nuclear program. He warned that opening up a third front - after Iraq and Afghanistan, where the US troops have been deployed for over five years now - "would have unpredictable and potentially dangerous consequences". Mullen, who just returned from two days of consultations with Israeli military leaders, declined to discuss those consultations or Israeli intentions on how to rein in Iran's nuclear program. ABC News reported two days ago that Israel is increasingly likely to attack Iranian nuclear facilities this year. Western media point out that even though the US denies any information about preparation for a military strike against Iran, the very statement that the Admiral has made about negative consequences of the war shows that the US government has been actively discussing this option backstage, and Mullen is trying to convince the US and Israel to thoroughly evaluate the consequences of the attack before starting to consider this option. "But I'm convinced that the solution still lies in using other elements of national power to change Iranian behavior, including diplomatic, financial and international pressure," Adm. Mullen said. "This is a very unstable part of the world, and I don't need it to be more unstable," he added. At the same time Mullen mentioned that his attitude towards the Iranian regime has not changed. According to him, Iran remains the destabilizing factor in the region. The top US military officer maintained that Iran is 'still on a path to obtain nuclear weapons', adding that it 'needs to be deterred.' Meanwhile Iran has been actively preparing for war. Even though Tehran has been constantly claiming that the US and Israel would never go for an aggression, Iranians have been increasing their military capabilities and apparently preparing for the worst case scenario. Information agencies have reported that Iran has started a serial production of light tanks Tosan for rapid response units. This report came from FNA news agency referring to a statement made by Colonel Nasser Arab-Beigi, one of the commanders of land troops of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). The production of the tank, developed on the national basis, has been launched by Tehran as part of the implementation of the strategy to independently provide the equipment needs of Armed Forces. Nasser Arab-Beigi also said that the situation unfolding around Iran requires serious strengthening of the country's defense potential by adopting modern-day combat systems. According to the information that has been available, a light tank Tosan weighs no more than 25 tons and is equipped with a 90mm caliber gun and modified system of fire-control. The tank is capable of traveling long distances on its own, while special tank carriers are used for this purpose. Earlier Iranian experts also developed a heavy tank Zulfiqar on the basis of Russian T-72. The tank is equipped with a 1,000 horsepower engine and can accelerate to 70 kilometers an hour. The tank's arsenal includes a 125 mm cannon and 7.62mm and 12.7 mm machineguns. It was also reported that according to Israeli intelligence, Iran has aimed its missiles at the Dimona nuclear facilities in Israel (the Negev Desert). Kavkaz Center

Chechen pro-Russian accomplice A. Aslakhanov caught in red light district

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:07:44 GMT

Kavkaz Center's source in Belgium reported that one of the most odious functionaries of the gang of Chechen pro-Russian accomplices (murtadin/apostates), Russian police general and former aide of Putin, Aslanbek Aslakhanov, has arrived to that country. Aslakhanov is traveling with the Judo team. At least this is how he explained why he visited Belgium. But the real point, however, is that Aslanbek Aslakhanov got spotted on Falcon Plein (the so-called red light district), where he was walking with another man. He was spotted when local Chechens were passing in a car. They stopped the car and started talking to Aslakhanov. That's when he told them that he was accompanying the Judo team. The pro-Russian apostate would not explain what he was doing in the red light district walking and peeking into the shops. Kavkaz Center

Court sentences Chechen refugee to 1 year and 4 months in prison

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:06:50 GMT

Today District Court of Swedish city of Ystad held a hearing on the case of three Chechens detained in the port of Trelleborg in early March. Back then Russian media were claiming that the Chechens were caught with large arsenal of weapons and explosives. It turned out that there were really no explosives or weapons at all. The case mentions a submachine gun found inside a spare tire. After two months of the preliminary investigation two of them, who came to Sweden with refugee papers issued by Austrian authorities to Mr. Idrisov and Magomedov, were released. The third one, Mr. Shatayev, 27, will spend 1 year and 4 months in prison for "smuggling weapons into Sweden". During the court hearing Shatayev stated that it was the first time he had ever heard about the weapon and that he did not know how it got into the vehicle. After Mr. Shatayev serves out his time in confinement, he will be banned from entering Sweden until July 1, 2018. All three Chechens are disabled. One of them is missing both arms, one has no fingers and Mr. Shatayev is missing one arm. Kavkaz Center

George Bush was going to use X-ray machine to kill Ahmadinejad?

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:36:07 GMT

"Enemies of Iran attempted to kill President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with high-intensity X-ray radiation during his recent trip to Italy," Iran's former ambassador in Rome, Abolfazi Zohrevand, said on Monday. Ahmadinejad attended a global summit on food at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Rome headquarters in early June. "On the eve of the [Iranian] president's visit to Rome, we checked the radiation levels in his temporary residence," Abolfazi Zohrevand told Iran's IRNA news agency. "We found out that the radiation was higher than normal and its intensity was rapidly increasing," he said, adding that several devices were used to avoid potential error in readings, but they all showed the same results. "A day before Ahmadinejad's arrival in Rome, I checked and found out that the (security) X-ray machines installed gave off too powerful radiation. It measured over 900 instead of 300 as normal," Zohrevand told Iran's IRNA news agency. "We changed the machine, thinking that it was faulty, but realized the rays were being remotely controlled," he said. "Bearing in mind that rays of over 1,500 are extremely dangerous to human life, this makes us think there was a plot," Zohrevand continued. Former ambassador would not report any other details of the unsuccessful assassination attempt. According to him, the additional information including the one revealing the masterminds, will be publicized "in its proper time". Last week Italian media reported referring to Iran's presidential adviser Ali Zabihi that the plotters were masterminding an assassination attempt against Ahmadinejad during his visit to Italy. In mid-June Ahmadinejad himself mentioned another assassination attempt during his March visit to Baghdad and said only changes to his schedule had foiled the plot. Head of the Iranian government also pledged to provide proof that the United States was behind an attempt on his life in early March in Baghdad. Kavkaz Center

U.S. to launch 'significant escalation' of covert operations in Iran

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:42:25 GMT

The Bush administration has launched a "significant escalation" of covert operations in Iran, sending U.S. commandos to spy on the country's nuclear facilities and undermine the Islamic republic's government, journalist and Pulitzer Prize laureate Seymour Hersh said in his article as well as live on CNN. Seymour Hersh told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" that U.S. Congress has authorized up to $400 million to fund the secret campaign, which involves U.S. special operations troops and Iranian dissidents. According to Seymour Hersh, the undermining activities of U.S. intelligence consist of gathering information about nuclear and weapons program, support of oppositional movements including those that are viewed as "terrorist" ones, as well as cross-border operations from Southern Iraq. These have included seizing members of Al Quds, the commando arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and taking them to Iraq for interrogation. President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have rejected findings from U.S. intelligence agencies that Iran has halted a clandestine effort to build a nuclear bomb and "do not want to leave Iran in place with a nuclear program," Hersh said. "They believe that their mission is to make sure that before they get out of office next year, either Iran is attacked or it stops its weapons program," Hersh said. White House, CIA and State Department officials declined comment on Hersh's report, which appears in this week's issue of The New Yorker. The U.S. intelligence report published December 3, 2007 says that Iran suspended its development of nuclear weapons in 2003. Thus, U.S. intelligence experts have revised their position on Iran's development of nuclear weapons, since a similar report published two years ago claimed that Tehran was strongly inclined towards continuing the development of its nuclear arsenal. On December 4, 2007 President Bush called on the international community to put pressure on Iran concerning its nuclear program. According to President Bush, the alarming signal in the report is a possibility that Iran may resume its nuclear program. Department of Monitoring, Kavkaz Center

Brzezinski tells Russia not to be afraid of NATO

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:38:43 GMT

Process of NATO's expansion into Ukraine and Georgia is going hand in hand with the expansion of the European Union. Both NATO and the EU are part of the developing Euro-Atlantic community, as former US President's National Security Advisor, political analyst Zbigniew Brzezinski believes. It is no longer a union aimed against Moscow or the Soviet Union. The countries on the agenda are making a planned decision to be involved in larger security structures, which the EU states are a part of, -- Mr. Brzezinski said to Moscow-based Interfax news agency. In his opinion, opposing it and taking it as a hostile action reflects nostalgia for bygone imperial dominance over these countries by the Kremlin. Had Moscow not been taking it as a hostile act, but as a normal evolution of greater Euro-Atlantic community instead, it would have been much easier to create a structure in the future that would be mutually beneficial for both EU and Russia, for both NATO and Russia, -- professor believes. From the standpoint of long-term perspective it would be extremely desirable. But it becomes less probable when Russia uses policies of humiliation and even threats to thwart Georgia's and Ukraine's intentions to join the EU and NATO, -- Mr. Brzezinski said. In his opinion, Georgia and Ukraine are supposed to join the NATO whenever they are ready to join. Mr. Brzezinski mentioned that neither of these two countries is ready to join yet. But the door should not be closed in front of them. In his opinion, it is quite normal for them to be preparing by interaction with NATO with prospects of membership in that organization. The plan of their prospective NATO membership is the only issue on the agenda, but it is not the solution. Yet it would be a negative decision to turn down these countries for participation in the NATO membership plan; such a decision would not be justified, -- as Mr. Brzezinski put it. Department of Monitoring, Kavkaz Center

Iran ready to strike Israel

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:40:47 GMT

The Times writes that last month Iran moved ballistic missiles into launch positions, with Israel's Dimona nuclear plant among the possible targets, which caused Tel Aviv to take preventive measures for fear of being attacked by Iran. Iranian government in turn stated that Iran is ready to respond to any attack by the Zionist regime in occupied Palestine. Earlier Tel Aviv and Washington have made repeated statements with the threats to attack Iran. Western press has had regular publications about a possible forthcoming war and deadlines of attack on Tehran. Iran, in turn, has been threatening with a massive counterstrike. Tehran has warned that it will impose control on the Persian Gulf gateway if the country is attacked. This statement was made by Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari. "Naturally every country under attack by an enemy uses all its capacity and opportunities to confront the enemy," he pointed out. "Regarding the main route for exiting energy, Iran will definitely act to impose control on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz." "If there is a confrontation between us and the enemy from outside the region, definitely the scope (of the confrontation) will reach the oil issue," said Jafari. This statement has already forced some analysts to forecast the oil prices. They believe that oil prices may skyrocket to as high as $400 a barrel. According to the Iranian general, "After this action (of Iran imposing controls on the Gulf waterway), the oil price will rise very considerably and this is among the factors deterring the enemies." The top Iranian commander also threatened regional states with "reprisals" if they took part in any military action against Iran. "If the attack takes place from the soil of another country ... the country attacked has the right to respond to the enemy's military action from where the operation started," he said. "This is our inalienable right to act similarly towards enemies' military infrastructure wherever they may be," Mohammad Ali Jafari said. The commander of the Revolutionary Guard also told a Tehran daily that Israel is "completely within the range of the Islamic Republic's missiles. Our missile power and capability are such that the Zionist regime - despite all its abilities - cannot confront it." Lately the Iranian military has been conducting regular large-scale military training exercises involving the testing of a number of new domestically-made weaponries. Strait of Hormuz was oftentimes picked as the location for these maneuvers. Iranian military has repeatedly reminded that "Iran has a total control of that section of the Persian Gulf, through which 80% of all the oil obtained in this region is being transported". The military of Islamic Republic of Iran have even built a submarine specially designed for combat operations in the Persian Gulf. Kavkaz Center

Pentagon concerned with increase of Taliban activities

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:57:51 GMT

AFP reported that US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates expressed concern with the increased activities and power of the Taliban in the Afghan-Pakistani frontier area. Secretary Gates believes that Pakistani government is not fulfilling its obligations before the US good enough and not fighting the Taliban properly. Gates laid his stress on the increased number of attacks in eastern parts of Afghanistan. The top U.S. commander in southeastern Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, said Tuesday that attacks on his troops were up 40 percent in the first five months of 2008. According to him, the attacks in the regions near Pakistani border comprise 12 percent of the total number of clashes. In this connection Gates reminded about the peace agreement reached between the Pakistani government and the Taliban authorities of Waziristan. Displeased with this agreement, the US is demanding that Pakistani military junta in Islamabad resumes war operations against the Mujahideen. Only several hours after US Defense Secretary's speech it was reported that Islamabad brought its troops to Waziristan. 3 thousand Pakistani troops were deployed in Jandola, South Waziristan, where a day prior to that the leaders of several local clans were killed for collaboration with the US. They were planning to participate in the so-called Afghan-Pakistani "peace Jirga/Council". Earlier on Pakistani authorities announced that the Mujahideen captured 17 policemen. Spokesman of Pakistani military command, Major General Athar Abbas, announced that the troops seized Jandola. Meanwhile Russian ambassador in occupied Kabul, Zamir Kabulov, advised NATO and the US to change their tactics in the war against Afghans. Russian ambassador believes that "the NATO's miscalculation is in oftentimes outrageous neglect for national, religious and cultural traditions of Afghans"; what's more, "the Taliban are after all Pashtuns, they are ones of their own". This is the reason why the Taliban are beating the invaders in the propaganda warfare, as Z. Kabulov put it. "If it keeps going on the way it is now, it would be a total defeat, militarily and politically first of all, it's just a matter of time," he summarized. In this connection Kabulov called on the NATO to change its tactics and strategies in Afghanistan. "You can keep on increasing the number of troops of NATO's military presence [in Afghanistan], but it will not solve the problem. Human resources of Afghanistan, combined with Pakistan, especially the tribal zone where the Taliban are actually running the show, is many times higher than the capabilities of all NATO countries combined," Kabulov pointed out. He claims that the only way out for the NATO is "setting up a real battle-worthy Afghan army and police, which is accomplishable." (meaning Karzai's puppet formations - KC) "One American soldier costs the US treasury more than one company of the Afghan army. If this ratio is changed and investment is made right in here, both the US and NATO can afford it," Kabulov advised. Kavkaz Center

Gathering of Russian-speaking mafia in Vienna

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:05:45 GMT

European press reported that Russia's entire criminal world arrived in Vienna for the soccer's semifinals: Yuri Katz with his wife Lena Baturina (stole from Russians at least 7 billion dollars), Roma Abramovich (stole over 23 billion dollars) with his concubine Daria Zhukova, Oleg Deripaska (stole over 40 billion dollars) and other members of the Russian-speaking gang. Today's leader of the gang called "Russia's Embassy in Austria", Stas Osadchiy, is now cringing before them. The press does not mention how much money Stas stole by laundering the stolen capitals through "diplomatic" cover. Austrian TV reported that Vova Putin will possibly attend this gathering personally. Out of all these criminals, Abramovich is especially familiar to the Austrian Criminal Police. In Austria he used the stolen money to buy a large package of shares of Austrian metallurgical concerns - Strabag and Magma, a luxurious home right in downtown Vienna and a castle in Tyrol, where Russian mobsters are carousing, going on their drinking sprees and having orgies with 1,000 bottles of champagne, 500 bottles of vodka and hundreds of Russian prostitutes brought from Moscow on a plane. In Austria Abramovich walks around accompanied by 10 bodyguards. Kavkaz Center

Tel Aviv to start bombing Iran after U.S. elections?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:10:07 GMT

The war of nerves between Tehran and Washington is continuing. US faithful ally, the Zionist enclave in occupied Palestine -- Israel is threatening with attacks on Tehran's nuclear facilities. The more often Iran expresses the opinion that a threat of war is real, the more often and bold Tel Aviv gets. The version that Israel will certainly attack Iran is supported by Western media, which are playing the part of the "informational special forces" in anti-Iranian alliance. Daily Telegraph reported that John Bolton, the former American ambassador to the United Nations, has predicted that Israel could attack Iran after the November presidential election but before George W Bush's successor is sworn in. The ex-diplomat claims that the US will not get involved in the military action against Iran. "If you had asked me a year ago I would have said I thought it was a real possibility. I just don't think it's in the cards," Israeli Zionist Mignews quoted Bolton as saying. Earlier this month Israel conducted a large-scale military training exercise, which in the opinion of Western commentators reminded of a rehearsal for bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. According to the US administration, the purpose of the military exercise was long-range flight training, as well as demonstration how serious Israel is about Iran's nuclear program. Zionist authorities demonstratively refused to give any comments on these exercises. But even one who is far from politics can see that Tel Aviv would very much like Iran to know about these exercises and feel the "breath of war". Earlier on, Shaul Mofaz, a former Israeli Zionist regime's defense minister who is now a deputy prime minister, publicly stated that Tel Aviv "may attack Iran unless Iranian authorities curtail their nuclear program". He complained that international sanctions against Iran have proven ineffective. "If Iran continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack," Shaul Mofaz warned. Meanwhile Iranian Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri warned the US and its allies against attacking his country. He repeated the words of President Ahmadinejad that Iran is not as weak as Iraq. Earlier, President of Iran has warned on several occasions that if Tel Aviv goes for a military scam, "Israel will be wiped off the map". Kavkaz Center

McCain�s advisor dreams of a terror attack so that his boss would become president

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:11:54 GMT

Charles Black, a top advisor for US presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, expressed an opinion that a terrorist attack on US soil would 'be a big advantage to his candidate", so that the American people elect his boss McCain instead of Barack Obama. He said this in an interview to Fortune Magazine. Barack Obama's campaign headquarters has already reacted to this statement. The official press release of Obama's campaign points out that Obama is outraged with the statement made by Charles Black, top political advisor of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, about a terrorist attack in the US.

Barack Obama's campaign issued a response to Black's comments:

"Barack Obama welcomes a debate about terrorism with John McCain, who has fully supported the Bush policies that have taken our eye off of al Qaeda, failed to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, and made us less safe. The fact that John McCain's top advisor says that a terrorist attack on American soil would be a 'big advantage' for their political campaign is a complete disgrace, and is exactly the kind of politics that needs to change. Barack Obama will turn the page on these failed policies and this cynical and divisive brand of politics so that we can unite this nation around a common purpose to finish the fight against al Qaeda," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

This is what McCain's advisor Charles Black said to the Fortune Magazine: "A fresh terrorist attack certainly would be a big advantage to him." Presidential candidate's advisor stressed that in the eyes of the American voters McCain is greatly trusted on the issues of national security. He also brought up an example of the terrorist act in Pakistan, in which leader of Pakistani opposition Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. He admitted that the December assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, while 'unfortunate,' helped McCain win the Republican important primary in New Hampshire by focusing attention on national security. Black said, "His (McCain's) knowledge and ability to talk about it reemphasized that this is the guy who's ready to be Commander-in-Chief. And it helped us." During his trip in California, McCain told journalists that he could not imagine why Mr. Black would say something like that; it is not true. Senator McCain added that after September 11, 2001, he worked on preventing a new terror attack. Mr. Black himself said that he regretted making the comments and that they were "inappropriate". He also said that he admits that Senator McCain dedicated his whole life to the defense of our country and the nation's security is above all other considerations. Charles Black is a famous lawyer and lobbyist. According to the Washington, DC law firm BKHS & Associates, which he was heading before March, when he started running John McCain's campaign headquarters, Mr. Black was a top advisor for US Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, as well as an advisor for George W. Bush's campaign headquarters. Department of Monitoring, Kavkaz Center