Iran tests new long-range missile

surface missile that is capable of hitting targets in Europe.

Known as the Sajjil, it was described on state TV as a high-speed, solid-fuel missile with a high level of accuracy.

Defence Minister Mohammed Najjar said the missile was a defensive weapon.

Western nations and Israel suspect Iran is seeking to develop an atomic weapon and some have called for pre-emptive strikes against its facilities.

Speculation of a possible strike either by the US or by Israel rose earlier in the year, but has receded amid the lengthy US presidential election campaign.

However, US President-elect Barack Obama has refused to rule out the option of launching a military attack on Iran.

‘Deterrent doctrine’

Speaking on state TV, Mr Najjar said the new two-stage missile had an “extraordinarily large capability”, but gave few specific details other than its estimated range – of up to 1,200 miles (1,930km).

That would comfortably be enough to strike targets in Israel, as well as bringing into range a swathe of south-eastern Europe.

Iran’s current solid-fuel missile, the Fateh, has a range of just 100 miles (170km). Solid-fuel missiles are reputedly more accurate than liquid-fuel missiles, which make up the majority of Iran’s long-range arsenal.

“This missile test is in the framework of Iran’s deterrent doctrine,” the official Irna news agency quoted Mr Najjar as saying.

“It will only land on the heads of those enemies… who want to make an aggression and invade the Islamic republic,” he added.

In Washington, the US state department said the launch was “of concern to the international community”.

The Pentagon said the latest test demonstrated the need for the US to press ahead with its planned missile shield in Europe.

 

India block North Korean flight to Iran

November 04, 2008 13:47 IST
India refused fly-over rights to a North Korean plane carrying cargo to Iran in August, after the United States ordered New Delhi to do so, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The aircraft, an Ilyushin 62 owned by Air Koryo, the North Korean state airline, made a stopover in Myanmar on August 7 and sought air traffic controllers’ permission to fly over India en route to Iran, the newspaper has reported.

Initially the air traffic control in Kolkata gave the plane the go-ahead, but around noon on August 7, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in New Delhi messaged Kolkata cancelling the permission, reports WSJ.

The newspaper in fact had a supervisor at the Kolkata air traffic control, one Mr Guin, review the flight records of Air Koryo’s Flight 621 for August 7 and confirm the incident. Guin told WSJ that the denial of permission was passed on to air traffic control officials in Yangon, who sent back the flight.

While neither the US administration nor the Prime Minister’s Office responded to the report, or described the cargo on the plane, officials in the know told the WSJ that the action was part of the Bush administration’s Proliferation Security Initiative.

Action under this initiative points to one of the three possibilities: the cargo contained nuclear material, long-range missiles, or other lethal cargo, the officials said. A 2006 UN Security Council resolution prevents North Korea from sale and purchase of long-range missiles. In 2007 also, the US prevented a Syrian plane from landing in Pyongyang, convinced that it was part of the missile trade.

The US had for long held Pyongyang guilty of supplying missile technology to nations like Iran, Syria and Libya. But in October, convinced that engaging North Korea was essential to containing its nuclear programme, the US reached a deal with Kim Jong Il’s government that eventually shuts down its N-programme.

But what the deal doesn’t focus on is Pyongyang’s robust missile programme.

 

Jet Airways

Jet Airways has decided to take back all sacked employees with immediate effect. Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal held a press conference and announced this decision. “I apologise for all agony you went through. You are like my family. And, my conscience does not allow me to sack you”, said Naresh Goyal to his employees. “My management made the decision to sack employees because of financial woes. But I have reversed it. My management may not like my decision, but I made it. I feel mentally disturbed with the recent events. I do not look at economies, I go with my conscience” said Naresh Goyal. Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal firmly said that he did not act under pressure. He even denied of having meeting any political leaders. As the news of cancellation of retrenchment in Jet Airways flashed on the TV channels, the fired employees erupted into joy and celebrations. They termed it as a major victory and distributed sweets to each other. Naresh Goyal confirmed that there would not be any retrenchment or lay offs in Jet Airways. However, he stressed on the need of cutting costs by every possible means. He also urged the government to come forward to bail out the sick aviation industry and loss-making airlines. Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel termed Jet Airways’ decision to take back all sacked employees as a welcome step.

The Lankan government believes that the quarter-century old militant movement of the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam is in its last phase. The Sri Lanka [Images]n army is merely 1.2 miles away from Kilinochchi, the LTTE’s headquarters in northern Sri Lanka. According to Colonel R Hariharan, a retired military intelligence specialist who served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka from 1987-90, “Six divisions of the Sri Lankan army have gheraoed Kilinochchi.The rains and the dense tall vegetation make airstrikes very difficult. The situation is critical for both sides.” The Sri Lankan defence ministry claims that the army has killed 7,553 rebels since Sri Lanka pulled out of a Norwegian-backed truce in January, while 748 soldiers have died in the clashes. By all accounts the situation is a turning point in Sri Lanka’s blood-soaked ethnic history. President Mahinda Rajapakase has waged a decisive battle against the LTTE and seems to be winning it so far. His critics allege that he is looking for a military solution and not for a political dialogue. The Pesident’s supporters claim that he had offered an olive branch to Prabhakaran, when he came to power. Rajapkse had offered to have a structured dialogue but the LTTE did not respond, so he was left with no option but to go for an armed offensive. As the LTTE is pushed to the wall, allegations of the sufferings and misery of the Lankan Tamils have been reported, particularly due to heavy air strikes. Even some Europe-based experts on Sri Lanka have started saying that government’s “attitude and actions are that of an invading country in an enemy’s territory.” The use of air power against its own people is severely objected to by critics of Sri Lankan government. B Raman, rediff.com columnist and a Chennai-based expert on security matters said, ” The continuing use of indiscriminate air strikes by the Rajapakse government against the Tamil civilian population in order to intimidate it into stop supporting the LTTE has come in for strong criticism.” Sri Lanka is more confident than ever that it will get rid of the LTTE menace because it has been able to get all manner of help from China, Pakistan, Iran and the United States. In geo-strategic terms the Lankans are better consolidated than ever, with China building a port south of Colombo, India and Pakistan training the Sri Lankan army on a regular basis and the US and Iran supporting government in terms of resources and materials. The Sri Lankan economy is also stable and sturdy. Some weeks ago, a senior officer of Sri Lanka had said “We are seeing light at the end of the tunnel after 25 long years of struggle. We have had significant success in the operation against the LTTE. It is on run, they are running with full pockets.” While showing maps of 2006 and 2008, the officer said that 75 percent of thearea has been recaptured and the fighting capacity of the LTTE had been seriously eroded. The Sri Lankan government had been able to hold elections in the estern province too, he said. The Lankan government’s assessment is that LTTE chief Prabhakaran has been pushed into his hide-out with 3,000-4,000 cadres at most. As the battle become decisive in the Kilinochchi, pressure is building up within Tamil Nadu, where politicians are guessing that the LTTE is cornered. The question on everyones lips seems to be what effect the fall of LTTE chief Prabhakaran will have on the region. The Tamil politicians are completely divided and the nuance is lost, the divide complete. Those who are speaking for the plight of the Sri Lankans Tamils because they are also being killed with LTTE militants are being silenced by the critics of LTTE. While those who speak for the LTTE have a weak case due to India’s current sufferings due to terrorism and also because the politics over the Sri Lankan issue is more complex with Prabhakaran and his deputy Pottu Amman, being prime accused in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case. India wants them tried in Indian courts. It is not possible for India to unconditionally start or participate in any dialogue with these two Tamil-militant leaders. Hawkish Tamil leaders like Vaiko want to break diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka while Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has told PM Manmohan Singh to implore Rajapakse to find a political solution and not resort to brute force. Under Karunanidhi’s leadership a resolution has been passed to create pressure on government to get Sri Lanka to declare a ceasefire. J Jayalalitha has targeted Karunanidhi, “If India interferes with the internal affairs of Sri Lanka there is a possibility that our neighbouring countries could begin interfering with our internal affairs. It will create trouble for India’s sovereignty. The countries in the world will not accept India interfering with the affairs of another country.” Jayalalitha further says, “The important thing was to prevent the Indian Army from providing training to the Sri Lankan Army and to stop the military offensive against the Sri Lankan Tamils. But Karunanidhi is not making any efforts in this regard.” The editorial column written by Malini Parthasarathy in The Hindu titled The dangers of Tamil chauvinism strongly argued that, ” The latest campaign in Tamil Nadu masterminded by a desperate LTTE must not be allowed to undermine the sound policy decision upheld by successive Indian governments since 1991 to stay out of Sri Lanka’s internal affairs.” Hariharan points out that recently The New Indian Express carried a survey that reflected the complexities of the matter. Hariharan said, “51 percent of respondents have said that India should lift the ban on the LTTE. But, only 30 percent have said that they are freedom fighters. 31 percent have said that India should send troops if Prabhakaran is cornered. While 40 percent of people have said they would like to donate for the cause of a Tamil Eelam. Do not equate public sympathy for Tamil rights with support for the LTTE.” Many critics of LTTE think “the game plan of the LTTE and its supporters is to rally the Tamil chauvinist sentiment” so that the siege around Kilinochchi can be relaxed. Raman disagrees that Tamil politicians are trying to bail-out Prabhakaran. “The LTTE is not using Tamil politicians. The case of Vaiko is different but one can’t say same thing about parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kaghazham and the Congress. The people are genuinely concerned about the hawkish statements made by Sri Lankan army chief Lt.Gen.Sarath Fonseka and Gothbaya, brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is also causing tension. There will be repercussions if Parabhakaran is killed. Tamil politicians would like to prevent the tension spreading in the state,” Raman said. In his interview to the Canadian daily National Post, General Fonseka said “I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese but there are minority communities and we treat them like our people�being the majority of the country we will never give in and we have the right to protect our country�We are also a strong nation . They(minorities) can live in this country with us, but they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things.” An All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhgham leader speaking off the record told rediff.com, “We dislike the LTTE and do not support it but no way it should stop us from raising the voice against butchering of Tamils in Sri Lanka.” Raman points out that it’s not only issue of Sri Lankan Tamils rights alone that is hurting psyche of people. He says, “There has been a perceptible disenchantment in Tamil Nadu over what is seen as the lack of interest shown by Manmohan Singh in the problems of the Sri Lankan Tamils. He is being compared unfavourably with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, who took a keen interest in the problems of the Tamils and did not hesitate to take up the matter strongly with the governments in power in Colombo.” Raman says that this disenchantment has turned into shock following reports of two Indian radar technicians being injured when two planes of the LTTE’s air wing bombed a Sri Lankan military base in Vavuniya in September.” Hariharan says, “I don’t see what Indian government can do beyond a point. The two warring sides don’t want Indian help. They may be asking for Indian help but, at least they have not quantified it, so far.” Interestingly, no Tamil party has spelled out , in practical terms how much India can influence the Sri Lankan government who are fighting most important battle on their land. Hariharan puts forward a few conditions before India can increase its involvement in the issue. He says, “India can interfere only if there is a chance of peace. We cannot get into a ‘1987 type’ situation. We must take into account the trade between two countries at $4 billion. Any miscalculation can directly impact it. We are facing a strategic challenge in Sri Lanka because Iran, Pakistan and China are helping Rajpakasa. It’s the leverage he has. The Sri Lankan parliament has 42 Tamil-speaking MPs who should also put pressure on the government.” Interestingly, a vocal supporter of the LTTE in Chennai told rediff.com, “The siege of Kilinochchi will prove to be the siege of Leningrad. Hitler’s army besieged the city for 872 days but still could not oust the Russians, who put up a heroic struggle. The LTTE will also win the battle of Kilinochchi using the same tactics as the Russians. You can expect a surprise.” Even if the Sri Lankan government wins the battle, will their win bring peace to the island nation is the moot question. They will have to start a reconciliation process, says Rajapakse supporters. Raman says, “Very few in Tamil Nadu take seriously the assurances of Rajapaksa that after neutralising the LTTE as a terrorist organisation, his government will initiate political measures for meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people.”

While the economic recession has spelt doom for many, this could be a bit of good news. Oil prices, which were zooming to all-time highs have crashed. Oil prices have hit a 13-month low of $68.50 a barrel. Oil prices had crossed the $100-mark for the first time in 2008. The prices further zoomed to $147 in July. There were even predictions that oil would hit the $200 mark! The surge in oil prices was alarming…the fall in the dollar rates was one of reasons for the rise in oil prices. A weaker American currency tends to increase the demand for dollar-denominated oil as it becomes cheaper for buyers using stronger currencies. Oil prices also rose as investors saw it as a safe investment amid fears of rising inflation and a US recession. However, demand started slowing down drastically in the wake of the recession in developing countries. The downslide began…

In a major breakthrough the Orissa police on Thursday claimed that the mastermind behind Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxamananda Saraswati’s killing had been identified as a group had hired the Maoists to execute the crime. “Maoists were given money to train certain youth of a particular community to eliminate Saraswati,” inspector general of police, crime branch, Arun Ray told PTI asserting the mastermind of the killings had been identified. Stating the mastermind had fled Orissa, the IG said “we will trace them soon.” The plan to eliminate Saraswati was made immediately after the December, 2007 communal violence in Kandhamal, he added. Elaborating the probe by the crime branch, Ray said investigations also showed that a group had collected money from some villages in Kandhamal which was given to the Maoist group to train their youth for the purpose. At least 60 youth were given arms training by the Maoists, the IG said dwelling on the inputs from the three arrested persons. Ray said members of a particular community were unhappy with Saraswati and held him responsible for the riots which took place during Christmas in 2007. They requested a Maoist group to assist them in killing Saraswati, he said. Confirming that six Telugu-speaking persons fired at Saraswati and others, the crime branch investigation revealed that the trained group were guarding the ashram at Jalespeta in Kandhamal during the incident. Refusing to divulge identity and religion of the mastermind behind the killing which sparked communal violence in Kandhamal, The IG said the Maoists only executed the crime.

World number two Roger Federer has surpassed Pete Sampras to become the all-time leader in career prize money earnings in men’s tennis, the ATP said on Thursday. The five-times US Open champion took his career earnings to over US $ 43.3 million at the Madrid Masters this week. Federer toasts US Open high five American Sampras earned $ 43,280,489 in a glittering career that included 14 Grand Slam titles. Federer is one behind that record too with 13. “Obviously it’s nice to have records. I didn’t play tennis because of money, that was never my drive but I have been very successful,” Federer said after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to reach the quarter-finals on Thursday. “I’ve had an incredible run in Slams lately that racks up the money and also the Masters Cup, there is a lot of money involved there. “I guess this is also the moment when you can thank the all-time greats from back in the day when it was still amateur to have brought the game to where it is today. They have created the platform for us players today.” Federer meets Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in the last eight of the Madrid Masters on Friday.

After a 52-day nightmare , Kiran D’Souza who was on the ill-fated cargo ship hijacked by Somalian pirates is finally back home. The 28-year old seaman finally reached home on Thursday. Kiran who landed in Mangalore this morning was received by all his family members who were obviously emotional on seeing him after such a long time which was filled with anxiety and unlimited waiting. Kiran was one of the seamen working in the ship, Iran Deynat which was hijacked by Somalian pirates on August 21, 2008. After much deliberation and negotiation, Kiran is finally back at home. Sounding tired yet relieved, Kiran took a few moments off to share his nightmarish experience of 52 days in captivity with rediff.com.

 

US missile defence

US missile defence

The United States has signed a deal with Poland allowing it to install missiles at a base on the Baltic Sea. It already has an agreement to build a radar station in the Czech Republic. The deals form part of US plans for a European missile defence shield to counter what it describes as the threat from “rogue states” such as Iran. Iran recently carried out new tests of its Shahab-3 ballistic missile, which is said to have a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles). But Russia says the US plan is unnecessary and has threatened to retaliate militarily if the missile defence system is built. What is the US proposing to do? Iran has held regular tests of its long-range missiles

The US says its missile defence system is intended to destroy incoming ballistic missiles potentially coming from North Korea and Iran. This involves using radars in Alaska and California in the US and at Fylingdales in the UK. Another radar is planned for Greenland. Anti-missile missiles, or interceptors, are being based in Alaska (40 of them) and California (four). There would also be 130 interceptors based on ships. The interceptors work by physically hitting the ballistic missile in mid-flight. There would also be missiles to try to destroy incoming rockets in the final stages. However, the US plans to install 10 more interceptors in silos in Poland, and build a radar station in the Czech Republic. It hopes that construction of the Czech facility – using a radar currently located at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands – could begin next year, with the first interceptors in place in Poland by 2011 and the system fully operational by 2012. Why in Eastern Europe? The US says there is a gap in its anti-missile defences. See maps of US and Russian missile systems A threat from North Korea could be countered with the US and sea-based systems. But European allies or US forces in Europe could be threatened by Iran one day, Washington says, or indeed some other country, so there needs to be a system based in Europe as well. Will it work? The theory is that the interceptor missile homes in on and destroys its target in the air by physically hitting the incoming warhead. However, the closing speed of interceptor and target will be 24,000kph (14,900mph), or 6.5km (4 miles) per second – so the task is more difficult than hitting a bullet with another bullet. The system’s supporters say that not only does it work, but it is even more accurate than that. But critics say that, despite having spent over $100bn (£54bn), the Pentagon still has not proved the system can work in realistic conditions. Independent scientific bodies in the US have said that tests of the system’s intercept capabilities have been highly scripted, with the defence being given detailed information about the attack beforehand. They also argue that the defence system could be easily circumvented by potential attackers. Why does Russia object? The US wants to place radar at this old base in the Czech Republic

Moscow says that the missiles in Poland and the radar in the Czech Republic could threaten its own defences. The system might be small to start with, it says, but could expand. The radar could be used to spy on Russia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that “we will not be hysterical about this, but we will think of retaliatory steps”. The Pentagon says this is just “bellicose rhetoric” from Russia “designed to make Europeans nervous”. Russian objections to the US missile shield grew more strident after the US signed its preliminary deal with Poland in August 2008, at a time when Moscow and the West were already at loggerheads over Russian troops involvement in fighting in Georgia. A top Russian general said the Poland move would be punished. Moscow’s envoy to Nato was quoted as saying that the timing of the deal revealed that Moscow, rather than Iran, was the target of the missile shield plans. Has Russian proposed any alternatives? Moscow suggested that the US could use a Russian-rented radar site in Azerbaijan, which shares a border with Iran. Former President Putin also offered use of a radar site in southern Russia and proposed working with the US and other European countries on a joint defence system. But the US showed little interest in either idea. How serious in the threat to Europe? The Iranian military says its Shahab-3 missiles have a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles). This means that they could reach south-eastern Europe, hitting targets in Nato members Greece, Bulgaria or Romania. Russia says that this limited range means that the US missile defence plan is unnecessary, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that negotiations, not threats, were the best way to deal with concerns about Iranian intentions. The White House said the latest Iranian tests of its Shahab-3 missile do not change the US position on building a European defence shield. Have Poland and the Czech Republic agreed to the deployment? It’s not yet a done deal. NUCLEAR WARHEADS Russia Land-launched: 2,146 Sea-launched: 1,392 Air-launched: 624 US Land-launched: 1,600 Sea-launched: 3,168 Air-launched: 1,098 Source: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) data 2007

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has signed an agreement with the Czech government to build the radar station at Brdy, south-west of Prague, but this has to be ratified by parliament. The Czech government will need the support of some opposition parties to see the measure through. Meanwhile, there is significant public resistance to the plan, with 100,000 people signing a petition calling for a referendum on the issue. Opinion polls indicate that about two-thirds of Czechs do not want the project to go ahead. Poland signed a preliminary agreement with the US over siting missiles at a Baltic Sea base in August 2008. In exchange, the US agreed to help upgrade Poland’s armed forces. The deal needs further ratification and the centre-left government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk has been considerably cooler on the issue than the previous government, which lost power in October 2007. What international agreements cover these moves? None. The US withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001. Ranges of Russian Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Enlarge Image

This treaty limited US and Soviet anti-missile defences to one site each. The Russians still operate theirs, around Moscow. The US chose to defend its strategic rockets in North Dakota but this defence has been deactivated. Part of the Russian unhappiness about the Europe sector of the anti-missile system is that it results from the US withdrawal from the ABM treaty and Russia is worried about where it might go next. Russia has announced the testing of a new multiple-warhead missile, the RS-24, which it says is designed to overcome missile defences. It is also developing new cruise missiles. The US says it should not be worried. Is this the start of a new Cold War? It is certainly a difficult period where mistrust and antagonism are prevalent. The hopes that Russia and the United States could be friendly allies have not been realised so far. Instead there is suspicion and this is likely to continue, though to call it a new Cold War is probably going too far. In May 2008, President Medvedev took over from Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, and so far he has continued his predecessor vehement disapproval of the US project. President George W Bush will leave office in January 2009, and the incoming president could take a different line on the issue. However, both candidates in November’s presidential election – Republican Sen John McCain and Democrat Sen Barack Obama – have spoken of the threat posed by Iran. What ballistic missiles do the US and Russia have? They have dramatically reduced their arsenals from the Cold War days but still retain substantial forces of several thousand missiles and nuclear warheads each. Under the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT) signed by presidents Bush and Putin in 2002, each side has to reduce its deployed warheads to a maximum of 2,200 by 2012. Return to top Russia has its own radar early warning system, short-range interceptor missiles in bases around Moscow and a number of land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launch sites across the country.

 

Bush and Brown’s warning to Iran

President Bush warns Iran that "all options" are on the table Gordon Brown and President George Bush have warned Iran to accept their “offers of partnership” or face tough sanctions and international isolation. The UK prime minister said he wanted to maintain a dialogue with Tehran, but if Iran ignores UN resolutions then sanctions would be intensified. Europe would take action to freeze overseas assets of Iran’s biggest bank and impose new oil and gas sanctions. The two were speaking at a press conference after talks in London. The trip is part of Mr Bush’s European tour – although he dismissed reports that it would be his last before leaving office as “speculation”. Iran’s nuclear ambitions In their talks on Monday the two leaders discussed issues including Iraq and Afghanistan, Burma and Zimbabwe and oil and food prices. Iran has been accused of not co-operating with the UN over its nuclear programme, amid fears it is enriching uranium to use in weapons. The prime minister said the Iranians did not have to choose a “path of confrontation” and Britain would do “everything possible” to maintain dialogue with Tehran. They face serious isolation and the people who are suffering are the Iranian people President Bush UK to boost Afghan troops Sketch: The Bush and Brown show But he said if it ignored UN resolutions, they would intensify sanctions and face “further isolation”. President Bush said Tehran’s demand for nuclear power for civilian purposes was “justifiable” – but could be met by Russia’s offer to supply them with fuel. In a message to Tehran, he said: “You bet you have a sovereign right, absolutely, but you don’t have the trust of those of use who have watched you carefully when it comes to enriching uranium.” Mr Brown said Britain would urge Europe to impose “further sanctions” on Iran and Europe would take action to freeze the overseas assets of the country’s biggest bank and impose new sanctions on oil and gas. Troop numbers President Bush thanked Mr Brown for his “strong statement” and added: “The Iranians must understand that when we come together and speak with one voice we are serious.” Let me thank President Bush for being a true friend of Britain Gordon Brown Bush and Brown in Belfast In Pictures: Bush visit He said pressure was necessary to “solve this problem diplomatically” – but added: “Iranians must understand, however, that all options are on the table.” Mr Brown, who became prime minister a year ago, and President Bush, who leaves office in six months’ time, also discussed Afghanistan, with Mr Brown announcing there would be an increase in British troop numbers. Mr Brown described the US president as a “true friend of Britain” while President Bush praised Mr Brown for being “tough on terror” and said it was in “all our interests” to help people in Afghanistan and Iraq. And he dismissed reports of a split between the UK and US on troop numbers in Iraq as “typical”. “He’s left more troops in Iraq than initially anticipated and like me, we will be making our decisions based on conditions on the ground … without an artificial timetable.” President Bush said history would judge whether the military tactics could have been different in Iraq, but he stood by the decision to remove Saddam Hussein as the right one for “our security”, for peace and for 25 million Iraqis. He said it was important to support democracy “at the heart of the Middle East”: “It’s a democracy that’s not going to look like America, it’s not going to look like Great Britain, but it’s a democracy that will give government responsive to the people”. He said it had “absolutely” been worth it and democracy in Iraq would make it easier to deal with “the Iranian issue” and would send a message to reformers and dissidents. He dismissed the idea that “perhaps freedom is not universal – maybe it’s only western people who can self govern” as “the ultimate form of political elitism”. After the press conference in Downing Street, Mr Bush and Mr Brown travelled to Stormont, Belfast, for talks with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy, Martin McGuinness.

 

Bush and Brown’s warning to Iran

President Bush warns Iran that "all options" are on the table Gordon Brown and President George Bush have warned Iran to accept their “offers of partnership” or face tough sanctions and international isolation. The UK prime minister said he wanted to maintain a dialogue with Tehran, but if Iran ignores UN resolutions then sanctions would be intensified. Europe would take action to freeze overseas assets of Iran’s biggest bank and impose new oil and gas sanctions. The two were speaking at a press conference after talks in London. The trip is part of Mr Bush’s European tour – although he dismissed reports that it would be his last before leaving office as “speculation”. Iran’s nuclear ambitions In their talks on Monday the two leaders discussed issues including Iraq and Afghanistan, Burma and Zimbabwe and oil and food prices. Iran has been accused of not co-operating with the UN over its nuclear programme, amid fears it is enriching uranium to use in weapons. The prime minister said the Iranians did not have to choose a “path of confrontation” and Britain would do “everything possible” to maintain dialogue with Tehran. They face serious isolation and the people who are suffering are the Iranian people President Bush UK to boost Afghan troops Sketch: The Bush and Brown show But he said if it ignored UN resolutions, they would intensify sanctions and face “further isolation”. President Bush said Tehran’s demand for nuclear power for civilian purposes was “justifiable” – but could be met by Russia’s offer to supply them with fuel. In a message to Tehran, he said: “You bet you have a sovereign right, absolutely, but you don’t have the trust of those of use who have watched you carefully when it comes to enriching uranium.” Mr Brown said Britain would urge Europe to impose “further sanctions” on Iran and Europe would take action to freeze the overseas assets of the country’s biggest bank and impose new sanctions on oil and gas. Troop numbers President Bush thanked Mr Brown for his “strong statement” and added: “The Iranians must understand that when we come together and speak with one voice we are serious.” Let me thank President Bush for being a true friend of Britain Gordon Brown Bush and Brown in Belfast In Pictures: Bush visit He said pressure was necessary to “solve this problem diplomatically” – but added: “Iranians must understand, however, that all options are on the table.” Mr Brown, who became prime minister a year ago, and President Bush, who leaves office in six months’ time, also discussed Afghanistan, with Mr Brown announcing there would be an increase in British troop numbers. Mr Brown described the US president as a “true friend of Britain” while President Bush praised Mr Brown for being “tough on terror” and said it was in “all our interests” to help people in Afghanistan and Iraq. And he dismissed reports of a split between the UK and US on troop numbers in Iraq as “typical”. “He’s left more troops in Iraq than initially anticipated and like me, we will be making our decisions based on conditions on the ground … without an artificial timetable.” President Bush said history would judge whether the military tactics could have been different in Iraq, but he stood by the decision to remove Saddam Hussein as the right one for “our security”, for peace and for 25 million Iraqis. He said it was important to support democracy “at the heart of the Middle East”: “It’s a democracy that’s not going to look like America, it’s not going to look like Great Britain, but it’s a democracy that will give government responsive to the people”. He said it had “absolutely” been worth it and democracy in Iraq would make it easier to deal with “the Iranian issue” and would send a message to reformers and dissidents. He dismissed the idea that “perhaps freedom is not universal – maybe it’s only western people who can self govern” as “the ultimate form of political elitism”. After the press conference in Downing Street, Mr Bush and Mr Brown travelled to Stormont, Belfast, for talks with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy, Martin McGuinness.