Syria

The United States warned Syria through the Syrian Ambassador to the United States Emad Moustrapha that Syria must stop supporting the terrorists in Iraq with money and weapons and stop supporting the Palestinian terrorists. Syria was also warned that stricter economic sanctions such as prohibiting the United States financial institutions from dealing with Syria and the Syrian financial institutions. The United States relations with Syria has been low since May of 2004 when the United States put into effect general economic sanctions on Syria for sending money and weapons to terrorists in Iraq. Syrian policy, Iranian policy too, of exporting money, weapons, terrorists, and attempting to wreck Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts is not acceptable given the fragile situation in the Middle East.

Iran and Weapons-Grade Uranium

Diplomats familiar with Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency spoke to The Associated Press off the record. The diplomats have seen Iran testing parts of machines and using parts of machines that can be used to make the fissile core of nuclear warheads. Such revelations further hinder the hope that Iran would scrap seeking weapons-grade uranium. Iran has and still is publicly insisting that Iran only seeks low-grade uranium. But the United States and European powers view Iran as an oil rich country that does not need uranium. Even so, Iran did agree to freeze all uranium activities last year while the United States and European powers negotiate the reduction of the isolation of Iran.

Concerns about Iran grew after revelations of two secret nuclear facilities: 1) a uranium enrichment plant at Natanz and 2) a heavy-water production plant around Arak. In addition, dual use machines that can be linked to possible weapons programs. Iran under the Nonproliferation Treaty is not allowed to run uranium enrichment programs.

Egyptian Intelligence Services, Iran, and Iran Intelligence Services

Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous is accused of spying for Iran and attempting to assassinate President Mubarak of Egypt. In the trial, a video was shown of Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous acting out an reenactment of the attempt to assassinate President Mubarak of Egypt.

The video was recorded by prosecutors as part of the investigation. According to Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous the actions and statements in the video were done under pressure and torture. Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous and Iran have denied the allegations that he planted bombs on the roads to and around Sharm el-Sheikh in which President Mubarak of Egypt was to stay and likes to stay and spied for Iran. Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous also sent a message care of the media present in the courtroom that the charges were a conspiracy against Iran and Iran was the last bastion of Islam.

Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous stated he sent messages to Iran describing Sharm el-Sheikh and received $10,000. Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous also stated that he asked Iran for $1,000,000.00 to assassinate President Mubarak of Egypt. In addition, a diplomat of Iran named Mohammad Reza Hosseindost is charged for giving $10,000.00 to Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous for information describing a petrochemical complex in the Saudi Port City of Yanbu.

The trial of Mahmoud Eid Mohamed Dabbous has been postponed until further notice or for Saturday, February 26, 2005.

President Putin and Premptive Strikes Against Terrorists

President Putin sent antiterrorism legislation this week that would establish guidelines and conditions for when Russian Armed Forces can be mobilized to conduct preemptive strikes against terrorists. The antiterrorism legislation passed with only one reading and with only one session. President Putin now has the authority to take preemptive strikes against terrorists in any form and using any weapons based upon the guidelines and conditions established by the Federation Council.

Sunday, January 30, 2005, First 275 Member Iraq National Assembly, and Iraq

The election of the First 275 Member Iraq National Assembly on Sunday, January 30, 2005 from any military and political perspective should be meet with respect. For in the beginning, the United States election only allowed white males with property to vote. It would be historically irrational and inhumane to expect the government and citizens of Iraq to have a government that matches modern democracies in a year or in several months or in twenty-four hour period. For the United States suffered formative years that were filled with internal conflicts, conflicts and wars with other nations, weak confederation, weak and developing political and military institutions, and was in need of aid by foreign powers constantly. The First 275 Member Iraq National Assembly now has two main objectives.

1) Elect a President and two deputies.

The President and two deputies must select a Prime Minister that will be responsible for the day to day operations of Iraq.

2) Draft a constitution by Monday, August 15, 2005 with a possible six-month extension.

The draft constitution should be presented to the citizens of Iraq in a referendum on Saturday, October 15, 2005. If the draft constitution is rejected, the First 275 Member Iraq National Assembly will be dissolved and a new one elected.

Even so, congratulations to the citizens of Iraq for voting in an environment of constant terrorist attacks. Congratulations to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, British Armed Forces, Polish Armed Forces, Italian Armed Forces, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Netherland Armed Forces, Australian Armed Forces, Japan Armed Forces, Romanian Armed Forces, Thailand Armed Forces, Bulgarian Armed Forces, Denmark Armed Forces, Hungarian Armed Forces, Georgian Armed Forces, Azerbaijan Armed Forces, Mongolian Armed Forces, Portugal Armed Forces, Latvian Armed Forces, Slovakian Armed Forces, Czech Republic Armed Forces, Lithuania Armed Forces, New Zealand Armed Forces, Tanzania Armed Forces, Macedonia Armed Forces, and Moldova Armed Forces.

Only time and historians honestly can study and review the actions done in Iraq and determine the success and the failures.