AFP – “All bases are covered” in a multinational coalition effort against the Islamic State, top US diplomat John Kerry says, as Washington harnesses diplomatic and public support to smash the militants. That’s why the secretary of state is now just continuing his efforts to travel throughout the region to get others to join us in this effort.
‘All bases covered’ in coalition bid to defeat IS
Iran’s covert and quiet military build up and operations
Huffington Post: The Islamic Republic has exercised a tactical shift with regards to its mass strategic signaling about its military and ballistic capabilities, development of nuclear technologies, covert operations, and long-range missiles. Iranian officials have considerably altered their tone, becoming less strident with regards to sending messages to others about their nation’s strategic and military capabilities.
Paris conference aims to divide up tasks in IS fight
AFP: Who strikes and where? Who provides the weapons? Who provides the intelligence? And who provides the cash? The international conference in Paris on Monday will seek to divide up the roles between nations with often diverging interests. Britain’s resolve may well have been stiffened however, by the execution of one of its citizens, aid worker David Haines, by IS militants.
‘Not appropriate’ for Iran to join Islamic State talks, Kerry says
Los Angeles Times: The conference in Paris is billed as a forum for global leaders to discuss how to confront the Islamic State. French officials have said they would like Iran to attend. At the Ankara news conference, however, Kerry called Iran a “state sponsor of terror” and cited the presence of Iranian forces in Syria helping the government of President Bashar Assad.
Iran’s president has not delivered on pledges of more freedom – U.N.
Reuters: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s promises of greater freedoms for the Islamic Republic have not resulted in any major improvements regarding human rights and freedom of expression, the U.N. chief said in a new report on Iran. U.N. Secretary-General’s annual report to the General Assembly on human rights in Iran also expressed alarm at the reported recent increase in executions in Iran.
Collaboration with Iran’s regime is self-defeating
Roll Call: As Iraq teeters on disintegration, some on Capitol Hill are floating the idea of collaborating with Iran in order to defeat the threat posed by the terror group Islamic State (ISIS). But, would this really serve American interests? As dangerous as ISIS is, our would-be partners in Tehran present an even greater security threat to the region and America’s core interests.
Kerry says no to Iran’s help against Islamic group
AP: Even as it discouraged Iran from joining diplomatic talks on how to defeat the Islamic State militant group, the United States could not outline Friday what other nations have volunteered to contribute to a worldwide effort against the insurgency that has overtaken a third of Iraq and Syria and threatens to upend the Mideast.
Iraqi forces set stage for another massacre of Iranian refugees in Camp Liberty
Breitbart: The Iranian regime is definitely the biggest loser of Minister Nouri Al-Maliki withdrawing his candidacy for a third term as Iraq’s Prime Minister. During eight years of divisive and sectarian rule, Maliki had proved himself to be the Iranian regime’s greatest ally in the region, dedicating his power and resources to furthering Iran’s agendas in Iraq and the region.
Islamic State takes pressure off Iran
Al-Monitor: “I am worried that if we all focus on Iraq and miss nuclear weapons in Iran, we have the danger of missing the biggest threat to international cohesion and the security of the US,” said Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., the co-author of sanctions legislation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has blocked from getting to the floor.
Iran warns of ‘difficult road’ in nuclear talks
AFP: Iran and world powers have a “difficult road” ahead as they attempt to agree a nuclear deal by a November deadline, with major differences remaining, Tehran’s lead negotiator said Thursday. “We are always optimistic. But we have a difficult road to go,” Abbas Araqchi told reporters after a day of talks in Vienna with officials from France, Germany and Britain.
