A Defiant Iran Declares Its Intent To Build Multiple Uranium Enrichment Sites

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inspecting the Natanz nuclear plant in central Iran Photograph: EPA

Iran 'Planning 10 New Uranium Enrichment Sites' -- BBC

Iran's government has approved plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants, according to state media.

The government told the Iranian nuclear agency to begin work on five sites, with five more to be located over the next two months.

It comes days after the UN nuclear watchdog rebuked Iran for covering up a uranium enrichment plant.

Western powers say Iran is trying to develop nuclear arms. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.

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More News on Iran's Announcement To Build Multiple Uranium Enrichment Sites

Iran approves building 10 enrichment sites -- Yahoo News/AP
Defiant Iran vows to build 10 new enrichment plants -- Yahoo News/AFP
Iran announces plans for 10 new uranium enrichment plants -- Washington Post
Iran defies world with plan for ten new nuclear sites -- Times Online
Iran approves 10 new nuclear plants -- The Guardian
Iran set to construct ten new enrichment plants -- Press TV (Iran)
Iran And UN Nuclear Watchdog Have Effectively Reached A Dead End -- Gov Monitor

Weary of Political Crisis, Honduras Holds Election -- News Updates November 29, 2009

Hondurans Vote in Post-Coup Presidential Election -- Voice of America

Opinion polls indicate conservative candidate Porfirio Lobo of the opposition National Party is the clear front-runner.

elaya was ousted in a coup.

Neither President Zelaya nor Roberto Micheletti, the military-backed leader who replaced him, are competing in Sunday's election.

The two main candidates are from the country's ruling elite.

Conservative Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo of the opposition National Party is considered the front-runner. He faces Elvin Santos of the ruling Liberal Party, which ousted President Zelaya in June.

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More News On the Election of Honduras

Honduras tense as voters head to the polls -- Christian Science Monitor
Honduras voting for new president -- BBC
Honduran Hopefuls Look Past Zelaya -- Wall Street Journal
Honduras hopes to move past coup with election -- AP
Honduras braces for election unrest -- CNN
Honduras holds post-coup presidential vote -- CBC

What Are U.S. Soldiers On The Ground In Afghanistan Saying About The Upcoming Surge

U.S. soldiers keep watch near a site where a captured roadside bomb exploded in Naad Ali district of the southern Helmand province February 8, 2009 (Reuters)

Afghan Troops Eager For More Help Soon -- Washington Times

MAYWAND, Afghanistan | President Obama's pending decision to send thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan weighs heavily on U.S. forces already on the ground.

A Washington Times reporter and photographer spent much of October - the deadliest month for American troops there thus far - with U.S. Army soldiers in southern Afghanistan, who spoke openly of the need for more boots on the ground, the more and sooner the better.

"We need more troops," said Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Paul Rabidou, 24, stationed at a small combat outpost in the Maywand district. "It's just as simple as that."

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My Comment: There is a lot of info in this article. Read it all.

Royal Navy Releases Somali Pirates Caught Red-Handed

An armed suspected pirate looks over the edge of a skiff. Photo AFP

From Times Online:

A legal loophole has helped scores of Somali gunmen escape justice.

Somalian pirates who are terrorising yachts and cargo ships in the Indian Ocean are being routinely allowed to go free by international naval forces despite being captured with their weapons and even holding hostages.

Pirates who are seized from the skiffs by the Royal Navy and other maritime forces are pleasantly surprised to find themselves being offered life jackets, medical checks and hot food. They are then often set free, either because they have not been captured “in the act of piracy” or because of the risk that they would claim asylum if prosecuted in Europe.

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My Comment: When the lawyers and the law run amok .... this is the outcome.

Afghanistan War News Updates -- November 29, 2009

Finbarr O'Reilly, Reuters

Democrats In Revolt Over Barack Obama’s Troop Surge -- Times Online

Barack Obama's much-vaunted eloquence faces the biggest test of his presidential career this week when he takes to the stage at West Point military academy to explain to a nation that thought it had elected an anti-war president why he is escalating the conflict in Afghanistan.

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More News On Afghanistan

Obama Faces Tough Task in Outlining Afghanistan Strategy, Experts Say -- FOX News
Obama prepares to announce Afghan surge -- AFP
FACTBOX-How Obama's Afghan strategy is shaping up -- Reuters
9,000 Marines to Helmand after Obama speech: report -- AFP
U.S. eyes Afghan drawdown starting by 2013: report -- Reuters

Air strike kills 30 Taliban in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Afghan police say 27 Taliban killed in clash -- AFP
To Prepare for War, GI’s Get a Dress Rehearsal -- New York Times
Newly Deployed Marines to Target Taliban Bastion -- Washington Post
US soldiers: Afghan war more challenging than Iraq -- AP
Marines Plow Ahead with Anti-poppy Campaign in Afghan District -- L.A. Times

UK to host conference on future of Afghanistan -- Sydney Morning Herald
Afghanistan summit to plan for withdrawal -- The Guardian
British PM Calls Afghan Meeting to Plan Security Handover -- Voice of America
NATO Tempts Taliban in From Cold -- Times Online

Commentaries And Analysis

The Afghan decision -- Washington Post editorial
Will the true President Barack Obama stand up on Afghanistan? -- The Telegraph
Obama 'realism' faces Afghan test -- Ben Smith, Politico
Should we pay higher taxes to cover the cost of Afghan war? -- McClatchy News

World News Briefs -- November 29, 2009

A video grab from an undated footage from the Internet shows Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden making statements from an unknown location. Osama bin Laden praises martyrdom as a weapon and a path to glory for Muslims in a video that CNN said on July 14, 2007 was intercepted before it was to appear on radical Islamist Web sites. REUTERS/REUTERS TV

U.S. Forces Missed Chance To Get Bin Laden In 2001 -- Yahoo News/Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military could have captured or killed Osama bin Laden in 2001 if it had launched a concerted attack on his hideout in Afghanistan, according to a report prepared for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The report, written by staff working for the Democratic majority on the committee, said the al Qaeda leader's escape was a lost opportunity that altered the course of the war and paved the way for insurgencies in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.

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MIDDLE EAST

Iran earmarks $20 million to support militants.

Saudis claim key mountain win over Yemeni rebels.

Ex-British envoy questions legitimacy of Iraq invasion.

ASIA

Pakistani PM takes charge of nuclear weapons.

Sri Lanka's war hero runs for president.

Britain, UN back Afghan president, propose conferences.

Seoul not hopeful on N.Korea-US talks: Yonhap.

AFRICA

10,000 E. African albinos in hiding after killings.

Navy releases Somali pirates caught red-handed.

Large victory likely for Namibia governing party.

Cabal seizes diamond riches to buy power.

Eq. Guinea vote to reinstall leader denying graft.

EUROPE

Relatives identify remains after Russian train bombing.

Switzerland to hold referendum to ban minarets.

Demjanjuk trial to open in Munich; prosecutors confident they can convict.

AMERICAS

The waiting continues with Tiger Woods.

Honduras hopes to move past coup with election.

Ex-rebel likely to be Uruguay presidential winner.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Senate report explores 2001 escape by bin Laden from Afghan mountains.

Terrorism suspected in Russia train crash.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

WTO meeting expected to see free trade pledge.

Report: Indebted Dubai World rejected asset sale.

Obama administration closely monitoring Dubai debt outlook.

Osama Bin Laden: Coulda. Shoulda. Woulda. The Second Guessing Continues

U.S. Forces Missed Chance to Get Bin Laden - Report -- New York Times

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military could have captured or killed Osama bin Laden in 2001 if it had launched a concerted attack on his hideout in Afghanistan, according to a report prepared for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The report, written by staff working for the Democratic majority on the committee, said the al Qaeda leader's escape was a lost opportunity that altered the course of the war and paved the way for insurgencies in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.

Read more ....

More News On Bin Laden's Tora Bora Escape

Al-Qaeda head Osama Bin Laden was 'within grasp' of US -- BBC
Report savages US over 'lost opportunity' to stop bin Laden -- ABC News (Australia)
Senate Report: Bin Laden Was Within Grasp -- CBS
Foreign Relations report claims bin Laden was within reach in '01 -- The Hill
Senate Report Explores 2001 Escape by bin Laden From Afghan Mountains -- New York Times
Bush adminstration could've captured terrorist Osama Bin Laden in December 2001: Senate report -- New York Daily News