Iran planning strike on Europe: analyst

[scribblet]

Generally Europe is weak at dealing with something like this and will do nothing until something does happen. I agree that diplomacy has to be tried, but long can this game be played with a country like Iran? Do we wait for a dirty bomb to go off in London killing thousands, or just hope that Iran is playing games knowing nothing can be done.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Iran-p...601443913.html#

Iran planning strike on Europe: analyst

Iran is attempting to draw up plans to strike targets in Europe and has reconnoitered European nuclear power stations, a security analyst told a meeting at Britain's parliament.

Claude Moniquet, president of the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Centre, a private think-tank in Brussels, said his organisation also had evidence Tehran has increased the number of its intelligence agents across Europe.

"We have serious signals that something is under preparation in Europe," Moniquet said. "Iranian intelligence is working extremely hard to prepare its people and to prepare actions."

The centre, which he said deals directly with European intelligence agencies, believes Iranian operatives have carried out "reconnaissance of targets in European cities, including nuclear power stations," Moniquet said. He mentioned no other specific targets.

Preparations to target Europe's nuclear energy plants could be tied to the diplomatic standoff over Tehran's contested nuclear program, he told a meeting of MPs and analysts in London's House of Commons.

[kuzadd]

interesting article, with reams of conjecture, long on speculation, short on evidence. very vague.

remember that 'Iraq can launch a nuclear attack in 45 minutes'

"Iran is attempting to draw up plans"

In other words, they have no plans, drawn up and the allegation is, they are attempting to.

Note this is from "a private think-tank in Brussels" like, AEI, perhaps, or any other private think tanks?

""We have serious signals that something is under preparation in Europe,"

really what 'serious signals' do they have? this private think tank? if they have serious signals , should n't they know what is 'under preparation'

"Iran appeared to be preparing to target "British citizens on the streets of London," Moniquet said. "Just as they kill British soldiers in the south of Iraq."

two statements of conjecture cojoined. There is no concrete evidence that iran is killing British soldiers in the streets.

this is interesting.

"A government security official said Iran was active in espionage and likely interested in compiling information on European military and industrial targets."

Yup, that may or may not be the case, but , would they be any different then Britian, the US, Israel??

and then this:

However, the official could not verify Moniquet's claim that Tehran had conducted reconnaissance against power plants or increased numbers of agents in Britain.

"There was a lot of anticipation the number of agents would increase when President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad came to power," the official said. "But I'm not sure whether that has actually been the case."

like I said, reams of conjecture, long on speculation, short on evidence.

an attempt to cause fear and irrationality.

We saw loads of these types articles prior to the attack on Iraq.

[buffycat]

Indeed Kuzad.

Here is their homepage:

http://www.esisc.org/index.asp

They forgot to mention that Iran has a Death Star!!

[Higgly]

Well no surprise. The latest Chicken Little contribution from scriblett. Iran is going to attack Europe. We're into the twilight zone here folks. Hey scriblett. What year is it? How many fingers am I holdig up?

[scribblet]

Gee, more enlightened debate have to remember that technique LOL

[GostHacked]

Not just this article, but almost ALL news is reported this way.

Speculation after speculation after assumtion after conjecture, after projection....... then at the end of the artlce, .... none of this tripe can be confirmed by anyone for they are all anonymous. Not to mention it seems like it is an AP story.

Could be a distraction was needed for all the news about the US doing covert operations inside Iran. I really don't think Iran is in a position to attack anyone. How would Iran carry out the attacks? Ground, air?

The European Union is vunerable however. Brussels has control over much in Europe now and the member states have given up much for this new 'Geopol-country'. So any new measures to protect these facilities would require Brussels to sign off on it. More inefficient beurocracy for now there is another level of government in the area. City, provincial, country,(new)block union, then United Nations.

The likely of Iran carrying out these attacks in Europe is slim to none. If it does happen, it will be pegged as an Al-Queda like attack, and then you can hear the talking headaches push Iran and Al-queda closer together. Just like they did with Iraq 9-11 and Al-Queda. It pays off to pay attention to the details.

Buffycat, is there an english translation for that page?? I can make out about half of it, but my french comprehension is not good.

[buffycat]

Gosthacked:

Buffycat, is there an english translation for that page?? I can make out about half of it, but my french comprehension is not good.

**

No, I haven't found one yet. But this dude Claude Moniquet seems like another Ledeen incarnate. google him and find out for yourself.

Warmonger.

Fearmonger.

"The source for this story is one Claude Moniquet, the head of the ESISC, a Belgian terrorist research center founded in 2002. An interesting fellow, Claude is.

This site creates the strong impression that Moniquet is just another neocon yarn-spinner -- Michael Ledeen with a French accent. (He even looks a bit like Ledeen.) Regarding a previous ESISC report on the Western Sahara:

"Contrary to all expectations, what emerges in the pages of the report is an embarrassingly amateurish, poorly researched, factually inaccurate, and badly written hatchet job. The most disturbing aspect of the report is not so much its poor quality...but the clear malicious intent of Claude Moniquet and his crew."

from a random google sample at this site:

http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2007/05/ira...ming-aieee.html

(I've never been to cannonfire before - I just grabbed it)

If you can find more, post it!

Though I think this is bunk

[Guest chilipeppers]

Strictly Iranian malice and mischief in Europe and I don't think they have the army and such to follow up. Nah, just Iranian tactics to push the envelope, They wouldn't be that stupid, besides they'd go for Israel first.

[marcinmoka]

Nah, just Iranian tactics to push the envelope, They wouldn't be that stupid, besides they'd go for Israel first.

Exactly. And even that would be nothing but a last, dying gasp of a regime in the throes of death. Though in all honesty, I doubt they will live long enough to ever realize their nuclear goals (though that dosen't mean we should let up pressure in the meantime).

[jbg]

Gee, more enlightened debate have to remember that technique LOL

Isn't it funny how people try to ignore the obvious, that militant Islam is a people of beggars, extorters and takers, a parasite on the productive world (link)? Everyone insists on ignoring the starkly obvious, and blame things on exaggerators, Zionists, Bush or Israel. These people, descended from desert raiders, have always been parasitic or in attack mode and quite possibly, unless stopped, always will be.

[BC_chick]

In that thread, like here, you make a heaping generalisation and present it as fact. A world leader demands money otherwise threatens violence - sounds like extortion and greed to me, a trait not uncommon of most leaders, Islamic or not. To you, it's another example of Muslims behaving badly.

Yet you would be the first to scream foul if anyone were to make a connection between a historically questionable action of one Jew and they were to ascribe that trait to all Jews, past and present.

[jbg]

In that thread, like here, you make a heaping generalisation and present it as fact.

Oh come on. Open your eyes. Just because 100% of Muslims aren't animalistic slaughterers, and 100% of Mennonites aren't hard, industrious, desirable citizens doesn't make the generalizations invalid.

It's based on experience.

[BC_chick]

Just because 100% of Muslims aren't animalistic slaughterers....

It's based on experience.

Forget experience, bias has a way of altering one's perceptions. Do the math instead.

You said 100% aren't murderers....

But to have even 1% of them be terrorists, you'd need to have 12 million terrorists given that Muslims make up close to 1/4 of the world's population.

Even at such an exaggerated figure, is it fair to brush the other 99% with the same brush?

[GostHacked]

In that thread, like here, you make a heaping generalisation and present it as fact.

Oh come on. Open your eyes. Just because 100% of Muslims aren't animalistic slaughterers, and 100% of Mennonites aren't hard, industrious, desirable citizens doesn't make the generalizations invalid.

It's based on experience.

I'd like to hear about those experiences, care to share with us??

[jbg]

But to have even 1% of them be terrorists, you'd need to have 12 million terrorists given that Muslims make up close to 1/4 of the world's population.

Even at such an exaggerated figure, is it fair to brush the other 99% with the same brush?

Yes, because they have a culture, religion and/or ideology which, descended from their days as desert raiders, puts "fighters" on a pedestal.

[jbg]

In that thread, like here, you make a heaping generalisation and present it as fact.

Oh come on. Open your eyes. Just because 100% of Muslims aren't animalistic slaughterers, and 100% of Mennonites aren't hard, industrious, desirable citizens doesn't make the generalizations invalid.It's based on experience.

I'd like to hear about those experiences, care to share with us??

Oh please. Why, when dealing with Muslims, are we forced to suspend common sense?

[kuzadd]

But to have even 1% of them be terrorists, you'd need to have 12 million terrorists given that Muslims make up close to 1/4 of the world's population.

Even at such an exaggerated figure, is it fair to brush the other 99% with the same brush?

Yes, because they have a culture, religion and/or ideology which, descended from their days as desert raiders, puts "fighters" on a pedestal.

That is rich.

So how about the US, does it have a culture of miltarism?

Oh yes it does.

Does it put it's militarism on a pedestal?

Yes it does.

How about Israel?

with it's mandatory military service.

That doesn't create a culture of militarism?

yes it does.

"support the troops"

what is that type of sloganism about?

[marcinmoka]

Truly, a brilliant analysis.

While I would not disagree that Israel has a militaristic culture, the notion that it is based on mandatory military service is just pathetic. It is based on deeply existential fear. In other words;

with it's mandatory military service.

That doesn't create a culture of militarism?

yes it does.

No it doesn't. And find one shred of evidence to back up this notion.

Does Brazil have a militaristic culture? South Korea? Denmark? Switzerland? Poland? All of those nations have mandatory service.

Hell. Had I not immigrated here, I could very well be in Iraq.

[bush_cheney2004]

How about Israel?

with it's mandatory military service.

That doesn't create a culture of militarism?

yes it does.

"support the troops"

what is that type of sloganism about?

Hmmm...does Israel have troops in Afghanistan? Did Israel bomb Serbia? Is Israel a member of NATO or NORAD? Does Canada have slogans? Yes...it does.

[marcinmoka]

Does it put it's militarism on a pedestal?

Granted. Both most modern western armies are put on a pedestal and so are terrorists. As per the difference between the two groups;

- One deliberately targets civilians. And that is amongst the lowest, most despicable actions that can be carried out by our species. It is an act of savages. The targeting of innocent civilians, whether done by military or by non military entities, should ALWAYS be dealt with swiftly and severely. No one should escape punishment for such barbarity.