Santorum Releases Plan To Halt Iran's Nuclear Development

In response to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) report detailing evidence of Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, presidential hopeful Rick Santorum outlined a multifaceted plan to deal with Iran’s alleged nuclear aggression.

The plan includes the development of a potential military strategy against Iran, reinstatement of funding provided under the Iran Freedom and Support Act to support pro-democracy groups within Iran, highlighting human rights violations of the Iranian regime and eliminating the position of U.S ambassador to Syria.

The full list of proposal can be seen on Santorum’s site.

Santorum, a former Senator, served on the Senate Armed Services Committee for 8 years. While in office, he authored the Iran Freedom and Support Act, which imposed substantial sanctions on the Iranian regime and granted $100 million in annual funding for pro-democracy movements within Iran.

Muhammad Ali Supports Calls For Iran To Free U.S. Hikers

By Philip Bunnell

During a press conference at the National Press Club today, boxing legend Muhammad Ali and other Muslim-American leaders called on the Islamic government of Iran to release Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, two American hikers who have been imprisoned since 2009 when they allegedly strayed into Iran.

Imam Mohamed Magid, president of the Islamic Society of North America, told reporters that the hikers “meant no harm to Iran,” and called on Iran’s religious leaders to show the Islamic virtues of “mercy, compassion, and kindness,” and said that he “looked forward” to the two men’s release.

Sarah Shourd, who was originally detained with Bauer and Fattal before being released, said that she wanted to see her fiance, Bauer, and friend, Fattal, again. She blamed an almost non-existent diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Iran for the pair’s continued detainment.

“Josh and Shane have now been imprisoned for 8 months longer than I was and their detention has everything to do with animosity between the United States and Iran and nothing to do with two innocent men who have always stood on the side of what’s right.”

Ali, who has suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for years, did not speak at the conference, but sat near the podium in plain sight of reporters.

In Controversial Speech At UN, Ahmadinejad Proposes Investigation Into 9/11

As protesters marched across the street from the United Nations to condemn the Iranian regime’s human rights abuse, US delegates walked out of the General Assembly today in protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s provocative speech. 

The Iranian President says the the United Nations should set up an independent fact finding group to look in to the events of 9/11, and went as far as advancing three possible scenarios explaining the attack: “1-That a very powerful and complex terrorist group, able to successfully cross all layers of American intelligence and security, carried out the attack.- This is the main view point advocated by American statesmen. 2- That some segments within the US government orchestrated the attack to reverse the declining American economy and its grip on the Middle East in order also to save the Zionist regime. The majority of American people as well as other nations politicians agree with this view. 3- It was carried out by a terrorist group but the American government supported and took advantage of the situation. Apparently, this viewpoint has fewer proponents.” 

U.S. Says Iran Is Not An Imminent Threat To Israel

The New York Times is reporting that the Obama administration convinced Israel that an Iranian nuclear attack is unlikely, for now.

Despite suggestions from Israeli intelligence that Iran would be capable of manufacturing nuclear weapons within months, American intelligence steers away from that possibility and alludes to the point that it would take much longer.

According to the report, if Iran were to scramble towards creating a nuclear weapon, they would need at least a year to do so. Officials added that even if Iran took the appropriate steps in creating nuclear weapons, current technologies would be able to detect any such activity within weeks.

“We think that they have roughly a year dash time,” said Gary Samore, President Obama’s top adviser on nuclear issues.

As a result of this assessment, members of the Obama administration believe that prospective Israeli attacks on iran’s nuclear bases has faded.

Obama Held Meeting With Reporters To Discuss Iran Sanctions

Time Magazine’s Joe Klein was one of a few reporters who attended a briefing at the White House on Wednesday held by President Barack Obama and other senior administration officials. Obama reportedly said that “high-level” Iranian government officials have signaled to the White House that they may be willing to re-start negotiations regarding their country’s nuclear program…