Iranian Supreme Leader writes: 'If God forbid, a bitter experience and test emerges for the nation we ourselves will put on combat fatigues and get ready for sacrifice'
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei has said that should Iran face a military strike, he and the country's other leaders would "put on combat fatigues and get ready for sacrifice."  
The comments appeared under a special section of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting website entitled the 'Leader's stance towards Iran's peaceful nuclear activities.'In the section, Khamenei dismisses what he calls "Western and Zionist" propaganda tricks against Iran.  
"After the September 11 events of 2001 in the US when the twin towers in New York were suspiciously attacked there was no sign of the US president and senior officials for two or three days. They were lost! But we are not like that. If God forbid, a bitter experience and test emerges for the nation we ourselves will put on combat fatigues and get ready for sacrifice," the Iranian Supreme Leader declared.  
Iranian servicemen 'incomparable' to US, Israeli soldiers On Saturday, Khamenei told graduating Iranian military cadets that no comparison could be made between "Islamic servicemen and ...   more »

Islamabad, Nov 25: Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Israel was not in a position to attack Iran with the support of the United States, in an interview published on Saturday.
Larijani told journalists in Tehran the United States had weak points in the Middle East and would not dare embark on another military engagement there, according to the Pakistani website Www.Paktribune.Com.
"We are aware that, having learnt its lesson from recent Lebanon adventure despite possessing over 200 nuclear warheads, Israel is not in a position to attack us," the site quoted him as saying. "What they are saying is sheer slogan-chanting."
"The recent Lebanese war has exposed the myth of Zionist military might and the result of the conflict there has left Israeli Prime Minister Olmert as a dead body," Larijani added.
He vowed that Iran would continue to pursue its peaceful nuclear programme and would never compromise on principles.
"We could neither be harassed nor forced to abandon our national interests. My country is a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and our programme is under full safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," he said.
"How could IAEA and the West blame Iran ...   more »

By Ladane Nasseri and Marc Wolfensberger
Nov. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad predicted the collapse of Israel, the U.S. and Britain, attacking what he called their ``oppressive behavior.'
``The Zionist regime is on a steep downhill towards collapse and disgrace,'' Ahmandinejad told supporters at a rally of Basiji militia forces near Tehran today. In a reference to the U.S. and U.K., he said ``the collapse and crumbling of your devilish rule has started.'' The speech was carried live on state television.
Iran doesn't recognize Israel, and Ahmadinejad drew international condemnation after saying in October 2005 that Israel should be ``wiped off the map.'' The U.S. and Iran have had no diplomatic ties since 1980 following the seizure of diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
The U.K., which has an embassy in Tehran, is among the three European countries pushing for sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
The Iranian president also called on neighboring countries to drive out ``foreign occupiers,'' in a reference to U.S.-led forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
``The people of the region are well able to establish regional security,'' the president said in the speech near the shrine of the Islamic Republic ...   more »

WASHINGTON — A senior House Democrat said Sunday he will introduce legislation to reinstate the military draft, asserting that current troop levels are insufficient to sustain possible challenges against Iran, North Korea and Iraq.
"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," said Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, said he will propose the measure early next year.
At a time when some lawmakers are urging the military to send more troops to Iraq, "I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft," he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Standby Reserve, said he agreed that the U.S. does not have enough people in the military.
"I think we can do this with an all-voluntary service, all-voluntary Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and ...   more »

Six people were under investigation in Germany on Monday over an alleged terrorist plot to blow up an El Al aircraft.
The six, as well as other people who have not yet been identified, are believed to have begun preparations for an attack on behalf of "so far unknown" terrorist backers, federal prosecutors said in a statement.
Several of the accused approached a person with security clearance at an unidentified airport last summer, the statement said. That person agreed to smuggle a case or bag containing explosives onto a plane in an exchange for an unspecified payment, it added.
Prosecutors said some of the accused then contacted the plot's alleged backers, but were unable to agree on the value of the promised reward.
A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the matter, said the plot was centered on the Frankfurt airport and the intention apparently was to attack a plane belonging to El Al.
An El Al spokeswoman in Israel declined to comment.
Three of the suspects were apprehended in Hesse state, where the airport is located, the official said.
The six, who could face charges of belonging to or supporting ...   more »