[Peace-discuss] Iran attack imminent?

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Here's more disquieting news on this topic, in the sense that what Washington 
is really afraid of is losing control of Iranian (and other ME) energy 
resources.  It fears Iran's inclusion in the Asian energy grid that the SCO 
represents, with the support for Iran from Russia and China that that implies. 
Russia of course is perfectly well aware of the US attitude and therefore moves 
slowly.  But the prevention of such an outcome would be the real if 
unacknowledged reason for a US attack on Iran. --CGE]


 >  Iran moves to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization
 >
 >  DUSHANBE - Iran has lodged a bid to join the Shanghai
 >  Cooperation Organization (SCO) that comprises Russia,
 >  China and four ex-Soviet Central Asian states, the
 >  country's foreign minister said on Monday.
 >
 >  The Islamic Republic, which currently holds an
 >  observer status in the regional security group, has
 >  long sought to become a full member of the SCO, seen
 >  as a counterbalance to U.S. and NATO influence in the
 >  region.
 >
 >  "Tajikistan supports us in this issue," Manouchehr
 >  Mottaki said after a meeting with the foreign
 >  ministers of SCO member Tajikistan and Afghanistan,
 >  which is another SCO observer along with India,
 >  Pakistan and Mongolia.
 >
 >  The bloc - which primarily addresses security issue
 >  but has recently moved to embrace energy projects -
 >  has indefinitely postponed accepting new members, but
 >  pledged closer cooperation with the observer states.
 >
 >  Speaking at the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan in August
 >  2007, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said,
 >  "Everyone agreed that the moratorium should be
 >  preserved for some time yet," adding that the alliance
 >  "agreed to involve observer states more actively in
 >  practical projects."
 >  ....
 >  China and Russia have, however, major commercial
 >  interests in Iran.
 >
 >  The energy-hungry Asian nation wants Iranian oil and
 >  gas and to sell weapons and other goods to the Islamic
 >  Republic. Moscow also hopes to sell more weapons and
 >  nuclear energy technology to Tehran.
 >
 >  The Kremlin also needs Iran's endorsement for a
 >  multinational arrangement to exploit the Caspian Sea's
 >  energy resources.
 >
 >  http://en.rian.ru/world/20080324/102052243.html
 >  Russian Information Agency Novosti
 >  March 24, 2008
 >