News and Analysis (3/30/07)

Iran sites military threats to its nuclear power plans:

• Fear of U.S. Attack Behind IAEA Cooperation Limit: Iran (Reuters)

U.S. rejects “any suggestion that the British service personnel might be swapped for five Iranian officials held by US forces in Iraq since January”…

• Iran TV Airs British Sailor’s ‘Confession’ (AFP)

… while a former CIA field officer explains his take on why the Iranians captured the Brits:

• Is a U.S.-Iran War Inevitable? (Freedom’s Phoenix / Time-CNN)

Hicks plea bargains, will not be allowed to talk to the press until the Australian elections are over, a “a modern cutting out of his tongue” says the head of a legal advocacy group:

• Guantánamo Tribunal Accepts Australian’s Plea (NY Times)

• Hicks Cuts Plea Deal Before US Tribunal, Faces Up To Seven Years (AFP)

Residents call for the return of the militia to protect them from terrorists …

• Bloody Week in Iraq Points to Emboldened Al Qaeda (Reuters)

… while Americans and Kurds seem to be helpless against Iraqi government goons evicting Sunnis from their homes:

• Iraqi Widow Saves Her Home, but Victory Is Brief (NY Times)

“Arab leaders reaffirmed their support for the Saudi proposal, which offers full recognition of Israel by the Arab states in exchange for a return of Palestinian land seized in the 1967 war, East Jerusalem as the Palestinians’ capital, and the return of Palestinian refugees to their former homes…”

• Cautious Peace Steps at Saudi Summit (Christian Science Monitor)

… Olmert calls the “willingness of the Saudis to lead … interesting:”

• Arab Leaders Urge Israel to Take Peace Offer (Reuters)

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