by Stephen Lendman

Beating up on Iran is longstanding. For Israel, Washington and most Western states, the Islamic Republic can do no right.

Lies substitute for truth. Fiction pretends it's fact. Iran's nuclear program is entirely peaceful. No evidence suggests otherwise.

Iran threatens no one. Not according to New York Times editors. "No country feels more threatened than Israel," they say.

This type bluster rings hollow. Iran hasn't attacked another country in centuries. It threatens none now. Don't expect Times editors to explain.

Washington Post editors claim Iran's legitimate uranium enrichment "pose(s) a sizable obstacle." Any deal reached in Geneva "require(s) far greater concessions than (it) appears to be contemplating," they say.

"No sanctions relief should be granted unless Iran takes steps that decisively push back its potential time frame for producing the core of a nuclear warhead."

Wall Street Journal editors want "pain Iran can believe in." Without tougher sanctions they believe diplomacy has no chance to succeed.

Israel demands Iran cease all uranium enrichment. It's silent about its longstanding nuclear weapons program.

It's formidable. It's verboten to discuss it. WaPo, Times, WSJ, and other US major media editors say nothing. Beating up on Iran takes precedence.

EU nations want corporate efforts to circumvent their sanctions blocked. Companies won favorable European court rulings.

EU officials warned over a dozen CEO's involved. Back off or be hit with sanctions. At issue is maintaining leverage with Iran.

It's going along with US/Israeli policy. It's doing so against their own self-interest. Reconsideration is long overdue. It's not forthcoming.

In June 2012, Haaretz editors said "(i)t would be too much to expect (more) talks between Iran and the world powers (to) produce a ground-breaking plan that will free the world from the Iranian nuclear threat."

None exists. Haaretz editors lied claiming otherwise. On October 4, Haaretz contributor Nehemia Shtrasler said "Netanyahu was right about the Iranian threat all along."

"Now is not the time to ease up; it is precisely the time to turn up the pressure on Iran, to get it to pivot from words to deeds."

Were it not for Netanyahu, he added, EU leaders and Obama might awaken one morning to a nuclear Iran.

He repeated the canard about Iran threatening to destroy Israel. He ignored Netanyahu's repeated preemptive threats to bomb Iran.

On October 27, Haaretz headlined "As Iran nears nuclear capability, the West needs to prepare."

It cited US Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) misinformation. It's a pro-Western front group. It serves Washington's anti-Iranian agenda.

Its president, David Albright, impersonates a nuclear expert. He's a political opportunist. He's funded to lie. His reports lack credibility. They're consistently wrong.

Not according to Haaretz. It accepts them as gospel. "The bottom line (for) all assessments is that Iran is very close to acquiring nuclear capability," it says.

It bears repeating. No evidence whatever suggests it. Haaretz didn't explain. It wants pressure on Iran increased. What about Israel being nuclear armed and dangerous?

What about its longstanding policy to attack other nations preemptively based on perceived (unsubstantiated) threats? What about having done so numerous times?

What about it's potentially using nuclear weapons against claimed threats it believes can't be confronted effectively other ways?

What about its using chemical, biological, and other banned weapons in all its wars? What about evidence showing it used radiological ones?

What about explaining what's most important? What about substituting truth for misinformation about nonexistent threats?

Separately, Haaretz cited Israeli Military Intelligence head Major General Aviv Kochavi claiming Iran's "nuclear vision" is unchanged.

Tehran "still seeks to reach the status of a nuclear threshold state," he said. It wants to be able to produce a nuclear bomb fairly quickly, he added.

Netanyahu relied on Kochavi's report in New York. His UN address used it. So did his meeting with Obama. It lacks credibility. It's common Israeli propaganda. It repeats with disturbing regularity.

Netanyahu lied calling Rohani a "wolf in sheep's clothing. Presidents of Iran have come and gone. Some were considered moderates, others hardline."

"(T)hey've all served that same unforgiving creed, that same unforgiving regime, that creed that is espoused and enforced by the real power in Iran."

Rohani "is a loyal servant" of Ayatollah Khamenei. Netanyahu lied calling him a "dictator." He ignored Iran's free, fair and open elections.

They mock Israel's sham ones. They replicate America's illegitimate process. Voters get little choice.

Ideological extremists run Israel. Rhetoric alone separates candidates. Policies are hardline. Hypocrisy substitutes for democracy.

Israel's Knesset is its most hardline ever. Rule of law principles are ignored. Anti-democratic ones substitute. Freedom is fast disappearing. America is on a fast track toward tyranny. So is Israel.

Separately, Netanyahu addressed the Knesset's opening winter session, saying:

"(E)asing pressure" won't moderate Iran. It'll "strengthen the uncompromising worldview of Iran's true ruler, Ayatollah Khamenei, and will be viewed as a significant victory for him."

On October 28 and 29, Iran met with IAEA officials. They did so in Vienna. Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Araqchi said a new proposal was submitted.

Neither side explained what it contains. Araqchi called the time right for "a new approach to resolving (questions) between Iran and the IAEA and look to the future for further cooperation in order to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program."

"It is peaceful and it will remain peaceful forever."

Ahead of follow-up November 7 and 8 P5+1 talks in Geneva, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said:

"Based on the agreements in the (October) Geneva meeting, it was decided that experts in the sanctions, scientific and nuclear fields study the issues in a more detailed manner, and Director-General of the Foreign Ministry for Specialized and International Affairs Hamid Ba'eedinejad will preside over Iran's group of experts."

"Some experts from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), the Oil Ministry, the Central Bank, and the industry and mine sector will be present in the meeting, and the high-ranking officials of the (involved) countries are due to be informed of the results of these experts' discussions."

Afkham expressed hope that November P5+1 talks would enhance what was accomplished in mid-October.

Things are a long way from satisfying both sides. Doing so may be mission impossible.

Iran won't relinquish its legitimate rights. Washington, EU nations and Israel demands it does so and then some. Conflict resolution remains a distant hope. Fulfilling it remains elusive. Perhaps some day. Expect no time soon.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity"

http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com

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