Jim sent this in:

Christian leaders — including Bill Donohue, Richard Land and Pat Robertson – representing millions of evangelicals, Roman Catholics, and other Christians have sent a letter to leaders in the US House of Representatives today urging immediate passage of tough sanctions on Iran intended to prevent that rogue regime from obtaining nuclear weapons, according to a report submitted to the 14,000-member National Association of Chiefs of Police.

Besides its determination to acquire nuclear weapons, Iran remains one of the world’s leading supporters of terrorism including Tehran’s material support for Hezbollah. 

“Now that super-majorities in the House and Senate have made their support for sanctions known, and now that the Iranian regime has made its increasing defiance clear to the world, the time for Congress to act has arrived,” according to Dr. Richard Land, of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. The letter urges the House to pass, at a minimum, a cut-off of exports of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, as a firm yet peaceful measure against the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

After repeated efforts to persuade Iran to comply with international obligations and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has recently reported to its member nations that diplomatic efforts with the Iranian regime have come to a “dead end.” Since then, Iranian officials have announced plans to begin building additional nuclear facilities.

The leaders point out that at the onset of his efforts with Iran this spring, President Obama said that “by the end of the year we should have some sense whether or not these discussions are starting to yield significant benefits,” and specifically held out the prospect of sanctions against Tehran “to ensure that Iran understands we are serious.” That deadline is days away, and just as President Obama said, Tehran needs proof we are serious.

The Leaders include Pat Robertson of Christian Broadcasting Network, Richard Land of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Dr. James Merritt of Cross Pointe Church, Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, Gary Bauer of American Values, Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family, and Dr. John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, and Jordan Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice.

The coalition argues that Iran’s nuclear weapons program will destabilize the Middle East, lead to an arms race in a volatile part of the world, and threaten the United States and its allies in Europe.

Thousands of emergency checks will be issued to students awaiting education benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

General Stanley McChrystal says the support of the Afghan people is critical to the U.S. effort in Afghanistan.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Iran may be three years away from developing nuclear weapons.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay is proving more complicated than originally thought.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates stressed the need to plan the right strategy in Afghanistan before deciding on the resources needed to succeed.

Iran’s threat to develop nuclear weapons is high on the priority list for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Defense Department released a report Wednesday on the progress of stability and security in Afghanistan.

A U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday, for the most part, the Taliban is offering little resistance since Operation Khanjar began.

This is some serious stuff people, as it may force Israel’s hand in its problem that they currently have with Iran; a report put together by the Defense Science Board, headed by William Schneider, Jr.,  says that the renegade nation can produce a nuclear weapon within a year and access to enough material to produce up to 50 nuclear weapons.

The report, which is titled “Preventing a Cascade of  Instability: U.S. Engagement to Check Iranian Nuclear Progress”, was put together by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and was signed by a team of policymakers, former officials and Iran scholars, including Rep. Evan Bayh (D-IN).  Other people signing the report are former ambassador David Ross and Robert Einhorn; both Ross and Einhorn are expected to assist the Obama administration in the development of their foreign policy.  By the way, a “cascade” is defined as a set of 164 high-speed centrifuges used to enrich uranium to the levels necessary to produce a nuclear weapon.

Schneider said that currently, Iran  has nearly perfected the industrial aspects of enriching uranium and can produce a nuclear weapon well before 2014.  The material that was mentioned earlier is known as “yellowcake” – raw uranium ore that is converted to gas and then fed into the cascades of centrifuges.  The 9-page report also warned that Israel may feel compelled to use a military option to try to destroy or severely limit the Iranian nuclear program should Russia decide to sell Iran the S-300 surface-to-air missile system.

The report further adds regarding Israel’s intentions,

“Israeli leaders seem convinced that at least for now, they have a military option. However, Israelis see the option fading over the next one to two years, not only because of Iran’s nuclear progress and dispersion of its program but also because of improved Iranian air defenses, especially the expected delivery of the S-300. … Israel therefore may feel compelled to act before the option disappears.”

Schneider is of the belief that the Israeli military believes that  it can hold the Iranian nuclear apparatus “at risk”, but will no longer  hold that view should Iran decide to purchase more sophisticated  air defense technology from Moscow.  I am under the assumption that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reads the daily intelligence reports and that she will persuade the Iranians – in partnership with the Russians, Chinese and Arab allies – to persuade them not to obtain a nuclear weapon.

This is something that needs to be rectified as soon as possible if for anything else, it is old news that Iran hates Western nations, especially Israel; they certainly want to wipe Israel off the face of the map and the nuclear program that they currently have is for that purpose – as opposed to the “generating electricity for our citizens” excuse.  And Israel?  They will need to make a decision as to what they plan to do about Iran.  A year is not a very long time for Iran to do what they have in mind; therefore, the Israelis will need to nip it in the bud.  And quickly.