2006 could be very interesting for the mullahs and President/Terrorist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As Debbie pointed out, German media has reported that there are rumors of “secret discussions [that] Washington was preparing the Allies” for an attack. Now, Pope Benedict has used his New Year message to attack Iran:

The Pope said: “Authorities who incite their citizens to hostility to other countries bear a heavy responsibility and make the future of humanity more uncertain and anonymous.” The message, issued by the Vatican yesterday, pointed to “signs of hope” and highlighted “a decrease in the number of armed conflicts” around the world.

However, the Pope condemned the growth in arms expenditure and, in another apparent swipe at Iran, mocked governments who relied on, or aspired to obtaining, a nuclear arsenal.

“In nuclear war there will be no victors, only victims,” he said. “The truth of peace requires that all — whether those governments which openly or secretly possess nuclear arms or those planning to acquire them — agree to change by clear and firm decisions and strive for a progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament.”

It’s interesting to note that Iran has “set aside funds in its next annual budget to prevent what it says are ‘American plots’ against the Islamic Republic and ‘foreign interference’ in the country’s internal affairs.” It could be a long year for the Iranian leadership and hopefully a regime change will occur.

Update (Chad):
The German article in question can be found here, and it’s quite interesting. Perhaps most interesting to me is the talks between CIA Director Porter Goss and Turkey. Turkey is hardly friendly with Iran, but they have a group known as the PKK who is housed in Northern Iraq and Iran which is more or less their Al Qaida. Could part of this discussion be that Turkey would coordinate air strikes if this plan comes into fruition? That is what Der Spiegel states.