Teymoor Nabili

The nuclear scientist that wasn't

A few more facts have been coming about Vyacheslav Danilenko, the Russian scientist who has supposedly been helping Iran develop nuclear weapons.

More detail here about Danilenko's background, which seemingly shows absolutely no involvement with nuclear work at all.

But was Danilenko's real expertise, nanotechnology, useful to Iran's nuclear work nonetheless? Yes, says the Washington Post.

Danilenko’s role was judged to be so critical that IAEA investigators devoted considerable effort to obtaining his cooperation, the two officials said.

The Shalit exchange

"A leader stands alone"

Benjamin Netanyahu was presenting himself as a solitary, heroic figure.

"I considered, and I decided."

Speaking on the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli prime minister implied the prisoner swap deal had been entirely of his own making, and that his tough stance had prevailed.

"Talks took place in Cairo ... we stood our ground. When the majority of our demands were accepted, I had to make a decision."

It made for a great narrative, and an effective presentation, but was it true? Did Hamas finally give in to Netanyahu's demands?

Gershon Baskin provided some interesting perspective when he spoke to us on Tuesday.

Israel: the view from the (far) right

The deputy speaker of Israel's parliament, Danny Danon, appeared on my radar only recently, after he co-sponsored the country's recent "Boycott Bill", a piece of legislation that was widely attacked as anti-democratic both at home and by Israel's traditional supporters in the US.

Danon was, and is, unapologetic about his action, calling critics "hypocrites" and seeing no problem in a law that rides roughshod over one of the bedrock principles of justice - the presumption of innocence.

Since Danon is supported by some as a possible future prime minister of Israel

Malaysia's fear of Egypt

Malaysia's state run news agency, Bernama, has published an astonishingly tone-deaf and self-serving condemnation of Egypt.

Posing as political analysis, Bernama's piece says the "people's revolution" [their scare quotes, not mine] has failed:

"While they claim to have done it for democracy, the revolt did not bring about any significant improvement to the country that is known for its rich civilisation."

The author completely dismisses all elements of the Egyptian experience based on nothing more than personal observations (gathered on a press trip organised by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents) and quotes from a Singapore tourist and "several Egyptians".

Then the money quote, from a bus driver who once worked in Malaysia:

"The important thing is that your country is being guided by fair and