Posted on 03/11/2005 5:00:48 AM PST by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
U.S. to back EU over Iran
Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:48 AM GMTBy Arshad Mohammed and Carol Giacomo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration, in a major shift, will adopt a European proposal to offer Iran economic incentives to abandon its nuclear ambitions, U.S. and European officials say.
The United States is expected to allow Iran to join the World Trade Organisation and buy aircraft spare parts and, in return, Britain, France and Germany have agreed to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council if it fails to give up its suspected nuclear weapons program, the officials said.
The united U.S.-European approach, expected to be announced in coordinated, separate statements on Friday, would mark an important milestone in efforts to curb what Washington believes is Iran's attempts to develop nuclear arms.
A U.S. decision to embrace economic incentives is a significant reversal from Washington's previous refusal to reward Iran for what it regards as bad behaviour.
The Europeans, in turn, would shift gears by pledging that if their negotiations with Iran collapse or if Tehran reneges on a promise to suspend nuclear enrichment activities, they will join Washington in bringing the issue to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters U.S. and European views on dealing with Iran's nuclear program were converging. Later, authoritative sources said a common position would come on Friday.
"We talked through in great detail the Iran issue with the Europeans. They are very firm how to ensure Iran's compliance, so we're preparing to take some steps to support them," one U.S. official told Reuters.
Another U.S. official added: "The Europeans are ready to make sure Iran meets her obligations and to look at what next steps to take."
"We are really coming to a common view of how to proceed," Rice told reporters during a trip to Mexico when asked about European diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter. "We are making a lot of progress and will come to conclusion on that fairly soon."
U.S. SKEPTICAL DIPLOMACY WILL SUCCEED
The United States accuses Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful power generation.
Washington can effectively block Tehran from joining the WTO and from importing aircraft parts with substantial U.S. content, making U.S. support vital if Iran is to get either benefit.
While deeply sceptical the European diplomacy will work, U.S. officials have said they want to give it the best chance of success and to insulate themselves from blame if it fails.
"I want to be very clear that this is really not an issue of what people should be giving to Iran. This is an issue ... of keeping the spotlight on Iran, which ought to be living up to its international obligations," Rice said.
Some U.S. officials had indicated they wanted specific commitments from the Europeans to bring the Iran issue to the Security Council in June or another specific date and to support sanctions once the council took up the matter.
But one U.S. official told Reuters: "There's not a lot of detail, not a lot of specificity" on these points.
He said the European statement was expected to generally reaffirm verbal commitments by European officials to join the United States in bringing Iran to the Security Council but would not specifically define what constitutes a breakdown in negotiations.
"If you have a commitment in principle, that's pretty good," the U.S. official said.
U.S. and European officials said that while they discussed such issues as deadlines and sanctions, the administration in the end did not insist on specific EU commitments on these points. The EU statement is not expected to mention sanctions directly, officials and diplomats said.
A European diplomat said the EU view is that "we go (to the Security Council) if Iran breaks its commitments," including if some new revelation about covert nuclear facilities or activities is uncovered.
56 Iranian protesters refused to leave an aircraft in Belgium yesterday calling for the EU to end its support of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They were eventually removed, but praised by many. I have included a few interesting photos of the demonstration.
- AQ Khan sold centrifuges to Iran, according to the Pakistani government.
- The NY Post thinks it knows the Iranian playbook.
- Iran is busy cutting more trade deals, this time with China, India and Venezuela.
- Iran invited American scholars to Iran and immediately sent them back. There must be more to this story.
- Israeli Brig. Gen. Michael Herzog offers advice on how to keep Iran and Hezbollah from filling the void when Syria leaves Lebanon.
- Some Israelis think Iran can be deterred from its nuclear ambitions.
- And finally, Pejman asks why are we surprised that the people of the Middle East want to be free?
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"agreed to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council if it fails to give up its suspected nuclear weapons program"
How will they or the U.S. be able to show or prove this any more than they already have?
MSG Isa 13:2 I’ve taken charge of my special forces, called up my crack troops. They’re bursting with pride and passion to carry out my angry judgement.
When all else fails, read the instructions (CCEL > Bibles and Commentaries)
Some of the uprisings of last year involved SHOTTING BACK? If this is the case isn't this a HUGE development in the region. The news talks about the porous borders that are letting the T's into Iraq, can't help but to think we are using this "porus border" in the other direction. Or is there another way for them to get guns?
When all else fails, read the instructions (CCEL > Bibles and Commentaries)
Bump!
Brilliant! A UN resolution! The crap that failed for 12 years against Saddam Hussein, for 10 years against Syria vis a vis Lebanon!
Bush may be a great president, but he doesn't have the backbone that people suggest he has. Therefore, I must change my signature.
We could have taken out Syria almost two years ago, but Bush apparently was more interested in re-election than in taking down internation terrorism. True, we probably didn't have a good plan for "the day after." But also true is that more than a thousand American soldiers have died from insurgent actions since then.
War rarely ever goes according to plan.
Now the absolutely disgusting things Bush is saying now. Basically offering to pay Iran not to attack us. I know, I know, it's all part of Bush's stupid game with the Europeans. We all know 3+ months won't make a bit of difference. Besides, if it makes it to the joke known as the UN Security Council, China will veto it. So we'll be right back to where we are today - unilateral action or else. And how long do you think Israel is willing to just wait??? While you play your games, Israel may be forced to potentially destabilize the entire Middle East in self-defense.
Did you notice that the Iranian plane protestors (I salute all of you!) also called on the US to stop negiotating with the Iranian regime? They know what's going on. Ultimately, Bush's game might work. But what he's saying will be very disheartening to Iranian freedom-lovers. On January 20th, he was gung-ho on freedom. It certainly doesn't sound like that now. Bush has now descended to attempted bribery. Why didn't you try to bribe Saddam? I thought it was against US policy to negiotate with terrorists? Why should the Iranian people trust you now?
Again, Bush's game might work, but I hope he's thought about all the consequences. The fact is, the only good option for Iran is for the Iranians themselves to revolt. What Bush says now hinders that.
Is Bush trying to cement a legacy together, and look good in the face of the international world? I certainly hope not.
For the final time - this is supposed to be the War on Terror, *not* Negiotate with Terror !!!
All right, I'll settle down. For now....
EU3 sucks...
You can say that again!
Hang in there. Have faith
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