Posted on 03/12/2005 5:46:13 AM PST by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
The Iranians Reject the US Nuclear Incentive
BBC News
Iran has rejected a new US policy offering economic incentives to the Islamic state to give up its nuclear enrichment programme. "No pressure, bribe or threat can make Iran give up its legitimate right" to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, said an Iranian spokesman.
President George W Bush announced the major change in US policy on Friday.
He said the US would back European talks to resolve the stand-off over Iran's nuclear issue.
His Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, announced the lifting of a decade-long block on Iran's membership of the World Trade Organization, and objections to Tehran obtaining parts for commercial planes.
Washington accuses Iran of using its nuclear enrichment programme as a cover for developing nuclear weapons.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters on Saturday that "the remedying of some of the faults and the addressing some of the restrictions that were imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran without any cause will not prevent Iran from getting its legitimate right" to develop a nuclear energy capability.
"The restrictions regarding [aircraft] spare parts that were of no military use should have not been imposed from the beginning, and lifting them is not an incentive," Mr Asefi said.
"Getting into the WTO is the right of all countries of the world," he said.
Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons, but has suspended uranium enrichment after negotiations with France, Germany and the UK.
The US and European Union want that move made permanent, and have threatened to seek United Nations sanctions if Iran does not comply.
There have been suggestions that the US is planning to use military force against Iran's suspected nuclear weapons facilities.
If the current negotiations fail, and the issue goes to the Security Council, that would represent a hardening of the European position and would be worrying for Iran, says the BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran.
'Stronger hand'
US President George W Bush said on Friday: "I'm pleased that we are speaking with one voice with our European friends.
"I look forward to working with our European friends to make it abundantly clear to the Iranian regime that the free world will not tolerate them having a nuclear weapon."
"The decision that the president has taken is that the United States will make an effort to actively support the EU3 negotiations with the Iranians," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, referring to talks with Iran led by Britain, France and Germany.
Previously, the US had refused to offer incentives for Iran to abide by the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Tehran has agreed to maintain its enrichment suspension while it negotiates trade and security benefits, but maintains that the enrichment issue is not currently up for discussion.
- While the US & EU3 are now jointly offering trade incentives to the Iranians, the EU3 will be demanding human rights improvements.
- The Iranians don't want just trade, they want security guarantees.
- Members of Pakistan's parliament are furious over reports that AQ Khan sold Iran centrifuges.
- France and then Germany cancel Iranian protest marches against EU appeasement of the Iranian government.
- The Economist magazine fantasizes about an Iran led by Rafsanjani. Will they never learn?
- The EU3 finally make it clear, failure of the EU3/Iran talks will lead to Iran being referred to the UN Security Council.
- The Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies take a look at Iran's nuclear program.
- In response to the US offer of trade incentives, Iran offers to make just a little enriched uranium.
- Its now official, the US will offer Iran trade incentives in exchange for ending their nuclear enrichment programs.
- Radio Free Europe takes a look at the history of mistrust between Iran and the US. (a 4 part series)
- Jack Wheeler warns us that Iran's "King of Terror" will ignite a civil war in Lebanon.
- Michael Rubin reminds us: "Every time Jack Straw gets up and says: 'Under no circumstances will there be military action', the Iranians say, 'Under no circumstances do we need to compromise'.
- Michael Ledeen calls for US support of the revolutionaries in Iran and Syria.
- The Israel's say about the Iranians "In our view, they are very close, they are too close, to having the knowledge to develop this kind of bomb."
- The Jerusalem Post is hearing that the US may to legitimize Hezbollah?
- And finally, are the EU3/Iran talks stalled until after the June elections in Iran?
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Wanna bet?
Are the B 52s holding at their failsafe points, Mandrake ?
who is going to finally step up to the plate and take a swing?
irritation level 6
This is a good new strategy by Bush.
Every country is on board now with giving Iran one last chance to end its programs. If they don't, substantial UN economic sanctions go in place. If those don't work soon enough, then the justification for war is made.
Sounds like the Iraq strategy except this time, other countries are not bought off in the first place and you can probably even see France voting for action (Russia might be the only holdout.)
The danger is, of course, that Iran gets its bombs before the dominos fall in place.
The upside, is that everyone agrees with the strategy and even that might be enough to persuade Iran to give in or slow down on its programs until the million man march in Teheran takes the Mullahs out. If that doesn't work, a good old-fashioned butt-kicking by the US would be the next steps (of course Iran really does have non-nuclear WMD so it would a mess.)
Every country is Not on board. China and the Russians are permanent members of the Security Council and can veto any decision.
Iran is about to go boom.
Bump!
FREEDOM FOR IRAN NOW
I guess I should have more faith in Bush's plans. But I know that the plans will fail; and that Europe won't go along with it. And even if Europe comes on board, the UN Security Council sure won't. Which means the French will once again accuse us on unilateral action.
Though it is useful in giving the Iranians time to mobilize against the regime. Still, Bush's message for the next several months won't be encouraging. I guess you could call it a flip flop! It is interesting to note that Bush and Kerry's ideas for Iran are now the same.
If there is going to be regime change in Iran in 2005, it'll be up to the Iranian people. And in case you haven't noticed, Israel seems to be getting more and more impatient. We may indeed be able to wait without Iran causing catrostrophe. But how will we know when we've waited too long?
And there is no reason for Bush to keep going with his plan. He basically is willing to give Iran everything except the bomb, and Iran says absolutely not, we want the bomb. Case closed!
But let's imagine if the mullahs took Bush's bait. That they stopped enrichment and really dismantled their nuclear program (won't happen, but let's imagine). Would Iran be OK then?
The regime in Iran must be brought down, even if they had no nuclear aspirations, and treated their own people with the highest respect. Iran is the world's #1 terrorist state in the world. Even Bush himself said that.
Although it almost seems that when Bush went to Europe, he was exchanged with a clone.
Hey, I hope Bush's Iranian vision works out, but I'm less confident than I was a month ago. It looks like Bush is stalling for time. Although I would prefer him to say different things while stalling for time.
Just know that Iran isn't giving up without a fight.
This thread is now closed.
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Ain't they somethin'...
Willing to go to war for the right to generate electricity!
Me thinks they doest protest too much...
Must be up to no good I'll wager, eh?
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