Posted on 03/21/2006 7:35:50 AM PST by MadIvan
President George W Bush yesterday issued a stark warning to Iran when he said that America's military would be ordered into action if Teheran carried out its threat to attack Israel.
Using the most uncompromising language he has employed to date in dealing with Iran's nuclear threat, Mr Bush said: "I see a threat in Iran. The threat is, of course, their stated objective to destroy our strong ally Israel.
"I've made it clear and I'll make it clear again, that we will use military might to protect our ally Israel," Mr Bush said to applause.
In his response to a question that followed a speech in Cleveland, Mr Bush made clear that diplomacy was America's preferred approach to Iran's suspected nuclear weapons programme.
But the pledge to defend Israel with force marked a vigorous response to a statement by Iran's radical president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has stated that "Israel must be wiped off the map".
Mr Bush's promise of force came as diplomats met to finalise the United Nation's first major diplomatic intervention against Iran.
Mr Bush was sending an unmistakable signal to Iran's leaders in Teheran that any military or nuclear adventure will draw a swift response.
Last night, Britain's high-rise United Nations mission in the heart of Manhattan was at the centre of diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to continue negotiations about its nuclear programme as the representatives of America, Russia, China, France and Germany arrived to discuss the next steps.
Western diplomatic sources said that the first result could come as early as today, when the UN Security Council would be asked to issue a statement condemning the covert Iranian nuclear effort.
A western diplomat said: "The vast majority of Security Council members are ready to act. Russia and China are not signed up yet, but they have given pretty strong signals that they will."
The so-called presidential statement would not contain any threats, but is seen by the West as a key first step to applying international pressure on Teheran.
But as always since the Iraq war, memories of the run-up to conflict with Saddam cloud the debate.
The Russians are hell-bent on preventing the Americans from securing Security Council action which might later be used to justify stronger measures.
So diplomats are working to find a formula that keeps the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), involved in the process while also bringing the heavy guns of the Security Council to bear.
That could take a few more days. Once that has happened, western diplomats say the ball will be in Iran's court.
Earlier this month, Teheran responded angrily when it was referred to the Security Council. Angered by talk of sanctions, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Teheran's envoy to the IAEA, said: "The United States is also susceptible to harm and pain. So if that is the path that the US wishes to choose, let the ball roll."
I don't understand Putin's thought processes. It is like he is grasping for any way in which Russia might regain its great power status - tapping into Islamic manpower and oil supplies, seems to be one of the ways he's trying to do it.
The price paid, however, is not worth it.
Regards, Ivan
The Iranian leadership and republican guard is the problem and our efforts should be directed squarely at them.
If we could just get them in one spot, say for a big government conference and take them out with a decapitation strike.
It would show the Iranian people that we are not targeting them or their country, just the leadership. The ones that survive would be hiding in spider holes out of fear and unable to function in a leadership capacity.
Under these conditions the people would have the best chance to take back power. If they fail to do so, then it would be time to take out the reactors and related facilities.
THAT is why I like President Bush. No pussyfooting around, couching statements like that in double entendre, being diplomatic to avoid offending anyone.
He just came right out and said it.
The problem is that even though the present government has a large opposition, most of the people agree with the present nuclear policy.
Changing leadership may not ameliorate the nuclear problem.
Understood. We can't rely on them to clean their own house.
RE: your comments after the article: I second your motion, let's vote.
About Putin's thought process. Israel already tried to employ gangsters they thought they would be able to control to rein in other gangsters. It did not work. Longtime, it did not work for US neither.
Soviets were more successful in playing with gangsters. On a side note, they never liked or respected their subjects; and were worse racists than any westerner I've ever met. Now Russia is trying the same playbook. But Russia is not USSR. Its not feared. They can cause us lots of trouble with this play, but can very much be burned in the process as well.
I think he is unconsciously following Bible prophecy. As an evangelical Christian, I believe Ezekiel 38-39 describes a Russian alliance with some Islamic former Soviet republics, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and Ialamic Turkey in a surprise attack against Israel with massive forces. Of course God intervenes in the last minute and the invasion suffers a rout.
You really can't explain fully what he is doing unless we take God's hand into account.
Add China into the mix.
hey, there aren't any on there . . . I think I'm right here. Although Klingons are like big headed mooselims.
If Iran believe in Allah, then don't use NUKE. If they use NUKE, then there is no ALLAH! Israel have defeat Arab many time but yet their weapon didn't consist of high-tech weapon until 1980 and foward. First war with Isreal, arab buy more british tank, arm and plane but yet they lost the battle which Israel made anti-tank, gun and very few plane fighter. As on, Israel beat them twice. Why can't Arab leave peace one another!!!
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