Posted on 05/31/2006 11:49:20 PM PDT by MadIvan
PRESIDENT BUSH said yesterday that the United States was ready to “take the leap” and hold face-to-face talks with Iran for the first time in 27 years, provided that the country suspends its nuclear programme.
The decision comes before today’s crunch meeting in Vienna where Russia, China, France and Germany, as well as the US and Britain, will try to agree a “carrot-and-stick” approach for solving the nuclear stand-off with Iran. This focuses on an offer to reprocess nuclear fuel outside Iran, as well economic benefits to the regime, if it scraps its uranium enrichment programme.
Mr Bush, who held lengthy discussions on the issue with Tony Blair last week in Washington, disclosed yesterday that he had spoken over recent days to Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, President Chirac of France and President Putin of Russia.
Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, said before her departure to Vienna: “It’s time to know whether Iran is serious about negotiation or not.” She added that there was “substantial agreement and understanding that Iran now faces a clear choice”.
China and Russia have previously been stalling on the prospect of imposing sanctions against Iran through the UN Security Council. Although no deal has yet been struck over the precise details of the proposals, diplomatic sources said yesterday that there had been “surprising” and “substantial” progress during talks between officials of the six nations in London last week.
Iran insists that its uranium enrichment and reprocessing programme is solely for peaceful purposes but the West is convinced that President Ahmadinejad’s regime is intent on developing a nuclear weapon.
Mr Bush again emphasised his commitment yesterday to finding a negotiated solution, but added: “What you’re seeing is robust diplomacy.” He said that if Iran agreed to suspend its programme immediately, “we will come to the table — I thought it was important for the US to take the leap”.
Until now, the US Administration has spurned pleas from European leaders to participate — on the ground that it could provide added legitimacy to a regime that was a named member of Mr Bush’s “axis of evil”.
Dr Rice described the US decision to take its place at the negotiating table with the “EU3” — Britain, France and Germany — as removing the “last excuse” for talks to fail. Asked whether the US would be willing to re-establish diplomatic relations with Iran, she ruled out a “grand bargain”, but said that a negotiated solution to the dispute could “begin to change the relationship”.
Iran’s first response came from the official news agency IRNA: “Given the insistence by Iranian authorities on continuing uranium enrichment, [Dr] Rice’s comments can be considered propaganda moves,” it stated.
Dr Rice again made clear that the US would take whatever measures it thought necessary to counter a “direct threat” to its “vital interests”. A senior Pentagon source has told The Times that Mr Bush is working on a “short timetable” to see whether negotiations succeed.
Other sources say improved intelligence on Iran’s nuclear programme has increased the chance of it being neutralised by an airstrike and a decision on whether UN sanctions — or a package agreed between Europe, Japan and America — is a workable solution will be made by the end of this year.
Iran voluntarily suspended its nuclear programme while talks were active with the Europeans last year, but resumed and stepped up those activities this spring. Some experts fear that it is three years away from developing a weapon.
Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, said: “We are all striving to reach a diplomatic solution. The European side’s goal is to present a serious and substantial offer of cooperation, which demonstrates to Iran the benefits that would flow from compliance rather than the further isolation which would result from their failure to do so.
The fresh hope for a negotiated solution in the Middle East helped to cause US stocks to rise sharply. The price of crude oil fell by more than 2 per cent.
BAD BLOOD
January 1979 US-backed Shah forced into exile
November 1979 New leader Ayatollah Khomeini calls US “Great Satan”. Tehran US Embassy stormed, 52 hostages held for 444 days
April 1980 US hostage rescue attempt ends with eight servicemen dead
Nov 1986 Iran-Contra scandal breaks. US sold arms to Iran to free hostages in Lebanon
July 1988 US warship mistakenly shoots down Iranian airliner, killing 290
Jan 2002 President Bush calls Iran, Iraq and North Korea the “axis of evil”
Recently I've been watching my videos of documentaries about World War II; this gives me the same feeling as I had watching the segment about the negotations at Munich.
Don't give them a single millimetre, Mr. President.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Bush knows jolly well that Ahmajihading won't accept anything that puts the brakes on Iran nuke aspirations. He's gotta go through this charade and many others so that when the Iran-under-glass party finally comes, the world will be more or less on board.
Regards, Ivan
Perhaps our willingness to go to the table with Iran is what the Chinese and Russians need in order for us to get them on our side in dealing with Iran.
Regards, Ivan
Iran, Syria, North Korea same-O-same-O. This is the big stall.
yitbos
He would have attacked Iran long ago, in my opinion.
Regards, Ivan
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060531-4.html
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 31, 2006
"Press Briefing by Tony Snow"
James S. Brady Briefing Room
1:07 P.M. EDT
PRESS BRIEFING SNIPPET: "As I mentioned earlier in the day, Secretary Rice gave a speech and she was outlining United States' continued efforts to persuade Iran to suspend any enrichment and enrichment-related and reprocessing efforts when it comes to nuclear programs of the Iranian government. And that has attracted a certain amount of interest. And with that, I will turn it over for questions. Terry."
Come into my parlour said the ayatollah - I mean spider to the fly.
The upside of this is Rice has been getting some VERY good publicity.
She is extremely well-spoken, articulate, intelligent and easy on the ears as well as the eyes.
Pence, Rice, Allen - maybe Romney = the Repubs best hopes in 2008.
Lately the Dems seem to acquired the Republican trait of sticking their feet in their mouths and falling on their swords.
If Algore the nutjob, Kerry the Liar, and Hillery the wicked witch of the west are the best they can recycle, they may self-destruct in 2008. But the Republican President could be facing a nest of venomous Dems and RINOs in COngress.
Heck, MadIvan, this is just good old American Poker.
The Iranians send a private letter to the President stating unpublished demands.
The President publicly says 'Raise'.
Never play Poker with a Texan.
Stop wasting time and start wasting the Iranian Mullahs.
And here I thought we weren't in the business of dealing with terrorists! Hmmmm...
I guess dealing with Abu Mazen and company got 'em used to it...
If Algore the nutjob, Kerry the Liar, and Hillery the wicked witch of the west are the best they can recycle, they may self-destruct in 2008.
The Dim public sector get the leaders they deserve. Let's pray they don't become everyones leaders.
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