Posted on 09/04/2006 3:37:51 PM PDT by Flavius
BERLIN, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there is "no military option" for handling Iran's nuclear program, her spokesman told reporters here on Monday.
"The chancellor has expressed the view that there is no military option," Ulrich Wilhelm said, adding that "the door for negotiations remains open."
The U.S. leaders have said repeatedly any option would not be ruled out in dealing with Iran's nuclear program as they insist that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
But Iran has said its program is for peaceful purpose, refusing to comply with a UN directive that it cease uranium enrichment by Aug. 31.
Senior diplomats from Britain, France and Germany will meet their counterparts from the United States, Russia and China in Berlin on Thursday to discuss the Iranian nuclear crisis.
European Union chief diplomat Javier Solana is expected to hold talks with Iranian negotiators this week. Enditem
Shure there's a military option Chancellor Merkel.
It's called the Berlin=Nagasaki option. With the option of Munich=Hiroshima soon to follow.
Well if you allow an insane Murderous religious zealot to obtain nukes those are your options.
Choose wisely Chancellor Merkel! Or bow in servitude to slimism!
The question no one asks is- has Iran ruled out a military option?
Germany will negotiate the precise nature of dhimmi status and how many will be permitted dhimmitude.
Speak for yourself, Chancellor.
Iran has somehow bought out Germany here. Another thread also mentions that Total (France oil company) will be working with a Japanese country to develop Iranian oil fields. So while the socialists all want agreement on Kyoto, they are working with Iran to obtain more and cheaper oil. As part of the deal, they are to oppose military action against Iran. The only one who will not be suckered into this arrangement is Israel because their very survival depends on it. While everyone here continues to hope for internal Iranian opposition to take control, the longer this goes on the less likely it seems. Someone is going to HAVE to take military action.
In the European sense, this is not only a policy statement, but a declaration of fact. What could Germany possibly do militarily to Iran? Indeed, barring French and English nuclear weapons, what could all of Europe combined do to force a military settlement?
I very much doubt that all of the European navies combined could open the Straits of Hormuz against Iranian opposition.
So if you are stuck on a European solution, then it is true. There is no military option.
Similar to how Canadians can be opposed to Missile defense. Because they have the luxury of doing so. It sings to the lefties yet politicos know, in the end, someone else will do the heavy lifting that needs done.
In so doing, Germany is trying to avoid Iranian nuclear materials landing on German soil. Sorta like how Morton Downey Jr. met his demise on Natural Born Killers, he sympathized with them and expected quarter but in the end, they did him anyway.
Yes.
'" Will they support a boycott of Iranian oil and support sanctions?"
I don't think Europeans want to make any sacrifices at all either for domestic or security purposes. Their only recourse is to hope and pray everything can be fixed by diplomacy.
At least for now...
I agree with you. Sadly, the world is tired of war and are willing to take their chances.
Germany is waiting to lock up its "Oil for Food-the Sequel" options.
Glad we spent 50 years protecting their ass on our dime.
Today, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ruled out a military landing at Calais. "I know we want the Nazis to believe we are landing there. But we are in fact planning to land at Normandy."
Field Marshall Rommel could not be reached for comment. Aides were trying to revive him after reading about Churchill's comments.
If Israel can't or wont do it, we may have to learn to live with a nuclear Iran. I have already started trying to accept it. We may be able to put some sanctions on Iran and do some things to put pressure on the Iranian government through the dissidents in the Iranian public. I think Bush will do all he can short of military action. Doing that and also keeping his focus on Iraq and getting it cleaned up before he leaves office are about all I expect because the military option is very, very dicy for Bush to do.
This is an innocuous statement on its face aimed at a domestic audience entirely. What exactly is Germany supposed to do about iran? Fly in their B-2s and drop bunker busters?
only if we fail to act
now
and still they will fail themselves
President Bush will stop Iran from having a nuclear bomb, period. We will go to war with Iran next year, it will be a massive air campaign to destroy their nuclear facilities, and lot of their military infrastructures and command.
Field Marshall Rommell was actually at his home in Ulm, Germany celebrating his wife's 50th birthday when we hit Omaha Beach. He had to rush back to the coast but it well past the point of stopping the invasion.
Golly, I was sure they were going to send a few Panzer divisions. (sarc)
I am all for it. But it sure better be massive because we cannot afford to mess it up. Plus I think before he does attack, if he does, there must be a thorough discussion in the public square of the consequences to America at home and abroad. Because bombing Iran could trigger terror attacks here at home, attacks on Israel, $100.00 a barrel oil and so forth. Plus would he have to get permission from congress? I don't know if he could muster the support he needs to order an attack. I just don't think it is a given that he will bomb Iran.
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