Merkel rules out military option for dealing with Iran

Expatica ^ | Sept 06 | staff

[shrinkermd]

4 September 2006

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has underlined there can be "no military option" for dealing with Iran's nuclear programme, a spokesman said Monday.

"The door for negotiations remains open," said chief German government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm.

Wilhelm added: "The chancellor has expressed the view that there is no military option."

US President George W. Bush has repeatedly said he does not rule out any option for dealing with Iran's nuclear programme, which is widely believed to be aimed at building nuclear weapons.

Iran rejects this and says its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes. Tehran refused to comply

with a United Nations directive that it cease uranium enrichment by August 31.

[rightwingcrazy]

Good work!

[Redmen4ever]

Thank you. The Non-proliferation Treaty envisions that one-day, we will eliminate nuclear weapons, and to hold the line at the P5 in the meanwhile. I am afraid, however, that the ball is moving in the wrong direction relative to this goal. I imagined that Chancellor Merkel meant is that we MUST make diplomacy work, if the military option is off the table. BUT, you make clear that she didn't say the military option is permanently off the table.

[Red6]

Thank you for clarifying that.

Once again, the media tells us what they want, not what is. Once again, combat journalism, shock appeal, and controversy is more important than the truth. I guess I should have known that. It is Merkel after all, and no Schroeder. Not living there anymore, I only have the BS media to get me facts from and unfortunately the media is more often then not, inaccurate and a 'spin' of what is. I failed to look at the credibility of the source. I jumped to conclusions based on weak information. That was poor thinking.

Thanks for clarifying that, and I'll try to be more conservative and reserved in my judgment

[Busywhiskers]

Stupid Europeans. Taking the military option off the table dooms diplomacy. They simply will not take you seriously.

[Michael81Dus]

Well, you know I´m a Merkel fan. I simply couldn´t believe that she changed her position, and I didn´t found it in the German media.

We´ve still two years of talking ahead before military actions will begin. But it´s necessary increase the pressure (and prepare the people that one moment military options are the only options left).

[Right Wing Assault]

"that she knows nobody who wanted a military option at the moment"

Ah, that's better. So, there may be later 'moments'.

[Plutarch]

Here is your military option, Merkel. Your country is in range of nuclear tipped missiles from a Muslim madman.

[TheBattman]

Wilhelm added: "The chancellor has expressed the view that there is no military option."

Does this mean that there is an administration official going out on a limb without authorization from the top? OR are you being fed a line to get you to be quiet?

[Michael81Dus]

No, it says that there is no military option AT THE MOMENT. That was and is the official German policy, but it doesn´t rule out military options in the future. We´re still two years of talk away until soldiers do what must be done.

[defenderSD]

The meaning of her statement is that military action in the near future (next 6-12 months) is not being considered at the present time. So in effect then, there is no military option at the present time for the near future. Notice that she did not rule it out forever in the more distant future, such as in the first half of 2008 (which IMO is the most likely timing).

I think the EU and US are now trying to negotiate a security agreement with Iran, whereby Iran gives up nuclear weapons development in return for an American promise not to force a regime change in Iran and civilian nuclear power provided and secured by Russia. I'm sure the negotiations over this security agreement are very complex and have to include some exceptions to allow military action by the US in the event of Iranian attacks on the US or our allies. But anyway, I think Merkel and Koffi are trying to help these negotiations by giving Iran some assurance that the US and EU are not planning to force a regime change in Iran at this time. (Sorry to put Merkel and Koffi in the same sentence, but they are saying similar things at this time.)