[Darkwolf377]

Fine with me--we can all pretend the US is the one carrying the big stick and waiting outside in the school yard.

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

"If this plan does not result in a breakthrough in the West's years-long nuclear standoff with Iran, the six countries will have no choice but to begin debating serious sanctions of the kind Washington wants imposed on the Islamic republic, it said."

What a joke. They won't sanction Iran ever. The Europeans are cowards...China and Russia are the enemy... that's why they have not already started sanctions, which is what they should be doing right about now. Our so called allies somehow see to it that everything we try to do gets FUBAR then goes nowhere. What gets me is that the Europeans don't keep their word and see nothing wrong with not keeping their word.

[JasonC]

"the goal of this new strategy would be to lure Tehran to the negotiating table to discuss a package of incentives offered by six world powers in June"

Words nearly fail me.

The goal is to lure them to the negotiating table, huh? Not, say, to stop them from actually getting nukes. Gosh, what a clever strategy! They will never be ready for it! It is sure to outflank them. Why, the EU negotiaters are genuises!

But they will be lured to discuss. Not to accept, mind, can't have a goal like that, since it might not happen. Just to discuss. Discuss their disarmament? Discuss say whether the holocaust happened, end times kookiness, the nature of heresy and the precise Islamic crime of "innovation"? Nooo. Just discuss "incentives".

You'd think the incentives would be for something the strategy aims at, but no, it is the other way around. The strategy aims at getting them to discuss the incentives.

The best part though, the absolute side splitting howler, is that little unassuming "offered... in June". So, their strategy - no, sorry, the *goal* of their strategy, is to *lure* the Iranians into *discussing* large giveaways that were already spurned with contempt 3 months ago!

Can you say "humiliated"? How about unclear on the concept of strategy? How about desperate and hopeless and begging to be lied to again in return for tribute? Please Mr. Ahmad, please stop humiliating us. We promise to be good and help you against the Americans. We'll give you all kinds of trade aid and investment, promise! You don't even have to follow through on any of it - I mean, you didn't the last 3 times and here we still area making larger and larger offers, right? (nervous laugh)

And Ahmadinejad will look intrigued, his face will flood with compassion, he will smile and beam and looking kindly upon them all, until they get rather excited at the impending "breakthrough". And then his eyes will narrow to points and he will lean forward ever so slightly, and quietly say - "No." Then recline, positively glowing with satisfaction and self righteousness.

[backtothestreets]

It would be a major step forward if Iran were viewed as part of a wider Islamic strategy.

How may Islamic nations expressed concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions at the UN this past week?

How many Islamic nations are pressuring Iran to cease their nuclear program immediately?

How many Islamic nations are recommending stiff sanctions be imposed on Iran?

Of the 57 Islamic nations that comprise the Organization of the Islamic Conference, how many member nations have stated the military option is on the table if Iran goes forward with their nuclear program?

I'm not troubled by what the six nations are going through over negotiations involving Iran. It's the same old story among the six nations. I'm damn well troubled by the silence of Islamic nations over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Also, maybe it is time we close our embassies in all Islamic nations that belong to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and have one ambassador and embassy assigned to the Organization. The 57 Islamic members are member states of the confederation. It is a single Islamic nation posing as separate entities.

[sgtbono2002]

Almondjoy ran his bluff and France fell for it, Germany and Britain joined them and lost their nerve also.

[PzLdr]

How about"Tactical Nuclear Attacks On Iran Begin Without Gernmany And France. U. S Goes It Alone."?

Whatever happened to the Bush doctrine of preemptive war? Iran has provided weapons that have killed, and are killing, Americans in Iraq. They've sent troops and intelligence agents to Iraq. When the hell are we going to smoke the b*stards? After the pop a nuke in the Gulf of Hormuz or Israel?

[jeffers]

Ever wonder why France and Russia went along with UN resolution 1441 penalizing Iraq, even opening the door to invasion with that vote?

They only had two choices, go along with the chance of keeping some of their lucrative deals with Saddam, or stand firm, and lose them all when the US invaded unilaterally.

Ditto Iran.

It's not time to play hardball yet.

First the election, then Iran.

Numerical simulations show Iran can cause problems if they utilize their assets to greatest effect, though the outcome is not in doubt, militarily at least.

Look for an interesting winter and spring.