Posted on 11/09/2007 7:43:59 PM PST by blam
US seeks Merkel's backing over Iran
By Alex Spillius in Washington and Harry de Quetteville in Berlin
Last Updated: 2:41am GMT 10/11/2007
Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has sought to present a united front with President George W Bush as they discussed the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme.
President Bush wants Mrs Merkel to impose tougher economic sanctions on Iran
During talks at Mr Bush's private ranch in Texas, Mrs Merkel was expected to argue that all diplomatic options should be exhausted before military action could be taken against Teheran's regime, which the West believes is developing nuclear weapons.
Iran has defied three United Nations resolutions by continuing to enrich uranium, a procedure that could produce material for a nuclear weapon. This week, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the nuclear programme was "irreversible".
Determined to keep up the pressure in his last year in office, Mr Bush has imposed tough sanctions on three of Iran's state-owned banks.
Some of his advisers openly favour using air strikes to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities, notably the uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. The Pentagon has assessed a range of military options.
advertisement Mr Bush says that America will maximise diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran - but all options are on the table. For his part, the president wants Mrs Merkel to impose tougher economic sanctions on Iran, either unilaterally or through the European Union. As Iran's largest trading partner and biggest European investor, Germany is critical to turning the economic screw on Teheran.
"I want a diplomatic resolution and I will do everything to achieve that," Mrs Merkel said in a newspaper interview shortly before leaving for the US. "I am sure I will find that the American president has open ears for that."
But she added: "Germany, if Iran does not give way, is prepared for further and tougher sanctions."
Both leaders agree that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. "Strategically, we see eye to eye. Tactically, there are some slight differences," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the US National Security Council.
Mrs Merkel and Mr Bush have a good rapport, in sharp contrast to the icy relations between the president and Germany's former Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, who bitterly opposed the Iraq war.
Mrs Merkel's invitation to Mr Bush's ranch, known as the "Western White House", has cemented her status as a close political friend.
It comes just two days after the departure of President Nicolas Sarkozy of France. The Bush administration is rebuilding its relations with countries it once derisively referred to as "old Europe".
But Mrs Merkel must deal with competing pressures. Because of Germany's strong trading position in Iran, powerful commercial interests oppose sanctions.
The visit will give Mrs Merkel another opportunity to burnish her credentials as a leader of real standing on the global stage. She skilfully crafted this reputation earlier this year by chairing both the EU and G8 summits.
That’s Ed McMahon’s sister.
First France, now Germany … do I see a coalition forming here (under the radar)?
As for Germany … shows what a simple backrub can accomplish. ;-)
Many write Bush off as just another “Lame Duck” president … he ain’t finished yet.
OK, who thinks that sanctions will
change Iran’s behavior?
I sure don’t.
Develop a collation, then up the ante? Seems to be Bush’s modusoperandi.
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