Throwing down the nuclear gauntlet/Iran chides US nuclear 'bullying'

The BBC | 10 March 2004 | Jonathan Marcus and Staff

[fdsa2]

Throwing down the nuclear gauntlet (excerpt)

Iran is presenting a fundamental challenge to the Bush administration's diplomacy.

Its foreign minister has said that once relations with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, are "normalised", Iran will resume its uranium enrichment activities.

The United States firmly believes that Iran has no real need for a nuclear power programme and is intent on gathering the building-blocks for a nuclear weapon.

America's European allies share many of its concerns, but not Washington's certainty.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3498432.stm

Iran chides US nuclear 'bullying' (excerpt)

Iran has accused the US of "bullying" the UN's nuclear watchdog into drafting a resolution censuring the Islamic state over its nuclear programme. Iran's foreign minister warned that Tehran may end co-operation with the IAEA if Europe did not resist the US.

Kamal Kharrazi also insisted Iran would resume production of nuclear materials after resolving its case with the IAEA.

The IAEA is meeting in Vienna to decide how to deal with Iran's failure to fully disclose its nuclear activities.

The IAEA's draft resolution on Iran reportedly compares Iran and Libya, saying both countries got nuclear equipment "from the same foreign sources".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3497518.stm

[fdsa2]

Sorry about the "source" but this is quite interesting.

The Iranian government is trying the old "divide and conquer - routine" to further drive a wedge between the European countries supporting IAEA and the Bush administration.

If successful this will make the a solution to the Iran problem even more troublesome/unlikely (and other countries are watching and thinking aha, thats how it should be done).

In true Swedish fashion I believe it´s time for a compromise (not appeasment) between the two doctrins in order to present a strong common position. What´s your opinion?

Please no lock and load remarks.

[DonaldDuke]

Iran chides US nuclear 'bullying' (excerpt)

"Nuclear bullying" would be a 5 megaton airburst over Tehran.

[marlon]

Not to worry if John Fonda Kerry becomes President then he will no doubt have much better success negotiating with them. After all, he's a Vietnam Vet, in case you didn't know and a war hero to boot. He's also much smarter and "nuanced" then that cowboy Bush. That's why the mullahs have thrown their support behind him in his bid for the Presidency. They're not alone of course, Sadaam, Fidel, Chavez, Lil Kim, er sorry Kim Il, Chirac and now Dr. Demento Dean are also counted as early supporters.

I feel so much safer now!

[fdsa2]

I´m no Kerry supporter....

But admit Iran is playing a smart game, on the surface they appear willing to cooperate with the "balanced" IAEA if they distance themselves from the US.

I think there is a risk that we will se more of this if the UN does not grow some balls soon.

[marlon]

I think that's wishful thinking. The UN is not going to get balls, it's not part of their agenda. The agenda is clearly to tie the US hands behind their back to make them appear and in actuality become weaker. There concern is not proliferation as they realize they're not the target. Better that they prop up some 3rd world country and continue to leach money from them thru various extorsion rackets.

Hey if New York gets nuked in the process so they'll have to find some new ambassadors and a new headquarters location but at least they'll have billions in the bank and no big bully hanging around to push them around anymore.