Posted on 10/27/2004 7:07:20 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell advised Israel on Wednesday that diplomacy and not force is the way to deal with Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Two decades ago, Israeli warplanes destroyed an Iraqi reactor to prevent Saddam Hussein from developing nuclear weapons.
With Iran now moving in that direction, Powell said "there was a lot of speculation and horror stories and other stories about what this might lead to in the way of crisis, and part of that speculation is that the Israelis might do something or not do something."
"I have no information on that," Powell said on CNBC. "And I think the whole world, to include Israel, is trying to find a diplomatic and peaceful solution to this problem."
Powell said Iran had a program that could produce nuclear weapons, but he did not think it could be done overnight or in the next several months.
"It's going to take them time," he said.
In talks Wednesday in Vienna, Iran's delegates insisted in a meeting with British, French and German officials on the right to enrich uranium, which is a key ingredient to making nuclear weapons.
And in Iran, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out any long-term suspension of the program.
Powell said it was time to take the issue to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose economic pressure on Iran. "It is not in the interests of the region or the world for Iran to be moving in this direction," he said.
The State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said at the daily media briefing that taking Iran before the U.N. Security Council remains the U.S. position even with the talks in Vienna.
"At this point, we have not seen anything different," he said. "But in terms of Iranian commitments or behavior, we will have to see how the meeting went."
The Europeans were believed to be offering Iran fuel and trade if it halted its nuclear programs.
Powell's a good guy, but he should clamp his piehole on this one.
> Powell cautions Israel on Iran action
Naturally, because this is the AP, Powell in fact said no
such thing, at least as far as I can tell from what passes
for journalism here.
Reads to me more like "Hello Iran, the US has NOT told
Israel to stand down."
Someone needs to put a muzzle on Kofi's butt boy Powell.
I'm sick of his ill-thought out ramblings.
We took out Iraq. Israel is going to take out Iran, if it thinks it is in it's best interest. Good for them.
Don't we have a diplomatic post at the Antartic that Powell could man?
Wink, wink.
Don´t Throw Me In the Briar Patch.
Well - isn't that nice -
What are we giving Israel in return for letting their people live in fear of getting nuked - ? Did Powell mention anything -
And the UN - ? What a joke they have become - as I remember - there are 70,000 dead in Sudan and the UN is still waiting to decide what to do -
When will the world wake up - (I hope when/if they do - it isn't because of all the bombs falling)
I probably missed the pressing reason that this issue had to be raised a week before the election. Trying to send a message Colin?
Not sure who invented it, but it has become a mainstay of international diplomacy.
There is no decoder ring for it , unfortunately. ;-]
Israel has a right to defend itself.
If the world is going to allow the lunatic Mullahs to develop the bomb, it has not choice but to take them out.
You're right.I would think some other folks here would also notice.
Before reading this article, I wasn't sure whether Colin Powell was a naive idiot, or the greatest diplomat our nation has ever produced.
After reading this article, I'm still not sure.
You love a good mystery too, huh? ;-)
Powell is sometimes known as Abu Powell.
:-D
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