U.S. Taps ElBaradei's Calls to Iranian Officials - IAEA Leader's Phone Tapped

washingtonpost.com ^ | Sunday, December 12, 2004 | Dafna Linzer

[crushelits]

U.S. Pores Over Transcripts to Try to Oust Nuclear Chief

The Bush administration has dozens of intercepts of Mohamed ElBaradei's phone calls with Iranian diplomats and is scrutinizing them in search of ammunition to oust him as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to three U.S. government officials.

But the diplomatic offensive will not be easy. The administration has failed to come up with a candidate willing to oppose ElBaradei, who has run the agency since 1997, and there is disagreement among some senior officials over how hard to push for his removal, and what the diplomatic costs of a public campaign against him could be. Although eavesdropping, even on allies, is considered a well-worn tool of national security and diplomacy, the efforts against ElBaradei demonstrate the lengths some within the administration are willing to go to replace a top international diplomat who questioned U.S. intelligence on Iraq and is now taking a cautious approach on Iran.

The intercepted calls have not produced any evidence of nefarious conduct by ElBaradei, according to three officials who have read them. But some within the administration believe they show ElBaradei lacks impartiality because he tried to help Iran navigate a diplomatic crisis over its nuclear programs. Others argue the transcripts demonstrate nothing more than standard telephone diplomacy.

[wagglebee]

I can't wait to see what this uncovers.

[bahblahbah]

Why is this in the Washington Post? Jeez can't people shut up.

[mainepatsfan]

Good. This guy like the whole UN is a joke.

[grandpiano007]

I don't think they want to oust him. He HAS to leave, because there is a two term limit. I think it might be about sending him to jail. Bush taking revenge. LOL You can take the Texan out of Texas, but not Texas out of the Texan.

[freedom44]

Mohamed ElBaradei's wife is directly related to Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran.

[acapesket]

If they are dumb enough to publish it.
Their source must be as credible as a former CIA leak or Joe and Valerie Plame! These will turn out to be another of those "firestorms" like Rummy's questioner or the video of the GI shooting the Mooselimb. The truth will come after and no one will discuss it!
It's only "The news event that counts"!

[ApesForEvolution]

We might have a new word coming up on the horizon: UNicide

[Ethyl]

I can't wait to see what this uncovers.

Anything that comes out of the warshingtonpest, is not what it seems and will never give you any information that they don't want you to know, they will lie, cheat and steal to make the President and the Republicans look bad. Never forget that when reading an article from them. I quit reading them in 1990.

[crushelits]

Why is it that third world type people that live in third world type countries are the ones running the UN?I never been able to understand that!

These countries hardly contribute any money. The US contributes 25% of the UN Budget. Isn't that amazing?

[ApesForEvolution]

"I am a very pathetic person..."

[crushelits]

YES HE IS!

[ApesForEvolution]

...LOL...

[m5defense]

Permanent Security Council member countries aren't allowed to hold the top positions in the U.N. heirarchy. Most non-permanent members of the Security Council, and the rest of the membership of the U.N., are predominantly third-world countries. So, positions of leadership go to them. It's not fair. That's why it is time to get the U.S. out of the U.N.

[ApesForEvolution]

It's Time BTTT

[Larry381]

I'd love to hear the taps of Kofi Annan talking to his son Bozo about his oil for loot profits and why daddy wasn't cut in.

[montag813]

Never trust a Muslim!

[processing please hold]

Amen. Haven't they ever heard of shutting their mouths during a time of war. Heavens to betsy.

[John Lenin]

Mohamed ElBaradei's wife is directly related to Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran.

No conflict of interest there ...

[okie01]

Amazing! Over 1200 words from the Washington Post on the subject of ElBaradei's candidacy for re-election. And not one of them concerning his conspiring with the New York Times and CBS to drop an "October Surprise" pre-election bomb on the Bush campaign.

The MSM would have us believe the SOB is free to dabble in our elections, but he is immune to charges against his own probity and competence.

Did dear Dafna just "forget", or something...?