Posted on 01/05/2006 10:23:54 PM PST by indianrightwinger
Rice Warns Iran Sanctions are Near Associated Press January 5, 2006 10:26 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration signaled on Thursday that time is running out for Iran to avoid being taken before the U.N. Security Council over its disputed nuclear program, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice condemned new anti-Israel remarks from Iran's president.
"We are moving into a period of time with Iran where I think we're going to have to, the world is going to have to make some decisions," Ms. Rice said.
Ms. Rice avoided declaring an end to negotiations between Tehran and European nations that are intended to avert punishment at the U.N. Her skepticism about progress in the talks was clear, however, and she chose unusually blunt language to lay out the probable next step.
"When it's clear that negotiations are exhausted, we have the votes" to take Iran before the Security Council for possible punishment, Ms. Rice told reporters. "There is a resolution sitting there for referral. We'll vote it."
Separately, the State Department and the White House reacted harshly to reported remarks from Iran's new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The ultraconservative president said Thursday that he hoped for the death of Israel's ailing prime minister, Ariel Sharon. It was the latest anti-Israeli comment by Mr. Ahmadinejad, who already has drawn international scorn for suggesting that Israel be "wiped off the map."
"Hopefully, the news that the criminal of Sabra and Chatilla has joined his ancestors is final," Mr. Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Only force will save us from these lunatics, not sanctions. They spit at our sanctions. When oil prices reach $100, the Euros will cave. Sanctions is a losing game, we lose.
Why do they keep referring to this Muslim extremist as an ultraconservative? He has no better friend than American and European liberals .
They like calling this Iranian terrorist "ultraconservative" thinking its putting a bad light on conservatives here in America. The media has no clue that one day in America's future, the word 'liberal' will be looked upon as the word "nazi" is today.
I need somebody to explain to me why the supposedly pro-American Iranians and students voted this jerkbait into office.
You have to assume the rat had the election fixed. Fixed well.
I'd prefer to think we fixed it: easier/quicker to shear these freaks off Iranian civilization. I'd even like to think the Iranian electorate were slick enough to go with it, expediting the process.
"What about bombs?"
Probably means they don't think they're that close to having a bomb yet... just a guess though.
Her skepticism about progress in the talks was clear, however, and she chose unusually blunt language to lay out the probable next step.
"When it's clear that negotiations are exhausted, we have the votes" to take Iran before the Security Council for possible punishment.."
I truly believe that for the US, inaction is not a viable option. Besides the enormous risk of inaction, we know the Israelis will attack Iran on their own anyway if necessary so we may as well give them a hand and completely destroy Iran's nuclear program. Iran will either back down in the next two years or the world will act to terminate their nuclear weapons program.
Although slight differences in some of the players may manifest themselves (I have concerns over the steadfastness of our dear British Friends. I have the feeling that public sentiment there would not permit another major engagement. PM Blair has been AMAZING during this difficult time, but would his successor be made of the same strong stuff?) I find it hard to quarrel with your scenario.
However, if Iran is to be engaged, then Russia, China, Syria, North Korea and others may decide to lend them a hand. Anti-Semitism has become breathtakingly rampant throughout much of Europe and Asia, and a hot conflict with Iran will be perceived by many as being a matter of "Zionist agression" against Islam. Nations that have been covertly and overtly working against not only Israel but the USA may decide that this is their chance to rid the world of two problems in one motion.
Bottom line: Unless the USA or another Western nation suffers another major terror attack, I am doubtful that we will be able to find sufficient support in our own country as well as abroad for taking out Iran's nuke program by force.
I envision endless, useless talk until Iran launches a nuke at Tel Aviv.
I hope and pray that I am completely wrong.
I really believe Israel would force this issue to a conclusion well before any nukes are launched at Tel Aviv. Generally people at FR are overestimating the military capability of Iran, and that goes for the two-bit dictators in North Korea, Syria, etc. Iran couldn't do much of anything to our troops in Iraq. If they ventured over the border they would be routed very quickly by superior air power and ground firepower. Sure it won't be easy to build support for action against Iran, but inaction is not an acceptable course of action. Inaction creates the scenario of a likely nuclear sneak attack against the US, Britain, or Israel, and that scenario is completely unacceptable to the leaders of those three countries.
The old media did the same thing when the soviet union was falling apart. The communists trying to preserve the old system were called conservatives. Technically true, but quite misleading.
She's as bad as the EU with her threats that amount to squat. The Iranians are laughing all the way to the "bomb"!
"I need somebody to explain to me why the supposedly pro-American Iranians and students voted this jerkbait into office."
They didn't. If they were counting purple fingers this guy would have gotten maybe 20% of the vote. Cheating does that.
These are EXCELLENT!! I will bookmark the post. :-)
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