Posted on 01/23/2006 11:45:40 AM PST by seanmerc
Rice says time for talking with Iran is over
By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday there was strong international consensus against Iran's nuclear plans and time had run out for talking to Tehran.
With Italy's foreign minister at her side, Rice said the next step must be to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council. The United States believes Iran is building a nuclear bomb but Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful, energy purposes.
"The referral absolutely has to be made," Rice told reporters.
"Iran must know that there is a firm international consensus against the activities that Iran is currently engaged in. We would all like to solve this diplomatically and we are all committed to doing so but Iran must recognize the concerns of the international community and has not done so."
Iran on Sunday urged the European Union to return to negotiations with Tehran on its nuclear program, saying talks were the only way to defuse its nuclear standoff with the West.
Rice said the time for talking was over and European discussions had come to a "dead end" because of Iran's actions. "I don't see much room for further discussion in any format," said Rice.
Asked whether the United States, which has about 140,000 troops in Iraq, could afford to take military action against Iran, Rice said the focus was on diplomacy but reiterated that no options were off the table.
"We have committed to a diplomatic course," said Rice, adding: "The president takes no options off the table."
The United States and the European Union want the International Atomic Energy Agency, at an emergency board meeting on February 2, to refer Iran to the Security Council for pressure including possible sanctions.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
The time for talking is over but we're going to refer the matter to the U.N. - I'm having trouble following this logic.
Here we go...again. More jaw-boning with Iran vis-a-vis the "tough" UN Security Council. This is simply dancing until the missiles start flying...against Iran and its nuke facilities.
Why not do it now and get it over with?
So when China and Russia obstruct and Russia vetoes, what then?
Time to load up the B-52s!
One boomer could take Iran out in a few hours.......
Before the UN can act Iran will have moved its assets out of Europe and most Arab states will ignore an embargo as well as many other nations. So what short of military action can the UN do that will have any effect?
Personally, I think Israel will act long before the UN does.
Well, now the UN will write another letter, but with stern language.
That oughta do the trick.
Of course, that is just a mere formality. It won't really do anything, but serve as the next step towards military action.
And risk the loss of international esteem?
"These boots are made for walkin' ...
And walkin' they will do ...
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you ..."
We have to be extremely tough in our dealings with Iran. There has been a deep anti-Israel and anti-=Anerican sentiment boiling in Iran since the ouster of the Shah of Iran in 1979 (abandoned by the coward Jimmy Carter) by the lunatic fundamentalists led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It is no coincidence that Iran is looking east and west to Afghanistan and Iraq as possible bases of a US-led effort to militarily make them comply if they continue their current behavior
LOL!!!
Baba Booey, Mr. Iranian!
And if that doesn't work we can always send them to bed without dinner.
Doesn't make much sense.
The crisis does seem to be reaching a sort of boiling point - these are interesting times, indeed.
If time for talking to Iran is over, then what's next? I have the uncomfortable feeling that this is a bluff. And this is not the kind of thing to bluff about. You just lose credibility.
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