Posted on 03/04/2006 8:30:37 AM PST by blam
Bush U-turn on Iranian pipeline
The US "beef" with Iran is nuclear arms, not gas, said Mr Bush
President George W Bush has indicated the US has dropped its staunch opposition to a proposed gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan. Mr Bush said on his visit to Pakistan he understood the need for natural gas in the region and that the US argument with Iran was over nuclear weapons.
The $6bn project for the 2,600km (1,625 mile) pipeline will bring Iran revenue, Pakistan transit fees and India energy.
The nations hope to start construction in 2007, with key talks due this month.
The US had previously stated it was "absolutely opposed" to the gas pipeline, even indicating Pakistan and India could face sanctions if the project got under way.
But in Islamabad, Mr Bush said: "Our beef with Iran is not the pipeline, our beef with Iran is... they want to develop a nuclear weapon and I believe a nuclear weapon in the hands of the Iranians will be very dangerous for all of us."
He said he had discussed the pipeline with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and understood "the need to get natural gas in the region, that's fine".
Mr Bush said his secretary of energy would visit Pakistan to discuss Islamabad's energy needs.
However, Mr Bush indicated there was no current likelihood for a civilian nuclear deal between the US and Pakistan similar to the one he has signed with India.
Mr Bush said: "We discussed the civilian nuclear programme and I explained to him that Pakistan and India are different countries with different needs and different histories."
The US-India deal gives Delhi access to US technology although it has not signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
Pakistan said it had asked for similar treatment but Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri accepted things "do not happen overnight".
Two years ago Pakistani scientist AQ Khan admitted leaking nuclear secrets to countries such as Iran, Libya and North Korea.
Exdactly. If Bush wants India and Pakistan to be crucial allies, he has to bend on some projects that benefit those countries.
Oops, I just posted the same article just after yours. Sorry. You happened to post while I was writing a comment. Sometimes I synchronize with other Freepers to attempt posting the same article at the same time LOL.
This is a first base hit for Iran, but at least it is better than taking a homerun by China, a blow for US. In otherwords, democratic India to dominate Iran's oil will deny China from gaining access to Iran's oil, meanining a loss and something to regret for Communist China. Meanwhile, it will also decrease chances for India and US to battle over oil shares as India will have some of the oil resource (Iran) that US will not rely on (We don't care if economy of Communist China collapse for US to deny China oil). It doesn't feel good for Iran gaining something, but at least we should see it as damage kept minimal for not having barbaric Communist China to gain something to extend Communist China regime's life another day.
re-pinging for my post to be a duplicate of another.
Good. By the time this is completed the Iranian people may have developed enough of a backbone to throw off the shackles of Ayatolla Tyranny.
Bush has surprised me with his diplomatic aplomb this week. Good show, Mr President. So far a very successful trip.
Everything makes sense.
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