Posted on 03/10/2006 2:17:28 PM PST by Hannah Senesh
British foreign minister says Iran, Israel nukes pose potential threat; Britain seeking nuclear-free Middle East
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said Thursday that Britain wants to see a “nuclear-free Middle East,” saying now that action has been taken against Iraq and Libya, Iran and Israel remain the only two nations posing “potential threat.”
Speaking to Channel 4 Straw said: "If you want to see a nuclear-free Middle East, you've got to remove that threat from Iran, including the rhetorical threat to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Once you've done that, then we can get on to work in respect of Israel."
He added: "We in the international community defend Iran's right to peaceful nuclear power. That is not the issue. The issue is that they have got to bring themselves into compliance with obligations they voluntarily entered into and until they clarify their intentions, we don't believe it is safe for them to have full access to the nuclear cycle.
"It's a very different and separate issue from what the Iranians say, which is that we are trying to deny them nuclear electric power. We are not."
Bush: Iran grave security concern
Meanwhile, President George W. Bush on Friday called Iran an issue of "grave national security concern" and said he wanted a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Bush said U.S. concerns were the result of Iran's stated desire to destroy Israel and the U.S. belief that Tehran wants to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian power generation.
"Therefore it's very important for the United States to continue to work with others to solve these issues diplomatically, deal with these threats today," Bush told a newspaper group.
Israel is not a threat to anyone but the radical muslims who want to kill them .. the same as they want to kill us.
Are we the next nation who has to get rid of their nukes.
Israel could probably kick the UK's behind - so Straw better keep his opinion to himself.
Correct on both counts. Plus Israel has never declared it has nukes. Every other nation brags if it has them and tests a few just to show off their new toys
where is the double standard?
has israel ever threatened iran with the classic death to iran?
I think I see. Iran won't listen to them, so they want to beat up on Israel. Can't fix the real threat, then go after the imaginary one.
Wasn't there a flash supposedly to the east of South Africa that was attributed to be an Israeli-Afrikaner joint test of a small nuclear device?
Didn't South Africa have nukes and when the ANC, the black communist dictatorship party, took over...they gave it all up?
After Iran's nuclear sites are destroyed by Israel, there won't be any Israeli nukes left to worry about.
Sounds like a win-win to me.
"Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who has Jewish ancestry, the Daily Telegraph reported."
If he wasn't raised as a Jew, what possible difference can it make that he happens to possess a Jewish grandfather?
"That quote is totally out of context, and probably doesn't mean what the headline says."
That's exactly what he said.
"The double standard must end if there is to be lasting peace in the ME."
If Jews are ever to be safe in this world, the double-standard employed by people like you certainly has to go.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Well, Jack's head seems to be full of his cognomen.
And with a Muslim state, Pakistan, not just in possession of nuclear weapons but also responsible for their proliferation, for Israel to disarm would be an act of national suicide.
Straw has a very long history of attacking Israel. Just read what he wrote in an Iranian newspaper back in 2001:
"In an opinion piece published in an Iranian newspaper yesterday on the eve of his visit to Teheran, Straw wrote that he understood "one of the factors contributing to the growth of terror is the anger of many people in the region about the incidents in recent years in Palestine." In condemning yesterday's drive-by shooting in the Jordan Valley, in which an Israeli woman, Salit Sheetrit, was killed by Palestinian gunmen, Straw said, "there is an obvious need to understand the environment in which terrorism breeds ... that is why the international community is so concerned to see a lasting peace in the Middle East."
http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/diplomacy/articles/dip_0095.htm
I dunno, in both cases. Would the Israelis really interested in tactical nukes, though? I'd think they'd need strategic nukes for credible deterrance.
..some politicians just do not know when to keep quiet
the liquid you are pouring on the fire is not water, but gasoline...
Here's to the double standard:
"International condemnation followed Israel's killing of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi in Gaza City. 'snip'
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned the missile strike.
"The British government has made it repeatedly clear that so-called targeted assassinations of this kind are unlawful, unjustified and counterproductive."
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/17/rantisi.reaction/index.html
"The man mistaken for a suicide bomber by police was shot eight times, an inquest into his death has heard.
Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, was shot seven times in the head"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4713753.stm
Not everybody is on the same page.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.