Posted on 04/24/2006 3:43:48 PM PDT by familyop
LONDON (AFX) - The West must send a 'strong signal' to Iran's leadership that it will not tolerate defiance over calls to suspend its nuclear programme, said Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Speaking as oil prices soar over fears of a military confrontation with Iran, Blair said now was not the time to show 'weakness'.
However, Blair repeated his assertion last week that 'Iran is not Iraq', and added that 'nobody is talking about military invasion'.
'People do however, want to send a very strong signal to Iran because...Iran is supporting terrorism in the region to the detriment of democratic governments, it's in breach of its nuclear obligations and people want it to comply,' he told his monthly press conference.
'So the real issue for me on Iran is: what are you going to do about it? (and) all I'm saying is that it's not very sensible at the moment in time to send a signal of weakness.'
The US and Iran have been trading increasingly bellicose statements in recent days, leading to suggestions that Washington is planning a military strike against Iranian nuclear installations.
However, Blair said the US administration was 'very, very well aware' of the implications of such a move.
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Quite so. Patton's words ring true, "It is the destiny of the American-Brittish alliance to rule the world."...Paraphrased. 60 years and running.
We'll play it until "The Proffesionals" decide that they are too close to makeing a bomb, then we'll bomb the bejessus outta' em. Then we'll try to find a longer term solution.
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