Posted on 05/03/2006 5:55:05 AM PDT by blam
Iran tops Merkel's agenda in US
By Ray Furlong
BBC correspondent in Berlin
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting the US for a two-day trip set to be dominated by the confrontation over Iran's nuclear programme.
Officials in Berlin said the visit would be used to show unity with the US in increasing the pressure on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.
They said the discussion of sanctions was a possibility, but that Germany remained opposed to the use of force.
This is Mrs Merkel's second visit to Washington since taking office.
The imposition of sanctions would not come immediately: the first step would be a binding UN resolution, toughening up the statement approved by the Security Council in March.
This could then be followed by political sanctions, with economic sanctions being a final measure, the officials said.
Trading nations
Germany is one of Iran's most important trading partners, and a clear word from Berlin suggesting that economic sanctions are on the agenda would be a strong signal to Tehran.
Mrs Merkel will spend an hour with President George W Bush in the Oval Office after arriving on Wednesday afternoon, before later having dinner with him.
On Thursday evening, in New York, she will be one of the main speakers at a gala reception marking the 100th anniversary of the American-Jewish Committee - America's most influential Jewish organisation.
...the USA so far is pro - diplomacy eiter.
Besides Israel I see noone with a drawn saber at the moment.
I guess Bush will leave that to his follower.
Give it time.
This is just foreplay.
There was a good article in my local newspaper yesterday from the LA Times (of all places) Titled: "Russia's Double Ploy Brings War Clouds Over Mideast." (by Rosa Brooks) I was gonna post it but couldn't find it on-line. Here's an excerpt:
"Let me tell you about the next war. It will start sooner than you think - Sometime between now and September. And it will be precipitated by the $700-million Russian deal this week to sell Tor air defense systems to Iran."
"When the war begins, it will be between Iran and Israel. Before it ends. . . ."
if read it... this is really one dark mooded article.
But sure - the russians could play the game of escalation to have the worlds no.2 in natural gas entangled in a war. At the same time they might see a progress in their game of making the europeans an energy offer they cannot refuse.
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