Posted on 09/04/2006 3:37:51 PM PDT by Flavius
BERLIN, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there is "no military option" for handling Iran's nuclear program, her spokesman told reporters here on Monday.
"The chancellor has expressed the view that there is no military option," Ulrich Wilhelm said, adding that "the door for negotiations remains open."
The U.S. leaders have said repeatedly any option would not be ruled out in dealing with Iran's nuclear program as they insist that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
But Iran has said its program is for peaceful purpose, refusing to comply with a UN directive that it cease uranium enrichment by Aug. 31.
Senior diplomats from Britain, France and Germany will meet their counterparts from the United States, Russia and China in Berlin on Thursday to discuss the Iranian nuclear crisis.
European Union chief diplomat Javier Solana is expected to hold talks with Iranian negotiators this week. Enditem
I agree. We should move out of old Europe.
Merkel is either a retard or else is scum. I assume scum. Just as with Iraq, "ruling out" military action makes military action more likely. The krauts are simply too cynical, selfish, atheistic and materialistic to be of any use to anyone. To hell with them. Good beer, though.
I just phoned with the German government Press Office. They´ve told me that Chancellor Merkel said "that she knows nobody who wanted a military option at the moment". So she HAS NOT SAID that she rules out military actions. She follows the German official policy, putting all the pressure on the diplomatic stage, so that a military engagement may be prevented. Germany stands united on this issue with the EU and the US, and with its friend Israel.
From my view, the news agencies have concluded things from her words she never said.
For confirmation contact:
The Press Office of the Federal Government +0049 180 272 0000
You phoned them ?
Good move.
Besides, what do people expect ? That she'll stomp her feet and declare war on Iran ?
Get sober folks.
Michael,
I know you are German and I appreciate your initiative in contacting the Chancellor's office.Please understand that the remarks that follow are not directed to you personally, but are my observations.
In my opinion, the correct response from all governments allied with us should be that the military option is not off the table. That says a very different thing from that there is no military option at this time.
The UN and the EU are taking no concrete steps at this time to make Iran stop their progress toward getting a nuclear device. When they get one, it will be used against Israel and US interests, either here in the US or abroad.
That means me and my family are at risk directly. Having lost three people on 9/11/01 that I knew, you'll have to forgive me if I take Iran's posturings seriously.
Having protected you and yours on our dime for over fifty years entitles me to want to have a more aggressive posture by the German government to Iranian stonewalling and outright deception.
Talking time is over. The question is when we will strike. Now, or later, when it will be much more costly in terms of human lives on all sides.
Iran is a boil that has to be lanced. What I am seeing from European governments is typical head-in-the-sand, and hope the US solves the problem. We can't even get the EU countries to staff a measly 15,000 soldiers for the Lebanonese peacekeeping force. We have eight times that just in Iraq.
Michael, I'll level with you. I am sick and tired of paying for everyone's else's security, and no reciprocation. If the European countries were more forceful, Iran might back down. But they have you all cowering, and they continue their bluster.
In the US, you either confront evil or you have live under its boot. The latter is unthinkable to free men.
The German position is that military options are not off the table! Just at the moment. This is still the time of talk. I understand that the impatience, but you can be sure that neither the EU, Israel or the US will accept a nuclear-armed Iran. So, I fully trust our leaders that they´ll stop Iran in time, and we can hope that this can be achieved by diplomacy. If diplomacy fails (the deathline hasn´t passed yet), the necessary steps will be taken, with or without the approval of Russia and China. NATO has acted once against the UN (1999), it can repeat that. There´s no dispute between Merkel and Bush on Iran.
Wow you impress me. And glad to hear it about Germany.
Thank you, Michael, that makes a lot more sense and is much more in what we have come to regard as Merkel's character. It isnt' the first time by far that the MSM has misrepresented someone's statement. Many thanks again.
Michael,
The EU, Germany included, had two years to deal with Iran.Iran deceived you and then bragged about it. Your former Chancellor looked the other way in the Oil for Food program while our young men prepared to go into battle, and prior to that, which strengthened Saddam's hand.
I disagree that this is the time for talk. Iran has no intention of dealing honestly with the West. They have dreams of leading Islam into a new future, armed with nuclear power. Crazy or not, they are an extreme danger to the Western world/ They are the head of the snake of terrorism worldwide, and have been for thirty years.
Their public pronouncements lead to no doubt to their intentions. The demise of the mullah regime is the linchpin to the end of Islamic terrorism.
The West is not showing a united front. The temerity of Germany and France to call a spade a spade, and the interference from Russia and China convince me that the US will once again have to take the lead.
We will benefit by getting rid of a threat, but so will all of you. What bothers me most is the reluctance for your country and others to do the right thing because it is hard, and to not shoulder your fair share of the war on terror.
In historical parallel, we are passing from the fall,1938 to the summer,1939 more quickly than we think. It is time to choose sides, and to act.
You know that. What you might not know is, that Merkel opposed Schröder´s anti-war policy. She backed the US, as one of only 20% of Germans.
It about merchants and markets that's true.
If the US (for example) had to engage in Iran what do you consider are the economic consequences ?
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