Posted on 07/24/2002 3:56:30 PM PDT by blam
Bush drops Iran reformists and backs dissidents
By Toby Harnden in Washington
(Filed: 24/07/2002)
President George W Bush has abandoned attempts to woo reformist elements in the Iranian government and is now publicly backing dissidents determined to overthrow the regime.
George W Bush
The decision follows a fierce battle between Washington hardliners and Colin Powell, the secretary of state, who had argued that President Mohammad Khatami's reform programme should be encouraged.
Mr Bush hopes that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme ruler, will be toppled by a democratic revolt, possibly inspired by the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq being planned by America.
Mr Khatami reacted angrily. In a speech in Kuala Lumpur, he said: "We wish to caution the great powers against further interference in the affairs of this region and against the exacerbation of the flames of war."
Referring to American plans to oust Saddam, he said: "No one has the right to decide for the people of Iraq. They should decide for themselves."
A senior official told the Washington Post that Mr Khatami and his supporters were "too weak, ineffective and not serious about fulfilling their promises" and could not outflank Ayatollah Khamenei.
In January, Mr Bush identified Iran, Iraq and North Korea as part of an "axis of evil". Since then, an internal debate has raged about how best to undermine the ayatollah.
Nearly a fortnight ago the president signalled his conclusion by issuing a statement saying: "The Iranian people voted for political and economic reform, yet their voices are not being listened to by the unelected people who are the real rulers of Iran."
The statement was broadcast to Iranians through the Voice of America radio station and Zalmay Khalizad, the White House official responsible for Iranian policy, gave an interview in Farsi promoting the new policy.
This hardening of attitude towards Iran is another divergence between Britain and America on foreign policy. Tony Blair has argued privately that lines to Mr Khatami should be kept open.
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, was criticised by some Bush advisers for visiting Teheran last September to try to enlist Iran in the war against terrorism.
When the Iranian ship the Karine A, loaded with 50 tons of weapons for the Palestinians, was seized by Israel in the Red Sea in January, the White House concluded that official sanction had been given.
Bush sources said the Karine A incident was one of two reasons that Iran was included in the "axis of evil". The other, an American official said, was Iran's "extremely active and complex nuclear programme" which could lead to a nuclear capability within years.
Mr Bush and President Vladimir Putin have been discussing how best to prevent nuclear know-how being passed to Iran.
But the US official said: "The difficulty is how you stop bits and pieces of Russia's government and state-owned enterprises making money out of this. The problem is seven or eight levels down in Russia's missile or nuclear establishment."
Shortly before Mr Bush's statement, the State Department had brushed off suggestions that the White House might publicly back Iranian demonstrators.
"The official United States line is that we do not comment when people demonstrate," said Richard Boucher, Mr Powell's spokesman.
After Mr Bush had spoken, Mr Boucher said: "We support the process of change that [the demonstrators] are calling for."
This soundbite from Khatami is especially rich:
Referring to American plans to oust Saddam, he said: "No one has the right to decide for the people of Iraq. They should decide for themselves."
Right. The last time they tried that, they got mowed down by Saddam's helicopter gunships.
And so they will, once we have rid them of Saddam. Too bad the Iranian people can't rid themselves of their mullah dictators, though they clearly want to.
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, was criticised by some Bush advisers for visiting Teheran last September to try to enlist Iran in the war against terrorism. When the Iranian ship the Karine A, loaded with 50 tons of weapons for the Palestinians, was seized by Israel in the Red Sea in January, the White House concluded that official sanction had been given.
Iranian government officals are also under US indictment for planning the Khobar Towers bombing. And yesterday the SF Chronicle ran a front page article naming Iranian government officials who planned and perpatrated the bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires and paid then Argentine President Menem 10 million dollars to cover it up. Oh yeah, real "allies".
The pieces are dropping into place!
Bush Doctrine Unfolds :
| To find all articles tagged or indexed using Bush Doctrine Unfold , click below: | ||||
| click here >>> | Bush Doctrine Unfold | <<< click here | ||
| (To view all FR Bump Lists, click here) | ||||
They all speak an 'Indo-European' language. The Basque in Spain are the exception. (...and perhaps a small Finnish group)
This from the President of the country that backs Hizbollah, Hamas, Al Qaeda and super-terrorists Imad Mugniyah. They've held terror summits in Teheran.
The Euro-weenies are getting it wrong again. Khatami may have started off as a 'reformer', but he's been totally impotent is actually reforming. He's now backing the hardline Ayatollahs. Bush is backing the reformers in the Iranian Parliament, who are battling the Ayatollahs and Mullahs. The Euro-weenie got it wrong again. The Euro-weenies have the heads so far up the butts of the elites in any country, the can't see nor hear a thing.
I doubt it. Syria's antique military would just be so many targets, and Israel is poised to take them out as it is. As for Iran, they will play the waiting game. Publically they will scream, but privately they will be happy to see Saddam go. Of course after Saddam is gone they will covertly do everything they can to prevent us forming a stable pro-western government in Iraq. They would love to see the country end up in anarchy, and the US pull out, leaving them the dominent power in the Gulf.
The decision follows a fierce battle between Washington hardliners and Colin Powell, the secretary of state, who had argued that President Mohammad Khatami's reform programme should be encouraged... A senior official told the Washington Post that Mr Khatami and his supporters were "too weak, ineffective and not serious about fulfilling their promises" and could not outflank Ayatollah Khamenei. In January, Mr Bush identified Iran, Iraq and North Korea as part of an "axis of evil". Since then, an internal debate has raged about how best to undermine the ayatollah. Nearly a fortnight ago the president signalled his conclusion by issuing a statement saying: "The Iranian people voted for political and economic reform, yet their voices are not being listened to by the unelected people who are the real rulers of Iran." ...Tony Blair has argued privately that lines to Mr Khatami should be kept open. Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, was criticised by some Bush advisers for visiting Teheran last September to try to enlist Iran in the war against terrorism... Mr Bush and President Vladimir Putin have been discussing how best to prevent nuclear know-how being passed to Iran. But the US official said: "The difficulty is how you stop bits and pieces of Russia's government and state-owned enterprises making money out of this. The problem is seven or eight levels down in Russia's missile or nuclear establishment."
Wow, I thought I went back in time...
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.