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U.S. Says Diplomacy Can Resolve Iran Nuclear Crisis
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6047321

...excerpt...

VIENNA (Reuters) - The top U.S. disarmament diplomat said on Monday evidence pointed to an Iranian nuclear weapons program, but that Washington wanted a diplomatic solution and its ultimate goal was not to topple Tehran's government.

"There's no question that U.S. President (George W.) Bush wants to resolve the Iranian issue diplomatically," U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bolton told Reuters.

The United States accuses Iran of secretly developing atomic weapons and wants the International Atomic Energy Agency to report Tehran to the U.N. Security Council for what it says are violations of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

"The evidence ... points to an Iranian nuclear weapons program," Bolton said in a telephone interview.

Iran denies wanting the bomb and says its nuclear program is intended solely for the peaceful generation of electricity.

The hawkish Bolton was responding to comments from several analysts at U.S. think-tanks, who said that Washington was not interested in resolving the crisis with Iran.

"They (U.S. hard-liners) are not interested in resolving the crisis or changing regime behavior, they want to change the regime," said Joseph Cirincione, head of non-proliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.

"Evidence that highlights the Iranian threat is promoted, evidence that explains Iranian behavior is belittled," he said.

While criticizing Iran for repeatedly withholding information and hiding activities from the IAEA, the agency's chief Mohamed ElBaradei has said repeatedly "the jury is still out" on whether Iran has a covert military atomic program.

Equipment the IAEA has found in Iran are all "dual-use" and can be used for both military and civilian purposes.

Bolton said that at five quarterly meetings of the IAEA Board of Governors, beginning in June 2003, the United States has consistently pushed the agency to report Iran to the Security Council, which has the power to impose sanctions.

Hello all.

I'm sorry, I haven't had the chance to post lately.

I've been working OT on a constant basis recently.

There is still a great deal of concern about attempted hijackings from overseas flights.
(cancellations of some international flights is a definite possibility during the convention)

There is a general consensus that these guys will attempt a "big one" with whatever means they have available to them
before the elections.

Many arrests (both documented and undocumented) have been taking place overseas.

It is a race against time.

The guys at the seaports are especially worried about cargo containers containing WMD.

Port cities on both coasts are of concern.

There will be a great deal of "Federal assets" in NYC and NJ during the convention. (Some will be visible, most will not)

Paul Williams (Osama's Revenge) might not be as off the mark as some people would think. His numbers might be a little exaggerated but, his premise is not.

There is a reason why the president is to spend as little time as possible on the ground in NYC next week.

Our area has been swarming with Secret Service over the past month.

Expect the unexpected from these AQ animals.

To my fellow New Yorkers next week: Keep your heads up.

Stay safe.