Washington in U-turn over Iran's nuclear programme

[nolabels]

Washington in U-turn over Iran's nuclear programme

By Rupert Cornwell in Washington

27 February 2005

The US is embarking on a major rethink of its policy towards Iran, which could see it dropping the strategy of confrontation and threat, instead offering Tehran incentives for abandoning its suspected nuclear ambitions. The striking change of policy emerged during President Bush's fence-mending trip to Europe last week, when for the first time he indicated that Washington endorsed the tripartite effort by France, Britain and Germany to reach a deal with Iran, offering technology in return for an end to its uranium enrichment programme.

It comes on the eve of a key meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna tomorrow, at which the UN nuclear watchdog agency is due to take stock of Iran's nuclear activities, and decide on a new four-year term for its director, Mohammed ElBaradei.

In the past, the US has tried to oust Dr ElBaradei, who irritated Washington in the run-up to the Iraq war by publicly casting doubt on the supposed WMD threat posed by Saddam Hussein. More recently, the US has accused him of being too soft on Tehran
(snip)
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=615195
http://www.antiwar.com/

[librechik]

1. Bush Flip Flops Again!

I'm sure the Liberal Media will trumpet this "U-Turn" from every pulpit across the land becasue of course Our Dear Leader has to always Stay the Course, unlike those flip floppy liberals!

[bemildred]

2. Called his bluff, eh? nt

[kevsand]

3. What exactly is Cornwell basing this on?

I notice he doesn't quote anyone, or reference any sources, or explain where any of this comes from except in the most general of terms.

In fact, it reads more like an op-ed than a news article.

[bemildred]

5. He pulled it out of his ass, I think.

But Russia and Iran did just sign a deal.

[schrodingers_cat]

11. The cards are stacking against * in Europe

First France and Germany begin negotiations with Iran regarding their nuclear program, apparently to head off the U.S.'s escalating aggression. This was, apparently, not a big enough threat to *, who continued to rattle his toy saber. It becomes a whole different game when Russia steps up to the plate. Could the timing of Ukraine's pullout also be more than a coincidence?

[stepnw1f]

6. You Think Cornwell Making This Up?

"The striking change of policy emerged during President Bush's fence-mending trip to Europe last week, when for the first time he indicated that Washington endorsed the tripartite effort by France, Britain and Germany to reach a deal with Iran, offering technology in return for an end to its uranium enrichment programme."

[kevsand]

10. I can't tell.

I'm sure Bush said any number of things in what passes for his vision of fence mending, but I don't know that we can believe any of it.

My take on it had been that he was just paying lip service to the talks, to "charm" the Europeans, so that he could later claim that all diplomatic options had been exhausted.

Frankly, I can't decide if our policy until now has been to play the "bad cop" to Europe's good, or simply to do everything we could to undermine any diplomatic success. I've seen elements of both.

In any event, I just found it curious that there were no direct attributions, even from undisclosed sources.

If it were an American journalist, I'd suspect someone was spinning.

[wolfgirl]

4. Bush & Co

figured the Iranis will fight back...so now they'll go after Syria.

[agincourt]

7. They're like a cat burglar,

If the windows unlocked they climb in, it the windows locked they stay our, much like the USSR during the cold war.

[natrat]

8. these idiots are so outclassed in foreign policy

by every other country in the world. Fucking children

[BrotherBuzz]

13. Well, of course...

The entire world community is playing a masterful game of chess while Bush* et al insist on playing checkers...KING ME!

[VegasWolf]

9. This time he couldn't even get Poland to agree with him. n/t

[Ian David]

12. I think I have a completely different take on this

Bush wants to give the impression that he's backing-off on Iran. That way, he won't be facing a constant anti-war opposition building against attacking Iran.

He still has every intention of attacking Iran. Nothing will persuade him not to.

And he's also planning to make certain that Israel is involved in any military action against Iran and/or Syria.

This is because Bush is convinced that he is The Antichrist, and that he is fulfilling Biblical prophesy to bring about The End Times.

[nolabels]

14. I don't know if he is convinced that he is the Antichrist but I sure am

YIKES :scared:

http://mirrors.meepzorp.com/geocities.com/george-bush-antichrist/

P.S. I put nothing past him but the guy at that very personal level, kinda don't sound like he has the mind of any great planner. To be truthful bush doesn't even sound like he could pack a day pack in the cub scouts, but hey, that's just me :shrug: