China, Russia welcome Iran into the fold

[bemildred]

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which maintained it had no plans for expansion, is now changing course. Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan, which previously had observer status, will become full members. SCO's decision to welcome Iran into its fold constitutes a political statement. Conceivably, SCO would now proceed to adopt a common position on the Iran nuclear issue at its summit meeting June 15.

Speaking in Beijing as recently as January 17, the organization's secretary general Zhang Deguang had been quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying: "Absorbing new member states needs a legal basis, yet the SCO has no rules concerning the issue. Therefore, there is no need for some Western countries to worry whether India, Iran or other countries would become new members."

The SCO, an Intergovernmental organization whose working languages are Chinese and Russian, was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO's change of heart appears set to involve the organization in Iran's nuclear battle and other ongoing regional issues with the United States.

Visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mohammadi told Itar-TASS in Moscow that the membership expansion "could make the world more fair". And he spoke of building an Iran-Russia "gas-and-oil arc" by coordinating their activities as energy producing countries. Mohammadi also touched on Iran's intention to raise the issue of his country's nuclear program and its expectations of securing SCO support.

Asia Times

[ixion]

1. well, there it is then

that's about as in-your-face as you can get. :evilgrin:

[patdem]

2. Rut Roh...does not look good for the home team!

Russia, China, Pakistain, and India are ALL nuclear powers...next up Iran! What will Europe do? Iraq cannot pump oil, Saudi Arabia is VERY toxic, Venezuella is not USA frinedly? Where oh where will we get out OIL?

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. I thought the Bush family were in bed with Saudi Arabia

and Kuwait, and the UAE.

Now that they "own" the Iraqi oil, the Iranian oil is required to complete the monopoly. Looks like other countries have figured that out and want some for themselves, since it is limited in quantity.

[patdem]

7. I agree, what I mean by toxic is all the terrorists in their country

who HATE the royal family, and would do whatever they could to overtake the country. Without America the royal family would be overtaken..and if we invade Iran...I think we could kiss the saudi royal family good buy?

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Hint, hint, hint: Back off!! n/t

[SpiralHawk]

4. "This is another fine mess you've gotten us into, ChimPee." - Oliver Hardy

* As channeled from the grave.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. So is there a specific mutual defense agreement here?

The SCO has come up before with respect to Iran, and I think that the answer is no, SCO does not, like for example NATO does, create an explicit mutual defense pact.

I only asked as there are two scenarios over Iran. In one scenario, we here in the US stand by helplessly while our criminal regime slaughters another muslim nation. The rest of the world watches with us, in disbelief, but does nothing much to change the situation. In the other scenario the criminal madness emanating from washington results in a cascading series of events that culminate in a more or less hot and widespread global conflict which, if it gets totally our of control, ends in the long anticipated nuclear exchange between the nuclear super powers. I'm just wondering which of these two paths we are going down, not that I can do fuck all about either one of them.

[cliss]

8. There could be a 3rd scenario -

in which these mega-powers unite and force the US to back down. That would be China, India, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, possibly Pakistan. China in particular has the strength to force Washington to capitulate.

Aggression is based on strength versus weakness. If you put on a massive show of strength, your opponent may back down. This is what we're seeing now in Iran; they're showing off their strength, launching missles in the strait of Hormuz, very openly signing treaties and accords with Russia, purchasing missiles from Russia.

I believe China prefers to stay in the background, but if the US pushes the envelope, these guys will intervene. They are very straightforward, they're not maniacal primadonnas like the U.S.

That's the only thing Bush understands: strength, or lack of it.

[anotherdrew]

10. if they stand up to the US successfully, the rest of our flock will follow

We pissed away our military, and now the whole world has had plenty of time to get a load of our current operating methods and tech. Our military can't even support itself anymore thanks to private companies coming in and taking over basic functions. Plus, last I read, we had ONE armory for the whole country, which was already cranking out bullets as fast as it could, and still they had to buy ammo from overseas. It won't take long to use up all the fancy multi-million dollar bombs and missiles either. Bush needs to be hauled out of office for treason and his entire administration removed from power ASAP or he is going to get us well past a point of no-return soon.

[anotherdrew]

9. this is what it looks like when incompetent fools are let play Grand Chess

bush has ruined this country, it just hasn't sunk in yet to most folks, but it will become more clear every day now I suspect.

[Jemmons]

11. China, Russia welcome Iran into the fold

By M K Bhadrakumar of Asia Times

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which maintained it had no plans for expansion, is now changing course. Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan, which previously had observer status, will become full members. SCO's decision to welcome Iran into its fold constitutes a political statement. Conceivably, SCO would now proceed to adopt a common position on the Iran nuclear issue at its summit meeting June 15.

Speaking in Beijing as recently as January 17, the organization's secretary general Zhang Deguang had been quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying: "Absorbing new member states needs a legal basis, yet the SCO has no rules concerning the issue. Therefore, there is no need for some Western countries to worrywhether India, Iran or other countries would become new members."

The SCO, an Intergovernmental organization whose working languages are Chinese and Russian, was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO's change of heart appears set to involve the organization in Iran's nuclear battle and other ongoing regional issues with the United States.Text

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HD18Ad02.html

[genieroze]

12. Ouch

[msgadget]

13. And both are also pals of Venezuela

Who are our 'friends' again??

[Jemmons]

14. In Europe it would seem to be Italy, Britain and Denmark

But after Berlusconis defeat Italy might change its tune.

Denmark has 550 troops in Iran, but im not sure that we would participate in Iran.

That leaves the UK where Jack "The idea of US nuclear attack on Iran is just nuts" Straw is the Foreign Secretary. He described the idea that the White House wanted a nuclear strike as “completely nuts”. He insisted that Britain would not support pre-emptive military action.

Edit: Oh and I forgot Poland!

[msgadget]

15. I'm also wondering about Italy

So, if we were to consider who would join the US in an Iranian adventure, it'd be (maybe) Denmark and Poland...? No wonder Iran is spewing such venom. Wait, there's Israel...let's not even go there, they don't want fighting in Iran...

[SoCalDem]

16. Our intransigence has created all kinds of scary alliances

and we will be dealing with these friendships for decades..

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. The last time a country provoked so many alliances against them...

...was Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan between the years 1934-1945.

[peacebird]

18. and on THAT cheerful thought i'm logging off to go to work.....

sigh....

(let Fitzmas day come soon...... )

[ixion]

19. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2232174

[Minnesota Libra]

20. SCO the new European Union and all lining up against USA omg......

....idiot boy and his handlers should be so proud.:scared: :hide:

[Jemmons]

21. EU not really against the US

Just not as trigger happy perhaps.

[Minnesota Libra]

22. I know the EU is not against the US, I was simply saying the SCO......

....was probably going to be like a new EU but the SCO (NOT the EU) would be against the US. Apparently I didn't make that overly clear in my first post.:eyes:

[jseankil]

23. India and Pakistan? This is no military coalition.

All these countries have very different and jarring agendas. They aren't going to step up to the U.S. and make demands nor is this an umbrella group protecting one another from military action.

[bemildred]

24. Definitely not a military coalition.

I quote from the article:

The SCO membership is therefore a lifeline for Iran in political and economic terms. The SCO is not a military bloc but is nonetheless a security organization committed to countering terrorism, religious extremism and separatism. SCO membership would debunk the US propaganda about Iran being part of an "axis of evil".