Biden to Iran: US will talk, but is ready to act

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer – 6 mins ago

MUNICH – Vice President Joe Biden reached out to the world Saturday, saying the U.S. is open for talks with Iran and Russia to repair relations, and willing to work with allies to solve world problems.

But in his first major foreign policy speech for the new administration, the Democrat also warned that the U.S. stands ready to take pre-emptive action against Tehran if it does not abandon its nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism.

And while he said it is time to mend fences with Moscow, he said the U.S. continues "to develop missile defenses to counter a growing Iranian capability, provided the technology is proven and it is cost-effective."

=snip=

While Biden's speech was short on details of emerging Obama administration policies — including its plans and ambitions for Afghanistan — his remarks set a tone of partnership in contrast to what some allies saw as a more bullying posture by the previous administration. "We'll work in a partnership whenever we can, and alone only when we must. The threats we face have no respect for borders," Biden said. "We'll engage. We'll listen. We'll consult. America needs the world, just as I believe the world needs America."

On Iran, Biden said the U.S. will strive to act preventively and avoid having to choose between the risks of war and the dangers of inaction. And he said if Tehran gives up its nuclear program and stops backing terrorists, there will be meaningful incentives.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090207/ap_on_go_pr_wh/biden_europe

[GregD]

1. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss, or just about?

Why the continued hostile attitude?

[Donnachaidh]

2. pre-emptive? Yeah, that really worked last time they did that.

I guess we're ready to go after Iran's oil fields now, too?

[ro1942]

3. Israel

what ever Israel wants Israel gets. they want dominance not peace.

[leveymg]

4. This message is directed more at Israel than to Iran. It's Israel's nuclear capability we're really

worried about.

Israel has the bomb, and repeatedly expresses its willingness to use it preemptively to maintain their nuclear monopoly in the Mid-East. That is an irrational, hostile intent, if Israeli rhetoric reflects Israeli doctrine.

The Obama Administration recognizes and accepts the inevitability that Iran will likely become a nuclear power. That will not change the strategic balance of power in the region, which is three-way deterrence between the US, Israel and Iran. The biggest challenge will be stopping Israel from acting on its irrational stated intentions.

Everything that Obama and Biden say about Iran is actually directed at Israel.

Please see related: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=423297&mesg_id=423327; and, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/23/81227/2933/910/606257

[Donnachaidh]

5. then Biden should be directing the pre-emptive chest-thumping at ISRAEL.

I seriously doubt the lunatic nutbar running Iran is going to say *Wait, was that threat really AGAINST us, or is this a subtle message about that country that is bombing the Palestinians into the ground, and waving their nukes in the air at the rest of the Middle East?"

They don't DO nuance. And their record shows it. We need to stop covering for Israel's warlike aggression and start talking to the Iranians. The *I'll pat your shoulder with one hand and punch you in the face with the other* diplomacy is only insulting, and does nothing to correct the problems. It's more of the same FAILED, laughable diplomacy of the bigger bully covering the smaller bully's ass.

[Chulanowa]

6. To date, iran's "support for terrorism" amounts to the following...

1) Whupping "our guy's" ass and reporting his use of our chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq war and providing moral support for the insurrection against US rule in the same country following 2003
2) Fiscal support to Hizbollah during its operations to frive an occupying (and then, a re-invading) Israel from Lebanon.
3) Attempting to undermine dollar hegemony in the oil market by talking of opening an Iranian oil bourse that would allow both Russia and China to use the Ruble and Yuan without first exchanging it to dollar amounts.
4) Electing a five-foot three blowhard who's job is to officially approve pre-approved diplomats and open shopping scenters.

[bemildred]

7. This sort of empty public blathering is useless.

Nobody with a brain doubts the US' readiness to act.

[ohio2007]

8. guess the "June invasion" prediction bots can start up those threads again

:sarcasm: