Russia Balks, Diplomats Talk, And Everyone Fiddles While Rome Burns
Just a break for me right now, and I noticed this news report from Reuters, via Yahoo News regarding the stand-off with Iran. Russia has now punted:
Russia rejected talk for now of sanctions against Iran and France warned on Friday against conflict with Tehran, raising doubts whether it will face swift penalties if nuclear work is not halted by an August 31 deadline.
Responding to an offer of economic incentives to stop enriching uranium, Iran hinted to six world powers on Tuesday it could rein in its program as a result of talks to implement the package -- but not as a precondition as they demand.
The reply seemed tailored to crack the brittle united front of four Western powers and Russia and China who agreed the U.N. deadline. The West sees Iran's nuclear drive as a looming threat to peace. Russia and China, key trade partners of Iran, do not.
"I know of no instances in world practice and previous experience in which sanctions have achieved their aim and proved effective," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters during a trip to Russia's far east.
"Moreover, I believe that the question is not so serious at the moment for the U.N. Security Council or the group of six to consider any introduction of sanctions. Russia stands for further political and diplomatic efforts to settle the issue."
Ivanov is seen as close to President Vladimir Putin.
Washington has said the six powers will move quickly to adopt sanctions if Iran disregards the deadline. Britain, Germany and France have been less conclusive in public.
Russia and China, both trade partners of Iran, have been unwilling and could veto sanctions in the Council.
Underlining the confusion, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he expected new talks in days with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani "to get clarification (on Iran's response) and see how we can move the process forward."
Solana said Iran's reply, a document of more than 20 pages, contained "new elements" about which he would like to talk.
U.S., French and German leaders said Iran's 21-page response to the incentives offer was unsatisfactory because it did not specifically agree to stop purifying uranium. Iran says its nuclear ambitions are limited to power production.
Asked about Russia's rejection of sanctions for now, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said there were several days before the U.N. deadline and a lot could happen.
"This is diplomacy. We are going to be working together in consultation with them (Russia). The group (P5+1) will come together and we will make some decisions," said Gallegos.
French President Jacques Chirac, speaking after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris, said Iran's response was "ambiguous."
"For the moment, it (the Iranian response) is not satisfactory," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on RTL radio, but added it was important to avoid escalating conflict with Iran and the Muslim world.
We know that Russia and China are going to provide cover for the mad mullahs in Tehran. As the article states, and as we have reminded readers for months, these three--Russia, China, and Iran--enjoy peaceful trade. Iran wants weapons and technology, and the other two want natural resources. For the trio of turpitude, it's a win-win game.
But for the rest of thr world--The West specifically--this is outrageous, and it was predicted. We knew that China and Russia were buying time for Iran with even agreeing to hear the grievances in the possible call for sanctions on the UNSC. Now that Iran has answered those demands and incentives, Russia and China feel it's time to tone down the rhetoric and begin talking. Uh-huh, fiddling while Rome burns. Iran can't be trusted to abide by any agreement that is reached. they have said it numerous times that they feel they have a right to enrich their uranium, and work on their nuclear program.
And we're not syaing that they can't. What we are saying, and I think it's been made pretty clear, is that we don't want them taking steps towards nuclear power when it comes to weapons. Enriching uranium is one of the steps involved in constructing nuclear weapons, and we are all well aware of their ties to the Khan network out of Pakistan that got them started on this path in the first place.
Before any negotiations begin, the enrichment must stop. If it doesn't then it's a deal breaker. And while sanctions are in doubt from the UNSC (and I note that Mr. Ivanov's assessment regarding sanctions is correct--they never seem toi work the way they're intended to) at the very least the nations opposed to the Iranians working on a nuclear program without any sort of inspections should slap their own sanctions and embargoes on them. No trading. No talks. Nothing--not even a "we'll do lunch" for their diplomats--should be offered or discussed until they comply. Isolation worked for nations like Russia and North Korea. Let's see if it can work on Iran. Oh, and for those out there shaking their heads, thinking that China and Russia will continue to trade with them, yes, you're correct. But we can curtail our diplomatic ties with those nations, as well.
If America is the one that everyone looks to for leaderhsip in such matters, then when we make a decision that's for the collective good, everyone doesn't get a free pass to whine about it. If Iran doesn't want to negotiate in good faith, if Russia and China want to continue enabling these lunatics, then we should freeze them all out as best we can.
Publius II
Just a break for me right now, and I noticed this news report from Reuters, via Yahoo News regarding the stand-off with Iran. Russia has now punted:
Russia rejected talk for now of sanctions against Iran and France warned on Friday against conflict with Tehran, raising doubts whether it will face swift penalties if nuclear work is not halted by an August 31 deadline.
Responding to an offer of economic incentives to stop enriching uranium, Iran hinted to six world powers on Tuesday it could rein in its program as a result of talks to implement the package -- but not as a precondition as they demand.
The reply seemed tailored to crack the brittle united front of four Western powers and Russia and China who agreed the U.N. deadline. The West sees Iran's nuclear drive as a looming threat to peace. Russia and China, key trade partners of Iran, do not.
"I know of no instances in world practice and previous experience in which sanctions have achieved their aim and proved effective," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters during a trip to Russia's far east.
"Moreover, I believe that the question is not so serious at the moment for the U.N. Security Council or the group of six to consider any introduction of sanctions. Russia stands for further political and diplomatic efforts to settle the issue."
Ivanov is seen as close to President Vladimir Putin.
Washington has said the six powers will move quickly to adopt sanctions if Iran disregards the deadline. Britain, Germany and France have been less conclusive in public.
Russia and China, both trade partners of Iran, have been unwilling and could veto sanctions in the Council.
Underlining the confusion, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he expected new talks in days with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani "to get clarification (on Iran's response) and see how we can move the process forward."
Solana said Iran's reply, a document of more than 20 pages, contained "new elements" about which he would like to talk.
U.S., French and German leaders said Iran's 21-page response to the incentives offer was unsatisfactory because it did not specifically agree to stop purifying uranium. Iran says its nuclear ambitions are limited to power production.
Asked about Russia's rejection of sanctions for now, State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said there were several days before the U.N. deadline and a lot could happen.
"This is diplomacy. We are going to be working together in consultation with them (Russia). The group (P5+1) will come together and we will make some decisions," said Gallegos.
French President Jacques Chirac, speaking after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris, said Iran's response was "ambiguous."
"For the moment, it (the Iranian response) is not satisfactory," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on RTL radio, but added it was important to avoid escalating conflict with Iran and the Muslim world.
We know that Russia and China are going to provide cover for the mad mullahs in Tehran. As the article states, and as we have reminded readers for months, these three--Russia, China, and Iran--enjoy peaceful trade. Iran wants weapons and technology, and the other two want natural resources. For the trio of turpitude, it's a win-win game.
But for the rest of thr world--The West specifically--this is outrageous, and it was predicted. We knew that China and Russia were buying time for Iran with even agreeing to hear the grievances in the possible call for sanctions on the UNSC. Now that Iran has answered those demands and incentives, Russia and China feel it's time to tone down the rhetoric and begin talking. Uh-huh, fiddling while Rome burns. Iran can't be trusted to abide by any agreement that is reached. they have said it numerous times that they feel they have a right to enrich their uranium, and work on their nuclear program.
And we're not syaing that they can't. What we are saying, and I think it's been made pretty clear, is that we don't want them taking steps towards nuclear power when it comes to weapons. Enriching uranium is one of the steps involved in constructing nuclear weapons, and we are all well aware of their ties to the Khan network out of Pakistan that got them started on this path in the first place.
Before any negotiations begin, the enrichment must stop. If it doesn't then it's a deal breaker. And while sanctions are in doubt from the UNSC (and I note that Mr. Ivanov's assessment regarding sanctions is correct--they never seem toi work the way they're intended to) at the very least the nations opposed to the Iranians working on a nuclear program without any sort of inspections should slap their own sanctions and embargoes on them. No trading. No talks. Nothing--not even a "we'll do lunch" for their diplomats--should be offered or discussed until they comply. Isolation worked for nations like Russia and North Korea. Let's see if it can work on Iran. Oh, and for those out there shaking their heads, thinking that China and Russia will continue to trade with them, yes, you're correct. But we can curtail our diplomatic ties with those nations, as well.
If America is the one that everyone looks to for leaderhsip in such matters, then when we make a decision that's for the collective good, everyone doesn't get a free pass to whine about it. If Iran doesn't want to negotiate in good faith, if Russia and China want to continue enabling these lunatics, then we should freeze them all out as best we can.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 10:56 AM
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