How Bush “Supports” Diplomacy with Iran
By on Feb 25th, 2005 at 12:58 pm
How Bush “Supports” Diplomacy with Iran
President Bush frequently says that “we are working with European allies” to use diplomacy to avert a nuclear impasse with Iran.
What exactly does that mean, you ask? Maybe toning down our heated rhetoric, or reassuring Iran we’re not planning an attack? Helping to cool down tensions in the Middle East so talks can proceed smoothly — or even joining the Europeans in the negotiations?
Uh, not quite. Here are some ways the White House has “supported” the talks over the past few weeks:
- 1) Refused to actually participate in negotiations, despite warnings from European diplomats and the IAEA that the talks will likely fail without U.S. involvement
2) Casually suggested that Israel may unilaterally attack Iran, and later implied the U.S. would likely support such a move, despite IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei’s warning that such talk “only makes [Iran] more determined to acquire a nuclear deterrent”
3) Announced the U.S. military is updating its war plans for a possible attack on Iran (though insisting the update is “routine”)
4) Waged a campaign to oust the U.N.’s widely-supported nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, using wiretaps on ElBaradei’s phone and alleged leaks of false information.
5) Pressuring European nations to designate Hizballah (an organization that includes both violent Islamists as well as more moderate, popularly elected politicians) as a terrorist group — a move Europeans have considered in the past, but which they consider horribly timed now since it would seriously undermine the nuke talks with Iran
Could it be — gasp! — the White House doesn’t really want the talks to succeed?
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I’ve been wondering what the administration meant by ‘diplomacy’ with Iran as well. It’s about time someone cut through the administration’s lip-service to ‘diplomacy.’ Thank you for posting this!
February 25th, 2005 at 1:17 pmDo you ever get the notion that maybe Bush is beginning to be jealous of Putin’s success at home? That he wants to create his own totalitarian state that controls all the territories around Russia. He tells Canada that they have given up their sovereignty(it has some of the largest oil reserves in the world). He fixes elections in iraq to insure his rule, and now mandates europe to “assume the position” that he will do what he wants in iran.
February 25th, 2005 at 2:12 pmRed State folks really dig that kind of presidential behavior. So, I would say he is just playing to his principal audience. Just imagine living out in the prarie, on a farm miles and miles from any other human, nothing but sheep for company. Wouldn’t you want a war to entertain you on tv every evening?
February 25th, 2005 at 2:15 pmThis sure was a weak thread. Looks like nobody has any ideas on how to negotiate with Iran. I give up too- lets bomb them.
February 16th, 2006 at 1:16 amI’m sorry, but I wish the Bush family never gained power in the first place. I think we could have changed the world for the better without them.
Just my opinion I suppose….
Kenny
March 31st, 2006 at 4:19 amantidepressants…
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January 16th, 2007 at 9:23 pm