WP: Iran Plans Defense of Nuclear Program-U.S. is set to Deliver Ultimatum

[Pirate Smile]

Iran Plans Defense of Nuclear Program
U.S. Is Set to Deliver Ultimatum at Meeting

By Dafna Linzer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 2, 2005; Page A01

Iran is planning to mount a staunch defense of its nuclear energy program at an international conference beginning today and will insist on rights to the same technology afforded to all members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a senior Iranian official said in an interview yesterday.

The high-level counteroffensive, to be led by Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, comes in anticipation of a tough speech the Bush administration is preparing to give today calling for international measures against Tehran unless it gives up sensitive aspects of its nuclear program.

M. Javad Zarif, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, said his country's efforts are peaceful and well within its rights. Kharrazi, who will address the gathering tomorrow, will spend much of this week discussing the issue with diplomats from around the world.

The White House decided several days ago to send a mid-level delegation to the United Nations, where diplomats will review ways to strengthen the nonproliferation treaty. But efforts were underway late yesterday to persuade Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to deliver the U.S. address today. U.S. officials did not rule out raising the profile of the delegation but said it would be difficult for Rice, who returned Saturday from Latin America and is scheduled to accompany President Bush to Europe tomorrow.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/01/AR2005050100867.html

[mbperrin]

1. What a funny thought - that the US would favor enforcing any

treaty!

"They make 'em; we break 'em" is more historical....

[DELUSIONAL]

2. Meanwhile ConDaLiar Rice is saying "yes massa -- whatever you say."

This woman has no soul.

[asjr]

3. And GW will be playing with his toy soldiers again. Was

it Scott Ritter who said we would invade Iran in June?

[Robeson]

6. If thats the case, then like Hitler....

...he's playing with soldiers that are on paper only. In real life, those extra divisions don't exist anymore.

[flaminbats]

9. how was diplomacy ever possible between good and evil?

calling Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an axis of evil was not just an insult. He wanted to portray anyone listening to sense as an agent of evil, and all unstained by peace with sin..as puritan knights of God.

War in Afghanistan was the neocon move to winning the 2002 elections, war in Iraq was meant for winning in 2004, and now they are desperate to win in 2006. But using American forces spread so thinly in Iraq and Afghanistan to attack Iran is a formula for disaster. If this administration doesn't see the strategic consequences to America, maybe they can see the political consequences to themselves! :nuke:

How many more lives shall be lost for the pleasure of these reckless egotists who have nothing better to do than play Clash of Kings or Axis and Allies?

[Miss Chybil]

4. June is getting closer... nt

[Barrett808]

17. June: Right on schedule, according to Sy Hersh

If you think things are bad in Iraq now...

[orwell]

5. Dictator Wanted

Well this asshat sold the Iraq war on the threatening specter of 'Sadam' (as in Sodom?).

The problem with Iran is he needs a bad guy. Emmanuel Goldstein anyone?

Wanted:
Dictator. Needs dark hair and mustache and menacing scowl. Prefer someone who shoots guns into the sky during public events. Must have third rate army and impoverished population. Will train if necessary.

If interested, Call G. Bush...but not after 9pm.

[Valerie5555]

7. Hee hee hee it's not bloody likely the Iranians COULD reanimate their dead

Ayatollah Khomaniac that Americans so loved to hate, even if they (the Iranians) wanted to.

[Theduckno2]

8. The Bush Administration speech will be interesting......

I'll be anxious to see how much saber-rattling goes into it. Repeated linkages to Iran being a state sponser of terrorism may portend an ominous future. I'm just guessing but this may be a turning point similar to the Sept. 02 announcement regarding Iraq.

[Califooyah Operative]

10. great... nt

[Moderator]

11. kick to combine

[Frederik]

12. Iran plans defense of nuclear program

U.S. Is Set to Deliver Ultimatum at Meeting

"Iran is planning to mount a staunch defense of its nuclear energy program at an international conference beginning today and will insist on rights to the same technology afforded to all members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a senior Iranian official said in an interview yesterday.

The high-level counteroffensive, to be led by Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, comes in anticipation of a tough speech the Bush administration is preparing to give today calling for international measures against Tehran unless it gives up sensitive aspects of its nuclear program.

M. Javad Zarif, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, said his country's efforts are peaceful and well within its rights. Kharrazi, who will address the gathering tomorrow, will spend much of this week discussing the issue with diplomats from around the world.

The White House decided several days ago to send a mid-level delegation to the United Nations, where diplomats will review ways to strengthen the nonproliferation treaty. But efforts were underway late yesterday to persuade Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to deliver the U.S. address today. U.S. officials did not rule out raising the profile of the delegation but said it would be difficult for Rice, who returned Saturday from Latin America and is scheduled to accompany President Bush to Europe tomorrow."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/01/AR2005050100867_pf.html

-------------

:nuke: They are not going to get their "international measures". Russia and China will never go along with economic sanctions, and without them, no Security Council resolution. That's not what they want either - aren't they sending (or trying to send, at least) Bolton to the UN precisely to avoid a diplomatic solution?

[Megahurtz]

13. How can Bush demand that

any other country give up it's nukes when the U.S. has their own?
I guess he thinks it's okay for us but not for them?:dunce:

[BrainRants]

14. These assholes are going to get us into a nuke war, aren't they?

They keep provoking, provoking, and provoking...

[wuushew]

15. which ones, BFEE or the Mullahs?

n/t

[BrainRants]

16. Sorry, that was pretty ambiguous, I meant BFEE.

Which is of course synonymous with assholes. :)

[Frederik]

18. And, if I may point it out...

synonymous with "mullahs"! :-)