Russia opposes use of force against Iran

[sabra]

http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=tnBusinessNews&storyID=nL17692155&imageid=&cap=

Russia opposes use of force against Iran

MOSCOW, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Russia opposes using force to stop Iran's nuclear programme, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

"We favour further dialogue and consider the use of force in Iran counter-productive and dangerous, something which can have grave and hardly predictable consequences," a statement posted on the ministry's Web site www.mid.ru said.

The West fears that the ultimate goal of oil-rich Iran's project to develop its own nuclear power sector is to develop atomic weapons.

Iran angered the European Union and the United States by resuming work at a uranium conversion plant earlier this month, rejecting an EU incentives package offered in return for giving up its nuclear programme.

[rodeodance]

1. so far we have Britian, Germany and now Russia saying NO.

[54anickel]

5. Don't forget China...

Heh-heh, and the Washington Post!

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=34417&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

Washington Post calls on Bush to talk with Iran

[pinniped]

2. Embedded keywords.

--The West fears that the ultimate goal of oil-rich Iran's...--

[The Stranger]

3. But would the Bear sit idly by again, as it did during the illegal Iraq

invasion?

[jody]

4. Did Russia stay out of Iraq because they expected from experience

in Afghanistan that the U.S. was starting a war we could not win?

If so, Russia was a lot smarter than Bush and his cabal.

[K-W]

6. It would take economic and diplomatic action. EOM

[Minstrel Boy]

7. "grave and hardly predictable consequences"

I can agree with half of that.

:nuke:

[David__77]

8. Russia must project itself to counter US war moves.

Russia must use its still-powerful military as a bargaining chip to force the US to stand down and foil war moves in the middle east. They have the power to do this. Russia can only cast its lot with the third world if it wishes to regain any force internationally.

[cliss]

9. Yes, they must.

And I beleive they will use their strategic power to restrain the U.S.

The U.S. is acting like a rogue right now. They are feeling like there is no reason to use restraint. They're in a huge hurry, it's very obvious.

After all, they have a very long PNAC shopping list to take care of. And the rest of the world is acting like a conservative force, keeping them in check, forcing them to account for their actions at the U.N., for example.

Russia has already made some moves to keep the U.S. out of Iran. They've sold missiles to them, they are co-operating with them on nuclear issues. I believe China is hovering in the background, as well.

So I believe Russia WILL stand up against the U.S.

[VegasWolf]

10. If Bush the Inadequate tries anything with Iran, his little Coalition

of the Constipated will be met by a real Coalition of the Super
Powers! No other country will trust the US while the
fundie neocon Republicans control it.

[samsingh]

11. so does China