US ambassador warns Georgia against Iran gas deal

[sabra]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1162378493758&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

US ambassador warns Georgia against Iran gas deal
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

A US diplomat warned Georgia against signing a long-term contract for natural gas supplies with Iran, saying in an interview published Monday that such a deal would be "unacceptable" for the United States.

The weekly newspaper Kviris Palitra reported US Ambassador to Georgia John Tefft said the persistent energy problems that the poor, ex-Soviet republic has endured in recent years - most recently last winter when an explosion on Russian gas pipeline cut supplies for the country.

"In these ... circumstances Georgia had to purchase a certain amount of gas from Iran. The US met the fact with understanding, but long-term strategic partnership between Iran and Georgia in that sphere is unacceptable for us," Tefft was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The US diplomat cited as reasons the recent UN Security Council resolutions regarding Iran's nuclear programs and Washington's support of a gas pipeline from an Azerbaijani oil field, that will allow new supplies to Georgia beginning next year.

[williesgirl]

1. WTF business is it of ours? We are so fucking arrogant telling other countries what they can and

can't do.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. bingo. But you need more outrage in your post.

How the HELL does Condi's department get off telling Georgians who they can or cannot deal with? For one thing, Iran is far closer geographically, for another, Iran is a better friend and ally to Georgia. We sat and did nothing after Mother Russia started pushing them around, (and probably caused the explosion to further push Georgia) and have been quiet ever since.

Of course, I have yet to see one dipsomatic step taken by Condi or her minions that has made any sense in this day and age. Partly, she is governed by neocon idiots, and worse, she is a shallow, incompetant, not very bright person with little talent.

[Jose Diablo]

7. Ah, but she is an expert on Russia

So we have been told.

[TheLastMohican]

8. This is simple

The whole Georgian state apparatus and army is supported by dollars from US State Department (read your taxes). Therefore, US is telling the failed state that Georgia is what to do.
If you pay for the lunch you have more right than the guy who willingly accepts your money.
But US has no business being there in the first place, this is all done just to undermine Russia.

[Javaman]

9. Ding! ding! Ding!

We have a winner!

moron* loves Georgia until they begin to think independantly of our control.

He* probably threatened to cut off the monthly arms shipments.

[stepnw1f]

2. US diplomat/dictator?

STFU!

[gratuitous]

3. I guess that "free trade" stuff is just for us rubes

Because when it comes to the hardball world of global finance and business, the moneyed interests in the U.S. like nothing better than to meddle in the affairs of other people. I have no idea whether Georgia and Iran should make this deal, or what the implications are for foreign relations or area stability, but it's mickle odd that our ambassador would issue threats to Georgia. As if the administration he serves would listen to any whiny protests from other countries' ambassadors about our rapacious trade and business policies.

[SOS]

4. Cheney did the same thing

When he was CEO of Halliburton, he registered a subsidiary in the Cayman Islands to circumvent sanctions and sign a gas deal in Iran.
Will Mr. Tefft challenge Cheney too, or just bully a tiny nation?

[depakid]

6. All bark, no bite

Threats like this are not only counter productive but ridiculous, seeing as how there's not a whole lot the US could do that wouldn't end up as a "cutting off your nose to spite your face" situation.

[Supersedeas]

10. Free trade and then there's PNAC trade