03/05/2006
US and them
Tomorrow, Angela Merkel is meeting George W Bush at the White House. They will be talking about many things. High up the agenda, if not at the top of it, will be Iran.
Bush wants sanctions, but will have problems getting them in place. He needs unilateral support, but China and Russia have already said they wont join in.
European states have also said they wont acquiesce to sanctions until all other routes have been tried, including the UN and face to face talks.
"We are very clear that we need to see some change in Iranian behaviour," said a top US official when asked about the possibility of direct talks with Iran.
In this comment - showing as it does that in fact it is the US, not Iran, that is unwilling to negotiate - lies a great and terrible irony.
Because in this intransigence, the US takes yet another step towards becoming the kind of country its own leaders so publicly deplore.
Yours etc.,
Spinoff.
15:54 Posted in News | Permalink | Comments (6) | Email this
Comments
The Merkel / Bush meeting it in fact today - ED.
Posted by: -ED | 03/05/2006
Are you saying the Europeans will not support sanctions, if the US refuses to talk directly with Iran? Sounds good to me, but I have not seen any such statement by European leaders.
Sure U.S. government is urged to talk to Iran and not just by Europeans, but by Republican Senators as well.
Still, Merkel and Bush have demonstrated a remarkable level of unity with Merkel saying: "under no circumstances must Iran be allowed to come into possession of a nuclear weapon." However, she also urged the U.S. not to rush. Merkel's visit to the US is covered in the Atlantic Review, a press digest on transatlantic affairs edited by three German Fulbright Alumni.
Posted by: Wilbur Larch | 04/05/2006
Europe will press for the conventional political solution in Iran it was denied over Iraq. Europe demands talks first - preferably head to head - and if these fail, sanctions.
European taste for confrontation has been destroyed by Iraq.
Posted by: -ED | 05/05/2006
The sticking point is Israel. The US will talk neither to Iran nor Hamas until both recognise Israel's right to exist.
Posted by: Mr Salad | 05/05/2006
Ed,
what is your source. What are the facts and statements you base your opinion on?
Posted by: Wilbur Larch | 05/05/2006
Sir, Never divulge. -ED.
Posted by: -ED | 05/05/2006
The comments are closed.