It’s Iran’s Move
EmailAll eyes are on Iran.
In the intense negotiations in Vienna, the International Atomic Energy Agency proposed that Iran ship 1.2 tons of its existing 1.5 tons of low-grade enriched uranium to France and Russia for processing into fuel rods, after which it would be shipped back to an Iranian reactor for the manufacture of medical radioisotopes.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer today said that "consistent with the original agreement in principle arrived at in Geneva, today the United States delivered its positive response to IAEA Director General's ElBaradei's proposal put forth on Wednesday in Vienna. We look forward to Iran's reply."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference that Russia had "agreed to these proposals and we hope that not only Iran, but all the other parties of the talks, will confirm their readiness to implement the proposed scheme," Interfax reported.
But speaking in Lebanon, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the "the signs we received (from Iran) this morning are not positive. It is a pity," AF reported.
The White House told ABC News this morning that the last time its representatives on the ground in Vienna checked, the IAEA hadn't heard back from Iran.
– jpt
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Iran in the past had submitted many compromise proposals that would have addressed any REAL concern about nuclear weapons proliferation — such as offering to open up its nuclear program to US participation. The US ignored those offers and STILL demands that Iran simply give up her right to enrich uranium even under intense IAEA monitoring. Why should Iran give in when the US will continue to insist on this point?
Posted by: hass | October 23, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
LMAO all they have to do is compliment this Nixon style white house and the thin skinned Obama will give anything to Iran
Posted by: mickey maoist | October 23, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Jake, please encourage your colleagues to go back to being the “Fourth Estate.”
Posted by: Angela | October 23, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
“Russia had “agreed to these proposals…”
I am skeptical of Russia being an honest broker here, but seeing as how they stand to profit from their own oil sales if Iran is locked out of selling oil by a real embargo, they may suddenly decide to join the rest of the world on this issue. China is still Iran’s ally, but Russia has been the bigger defender.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 23, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am
I am skeptical of Russia being an honest broker here, but seeing as how they stand to profit from their own oil sales if Iran is locked out of selling oil by a real embargo, they may suddenly decide to join the rest of the world on this issue.
Posted by: jhw539 |
You might be even more skeptical if you understood that there is zero chance that Iran’s oil will be targeted for sanctions.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | October 23, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
Is this a legitimate news organization? Does it have the Obama stamp of approval? You can’t be too careful these days, I wouldn’t want to inadvertently commit blasphemy. I didn’t see the poster of Chairman Mao anywhere on the site so I’m not sure if I can post here ….
RE: IRAN – they are laughing at the West, they spit in Obama’s face & he thinks it’s raining. Even the most brain-dead moron can see that Iran is playing everyone for suckers. They’re just stalling for time while they complete their nuclear program.
Can you imagine the consequences of nuclear weapons in the hands of these crazy religious fanatics?
All these talks, negotiations, new proposals, are a bunch of nonsense by the spineless collection of Neville Chamberlain clones that passes for leadership in the West. Western politicians, our Appeaser-in-Chief at the top of the list, are completely irresponsible.
Posted by: Terry | October 23, 2009, 11:41 am 11:41 am
Iran made it’s intentions/move long ago..It’s always been “our” move..
Posted by: Parallex View | October 23, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am
they are laughing at the West, they spit in Obama’s face & he thinks it’s raining.
Terry | Oct 23, 2009 11:41:22 AM
Yeah because Bush’s approach was doing so much better. They were really scared and behaving themselves then.
I’m quite pleased that Obama is taking lessons from Bush Sr, not the last 8 years of useless ‘with us or against us’ soundbites for domestic consumption accompanied by completely and utterly ignoring the problem.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 23, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am
@Terry: I suggest that you study some *actual* history, and maybe do a little thinking for yourself. Which are you parroting? Rush, Hannity, Beck, or one of the other seditionists?
Posted by: FrankleeMiDeer | October 23, 2009, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
It is quite clear that Obama has been euchered, and euchered quite badly. It can avail him nothing to criticize Bush retroactively: it is his presidency, and his alone. If Iran produces a nuclear weapon while he is in the Oval Office, the entire world will be changed irrevocably, and very much for the worse. That will dwarf anything else in his legacy.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 23, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
jhw539 – Bush dropped the ball, as did Clinton before him. But, now the responsibility is squarely on Obama & what is he doing? NOTHING. Blah, blah, blah, nothing but spin to disguise foreign policy failures on EVERY front.
In any case, this is no partisan issue, this is a threat to our national security, a very serious threat.
You can go through all the likely scenarios & all have extremely serious consequences.
Posted by: Terry | October 23, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
So, Obama’s “Smart Power” appeasement of the bloodthirsty mullahs is aiding their drive to build nuclear weapons, not slowing it. Even though Obama gave up on missile defense in Eastern Europe–for some undefined alternative, he got NO cooperation from Russia in stopping Iranian nukes. And Putin continues to sell the Iranians the tools to refine uranium and build the bombs–and to defend the facilities from airstrikes by Israel or the U.S.
Remember that Iran has been at the top of the US State department list of sponsors of terrorism for years. Ahmadinejad and the council he represents regularly pledge to annihilate Israel. Iran trains, arms, and funds most of the insurgents who attack our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran executes gays and women for “religious” crimes. They stole an election earlier this year and brutally put down peaceful protests of that crime.
Like most world leaders, they do not fear Obama, or respect him, or take him seriously.
How can we possibly trust them with nukes, or to keep their word in any agreement which does not benefit them??
Posted by: Appeasement Czar | October 23, 2009, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
“Even though Obama gave up on missile defense in Eastern Europe–for some undefined alternative”
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It is exactly the opposite. Obama gave up an undefined missile defense for a missile alternative that is tested and known to work.
Nice try.
Posted by: julieterra | October 23, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
Iran should not arouse concern. Georgia is the most dangerous flashpoint. The Bible says: “At the appointed time [the king of the north = Russia] will return back [will regain the influence, which it lost after the break-up of the Soviet Union] and come into the south [many indicate that this might be Georgia], but it will not be as the former [1921] or as the latter [2008]. For the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [the West] will come against him, and he will be humbled, and will return.” (Daniel 11:29,30a) Then Iran will be humbled also. “But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur [Russia] and troubling Eber [inhabiting on the other side the Euphrates].” (Numbers 24:24a, BBE)
At that time, peace will be taken from the earth and the “great sword” – nuclear sword – will be used. (Revelation 6:4) However, it will be neither the great tribulation nor “the end of the world” (Armageddon). As Jesus foretold, that will be “the beginning of birth pains”. (Mathew 24:7,8)
If the Heavens planned a full return of Russia (and much suggests this) the present economic crisis will deepen. Then also the European Union and NATO will not stands.
In the same way the earlier prophecy had fulfilled: “And (he) [the king of the north = Russia] will go back (to) his land with great wealth [1945]; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant [state atheism]; and will act effectively; and turned back to his own land [the break-up of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, the return of Russian troops to country].” (Daniel 11:28)
Posted by: Ewiak Ryszard | October 23, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
Obama gave up an undefined missile defense for a missile alternative that is tested and known to work.
Posted by: julieterra |
Nice spin. Sounds so much better than saying that Obama threw Poland and Czechoslovakia under his bus to secure a bag of beans from Russia.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | October 23, 2009, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
Obama gave up an undefined missile defense for a missile alternative that is tested and known to work.
Posted by: julieterra |
Nice spin. Sounds so much better than saying that Obama threw Poland and Czechoslovakia under his bus to secure a bag of beans from Russia.
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You may describe it as spin, but its actually the truth.
Posted by: julieterra | October 23, 2009, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
NO its been OUR move for quite some time and we just never seem to want to make it.
We just stall and stall and stall. Clinton, Bush and now Obama.
Obama will drag this out as long as he can so that something else happens he CAN look good on. Or that Iran get a nuke and then they probably think they can handle that.
ITS OUR MOVE NOT THEIRS! Just because the govt SAYS its their move doesn’t make it so.
Stall stall stall stall and stall some more and hopefully the situation can change into something less crappy.
Posted by: David from WI | October 23, 2009, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
“NO its been OUR move for quite some time and we just never seem to want to make it.”
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Oh yes, and what is our move then?
Posted by: julieterra | October 23, 2009, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Posted by: Ewiak Ryszard | Oct 23, 2009 3:15:52 PM
That is scary on so many levels.
I’m so glad voters kept Sarah Palin’s beautifully manicured finger far, far away from that red button. And may they keep it far, far away in 2012 too.
Posted by: Rudy | October 23, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
You may describe it as spin, but its actually the truth.
Posted by: julieterra |
No. It’s a sliver of the truth.
You may ignore the fact that Obama threw the Poles and Czechs under the bus but its actually the truth too.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | October 23, 2009, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
“No. It’s a sliver of the truth.”
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“Obama gave up an undefined missile defense for a missile alternative that is tested and known to work.”
Actually that is the truth. And the Obama system will be ready for deployment a lot sooner.
Posted by: julieterra | October 23, 2009, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm