Iran is engaged in earnest with negotiations. These are simply inflammatory remarks by an out of control Neocon, as if there is any other kind, to try to 'scare up' a Russian confrontation over Iran.
I don't think so, Dick. You need the approval of Congress to launch a war and right now you haven't even got the money !
Dick Cheney pulled the same stunt as his inauguration in 2004 only he called on Israel to proceed with destruction of Iran's nuclear power plant. Then what happened when Israel confronted Hesbollah? There was NO help from the USA. Dick Cheney and George Walker Bush are a lot of hot air and nothing else.
By Trita Parsi
WASHINGTON - As world powers gather in Berlin this week to discuss new punitive measures against Iran's nuclear program, Europe is faced with a daunting task.
On the one hand, it must remain tough and steadfast against Iran's defiance of two United Nations Security Council resolutions that Tehran stop enriching uranium. On the other hand, it must redefine suspension of enrichment to kick-start much-needed negotiations and end the current lose-lose game being played between the West and Iran. ...
A former UN official says world powers should agree to resume nuclear negotiations with Iran without imposing preconditions for negotiations.
Former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix made the comment in an interview with AFP on the sidelines of a conference in Vienna to consider how to reinforce the Non Proliferation Treaty.
He said he was "critical" of demands by the US and other world powers that Iran must first suspend uranium enrichment, before talks on defusing the crisis.
He said the United States, Europe and other nations seeking to talk with Iran should instead propose security guarantees to Iran if Iran were to halt nuclear fuel work.
He dismissed the idea of a US military attack on Iran saying the "US public is a bit tired of military adventures."
He said the NPT "has been in many respects a success" but was threatened by nuclear states not keeping their promises to move towards disarmament.
Blix is now chairman of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission (WMDC), an independent body which works to limit the dangers posed by WMD. MRD/RE
Speaking of inspectors, I heard an answer by George Tenet to a question from NPR which asked why he didn't rely on the inpectors "On the Ground" in Iraq in assessing the country's risk before attacking Iraq. Tenet stated they did but the inspectors were only inspecting established and known cites on record and 'in that' there wasn't sufficient proof.
Really?
So, let me get this right. Since the early 1990s when the UN began to take action to control atrocities of Iraq and Saddam Hussain following the Persian Gulf War that lead to the first inspections; there was never enough cites to inspect? That would mean Saddam Hussein was never controlled and there was ALWAYS a threat against ANY country in the area at any time. Who is Tenet kidding? To begin, never in the history of Iraq was it a threat to the USA. Secondly, where did Tenet want to look for sufficient quantities of WMD, under Saddam's bed or in his water closet. I mean that is the most outrageous statement I have heard yet ! Amazing.
And to think that 'assessment' under the demands of Bush/Cheney/Powell (And Powell knew better.) was enough to invade a country killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people and displacing millions. That is incredible power the USA legislature had to come to control better. It needs to examine the War Powers Act. It's being abused by an Neocon Executive Branch whom's deepest desire is to start WWIII.
