Do not make the mistake of thinking that because my conclusion is the same as another person's that my reasoning is the same
U.S. Acquiesces to Allies on New Iran Nuclear Resolution
By STEVEN R. WEISMAN
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 � The United States, bowing to the wishes of its allies, agreed Monday to let the International Atomic Energy Agency adopt a resolution deploring Iran's nuclear program without referring the issue to the United Nations for possible sanctions, administration officials said.
A senior administration official said the resolution, which could be adopted Wednesday in Vienna, would say that the atomic energy agency "strongly deplores" Iran's 18 years of secretly developing a nuclear arms program and hints that further actions might be possible if such activity continued.
Yielding to the insistence of France, Britain and Germany, the administration backed off its demand that Iran be condemned and that allegations of its misconduct be referred to the United Nations Security Council. The three European countries have joined in an unusual coalition to press Iran to cooperate.
Administration officials said that in the end, the United States had little choice but to go along not only with the wishes of its European allies, but also with the urging of the atomic energy agency's leadership, most notably its general director, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei.
The Europeans and Dr. ElBaradei argued that Iran's recent steps, including its announced suspension of its program to enrich uranium, warranted a conciliatory approach. Moreover, they said, confronting Iran would backfire, causing it to cut off any discussion.
"Getting Iran to acknowledge that it has cheated in the past and that it will cooperate in the future may not be everything the United States wants," a European diplomat said. "But to walk away from talking to Iran will block any chance of progress in the future."
Posted by P6 at November 25, 2003 07:06 AM | Trackback URL: http://www.prometheus6.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2366Lesson not learned. This is exactly how North Korea became a nuclear power.
The lesson I had in mind was, squander your power on reckless adventuring and you may be too weak to deal when the real challenge arises.
Actually, it is shrewd strategy. The Israeli-Osirak method is most likely the only way to resolve this. That is the true lesson of the ROK nuclear program.