August 14, 2004
REMEMBER HOW REALISTIC THEY WERE ABOUT THE KAISER, LENIN, STALIN, HITLER....:
Indispensable Allies on Iran (NY Times, 8/13/04)
Iraq provides a textbook lesson for a superpower about the dangers of going it alone in the world, but the Bush administration seems to suffer from attention deficit disorder. Some of its more hawkish officials are now pressing to confront Iran over its nuclear weapons development, regardless of whether America's main allies are convinced that diplomacy and inspections have been exhausted. Nobody in Washington proposes invading Iran, but administration officials hint darkly about starting an effort to destabilize Tehran's clerical dictatorship. Iran's ruling mullahs are justifiably unpopular. But unilateral American bullying is one sure way to rally flagging support for them among nationalistic Iranians.Stopping Iran from building nuclear weapons could eventually require strong, concerted international action. This is no time for Washington to strike out ahead of the allies whose active cooperation may well be needed in the months ahead. [...]
The three European allies, while harboring few illusions about Iran's intentions, believe that tough-minded negotiations still have a chance of producing positive results.
Oh, to be a Timesman, and retain a belief that the Europeans are just moments away from acting like adults. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 14, 2004 11:54 AM
If the British still believe in negotiations (which I doubt, by the way), it's because Jack Straw is delusional. The French and their German poodles on the other hand want to sell arms and nuclear technology, so as to make sure that Iran can attack the Americans in Iraq with impunity.
It's about time to pay the Iranian nuclear facilities a little visit.
Posted by: Peter at August 14, 2004 1:12 PM"...while harboring few illusions about Iran's intentions..."
Proof, please?
Posted by: jsmith at August 14, 2004 4:42 PM"tough-minded negotiations"???
What are those---"Do what I say or I shall taunt you again."?
"Unilateral American bullying?"
Perhaps the Times prefers to see the first terrorist nuclear weapon go off at 43rd and Broadway.
Posted by: jim hamlen at August 14, 2004 9:57 PMThe NYT, like the left Democrats, continues to belittle most of our allies by referring to the Coalition as if it consisted only of the US.
This is "diplomacy?"
It is diplomacy, for snobbish bigots.
Posted by: ratbert at August 15, 2004 10:09 AM