November 6, 2004
STRAWMAN
U.S. attack on Iran 'inconceivable': Jack Straw ( Tehran Times, November 6th, 2004)
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Thursday it was "inconceivable" that the United States would attack Iran over its nuclear program and that the world would back such action."I don't see any circumstances in which military action would be justified against Iran full stop," Straw told BBC radio amid speculation that reelected U.S. President George W. Bush may be more hawkish over the Islamic republic.
Asked if the world would support a U.S. bombing campaign against Iran, Straw said: "Not only is that inconceivable, but I think the prospect of it (U.S. military action) happening is inconceivable."
"The United States government has operated internationally and with international cooperation in respect of Iran," he said.
The international community was committed to resolving the situation "constructively", he added.
This was lifted almost word for word from the BBC, so it is presumably legitimate. Looking at how Britain and the EU have handled Iran of late, it is hard not to conclude they are terrified and have no idea what to do.
Posted by Peter Burnet at November 6, 2004 2:03 PMMr. Straw: I don't think that word means what you think it means.
Posted by: jd watson at November 6, 2004 2:15 PM"Be careful. Mullahs in masks cannot be trusted."
Posted by: Just John at November 6, 2004 2:58 PMHe hasn't been paying attention, has he?
Posted by: Robert Duquette at November 6, 2004 7:50 PMWhen London gets hit by an Islamofascist bombing, talk like this will stop immediately.
Posted by: jim hamlen at November 6, 2004 9:47 PMI hate the word 'community.' I prefer neighborhood, where appropriate. Whatever, there is no international 'community' or 'neighborhood.' There are alliances, for those who wish to join, against threats against mutual security interests. Where stands Mr. Straw?
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at November 7, 2004 1:00 AMWho does?
Waiting for the Iranian democratic revolution won't work. It's already happened.
If it's true that most Iranians are in love with the USA, that sentiment ends the minute our bombs drop on them.
Tough problem, yeah?
Posted by: Harry Eagar at November 7, 2004 1:19 AMI think the only reasonable explanation is that Europe, while making it appear as though it is alarmed at Iran's nuclear problem and is seeking its curtailment, is actually actively engaged in fostering the program by giving the mullahs breathing room.
And time.
(Now where have we seen that before? I.e., with Saddam out of the way, who's left to turn to?)
On the other hand, might Straw be engaging in some useful disinformation? No. Didn't think so....
Posted by: Barry Meislin at November 7, 2004 2:32 AMShould be "nuclear program" (obvious Freudian blip).
Posted by: at November 7, 2004 2:33 AMMy wife teaches piano to an Iranian young woman (with a Canadian mother). Her Iranian father (a doctor) returned with his family to Iran, I guess for a visit, and was literally held captive for 12 years, forced to work in an Iranian hospital. She was raised in a school called Hezbollah, which I understand she did not like.
Well they are back in Canada after that experience. His father doesn't want her to date a Muslim because he's afraid she'd be kidnapped back to Iran.
But she still refuses to accept that the Afghan elections were a good thing. She thinks the Americans are the terrorists. And she understands why the "rebels" are beheading people in Iraq.
Maybe Harry is right.
Posted by: Randall Voth at November 7, 2004 5:18 AM