The only thing surprising about Hassan Rowhani – the man who headed Iran’s nuclear negotiations – boasting that he had gulled his European counterparts is that he said it in semi-public so quickly and so obviously and while “negotiations” are still going on. The only thing he didn’t say is that the whore El Baradei (can the Nobel committee go any lower than that?) is directly in their pay. Well, maybe that’s because money wasn’t involved. Maybe the IAEA honcho was simply ideologically attuned with the Islamofascist mullahs.
While the estimable EURSOC is one of the more useful websites on the web, I think they may have it wrong when they write about this episode:
For the Europeans, it’s an embarrassing confirmation that their “Good Cop” policy has failed. The EU trio, for their own reasons, wanted to believe Iran, even if the evidence pointed towards the theocratic state’s sinister intent. Britain’s government fears another war; France supports a ‘multi-polar’ state, but has always mistrusted Iran; Germany wanted to polish its credentials as a global peace broker.
The Euros can’t be that stupid. Call me cynical but I think they knew damn well the mullahs were lying and were willing to play along with the game for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that in this case it is about oil. Rowhani’s braggadocio has now put them in an uncomfortable position. Not cricket, old chap.
UPDATE: You would think after all this there would be a rush to the Security Council. But no – the beat goes on. One thing you have to say for the Russians and the Chinese, they barely bother to pay lip service to the phony nonsense the Europeans engage in.
(via PJM)
SECOND UPDATE: Russia appears to be cooperating with the US so far, according to the AP:
The Bush administration told Iran on Tuesday that any enrichment of nuclear fuel on Iranian territory was unacceptable, as Russia appeared to close ranks with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program.
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22 Comments
1. David Thomson:ìThe Euros can’t be that stupid.î
Oh yes, they can. The Euros are impotent and feckless. Their indigenous populations are declining while those of the unassimilated Muslims are growing. They prefer running away from reality instead of facing hard facts. This is why we must form stronger alliances with India and the other winners of the world. The Euros are losers.
Mar 7, 2006 - 7:43 am 2. Anthony (Los Angeles):The only thing he didn’t say is that the whore El Baradei
Wow, I knew you held him in low regard, but I didn’t know *how* low!
(can the Nobel committee go any lower than that?)
That’s a rhetorical question, right? If not, let me offer:
Wangari Maathai (who believes AIDS was engineered by Whites to kill Blacks)
Jimmy Carter (whose idea of peace is to work against his own government and endorse any electionstolen by dictators)
Yasser Arafat (’Nuff said.)
and Rigoberta Menchu, whose whole history was a fake.
The Nobel Peace prize is a joke.
Mar 7, 2006 - 8:22 am 3. Jamie Irons:Roger,
Thanks for keeping track of this supremely important story.
If I remember correctly, I was reading on Thomas P.M. Barnett’s blog the other day that (at least in his view) the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran is simply inevitable.
Allowing that this is so for the purposes of discussion, what would this fact “on the ground,” to use the cliche, due to the credibility of both the Bush administration and Israel, both of which have vowed they would not let the mullah’s get nukes?
Jamie Irons
Mar 7, 2006 - 8:31 am 4. Roger:Interesting question, Jamie
The Bush administration will be passing from the scene soon, one way or another, but the Israelis are another matter. My guess is they are more likely to act than anyone, but we shall see. If they do, the reactions will be also be interesting – to say the least.
Mar 7, 2006 - 8:41 am 5. David Thomson:Iím just so cynical. When are we going to hear?:
ìitís all George W. Bushís fault. The Iranians would have never gone this far had he not been so mean to them. We Euros tried to be nice and understanding. Sadly, the belligerent Bush-Hitler is pushing the whole world towards war. The Iranians are victims of American imperialism. What else could they do?î
Mar 7, 2006 - 9:10 am 6. Always right:I just can’t figure out what our European friends are thinking. You would think they realize this coming “clash” with islamofacists is hard to avoid. Do they all just depend on NATO treaty to have US defend the slaughter for them? Yet again?
If they think US (and Israel) is the bigger target, are they intent to come to our rescue (because of NATO alliance)? With what?
/Spitballs not required
Mar 7, 2006 - 9:22 am 7. Buddy Larsen:Re Al-Baradi, I’ve distrusted him utterly since he involved the UN on the side of the Kerry campaign (scroll to the ‘explosives letter’–which he held for 6 months waiting tp spring an “October Surprise”).
Re the topic, WSJ has an excellent article by a Dutch journo, “Is There Anything Europe Will Fight For?”
Mar 7, 2006 - 9:37 am 8. heather:There is another factor here: Europe’s knowledge that Israelwill do the heavy lifting (as they did years ago re Iraq’s nuclear program), along with the USA, thus allowing the Euros to (a) maintain their tatty superior moral posture; and (b) continue to live their long and unfruitful lives in their cute medieval cities, (c)unencumbered with responsibility for the future.
As to Bush being gone soon: last night, I watched a VERY INTERESTING panel discussion (Comm of Foreign Relations), the subject being Russia’s turn away from democracy. One of the participants was John Edwards… and JOHN EDWARDS looked mature, and sounded smart… and very electable in 2008. I had always thought of him as an immature, pretty face and nothing more.
Mar 7, 2006 - 9:49 am 9. Buddy Larsen:The dig on Edwards has been that his issue–the ‘two Americas’–hurts him in an era of foreign-policy dominance. If he’s showing up on such panels, then the campaign is correcting itself.
Mar 7, 2006 - 10:11 am 10. Buddy Larsen:From MarketWatch: Gold futures breached $550 an ounce Tuesday, putting the metal on track to log a third losing session as traders reacted to expectations that a compromise over Iran’s nuclear program can be worked out.
Mar 7, 2006 - 10:21 am 11. Rick Ballard:Iran has offered to suspend full-scale uranium enrichment for up to two years, according to an Associated Press report that cited comments from a diplomat in Vienna, where the International Atomic Energy Agency was holding a board meeting.
IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei said Monday that he’s optimistic that the crisis over Iran’s nuclear-research program could be resolved without U.N. Security Council intervention, according to news reports.
CNN has a slightly different take on today’s meeting. ElBaradei’s blather is what was anticipated but he’s not the only voice in Vienna.
I’m betting on a UNSC referral and sanctions – Russia won’t veto. China is the only unknown.
If the UNSC votes sanctions and Iran does something particularly stupid – or normally stupid for them, then reference to Clinton’s Serbian campaign would be warranted. He bombed Belgrade for 79 days without a by your leave to Congress or the UN. Used NATO resources too, if memory serves.
I don’t think Bush will leave Iran for the next President to deal with.
Mar 7, 2006 - 10:53 am 12. Barrett:The Euros are that stupid. There is a major contributing factor, among others. The US has provided for the defense of Europe for the past 65 years (including WWII). When someone else does all the hard work, one has the luxury to become soft. There are many examples of this, including in our own backyards.
Mar 7, 2006 - 11:53 am 13. Barrett:Rick,
I hope you are right. Little or no vision, much less backbone, exists on either side of the aisle. For the first time in something like 45 years, no sitting President or Vice President will be among the candidates in 2008. Anything can happen. My faith remains in the majority of Americans to get it right.
Barrett
Mar 7, 2006 - 11:56 am 14. Barrett:Rick,
I hope you are right about Bush not leaving Iran to a successor.
Mar 7, 2006 - 11:57 am 15. Rosemary:Not that you need it, but here is the link to to the Telegraph.
I just wondered how long we would sit around waiting for the EU-3 to continue talking to these liars. Did they learn nothing from Saddam? Are we at war or not?
Mar 7, 2006 - 12:43 pm 16. Rick Ballard:Barrett,
I hope that I am not misreading the signals but I’ve been seeing a “soft” drumbeat for a military solution to this for some time. Michael Ledeen’s call for “support of dissenters” is fine – but I don’t think that I would be such a dissenter under a regime that would cheerfully have not only me but my entire family killed without a second thought. Nor would I be satisfied with victory by dissenters who did not foreswear development of nuclear weapons. That would leave us with another Pakistan.
I see no reason to invade Iran. Destruction of their air defenses will leave them absolutely vulnerable to continued air strikes should the current regime be able to hang on after the nuclear threat is destroyed.
China remains a key in this effort – and the Bush visit to India can be viewed in those terms. China will not willingly risk its oil supplies but it may now be in a position of looking at two nations on its borders which are both strengthening ties with the US – its largest customer. There is no reason that India could not furnish the US as well as China does.
It’s an interesting chess board and the match has been well played. If the mullahs want to remain in power then the nuke program must go. Otherwise, both they and the nuke program must go.
Mar 7, 2006 - 1:52 pm 17. markus:“JOHN EDWARDS looked mature, and sounded smart…”
He was pretty close to winning Iowa, and the Democratic nomination, and he would have been a stronger at the top of ticket than Kerry.
The thing is, if you’re going to say you’re a Southern populist, you ought to be able to win reelection to the Senate in your own state. I think Edwards ought to set his sights on the North Carolina governorship.
The real interesting question is what kind of foreign policy Mark Warner puts together. As someone who thinks the “do-anything-to-win Dems” will outnumber the “peace at all costs Dems” in 2008, I suspect that a Hillary-with-balls candidate is likely to be the nominee.
Mar 7, 2006 - 1:59 pm 18. Soldier's Dad:“I just can’t figure out what our European friends are thinking.”
They are demonstrating to their populations that the only option left is “Bombing”.
Mar 7, 2006 - 2:07 pm 19. Stephen:Now that the President has gone all wobbly and politically correct, it’s likely he’ll leave Iran to his new friend Bill’s wife. The real question is: can Israel pull off a preemptive strike at the Iranian nuclear facilities?
Mar 7, 2006 - 5:53 pm 20. Kevin Peters:Roger:
I hope that I will have to eat a huge dish of steaming crow when the things I am about to write are proven wrong. Iran is getting the bomb. The E.U. knew they were getting jerked around. It is always a political plus in Europe to blindly go down the constant negotiation with no result path. When the mullah bomb is announced the E.U. will say “I am shocked and outraged, pen a nasty note in the U.N. calling Iran really, really, really bad and unfair, then yawn and go back to to buisness as usual. I beleive i heard Straw of the U.K. announce that any military option is a no go, and there is no way that the E.U. will risk trying any meaningful sanctions out of fear of a Iranian shut off of the fuel lines. “but iran can’t afford to go toe to toe in an economic war.” Sure they can. They will call a state of emergency, use the time to crack down on unwanted political opponents with the full knowledge that the west will back down in a few months. That’s the nice thing about having totalitarian options at your fingertips. Ruin your economy for a few years. No problem. Suffering is good for one’s character and they know that the west will start blaming themselves intead of these 12th century mindset fanatics.
‘Oh, the U.S. and Israel will handle it.” Not when they know that the bulk of the world will isolate them and use it to stah them in the back. These negotiations have been a joke from the start. they have just been a cover for the West’s cowardice and it’s not a matter of “how stupid” the Euro’s are, it’s how craven and impotent they have become. President bush will not go it alone with just Israel as a backup. Milosevic didn’t have the oil weapon to use and no matter what any Middle East gov. says they love the idea of a Mullah bomb and they especially love that this madman running Iran will use it and achieve the longest running wet dream of the region, the destruction of Israel.Israel gone, Iran crippled by the Israeli response, Praise Allah!
Mar 7, 2006 - 9:58 pm 21. vegetius:“Oh, that will never happen.” That would be spot on if you assume that the Iranians in charge have the same general mindset of most western nations. Guess what, they don’t. Irans two greatest desires, No Jews in the middle east, America crippled. Worries about a few million dead Persians. We got through the Iraq war, we will deal with this increase of pain. 3 or 4 generations of revolutionary religous restrictions will replace the dead of the biggest martyrdom operation ever planned and extra honor for the authors of the too long delayed Muslim revenge for the Crusades.
“do-anything-to-win Dems” the “peace at all costs Dems”. When these are the two wings of the party,
Mar 8, 2006 - 7:22 am 22. Steven Mitchell:why would anyone with balls(principles) want to belong?
Vegetius, did you not know? Those two are their “principles”.
Mar 8, 2006 - 2:58 pm