Article

2005-02-14 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

McCain urges "vigorous support" for Europe`s Iran initiative

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2005-02-14 00:00:00 AM|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Hey, the EU is doing great. Why should we (the Great Satan) help? The MMs have repeatedly stated "Death to America." We do not have much to talk to them about. But in the spirit of humanity and brotherhood, we send Valentine's Day greetings to our friends the Iranians through the Swiss Embassy. Have a nice day.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2005-02-14 1:50:30 AM|| 2005-02-14 1:50:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 McCain can't just STFU. I wonder what demographic he thinks he's appealing to - and which one he feesl he can afford to alienate with this bit of stupidity... Jumping on a ship which is sinking fast. Yep, he's a brilliant tactician. Wotta guy.

Posted by .com 2005-02-14 5:32:36 AM|| 2005-02-14 5:32:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 what McCain says above is precisely admin policy - though we may be supporting the EU3 more vigorously than some in the EU3 would like - I we're supporting them to be tough.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-02-14 9:45:05 AM|| 2005-02-14 9:45:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Lh - 10 days ago, it was. Not today. Even the SF Chronicle story today almost gets it.

Every day we have another story from Rafsanjani, or Khomeini, or toothless Khatami, or some Iran FM spokeswinkie and the message has been clear for weeks. now: we ain't gonna abide by no E3 thingy. Period. In every way they can think of to say it, this is what they've said. We get it. I'll bet that even ol Dubya gets it.

Well, Dr Rice went out of her way last week at the NATO thingy to toughen up the statements, saying that we would not join the E3 and that since those efforts were failing, then other options would have to be considered.

Even Tony Blair's backing off because it's clear to anyone who cares to look and listen that Iran is not going to play nice. They even turned down the light water reactor, cuz it won't yield plutonium... so even an E3 member decided to publicly "get it".

Now ol Johnny, he loves a headline. And he loves the spotlight. And, most of all, he loves ol Johnny. I'd bet a Steak at Ruth's Chris that he was not acting in any White House capacity at this conference. The reasons are two-fold, I'm sure. First, he's an asshole and Bush would not be interested in letting him play himself up to kick off his 2008 posturing. Second, they would not, today, use the words "vigorous" or "support" and the E3 effort in the same sentence. It has changed - to keep up with reality. Remember, this isn't any surprise to anyone - it's diplo-bullshit so that the boxes can be checked off along the way.

Bush & Co are flowing with events. Checking off the boxes as they go. A month ago, we were happy to let the E3 play their hand - and say we backed it if asked by the MSM. Then came the Inauguration Address, where Bush made it pointedly clear that we were ready to leave that dead stinking skunk on the road, cuz the Iranians had killed it - and offer directly to the Persian people our support should they decide to act.

So yeah, we had that position when it made sense, Now, when it doesn't, we don't - ol Johnny was just polishing his knob in public. Next will be the UNSC. Then will come the vote - and we'll see about Russia and China, in particular.

Then, all boxes checked, something else will happen.

Remember UAV's, we've just found out, have been overflying Iran for a YEAR. Sounds like the minute they had any to spare in Afghanistan and Iraq, they were sent over Iranian territory.

So ol Johnny need to keep up a little better. At least keep up with Hillary - who is probably the chameleon of the century.

That's what I meant by ol' Johnny should STFU. K?

BTW, his backyard thug-push style is no match for Rummy's eye-plucker or his 5-strike exploding heart punch. Rumor has it that he's drilling Condi hard everyday. She's likely to be a Rumfu Master before summer.

Posted by .com 2005-02-14 1:57:05 PM|| 2005-02-14 1:57:05 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Rumor has it that he's drilling Condi hard everyday

Does Mrs Rummy know?

Posted by Frank G 2005-02-14 2:13:18 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:13:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Geeze Louise, Frank....We are talking foreign policy here. LOL! Great comment, .com!

Posted by Alaska Paul 2005-02-14 2:18:08 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:18:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Rumfu. I like that! Sounds like something pretty lethal to black hats and Songun/Juche.

Posted by Tom 2005-02-14 2:22:42 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:22:42 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Pai Mei to MM's:

Posted by .com 2005-02-14 2:23:31 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:23:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 great comments .com

Posted by 2b 2005-02-14 2:36:14 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:36:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Some one should tell McCain that the Hokey Pokey is not a Rumfu move.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-02-14 2:37:33 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:37:33 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 Hokey Pokey, Lol! Perfect, Mrs D! I couldn't come up with anything nearly that clever when the situation demanded, lol! And indeed, it is no match for Rumfu!

Posted by .com 2005-02-14 2:43:08 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:43:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 Yes the Iranians are defying and embarassing the EU3 - that doesnt mean the admin has withdrawn verbal support for them - this is all the more time to support them verbally, with the IMPLICATION that the logical result of the EU3 process is referall to the UNSC if Iran doesnt play - AFAICT thats still condis enunciated policy, and theres no space between it and what McCain said above.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-02-14 2:52:20 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:52:20 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 Rice:

Iranians need to hear that if they are unwilling to take the deal, really, that the Europeans are giving ... then the Security Council referral looms," she said. "I don't know that anyone has said that as clearly as they should to the Iranians."

IE what i meany by she is supporting the EU process more vigorously than the EU themselves - the logical result of the EU process is UNSC referall, NOT endless negotiation, even if some EU states themselves wont yet acknowledge this. Thats my read of both the Rice statement AND the McCain statement. Which are aligned. QED.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-02-14 2:55:20 PM|| 2005-02-14 2:55:20 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 Lol, Lh! You dig up the quote that proves the first point of my statement that they are NOT the same, then claim they are. You have a long lunch, today?

Ol Johnny and Dr Rice are not on the same page, as the quote makes quite clear. The E3 won't be pushing the referral to the UNSC. It's clear Blair has given up - he may join in, but it will be the US proposing the UNSC take up the matter, possibly with the UK supporting and, one hopes Germany right there with us. France will be aloof, methinks.

Posted by .com 2005-02-14 3:04:44 PM|| 2005-02-14 3:04:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 support Blair vigorously, talk to Schroeder in private, and ignore the French, for now. The Iranians do the rest of the work, isolating Chirac from the other Euros. And the French want to keep a stake in Lebanon, non? Where somebody important just bought the farm. Wheels within wheels, i suspect.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-02-14 4:28:37 PM|| 2005-02-14 4:28:37 PM|| Front Page Top

18:47 3dc
18:47 3dc
23:55 Phil Fraering
23:41 .com
23:38 Aris Katsaris
23:31 AzCat
23:16 Sobiesky
23:15 Penguin
23:04 Sobiesky
22:50 Jame Retief
22:49 Mrs. Davis
22:47 Jame Retief
22:47 Sobiesky
22:42 Alaska Paul
22:41 tu3031
22:40 Sock Puppet of Doom
22:40 Alaska Paul
22:40 Snump Huperesing6112
22:36 Alaska Paul
22:25 Cheaderhead
22:23 Chase Unineger3873 aka Jarhead
22:22 Sock Puppet of Doom
22:19 Cheaderhead
22:19 Sock Puppet of Doom